Just So Stories

Random Reviews and Ramblings from Redcliffe

  • Picture Book Month Bonus #7: Friendly Bee and Friends: Woe is for Worm! Sean E. Avery

    Walker Books Australia October 2023 ISBN13:9781760654382 Australia RRP:$15.99 New Zealand RRP:$17.99 This is my first encounter with Friendly Bee and Friends, but hopefully not the last. As many or most know, I’m not a huge fan of graphics – they just don’t do it for me. But this is exactly the kind of absurdist humour Read more

  • Madame Badobedah and the Old Bones – Sophie Dahl. Illustrated by Lauren O’Hara.

    Walker Books Australia October 2023 Imprint: Walker Books Madame Badobedah Series ISBN13:9781406384420 Australia RRP:$27.99 New Zealand RRP:$29.99 In case you haven’t yet met Madame Badobedah and Mabel who live at the Mermaid Hotel, you are in for a fine treat. And, in case you didn’t know, author Sophie Dahl has quite the pedigree. She is the Read more

  • If Our World Were 100 Days – Jackie McCann/Aaron Cushley

    Harper Collins Australia September 2023 For the nerdy child in me, this is fabulous. For the boomer-brain in me, it was a little hard to wrap my head around. I’m guessing because as an older person, I’m quite OK with thinking about the concept of time, but I’m also perfectly sure that kiddos will be Read more

  • G.O.A.T – Kate & Jol Temple. Illustrated by Rebel Challenger.

    Scholastic Australia Novembeer 2023 ISBN: 9781761292989ISBN-10: 1761292986 RRP: $18.99 You already know if it has the Temple names on it, it’s going to be a fab and funny book that your kiddos will love. And I love their books as well, for off-the-wall absurdist humour and no need to go digging deep (though I’m sure some will Read more

  • All We Need is Love and a Really Soft Pillow – Peter Reynolds and his son Henry Rocket Reynolds

    Scholastic Australia October 2023 ISBN: 9781338572339 RRP: $39.75 Imprint: ORCHARD BOOKS We’ve had so much joy from Peter Reynolds over the years, and I think I can say, unequivocably that sharing The Dot and celebrating Dot Day has been one of the greatest joys in my teacher-librarian career. We especially loved the year we could do Read more

  • What’s in a Dumpling, Grandma: Linda Meeker. Illustrated by Sandra Eide.

    Harper Collins Australia November 2023 Earlier this year, I spent a day learning to make Tibetan momos – dumplings. And not only was it fun, but it made me think about dumplings in general, and how many different cultures have these delicious little parcels of yumminess in their culinary catalogue. Of course, they are not Read more

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