Just So Stories

Random Reviews and Ramblings from Redcliffe

  • Hamlet is Not OK – R. A. Spratt

    Penguin Australia July 2023 No one will be surprised to hear that after reading a couple of chapters before I went to sleep last night, I gobbled the rest up in one sitting today – and loved every single word! It’s not Friday Barnes, nor Nanny Piggins but Spratt’s sass and sarcasm, her unerring sense Read more

  • Queen Narelle – Sally Murphy. Illustrated by Simon O’Carrigan.

    Walker Books June 2023 ISBN13: 9781760655334 Australia RRP:$16.99 New Zealand RRP:$18.99 Although I have often noted that the kiddos in my libraries are not all that taken with stories in verse, the one exception, always, is Sally Murphy’s books. These have invariably been on a constant rotation in our circulation stats. Clearly, this delightful new Read more

  • Hairy Maclary from Donaldson’s Dairy [40th Anniversary] – Lynley Dodd

    Penguin Australia The real problem with these anniversary editions of our favourite books is that it always makes me feel incredibly old 😫 but, of course, at the same they always bring back so many happy memories of read-alouds for my own girls and grandies, as well as the many kiddos over a long teacher-librarian Read more

  • A Journey Under the Sea – Craig Foster & Ross Frylinck

    Harper Collins April 2023 Imprint: Clarion Press ISBN: 9780358677864 RRP: $34.99 This is visually one of the most fascinating books you will encounter this year, and even if you don’t have kiddos who live by the sea, as I do, your readers will be completely absorbed by these amazing photographs as well as the text Read more

  • Khawaja – Words by Paul Kelly. Illustrations by Avinash Weerasekera

    Penguin Australia July 2023 I’d be pretty certain that when Uzzy was growing up and dreaming of being a Test cricketer, he didn’t ever imagine he’d be the subject of either a song or a children’s book, but here he is – one of our most inspirational players in a long time, and a role Read more

  • Hedgehog the Wonder Dog – Dannika Patterson/Ross Morgan

    Ford St Publishing February 2023 ISBN : 9781922696212 RRP: $17.95 It took some time for this one to arrive into my eagerly waiting hands, but it was definitely worth the wait. It was an absolute delight to share this one with some bouncy Year 2s this week, all of whom (even the neuro-diverse child who had been Read more

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