Just So Stories

Random Reviews and Ramblings from Redcliffe



  • Celebrating Picture Book Month

    Picture Book Month is an international literacy initiative that celebrates the print picture book during the month of November. Every day in November a picture will be celebrated by many of us that are champions for picture books because he/she thinks picture books are important. In this digital age where people think print is dead Read more

  • Happy….Everything….

    Happy Dio de los Muertos (my favourite), All Hallows Eve, Halloween , Samhain, O- Bon Festival and, of course Reformation/Martin Luther Day… Plus a few others Check this out for a selection of celebrations around the world!! The Kid feels too grown up for it now – and as where we are living is very Read more

  • Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix – J. K. Rowling. Jim Kay (Illustrator)Neil Packer (Illustrator)

    Bloomsbury Publishing October 2022 ISBN 9781408845684 Imprint Bloomsbury Children’s Books RRP: $75.00 Readers of this blog will know of my passion for all things Harry and I have often shared the magnificence that comes my way via Bloomsbury Publishing (long may the prosper!). The fact that this is my favourite of all the original books, Read more

  • Time of My Life – Myf Warhurst

    Hachette September 2022 ISBN: 9780733649189 RRP $34.99 I have no doubt that anyone in my personal orbit will confirm that I am a dyed-in-the-wool, fully card-carrying aficionado – nay, devotee! – of Spicks and Specks. Not only would I not miss an episode when is was screening but I regularly watch repeats, specials, have the Read more

  • The Light in Everything – Katya Balen

    Bloomsbury Australia Bloomsbury Publishing Imprint: Bloomsbury Children’s Books July 2022 ISBN 9781526647405 RRP: $14.99 This is the third of Katya’s books I have read and honestly, I love her writing more each time. She has such skill in creating believable characters with whom the reader can easily connect and her deft hand in giving them Read more

  • Ellie Pillai is Brown – Christine Pillainayagam

    Faber & Faber July 2022 ISBN: 9780571366910ISBN-10: 0571366910RRP: $17.99 This is a debut novel of true exceptional talent IMO. I love a good romance and when it’s interwoven with self-discovery, diversity, cultural differences, regular teen relationships and issues, and music – all the better! Also, this is definitely the first YA (or indeed any book) I have Read more