Just So Stories

Random Reviews and Ramblings from Redcliffe

  • Endangered Animal Tales 3: Rusty The Rainbow Bird – Aleesah Darlison/Mel Matthews

    My review for Aleesah’s newest book in this fab series is now live on Kids Book Review – why not check it out! Read more

  • Beijing Tai Tai – Tania McCartney

    Exisle Publishing 2012 ISBN: 9781921966156 RRP: $14.99 I first met Tania when she came to my Canberra school as our author guest around ten years ago, and she and I just clicked from the first moment we spoke to each other. Since then it has been my honour and pleasure to be her friend. I Read more

  • Round the Twist – Paul Jennings

    Penguin Australia February 2022 ISBN: 9780140342130 Imprint: Puffin RRP: $14.99 I was saying to someone just yesterday that, in our pursuit to promote new books, we sometimes forget that back catalogue titles also demand to be shared as each new crop of readers comes along. I am acquainted with so many young adults (that is, anyone younger than Read more

  • Piano Fingers – Caroline Magerl

    Walker Books March 2022 ISBN: 9781760652616Imprint: Walker Books AustraliaAustralian RRP: $26.99New Zealand RRP: $28.99 I have been watching the development of this truly beautiful book for around two years; from the very first balsa wood model, that was to inform the illustrations of the piano, to endearing portraits of the original subject with her little red corduroy shoes, to Read more

  • Sticky McStickStick: the Friend who Helped me Walk Again – Michael Rosen

    Walker Books February 2022 ISBN: 9781529502404Imprint: Walker Australian RRP: $27.99New Zealand RRP: $29.99 When I first read about Michael Rosen’s near-death Covid episode, I found it incredibly moving as this man is one of my most admired creators of children’s literature. Then I read, and shared, his article thanking Sticky McStickStick, and knew for certain that this was a Read more

  • Friday Barnes #10: Undercover – R. A. Spratt

    Penguin Australia February 2022 ISBN: 9781761043659 Imprint: Puffin RRP: $15.99 Some readers of this blog may recall my review of the ‘re-appearance’ of Friday and her cronies. My kiddos at school lost their minds when it hit the shelves so make sure you stand back again because the rush will be on. Now that Friday et al are Read more

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