Just So Stories

Random Reviews and Ramblings from Redcliffe

  • Monstrous Devices – Damien Love

    Bloomsbury Australia May 2020 Imprint: Rock the Boat ISBN 9780451478597 RRP $14.99 Firstly if Sid’s Franken-toys in Toy Story freaked you out a bit, you’re really not going to like the titular monstrous devices in this deliciously exciting and somewhat creepy debut novel from Damien Love! Twelve year old Alex has a collection of old Read more

  • When Rain Turns to Snow – Jane Godwin

    Hachette Australia JUN 30, 2020 | 9780734420053 | RRP $16.99 If you are looking for something new in your ‘identity’ collection this beautiful coming-of-age narrative will be a perfect fit. The recent months have been a revelation in how some humans handle a crisis situation and for teens this can be a real challenge. Lissa is no different. Home Read more

  • Tell ’em – written by Katrina Germein & Rosemary Sullivan [with the Children of Manyallaluk School] Illustrated by Karen Briggs.

    Harper Collins Australia May 2020 ISBN: 9781921504921 ISBN 10: 1921504927 Imprint: Working Title Press – AU List Price: 24.99 AUD What an absolute joy this book is! I’ve had some absolutely cracking books of late featuring Indigenous/First Australian themes but this one, which gives readers an insight into the everyday life of contemporary First Australian kids living in their Read more

  • Embrace Your Body – Taryn Brumfitt. Illustrated by Sinead Hanley.

    Penguin Random House Australia Published: 2 June 2020 ISBN: 9781760895983 Imprint: Puffin RRP: $19.99 In another break-through move in her mission to change the global body-hating plague that is such a curse of modern life, Taryn Brumfitt has turned her sights to empowering children to be happy and confident in themselves – inside and out. The Embrace Kids documentary, Read more

  • The Proudest Blue – Ibtihaj Muhammad, with S. K. Ali. Art by Hatem Aly

    Walker Books Australia February 2020 ISBN: 9781783449712Imprint: Andersen PressAustralian RRP: $24.99New Zealand RRP: $26.99 This is a beautiful expression of a strong bond between sisters as well as an empowering story to encourage children to be proud of their culture and to better understand the cultural differences of their classmates. The strong anti-bullying message is one that is of Read more

  • Peanut Goes for Gold – Jonathan Van Ness. Pictures by Gillian Reid

    Harper Collins Australia May 2020 ISBN: 9780062941008 ISBN 10: 0062941003 Imprint: HarperCollins – US List Price: 24.99 AUD It has been very reassuring in recent years to be able to review a number of picture books which embrace diversity in children but particularly those who may be struggling or feeling isolated due to their gender/sexual self-identity. There would be Read more

Archived Reviews