Just So Stories

Random Reviews and Ramblings from Redcliffe

  • Mavis the Little Plane Spotter – Angela Toniolo. Shannon Melville

    Wombat Books March 2025 9781761111938 AUD$27.99, NZD$32.99 Yes, a little bit of a cheeky cheat to round off a week of Birdie Num Num posts with this one. But, in my defense, with a Father Bear who was RAF as well as a dear friend in adult life, Squadron Leader and later commercial pilot, Wal Read more

  • One Word and a Bird – Stephen Michael King

    Scholastic Australia April 2025 ISBN 9781761520860RRP $26.99 This one finishes off this week of Birdie Num Nums purely because of its title, because really it’s not all about birds. It’s about love and our own self-belief, the (sometimes lofty and impossible) standards we set for ourselves and how we navigate the world around us. Stephen Read more

  • August Wrap-up

    Whew! It’s been a busy month indeed and it’s close enough to call as I will finish off the last two tonight and tomorrow night. This only takes into account 2 of 7 ARCs I read for writing teaching notes and possibly a few others. Sometimes, I lose track!! haha!! Read more

  • What’s Next Shane? – Maree Coote

    Walker Books Australia Imprint: Melbourne Style Books ISBN13:9780645910605 Australia RRP:$29.99 New Zealand RRP:$34.99 You might remember that just a couple of weeks ago I shared reviews of two different cockatoo books [Sonia definitely remembers! she’s still battling her backyard vandal]. And just like the birds themselves being everywhere, seemingly at one time, along comes another Read more

  • Sidney of Sydney – Sue Whiting. Liz Anelli

    Walker Books Australia June 2025 ISBN13:9781760657703 Australia RRP:$24.99 New Zealand RRP:$27.99 From Queensland avian residents to those of NSW – and Sydney, my home town. My love of penguins is well documented and there have been many fabulous penguin moments (Bicheno!), reviews, news stories and chuckles. Recently, I commented to one of my author friends Read more

  • This Bird: noticing our urban birds – Astred Hicks. With Holly Parsons.

    CSIRO Publishing August 2025 ISBN: 9781486318452  RRP: $26.99 It’s another wonderful title from CSIRO and yes! more birds! I talked a little about our backyard birds in a previous post but we also have our birds along the shore within a minutes’ walk. The regulars are: Australian and Little Pied Cormorants, welcome swallows, pelicans, oyster Read more

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