Just So Stories

Random Reviews and Ramblings from Redcliffe

  • Bravepaw and the Songstone of the Deep: A Tail of Adventure #4 – L. M. Wilkinson. Art by Lavanya Naidu.

    Allen & Unwin ISBN:9781761182167 Publisher:A&U Children’s Imprint:Albert Street Books RRP: $16.99 It’s always a little bitter-sweet when a favourite series comes to a conclusion and this one with this mousekin hero and her companions is one of the best, and therefore one of the saddest to leave. Titch and Huckleberry are a long way from… Read more

  • Running late with the August wrap-up !

    It was quite busy last week what with the modelling weekend, the Quick Brown Fox bookish event (Zanni Louise, Allison Rocca, Samantha Wheeler, Matt Stanton and Andy Geppert as a bonus!) and Mr Surfer’s birthday plus two sets of teaching notes!! Read more

  • All the Blues in the Sky – Renée Watson

    Winner of the Newbery Medal Bloomsbury August 2026 ISBN 9781547605897 Imprint Bloomsbury Children’s Books RRP: $19.99 This is such a beautiful and poignant verse/prose novel that explores grief as it impacts on a young person. And yes, we know that happens often and even just this year, I’ve had several books in which a child… Read more

  • 2026 Father’s Day Special: The Thing About Dads – Deborah Frenkel.Daniel Gray-Barnett.

    Thames and Hudson August 2026 ISBN: 9781760765194 RRP: $24.99 And this one, dear readers, is my top pick of this year’s batch for Father’s Day. It is the pièce de résistance with absolutely perfect rhyme – the cadence and flow is just magical! – and stunning illustrations full of action and expression. Showing dads in… Read more

  • 2026 Father’s Day Special: Superheroes in the Park – Ian Eagleton. Hayley Wells

    New South Books Publisher: Otter Barry Books 9781915659972 July 2026 AUD$26.99, NZD$29.99 I’m going to be completely honest here. While I found this a little too heavy-handed, I really do love the entire concept and also, that the author is writing from his own experience and heart. Ian Eagleton and his husband adopted a toddler… Read more

  • 2026 Father’s Day Special: Every Day is Special with Dad – Sarah Ayoub & Kate Moon.

    Harper Collins Australia June 2026 Imprint: HarperCollins AU ISBN: 9781460765654 RRP: $24.99 I know that not every child is as lucky as I was. I had two great fathers essentially. My Father Bear until my parents divorced when I was 14 but even apart, they were both loving parents and my dad never stopped being my biggest… Read more

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