Just So Stories

Random Reviews and Ramblings from Redcliffe

  • The Rose Field: The Book of Dust #3 – Philip Pullman

    Penguin Australia October 2025 It was a very long wait indeed and so many of us were very impatient indeed [no, it wasn’t just me!] – 2017 from the first to 2025 for the last. Not only did I revisit my reviews of #1 and #2 but I listened to both on audio – finishing Read more

  • Bluey: Bartlebee’s First Christmas

    Penguin Australia So in the tiny board book Hooray Presents! we saw Bluey get a mini Heeler toy. Meet Bartlebee! Bluey is enchanted with this new friend and hurls him straight into all the family Christmas shenanigans including Classic Catches in the pool and being licked ‘hello’ by Socks. Bartlebee is baffled to say the Read more

  • First Knowledges Ceremony: All Our Yesterdays for Today – Wesley Enoch. Georgia Curran.

    Thames & Hudson August 20265ISBN: 9781760764074 RRP: $26.99 What is ceremony for many of us is not the same as Ceremony for our First Nations people. And while there are plenty of us who understand the purpose and meaning of some of these ceremonies, there are still just as many who are not only ignorant Read more

  • A Barney Gumnut Christmas (Barney Gumnut #2)- Tamsin Ainslie

    Harper Collins Australia August 2025 Hmm, I don’t know why but I never saw the #1 Barney Gumnut [gives the HC crew the side-eye] which was surely some kind of oversight? Regardless, this is my first meeting with Barney and his friends and, honestly, I’m in love with them all. There’s Barney – as you Read more

  • Best Australian Political Cartoons 2025 – edited by Russ Radcliffe.

    Scribe Publications 9781761381676 RRP: AUD$35.00 November 2025 Correct again! Not a Xmas book but a damned fine gift for someone – especially that hard to buy for Dad/Grandpa/Activist Aunty or other politically aware person in your fold. As well, I think this makes an excellent addition to any library collection for use in Media Studies, Read more

  • Mrs Claus – Renee Price. Illustrated by Travis Price.

    Simon & Schuster Publisher: Affirm Press August 2025 This is another I’ve been sitting on since August but it’s worth the wait. I wish you could see how shiny the cover is because that’s just completely gorgeous. Aside from that the first thing that struck is me that glorious mid-century vibe about the illustrations – Read more

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