Just So Stories

Random Reviews and Ramblings from Redcliffe

  • 2025 NAIDOC

    Welcome to NAIDOC at Just So Stories – coming up – a week of reviews and resources to celebrate this year’s 50th anniversary. Quotes attributable to National NAIDOC Committee Co-Chair, Aunty (Professor) Lynette Riley: “Over the decades, NAIDOC Week has grown into a powerful national celebration that continues to honour and elevate Indigenous voices, culture Read more

  • Inkbound: Meticulous Jones and the Skull Tattoo – Phillipa Leathley

    Harper Collins Australia January 2025 While it took me a while to get to this on the review shelf, and then it’s taken me a few weeks to get the review written, it only took me two sessions to actually read this completely enthralling and wildly different fantasy. Meticulous – Metty – Jones, like most Read more

  • The Poisoned King: Impossible Creatures #2 – Katherine Rundell

    Bloomsbury ISBN 9781408897454 (p/b) Imprint Bloomsbury Children’s Books RRP: $18.99 (P/b) $29.99 (H/b) $15.19 ebook editions I have raved over Impossible Creatures since I first ate it up greedily and, trust me, I am not the only one. Evidence of that is in the fact that it was the Children’s Book of the Year in Read more

  • Ava Spark: Hello, I’m here! – Alex Field. Illustrated by Joanna Bartel.

    New Frontier Publishing May 2025 ISBN : 978-1-923145-92-4 PRICE : $16.99 Meeting Ava Spark will be something quite different for most of your readers, I think. While they may already be aware or even familiar with some methods of communication, especially AUSLAN/sign language, which many schools are incorporating into their programs, not so many will be aware Read more

  • Short Stories -Silvia Borando

    Scribble April 2025 9781761381560 Author/Illustrator: Silvia BorandoTranslator: Felicita SalaAUD$27.99 | £12.99 | US$18.95 A favourite literacy activity with older kiddos for some years now, has been six-word stories. Know them? If not, do some sleuthing. This book takes that premise and turns it into another fun read, plus a delightful springboard for some quick creative Read more

  • No More Room in the Bed! – Deborah Abela. Illustrated by Marina Verola.

    Simon & Schuster Here’s a fresh new title to add to your store of those well-loved cumulative narratives that Smalls always enjoy – not to mention, they are SO useful for us when teaching our younger students about expressive language. It was a dark and stormy night [yes! that was intentional] when the boy asked Read more

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