Just So Stories

Random Reviews and Ramblings from Redcliffe

  • Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire – J. K. Rowling. Illustrated by Karl James Mountford

    A sumptuously illustrated gift book with magical interactive surprises Bloomsbury Australia October 2025 ISBN: 9781526691262 Imprint: Bloomsbury Children’s Publishing RRP: $69.99 Is it a Christmas book you might ask? NO, not exactly but remember the Yule Ball !! but of course it would make an insanely exciting Xmas gift for any Potterhead of your acquaintance. Read more

  • The Christmas Tree Catastrophe – Emma Bowd. Matt Shanks.

    Harper Collins Australia August 2025 ISBN: 9781460765883 ISBN 10: 1460765885 Imprint: HarperCollins AU List Price: 24.99 AU I fell in love with this the day it arrived when I read it immediately, but as I explained to Emma, I really wanted to save it for the Xmas Countdown because – to be honest- this year the Xmas books have Read more

  • Bluey – The Most Amazing Advent Book Bundle

    Penguin Australia When they say it’s AMAZING, that’s exactly what they mean! Any Bluey fan is going to LOVE this advent calendar with a new little book to reveal each day. And how good will it be to add to the magic of Christmas approaching? From the publisher >>>> Stories include: Daddy Robot, Charades, Yoga Ball, Read more

  • 2025 – the Christmas Countdown

    With Picture Book Month done and dusted (what a marathon it was this year!) it’s time for the Xmas Countdown. There have been not so many Christmas books come through but the first started to arrive back in August and I have saved them up. So as well as purely Christmas titles, I will be Read more

  • November Wrap-up

    And that’s 2025 Picture Book month done and dusted. Whew! Thanks to everyone who took time to check out the month’s reviews. It’s been my biggest marathon yet as I determined to get all the stacked up PBs out of the way. And, as usual, sliding in some bonus books as well. I think the Read more

  • How to Have the Best School Year Ever – Jess Sanders. Art by Andrea Onishi.

    Simon & Schuster Publisher: Affirm Press November 2025 This one takes another tack altogether from the previous two reviews. This is intended for any child or class at the start of a new year and is, essentially, a primer in resilience, self-belief and growth mindset. All of that sounds quite serious and of course it Read more

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