Just So Stories

Random Reviews and Ramblings from Redcliffe

  • Mammalia; an illustrated guide to the world of mammals – Lindy Mattice

    New South Books Bushel & Peck 9781638191285 / July 2024 / AUD$49.99, NZD$57.99 This is likely the last of my animal books for this year (but you never know!) and what a beauty it is too. While it is an absolute treasure chest of interesting, relevant information with the addition of quite quirky quick facts, it is the Read more

  • Picture Book Month Extra! – Usborne Big Book of Facts

    Harper Collins Australia November 2024 Once upon a time we would likely say this is the sort of book that boys will love to pore over for hours, and while that still holds true, it’s fair to say that in my observations over the past ten years, it is just as likely to be girls Read more

  • Meerkat Mayhem – Mem Fox and Judy Horacek

    Penguin Australia You will find numerous posts here referencing Mem Fox, going back almost the entire decade of the blog’s existence, including an insightful Q&A posted back in 2019. My joy in Mem’s work and her presence goes back many years. Possum Magic was a book I bought to share with The Kid’s mum as Read more

  • Picture Book Month Extra! : Tigg and the Bandicoot Bushranger – Jackie French

    Harper Collins Australia December 2024 Regular readers here know what a fan I am of Jackie’s work, particularly her historical fiction. She so deftly weaves fact and fiction creating a portal back in time for young readers to become bystanders and witnesses to some of the most significant events, especially in Australian history. And because Read more

  • Sleepy Sheepy and the Sheep-Over! Lucy Ruth Cummins. Illustrated by Pete Oswald

    Walker Books Australia September 2024 ISBN13:9781760658953 Australia RRP:$19.99 New Zealand RRP:$24.99 Strangely enough, I just had a conversation with a friend over lunch this past week about children’s first sleepovers. Her older grandchild has slept over regularly while the little sister was having her first experience this weekend [as I write this 24/11]. I commented Read more

  • Pretty Ugly – David Sedaris and Ian Falconer.

    Scholastic Australia November 2024ISBN: 9781761525032 RRP: $19.99 If you were going to go by David Sedaris‘ remarks, you would think that this book is not worth you spending your time on it. Don’t be fooled! Sedaris is, I think, one of America’s darlings, though arguably not so well-known here. He is a comedian, columnist, radio Read more

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