Just So Stories

Random Reviews and Ramblings from Redcliffe

  • The Big Book of Rights – Dannika Patterson/Amanda Letcher

    Children’s Week 2024 This week the Story Bridge and other significant structures of Brisbane, were lit up with dazzling turquoise, the colours of Children’s Rights Queensland, marking a week of events, activities and actions to celebrate Children’s Week 2024. Tomorrow, 27th October, as the week draws to a close, there will be a launch of Read more

  • What I Ate in One Year (and related thoughts) – Stanley Tucci

    Penguin Australia October 2024 I have loved Stanley in every role in which I’ve seen him from Caesar/Lucky Flickerman (Hunger Games/Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes) to Muertes (Undercover Blues), from Nigel (The Devil Wears Prada) to Mr Stringer (The Witches – and everything inbetween. I think the only film I’ve eschewed was The Lovely Bones Read more

  • Hester Hitchins and the Falling Stars – Catherine Norton

    Harper Collins Australia July 2024 Don’t think it’s taken me all this time to read this one because it didn’t at all. After The Fortune Maker this was high up in the reading order. It’s just a sad fact that it’s taken me this long to get to writing the review. But it is another Read more

  • Father of the Lost Boys for Younger Readers: The Mecak Ajang Alaak Story – Yuot A. Alaak

    Fremantle Press June 2024 ISBN: 9781760993900 RRP: $17.99 When I was commissioned to write the teaching notes for this, I confess I only knew a smidgin about the Sudanese ‘lost boys’, and, in fact, the whole Sudan situation – despite the fact that we have many Sudanese immigrants here in SE Qld. Their story was certainly Read more

  • Are We There Yet? 20th Anniversary edition – Alison Lester

    Penguin Australia October 2024 Hands up if you’ve also forgotten how many times in the past 20 years you’ve shared this one? I know it was a focal point of my literature-based unit with Year 3s often and on many occasions, aside from all the times I’ve just read it to Smalls. And it never Read more

  • The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Extinct Animals – Sami Bayly

    Hachette Australia September 2024  9780734421395 | RRP $32.99 Watch this interview with Sami from The Morning Show to hear more about this latest book. It seems almost incredible to realise that Sami Bayly is not yet 30 ! [maybe that’s me because I’m so senior citizen now], given her amazing catalogue of titles thus far. This is Read more

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