Just So Stories

Random Reviews and Ramblings from Redcliffe



  • The Space Between – Jess McGeachin

    Penguin Australia July 2024 Jess’ books are always a delight [I still love Business Chickens so much especially] and this one has all the warmth of a cosy blanket and a mug of hot chocolate, with a lovely look at both imagination and enduring friendship. Max and Milo are neighbours and they spend lots of Read more

  • Design & Building on Country – Alison Page & Paul Memmott. Illustrations by Blak Douglas.

    Thames & Hudson September 2024 ISBN: 9781760763565 RRPP: $26.99 Back when I was teaching in my PYP school in Canberra, over ten years ago now, my Year 4s were doing a unit of inquiry focused on Technology and, of course, I was to partner their unit in the library. To me it was an obvious choice Read more

  • School of Monsters series- Sally Rippin. Art by Chris Kennet.

    Hardie Grant Children’s October 2024 Leggy Peggy ISBN: 9781761213496 RRP: $10.99 Super-fast Skelly October 2024 ISBN: 9781761213489 RRP: $10.99 Fairly recently I had the pleasure of sharing an online discussion with our Laureate, Sally Rippin (thanks to YKR) in which much of her content was focused on the need for us all to support those Read more

  • Jonty Gentoo: The Adventures of a Penguin- Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler

    Scholastic Australia September 2024 Pesto is the biggest penguin the Melbourne aquarium has ever had โ€” and he’s just a chick As the news about Pesto, the ‘chunky monkey’ penguin chick hits our news reports [first shared with me by The Kid] it’s perfect timing to write up my review for this new collaboration between Read more

  • September Wrap-up

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  • Junkyard Fairies:#1 Dig Deep – Edwina Wyatt. Illustrated by Lauren O’Hara

    Walker Books Australia October 2024 ISBN13:9781760657048 Australia RRP:$19.99 New Zealand RRP:$24.99 Even without the addition of the adorable little fairy house [thank you so much Walker Books!๐Ÿ„] , I would have loved this delightful new take on fairies for a contemporary audience. It’s rather like a mash-up of Enid Blyton with Bottersnikes & Gumbles and Read more