Just So Stories

Random Reviews and Ramblings from Redcliffe



  • 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!🍄] , 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

  • Stand Proud – Nicho Hynes with Marlee Silva. Illustrated by Blak Douglas.

    Penguin Australia October 2024 So as someone said recently ‘I know you’re an NRL girl…’. Yes I am, I grew up in Hurstville and went to St George Girls High School and I’ve been a Dragons supporter since I first went to a footy game, aged around 7. But you know, it’s right next door Read more

  • Hotel Balzaar – Kate DiCamillo. Illustrated by Júlia Sardà.

    Walker Books Australia October 2024 ISBN13:9781529523782 Australia RRP:$24.99 New Zealand RRP:$27.99 One thing is always certain. A book by Kate DiCamillo will always be captivating. After the first Norendy tale, readers knew they could look forward to more of the magic realism of this series and it has come with another glorious story about stories. Read more

  • Party Rhyme – Antonia Pesenti

    I had not seen the first two rhyme books from this talented creator, and now I’m sorry to have missed them because this is just fantastic. As a punster from way back I believe kiddos, even Smalls, are never too young for some word play and when it’s as tricky and absurd as this, all Read more

  • Q&A with Norman Jorgensen

    Greetings, Norman, and welcome to Just So Stories! Thanks so much for spending time with the readers here and giving us the lowdown on NJ’s life and times. Not everyone will have seen glimpses of your childhood via your social media, so let’s start there. What was little Norman like as a child? Tell us Read more

  • Djinang Bonar: Seeing Seasons – Ebony Froome. Illustrated by Leanne Zilm.

    Fremantle Press July 2024 ISBN: 9781760994211 RRP: $24.99 This is absolutely beautiful! The illustrations for this gorgeous bilingual book will knock your socks off. We are beginning to see and use many First Nations seasonal calendars e.g. from CSIRO as more and more are researched and developed. This one outlines the signs of the changing seasons Read more