Just So Stories

Random Reviews and Ramblings from Redcliffe

  • Taronga Presents series – Kristin Darrell. Illustrations by Laura Wood.

    Penguin Australia September 2024 Brand spanking new this week comes this terrific new series for junior readers who are the animal lovers in your crowd. Having raised mini-Attenborough for half her life and watched her obsession with all creatures great and small (quite literally – at one time she had 34 pets including all the Read more

  • Wildlife Wong series – Dr Sarah Pye.

    A while AA Some time ago I enjoyed a wonderful literary lunch hosted by the indefatigable Michelle Nye (when I look it up, I can’t believe it was back in May!! ummmm, excuse me where have those three months gone?!). One of the great pleasures in that was meeting two creators, Sandra Severgnini and amazing Read more

  • The Grown-up’s Guide to Picture Books – Lara Cain Gray. Illustrated by Timothy Ide & Lorena Carrington

    Midnight Sun Publishing July 2024 ISBN: 9781922858504 | $34.99 When I was a kid I didn’t really know picture books, in the way we see them today. I did have a few illustrated books – my two favourites, well-worn and much-loved, are still with me today and pictured below. I’m guessing that because I read Read more

  • Zoom – Dannika Patterson/Ross Morgan

    Ford St Publishing September 2024 ISBN 9781922696427 RRP: $17.99 Some days are just too much… for any of us, let alone Smalls. And it’s not always big stuff that makes them so. Often, it’s more like one not-so-big thing after another until they all roll into one huge dump of misery. As adults most of Read more

  • Father’s Day 2024

    Happy Father’s day to all the dads, grandpas, uncles, significant/lighthouse males as well as the mums pulling double-duty as both parents. What Do You Call Your Dad? – Ashleigh Barton/Martina Heiduczek Harper Collins Australia July 2024 I’ve now reviewed several of Ashleigh’s books and also had, quite recently, the pleasure of meeting her at the Read more

  • Forevability Awards 2025

    It gives me pleasure to announce that this coming year I will not only be a judge again in the awards but also a sponsor. What a privilege it is! Highlighting Sue Warren as a valued sponsor for the 2025 Forevability Book Awards.Sue Warren has had a long and varied career as a teacher-librarian for Read more

Archived Reviews