Just So Stories

Random Reviews and Ramblings from Redcliffe

  • The Outside – Larry Blair and Jeremy Goring

    Cheating death, chasing waves and growing up in one of Australia’s most notorious crime families Penguin Books This isn’t really a review – but a recommendation. A few weeks ago the lovely Dot Tonkin from Penguin gave this one a book talk and on the strength of that, plus the fact that it was related Read more

  • The Dog who Danced on the Moon – John Boyne. Illustrated by Ashling Lindsay.

    Penguin Australia July 2024 This a rather charming rhyming story with a special leaning towards bedtime, exploring aspirations and determination in a warm and inspirational way. Jeremy’s dreams of space exploration are scoffed at by his peers, and even his teachers, but that doesn’t stop his absorbing as much information about the topic as possible, Read more

  • 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

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