Just So Stories

Random Reviews and Ramblings from Redcliffe

  • Extraordinary Stories – Katherine Owens

    ISBN: 9781764398640 ISBN-10: 1764398645 May 2026 Contempo Publishing/Katherine Owens It was an exciting challenge to be contacted by Katherine and asked to create some supporting resources for this book, as it is something completely out of my usual repertoire. But this collection of micro-memoirs is such a worthy addition to a library, a counsellor/guidance officer’s shelves or…

  • Freddie Jones: The Mystery of the Ghostly Garden – Kate Foster

    Walker Books Australia May 2026 ISBN13:9781760659943 Australia RRP:$17.99 New Zealand RRP:$19.99 I am really loving this new series from Kate Foster, who writes not only entertaining narratives but ones that give us all a much clearer insight into neuro-diversity. Freddie is such a likeable character and his self-awareness, especially using the literary device of first-person…

  • Is This a Plum? – Dan & Finn Ojari

    Penguin Australia The first word that springs to mind with this debut book is charming, followed quickly by hilarious! Father and son team but not in the usual sense [thinking of examples like Anthony and Joe Browne] because this father mostly works in theatrical creativity (Aardman Animations) and this son is only 8 years old!…

  • Handbooks for Little Humans: Integrity and Inclusivity – Zanni Louise. Illustrated by Jingting Wang.

    Simon & Schuster Imprint: Affirm Press February 2026 Integrity ISBN13: 9781923293205 LIST PRICE: AU$ 19.99 / NZ$ 24.99 Inclusion ISBN13: 9781923293199 LIST PRICE: AU$ 19.99 / NZ$ 24.99 Following up on the earlier two in this series we have two more titles to add to your kitbag for inclusion in your circle time or social…

  • Connected – R. A. Stephens. Illustrated by Tamlyn Teow.

    Wombat Books April 2026 9781761113178 $24.99 Any of us who have taught Smalls always appreciate a useful ‘maths’ themed picture book. This one doubles as a timely introduction to the concept that we are all connected as humans, in one way or another. The maths aspect is certainly a fact – nodes, networks, circuits, spanning…

  • Lily Tripp: Diary of an Accidental Time Traveller – Amelia Tait

    Hachette Australia Imprint: Starboard May 5, 2026 | 9781444931983 | RRP $16.99 Well yes, it is another ‘diary’ of a tween title but at least this one really does have a point of difference. Lily Tripp, aged almost 13, has developed an unfortunate ability. Several times now she has spontaneously time-travelled on New Year’s Eve. She’s been in ancient…

  • Drawing Nudes While Making Other Plans – Zoe Gaetjens

    Penguin Australia Sometimes it’s just so refreshing to read something that’s different and this was one of those. It’s not that I don’t enjoy reading the YA cosy murder mysteries and so on, but when you get a book that gives you a slice of real life set in your hometown that combines self-belief, friendship,…

  • Shakespeare in the Orchard – Danielle Binks

    Hachette Australia Imprint: Lothian Children’s Books Jul 7, 2026 | 9780734421920 | RRP $17.99 It took me a while to get into this one as the first chapters seemed to move slowly but once it got going, I was thoroughly engaged with this fictionalised slice of history, hitherto unknown to me. That is to say, naturally I knew about…

  • Tiwi War Kwaympini -Mwarlapwara Kangi Tingati/Tiwi War Hero – Footprints in the Sand – Written, translated and illustrated by Mavis Kerinalua with support from Laura Radermaker

    Indigenous Literacy Foundation April 2026HardbackISBN 9781922592712RRP $29.99 Before the Japanese bombed Darwin in World War II, they attacked my grandfather’s Country. Not many people outside the Tiwi Islands know about my people’s role in the war. This is the story of one of our war heroes, my grandfather Louie Purraputimali Munkara Tiwi author brings untold…

  • Ayaiga: Neighbour and Hero – Thomas Higgs with Colin Hall. Illustrated by Wally Wilfred.

    New South Books Publisher: NLA 9781922507785 February 2026 AUD$24.99, NZD$29.99 What an amazing episode from history this is and certainly one I’ve not heard of previously. It makes me wonder how many other little-known Aboriginal heroes are in our history. And how wonderful it is that this book brings this particular story to the attention…