Just So Stories

Random Reviews and Ramblings from Redcliffe

  • Treeshape – Trace Balla

    Allen & Unwin March 2026 ISBN:9781761181252 Publisher:A&U Children’s Imprint:A & U Children Trace Balla’s work always fills me with both admiration and emotion, and I think really, this one is the best yet as it is the most intensely personal as well, outlining the journey of Trace from child to present. Leaf-light (2023) and Rivertime…

  • The Clueless Guide to Solving a Mystery: Clueless #1 – Samera Kamaleddine. Illustrations by Hykie Breeze.

    Harper Collins Australia May 2026 ISBN: 9781460767443 RRP: $17.99 MG readers will thoroughly enjoy meeting Claudia as she has an extended stay with her grandparents in their retirement village. The residents make for hilarious friends with their various quirks but it is when ‘the cousins’, Yasmin and Zayn, come to visit their own grandmother that her…

  • Somewhere You Can Dream – Janeen Brian. Hilary Jean Tapper.

    Allen & Unwin March 2026 ISBN:9781761181764 Publisher:A&U Children’s Imprint:A & U Children The incomparable Janeen Brian never fails to provide us with utter joy and here is the latest example of her lyrical talent. As I’ve previously mentioned, Janeen’s was one of the first author names to make me take note wayyyyyy back when I…

  • Through the Darkening Sea – Claire Saxby. Peter Cheong.

    Harper Collins Australia April 2026 As the winter draws in, it’s getting closer to whale season in Queensland which will be particularly exciting this year as one of The Kid’s 21st birthday presents from me is a voucher to swim with the whales, and I think it will be quite the memorable experience for her.…

  • A Great Piratical Rumbustification

    Ok yes, we do know that pirates have been romanticised over the years and we also know that there are pirates in the modern world, including the ones in office politically but there is absolutely no denying that fictional pirates still hold a real fascination for readers both young and old. As it happens, three…

  • May Wrap-up

    I do know I’ve missed a couple but that’s ok……this will do – close enough!

  • Mandaang Guwu ….

    For stopping by for Reconciliation Week. I hope some of the featured new titles were of interest. As an extra please go read my shared post of the concerns re AI and theft of creatives’ intellectual property and the pervasive use of AI taking over in creative fields and how we, as educators and librarians…

  • Good Young Men – Gary Lonesborough

    Allen & Unwin March 2026 ISBN:9781761182174 Publisher:A&U Children’s Imprint:A & U Children RRP: $22.99 Once again Gary brings his own upbringing as a young gay Koori in a regional setting [from the same part of the country as my family] as well as his professional experience working with Aboriginal youth in a skewed justice system,…

  • Dingoes: Up Close series – Jane Forge

    Wild Dog Books Dist: Simon & Schuster June 2026 In a word – stunning! This is exactly the sort of non-fiction book on Australian animals that we all want to complement our UoI on our fauna but, at the same time, is also perfect for those children who are keen to learn more about animals.…

  • Worl Barna / Sky Creatures: Noongar First Words – Jayden Boundry. Tyrown Waigana.

    Fremantle Press June 2026 ISBN: 9781760995607 RRP: $16.99 I’ve reviewed two others in this delightful series for Smallests: Land Creatures and Water Creatures which some of you may have already seen. If not, really this is a terrific series for introducing jarjums to language, even if it’s not the one from the Country on which they…