Just So Stories

Random Reviews and Ramblings from Redcliffe

  • Whalesong – Kate Gordon

    Riveted Press/Yellow Brick Books September 2022 ISBN: 9780645218022 RRP: $16.95 I absolutely love Tasmania. I have now been there four times, the last was an adventure with The Kid, who also loved it. There is still so much for me to explore and I’m really hoping we can go back again. One of the aspects…

  • Huda was Here – H. Hayek

    Allen & Unwin ISBN:9781761068430 Imprint:A & U Children RRP: $15.99 This is a really fun read but more than that, it’s a delightful look at family relationships and community interactions. When their dad loses his job as the neighbourhood security guard, Huda and Akeal set out on a campaign of mischief, with the goal of…

  • A Message Through Time – Anna Ciddor

    Allen & Unwin April 2023 ISBN:9781761180125 Imprint:A & U Children RRP: $18.99 For those who love time-slip adventures, and particularly, are keen on ancient history this is a desirable addition to your shelves. I loved The Boy Who Stepped Through Time and after book talking it to my ChocLit kiddos, it was on a regular…

  • 365 Days of Calm – Becky Goddard-Hill

    Harper Collins Australia April 2023 RRP: $19.99 I probably needed this book – well, the first copy sent to me at least – as the courier delivering it left out on my back verandah, not under cover, while we were away for the weekend – a weekend that ended with one of our biggest summer…

  • Neil the Amazing Sea Cucumber – Amelia McInerney & Lucinda Gifford

    Affirm Press April 2023 RRP: $19.99ISBN: 9781922848635 These days The Kid and I have beach days that look like her surfing and me sitting, enjoying the view or reading but in the past, from the time she was toddling, exploring the beaches at low tide was one of our favourite pastimes. We especially loved the…

  • Where the River Takes Us – Lesley Parr

    Bloomsbury Australia April 2023 ISBN 9781526647771 Imprint Bloomsbury Children’s Books RRP: $16.99 I can now confirm for sure that Lesley Parr has become one of my favourite MG authors. This is the third of hers I have read – avidly – and it’s not just the fact that they are set in Wales (home to…

  • Itch! Everything You Didn’t Want to Know About What Makes You Scratch – Anita Sanchez. Illustrated by Gilbert Ford.

    Harper Collins Australia March 2023 We all know that kiddos love the gross and the icky. They love to groan over disgusting details and hurl revolting facts around – particularly at the dinner table, so this book is going to go down a treat. It is surprisingly entertaining and engaging for a grown up reader…

  • Mulga Bill’s Bicycle – Illustrated by Kilmeny and Deborah Niland

    Harper Collins Australia Those of us of a certain vintage, who have been teacher-librarians for a considerable length of time know this book very well indeed – and, I would think, have used it countless times over the years. [Anyone else remember when Year 7s used to ‘do’ bush ballads?? and this was the first…

  • Coral Reefs [Usborne Beginners]

    Harper Collins April 2023 RRP: $9.99 Given that we are Queenslanders, we have a certain affinity with coral and the beauty of the reef and its inhabitants is something we all treasure (and want to protect). One way to do that is to educate our youngsters and encourage them to also value this natural wonder.…

  • Tap! Tap! Tap! – Herve Tullet

    Allen & Unwin May 2023 ISBN:9781761180231 RRP: $36.75 Hervé Tullet is absolutely one of my favourite creators for little peeps, and I have many fond memories of sharing Mix it Up and Press Here with The Kid when she was younger. [Fun fact: did you know that Press Here was on the NYT bestseller list…