Just So Stories

Random Reviews and Ramblings from Redcliffe

  • Confetti and the Rainbow Garden – Shane Jenek aka Courtney Act. Illustrated by Dylan Finney.

    Hardie Grant Australia October 2025 Imprint: Pantera Press ISBN:9781763550735 Price:AU$22.99, NZ$24.99 After a hugely successful debut with their memoir Caught in the Act, Shane Jenek/Courtney Act now presents a timely book that encourages young people to understand the shades of difference between us all. Confetti is one of a group of cousins each with their…

  • CSIRO Publishing line up!

    I seem to have collected a few so here’s the round-up of all I have left for this year – every single one of utmost excellence as we know we will get from this publishing house, and all of them with subject matter that will engage, fascinate and inform kiddos. Every Rock has a Story:…

  • Picture Book Month Bonus: Catching Fire – Suzanne Collins. Illustrated by Nico Delort.

    Scholastic Australia Last year it was the #1 illustrated Hunger Games that was a bonus for Picture Book Month, now it’s equally sumptuous Catching Fire. This trilogy and its numerous spin-offs remains a favourite with so many around the world, myself included. There is just so much to love about it and quite frankly, as…

  • The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Fast and Slow Animals – Sami Bayly

    Hachette Australia September 2025 Imprint: Lothian Children’s Books 9780734421418 | RRP $32.99 I could just say – Sami Bayly – and not need to write another word really. I know it. You know it. The kiddos certainly know it. This woman’s ability to create fascinating and fabulous books that tap into children’s innate love of animals and…

  • Mega!- Laura Holloway. Illustrated by Liz Duthie

    Simon & Schuster Published by : Wild Dog Books November 2025 Moving on from the Age of Dinosaurs, but for those die-hards who still want to explore the long-extinct creatures is this fabulous look at Australia’s own mega-fauna. Some kiddos will already know about the diprotodon and perhaps one or two others, but this is…

  • Weirdosaurus – Philip Bunting

    Pre-history’s Most Peculiar Creatures Hardie Grant Australia September 2025 ISBN:9781761214 Price:AU$29.99, NZ$34.99 Publisher:Hardie Grant Children’s Publishing Here are some words from the publisher and the author to describe this hilarious but extremely informative book: playful, humour, witty jokes, funny anecdotes, and fabulous facts. But as it’s Philip Bunting, you would have worked that out without…

  • Picture Book Month Bonus: Rory Sparkes and the Elephant in the Room – Hugh Bonneville

    Bloomsbury Australia October 2025 ISBN 9781526685957 Imprint Bloomsbury Children’s Books RRP: $17.99 Most people would know that I’m very wary of books by ‘celebrity’ authors but I am always willing to take a punt when a) I know that it is the person themselves that has written it (or that their collaborator/ghost writer is clearly…

  • Being Indy – Zoe Gaetjens. Illustrated by Estee Sarsfield

    Westwords October 2025 RRP $29.95 ISBN: 9781923044517 This is another intriguing and very different title from Westwords, and another that can be described as a fable. This a timeless narrative about one’s internal desire to fit in and be accepted, and the lengths to which some will go to do so. I love these opening…

  • My Friend May – Julie Flett

    New South Books Greystone Kids June 2025 ISBN 9781778401718 RRP: 29.99 How can I not absolutely love this one? Based on a true story and about a little girl and her friend, her black cat May, my first thought was of The Kid and Whiskers aka The Demon Spawn. This pair has been together for…

  • The Friendship Book – Zanni Louise

    Walker Books Australia November 2025 ISBN13:9781760658106 Australia RRP:$24.99 New Zealand RRP:$27.99 Zanni has been very busy this year! And here is yet another of her new releases (another one is coming up in review shortly). I don’t know about you but for me this time of year would always see me planning for the following…