Just So Stories

Random Reviews and Ramblings from Redcliffe

  • Ceremony: Welcome to Our Country – Adam Goodes & Ellie Laing. Illustrated by David Hardy.

    Allen & Unwin April 2022 ISBN: 9781761065064 RRP: $24.99 Oh David Hardy, you have excelled yourself! I think we have all been eagerly anticipating the next title in this Welcome to Our Country series, the joyful introduction to First Nations history for younger readers, especially given the triumph of the first title Somebody’s Land. For…

  • The Ghost Locket – Allison Rushby

    Walker Books April 1st 2022 ISBN: 9781760654153Imprint: Walker Books AustraliaDistributor: Walker AustraliaBinding:Release Date: April 1, 2022 Australian RRP: $17.99New Zealand RRP: $19.99 Allison Rushby has repeatedly proven her gift for suspenseful spookiness for middle-grade readers and this new book, in my opinion, might just have tipped the scales of my favourite so far. Eleven-year-old Lolli (Olivia) has never known her mother,…

  • Some Writer! The story of E. B. White  – Melissa White

    HMH Houghton Mifflin Harcourt 2019 HMH Houghton Mifflin Harcourt RRP: $29.99 Every now and again a book comes along in a completely serendipitous manner, taking you by surprise in its fabulous-ness. This is one of those books. I stumbled upon it browsing for new engaging biographies for our library collection, loved its cover art and…

  • Katipo Joe Spycraft – Brian Falkner

    My review of this absolutely fabulous read is now live on Kids Book Review – don’t miss out, especially all of you with those blasé teens who need a good reading rev-up!! I loved this book and now I need to find time to read the earlier ones!

  • Guest Reviewer: Jessica Finden

    Introducing the lovely Jess, currently teacher-librarian (part-time) at Carmel College, Thornlands. Jess is definitely the glue that holds together the Bayside Secondary T-L Network and works hard always, organising meetings, and our regional Readers Cup competition. In tandem with her Head of English she has transformed the set novel program at Carmel with both flair…

  • The Unstoppable Flying Flanagan – Felice Arena

    Penguin Australia 29 March 2022 ISBN: 9781761044366 Imprint: Puffin RRP: $16.99 In a completely genius move, Felice Arena has combined his love of football (the AFL kind) and his skill with bringing lesser-known history to life. Set in Melbourne in the later years of WWII, this is the story of Maggie Flanagan who loves the game of football,…

  • Eyes that Speak to the Stars – Joanna Ho/Dung Ho

    Harper Collins Australia March 2022 ISBN: 9780063057753 ISBN 10: 0063057751 Imprint: HarperCollins US List Price: 24.99 AUD Last year, in my old library, we fell in love with Eyes That Kiss in the Corners and so did our kiddos, many of whom could make connections with the cultural heritage of the characters. This beautiful companion book will be equally…

  • Ming & Flo Fight for the Future: (The Girls Who Changed the World #1) – Jackie French

    Harper Collins March 2022 A brand new series from Jackie French is always cause for great excitement, and this one is going to be a corker, given this fabulous start! We have all been awed by Jackie’s wealth of historical novels and her indomitable female characters over the years. Now younger readers have the opportunity…

  • We Are Australians – Duncan Smith & Nicole Godwin/Jandamarra Cadd

    My review of this truly superb new picture book is now live at Kids Book Review – please do yourself a favour and check it out, then rush out and buy it. It is truly amazeballs!

  • Caroline Magerl – Sunshine Coast Superstar

    Truly I am so very lucky to be able to count Caroline (and her lovely husband) as friends. She is not just a hugely talented creator of children’s books but an incredible artist. On her recent trip to London and beyond, as part of the Illustrators Exhibition at Chris Beetles Gallery, she delighted all of…