Just So Stories

Random Reviews and Ramblings from Redcliffe


  • The Christmas Tree Catastrophe – Emma Bowd. Matt Shanks.

    Harper Collins Australia August 2025 ISBN: 9781460765883 ISBN 10: 1460765885 Imprint: HarperCollins AU List Price: 24.99 AU I fell in love with this the day it arrived when I read it immediately, but as I explained to Emma, I really wanted to save it for the Xmas Countdown because – to be honest- this year the Xmas books have…

  • Bluey – The Most Amazing Advent Book Bundle

    Penguin Australia When they say it’s AMAZING, that’s exactly what they mean! Any Bluey fan is going to LOVE this advent calendar with a new little book to reveal each day. And how good will it be to add to the magic of Christmas approaching? From the publisher >>>> Stories include: Daddy Robot, Charades, Yoga Ball,…

  • 2025 – the Christmas Countdown

    With Picture Book Month done and dusted (what a marathon it was this year!) it’s time for the Xmas Countdown. There have been not so many Christmas books come through but the first started to arrive back in August and I have saved them up. So as well as purely Christmas titles, I will be…

  • November Wrap-up

    And that’s 2025 Picture Book month done and dusted. Whew! Thanks to everyone who took time to check out the month’s reviews. It’s been my biggest marathon yet as I determined to get all the stacked up PBs out of the way. And, as usual, sliding in some bonus books as well. I think the…

  • How to Have the Best School Year Ever – Jess Sanders. Art by Andrea Onishi.

    Simon & Schuster Publisher: Affirm Press November 2025 This one takes another tack altogether from the previous two reviews. This is intended for any child or class at the start of a new year and is, essentially, a primer in resilience, self-belief and growth mindset. All of that sounds quite serious and of course it…

  • How to Train Your Teacher- Bethany Walker. Sophie Kent.

    Scholastic Australia December 2025 Imprint: Scholastic UK ISBN: 9781761727023 ISBN-10: 1761727028 RRP: $19.95 This is loads of fun and gives Smalls a humorous viewpoint on being at school, as it explains from the kiddos’ perspective how a teacher works and what to expect. It’s a completely different approach to a ‘new to school’ book. Whether it’s helping…

  • Picture Book Month Bonus: a little puff for us.

    So along with my first published book being only weeks away now.. My foray into magazine writing continues a-pace with 3 articles published in the current Caloundra Chronicle (the attached are the proof copies with some typos), the second column for Inspiring Minds sent off and a forthcoming lead article in the YourTime over-55s community…

  • How to Go to Big School – Sarah Ayoub. Mimi Purnell.

    Harper Collins Australia November 2025 I’m not familiar with the stats of other states but in Queensland there are now almost 12, 000 students being home-schooled. Between 2020 and 2024 there was almost a 164% increase in registrations. I knew the stats were escalating a few years ago when I was home-schooling The Kid myself.…

  • Picture Book Month Bonus: Frances Bloom – Katrina Nannestad. Illustrated by Marina Zlatanova.

    Harper Collins October 2025 Earlier this year I was not only excited to find out that Katrina had a new series on the way but was invited to write notes to support this first Frances Bloom and what fun it was! Anyone, young or old, who has loved Pippi Longstocking will fall in love with…

  • giwang: Weather & Wildlife on Wiradjuri Country – Belinda Bridge. Illustrated by Peta-Joy Williams.

    New South Books Publisher: Aboriginal Studies Press November 2025 9781922752031 AUD $24.95, NZD $29.99 I acknowledge the Gubbi Gubbi, the traditional custodians of the land on which I live and write, and pay my respects to elders past and present – Redcliffe, Australia. I also acknowledge and pay my respects to all the First Nations…