Just So Stories

Random Reviews and Ramblings from Redcliffe

  • Puffin Little Cook: Snacks

    Penguin Australia July 2020 ISBN: 9781760897000 Imprint: Puffin RRP: $12.99 Exciting times as the one and only Puffin imprint celebrates its 80th year – so many beautiful books coming out including some which will of course be featured on this blog – but also lots of fun celebrations. Starting this week Waterstones in the UK are launching a…

  • The Year the Maps Changed – Danielle Binks

    Hachette Australia APR 28, 2020 | 9780734419712 | RRP $17.99 What a glorious book with so much richness as it reveals not only a tragic episode in recent history but explores the pain but beautiful bonding in a family and community. 1999 in Sorrento is a difficult time for Fred (Winifred). Her mother died when she was very little…

  • Monstrous Devices – Damien Love

    Bloomsbury Australia May 2020 Imprint: Rock the Boat ISBN 9780451478597 RRP $14.99 Firstly if Sid’s Franken-toys in Toy Story freaked you out a bit, you’re really not going to like the titular monstrous devices in this deliciously exciting and somewhat creepy debut novel from Damien Love! Twelve year old Alex has a collection of old…

  • When Rain Turns to Snow – Jane Godwin

    Hachette Australia JUN 30, 2020 | 9780734420053 | RRP $16.99 If you are looking for something new in your ‘identity’ collection this beautiful coming-of-age narrative will be a perfect fit. The recent months have been a revelation in how some humans handle a crisis situation and for teens this can be a real challenge. Lissa is no different. Home…

  • Tell ’em – written by Katrina Germein & Rosemary Sullivan [with the Children of Manyallaluk School] Illustrated by Karen Briggs.

    Harper Collins Australia May 2020 ISBN: 9781921504921 ISBN 10: 1921504927 Imprint: Working Title Press – AU List Price: 24.99 AUD What an absolute joy this book is! I’ve had some absolutely cracking books of late featuring Indigenous/First Australian themes but this one, which gives readers an insight into the everyday life of contemporary First Australian kids living in their…

  • Embrace Your Body – Taryn Brumfitt. Illustrated by Sinead Hanley.

    Penguin Random House Australia Published: 2 June 2020 ISBN: 9781760895983 Imprint: Puffin RRP: $19.99 In another break-through move in her mission to change the global body-hating plague that is such a curse of modern life, Taryn Brumfitt has turned her sights to empowering children to be happy and confident in themselves – inside and out. The Embrace Kids documentary,…

  • The Proudest Blue – Ibtihaj Muhammad, with S. K. Ali. Art by Hatem Aly

    Walker Books Australia February 2020 ISBN: 9781783449712Imprint: Andersen PressAustralian RRP: $24.99New Zealand RRP: $26.99 This is a beautiful expression of a strong bond between sisters as well as an empowering story to encourage children to be proud of their culture and to better understand the cultural differences of their classmates. The strong anti-bullying message is one that is of…

  • Peanut Goes for Gold – Jonathan Van Ness. Pictures by Gillian Reid

    Harper Collins Australia May 2020 ISBN: 9780062941008 ISBN 10: 0062941003 Imprint: HarperCollins – US List Price: 24.99 AUD It has been very reassuring in recent years to be able to review a number of picture books which embrace diversity in children but particularly those who may be struggling or feeling isolated due to their gender/sexual self-identity. There would be…

  • Let’s Go Under the Sea – Petr Horacek

    Walker Books Australia April 2020 ISBN: 9781406388800Imprint: WalkerAustralian RRP: $12.99New Zealand RRP: $14.99 I’ve had the joy of some truly lovely board books recently and this one is another that will prove a favourite with any tiny human with whom you share it. While very simple in its text the vibrant illustrations accompanied by the ‘peep through’ interaction will…

  • The One and Only Bob – Katherine Applegate

    Harper Collins Australia For all of us who fell in love with the story of Ivan and his friends, this is such an exciting new release – and all I can say is if you haven’t read The One and Only Ivan – what are you thinking?! Get to it now before the long-awaited movie…