Just So Stories

Random Reviews and Ramblings from Redcliffe

  • Christmas fun for littlies

      As the weeks go rushing past and in no time it will be time to hang the stockings we all seem to go into a kind of frenzy of ‘what to get for..?’. There are some very cute new books for little people which would make great stocking stuffers: Peppa’s Christmas Jumper Day Penguin…

  • Alice-Miranda Movie Madness

      Fans across the country are champing at the bit as the debut of everyone’s favourite schoolgirl on screen approaches. To celebrate the long-awaited and much-anticipated film version Penguin Australia has some super new goodies for all those A-M devotees. Keep the A-M magic flowing for your readers with these fabulous new additions to the…

  • Fauna: Australia’s Most Curious Creatures – Tania McCartney

    National Library of Australia November 2019 ISBN: 9780642279545 RRP: $24.99 Where to begin with this absolutely glorious book? Once again Tania has created a jewel of colour and style with her distinctive stylised illustrations and combined with information both fascinating and amazing this is a treasure for readers of all ages. The wealth of facts…

  • The Australia Survival Guide – George Ivanoff

      Penguin Australia October 2019 ISBN: 9780143796572 Imprint: Puffin RRP: $24.99 George Ivanoff is not just a pretty face. Under that luxuriant  mop of ever-changing hair there’s an inventive and clever brain which can produce not only awesome adventures of the fictional kind for readers but now the ultimate field guide to surviving in the harsh reality of…

  • Racing in the Rain – Garth Stein [Young Readers Adaptation]

    Harper Collins Australia August 2019 ISBN: 9780062935076 ISBN 10: 0062935070 Imprint: HarperCollins – US List Price: 14.99 AUD For everyone who has loved the series of A Dog’s Purpose (which definitely includes me and K) this book will bring much joy though at times it is both poignant and tense. It is the story of a family in essence.…

  • Pages & Co [Book 2]: Tilly and the Lost Fairy Tales – Anna James

    Harper Collins September 2019 ISBN: 9780008229900 ISBN 10: 0008229902 Imprint: HarperCollins – GB List Price: 19.99 AUD Once more Tilly and Oskar are plunged into a whirl of adventure and mystery as their book-wandering travels continue. Their world and their families are in a state of flux as the British Underlibrary becomes embroiled in turmoil. The new Librarian Melville…

  • Beverly, Right Here – Kate diCamillo

    Walker Books ISBN: 9781406391633 Imprint: Walker September 2019 Australian RRP: $19.99 New Zealand RRP: $22.99 Without a doubt this is the happiest review I’ve ever written. Not just because it’s another fabulous book from this much-loved author, nor just that it continues the story of Raymie, Louisiana and Beverly but for a far more personal reason. My review copy…

  • MoonFish  [Poems to make you & Think] – Harry Laing. Various Illustrators

    Ford St Publishing May 2019 9781925804256 RRP: $16.95 Sharing poetry with kiddos is one of my favourite things to do – and even the ones who kind of screw their noses up at first really get into it with the right selection. This will definitely be one of those and I know that many teachers…

  • I am So Clever – Mario Ramos

      Walker Books August 2019 ISBN:  9781776572496 Imprint: Gecko Press Australian RRP: $16.99 New Zealand RRP: $19.99 In my experience kids just love send ups of the Big Bad Wolf and this book will delight those from 4 years upwards with its humorous text and illustrations, along with the references to other fairy tales. Little Red Riding Hood…

  • Ravi’s Roar

    Bloomsbury September 2019 ISBN 9781408892183 Imprint: Bloomsbury Children’s Books RRP: $14.99 This is another of Tom Percival’s splendid picture books which help children to understand and self-regulate their emotions. Many of us (educators) are finding it increasingly challenging to help children to identify and manage their own emotional issues (which also seem to be increasing…