Just So Stories

Random Reviews and Ramblings from Redcliffe


  • Christmas Time! Aussie Baby’s First Words- Tom Jellett

    Allen & Unwin September 2025 ISBN:9781761181900 Publisher:A&U Children’s Imprint:A & U Children RRP: $12.99 There’s a whole series of these: Dinner Time! Bath Time! Bed Time!, just perfect for the Smallest in your circle and, of course, a perfect stocking stuffer for a newborn human. This cutie little board book has got some Xmas vocab…

  • The History of Rugby League Clubs: 3rd edition -Ian Collis and Allan Whiticker

    New Holland Publishers August 2025 ISBN: 9781760797942 RRP: $49.99 Of course, as a life-long (since age 7) Dragons supporter, I was keen to see this one and read about my Mighty Red V, but also because this is one sport I’ve always loved. And played as a primary school girl with a couple of fellow…

  • Bluey Christmas Little Library

    Penguin Australia Christmas Eve. Christmas Day. Christmas Food. Hooray Presents!! I do love these little libraries because I think for little hands which love to hold and turn the pages these are perfect. They are all really super cute! I love the idea of Verandah Santa and it’s so fun to see the whole family…

  • Just a Dog (new edition): Michael Gerard Bauer

    Scholastic Australia November 2025 9781761127816 $15.99 Xmas gift for middle grade kiddos It’s been a while – 2011, we first met Mister Mosely and since then his award-winning fame has travelled the world, and it was a joy to re-visit his gentle nature, his quirky adventures, and his family. We know how much the kiddos…

  • Bluey: Big Pop-up Book

    Penguin Australia This one is another big and bold and very simple one. There are five pop-ups each telling its own little story. From fairies in the garden to playtime at the creek. Each pop-up scene is a double spread, as you can see with a couple of lift-the-flaps for extra fun. LOVE the pesky…

  • The Rose Field: The Book of Dust #3 – Philip Pullman

    Penguin Australia October 2025 It was a very long wait indeed and so many of us were very impatient indeed [no, it wasn’t just me!] – 2017 from the first to 2025 for the last. Not only did I revisit my reviews of #1 and #2 but I listened to both on audio – finishing…

  • Bluey: Bartlebee’s First Christmas

    Penguin Australia So in the tiny board book Hooray Presents! we saw Bluey get a mini Heeler toy. Meet Bartlebee! Bluey is enchanted with this new friend and hurls him straight into all the family Christmas shenanigans including Classic Catches in the pool and being licked ‘hello’ by Socks. Bartlebee is baffled to say the…

  • First Knowledges Ceremony: All Our Yesterdays for Today – Wesley Enoch. Georgia Curran.

    Thames & Hudson August 20265ISBN: 9781760764074 RRP: $26.99 What is ceremony for many of us is not the same as Ceremony for our First Nations people. And while there are plenty of us who understand the purpose and meaning of some of these ceremonies, there are still just as many who are not only ignorant…

  • A Barney Gumnut Christmas (Barney Gumnut #2)- Tamsin Ainslie

    Harper Collins Australia August 2025 Hmm, I don’t know why but I never saw the #1 Barney Gumnut [gives the HC crew the side-eye] which was surely some kind of oversight? Regardless, this is my first meeting with Barney and his friends and, honestly, I’m in love with them all. There’s Barney – as you…

  • Best Australian Political Cartoons 2025 – edited by Russ Radcliffe.

    Scribe Publications 9781761381676 RRP: AUD$35.00 November 2025 Correct again! Not a Xmas book but a damned fine gift for someone – especially that hard to buy for Dad/Grandpa/Activist Aunty or other politically aware person in your fold. As well, I think this makes an excellent addition to any library collection for use in Media Studies,…