Just So Stories

Random Reviews and Ramblings from Redcliffe


  • Goodly and Grave in a Bad Case of Kidnap – Justine Windsor

    Harper Collins ISBN: 9780008183530 Imprint: HarperCollinsChildren’sBooks May 2017 Lucy Goodly has been won in a game of cards against the strange Lord Grave, despite the fact that she has a  magical card to help her win. Her parents are inveterate gamblers – unsuccessful ones at that – and this time they have lost their only child who…

  • Nursery Rhymes

    In the times when I was in the classroom I was for the most part an ‘Infants’ teacher as we were known then. I mostly taught Year 1 or 1/2. We knew the importance of nursery rhymes and they were always our entree into the world of language. From my observations it seems that less…

  • Today……….

    37 years ago today my baby was due – she didn’t arrive for another two days………..but my heart is full in this week…………I miss you so much Jen – and so does Kysha……….we all love you so much………….

  • Paper Cranes Don’t Fly – Peter Vu

    Ford St August 2017 ISBN 9781925272765 RRP $19.95 Exquisitely poignant and so beautifully written this is a young adult book which will touch the hearts of every reader. There have been other books that look at the lives of young people with life-threatening or terminal illnesses but this is the first I’ve read that really…

  • Opposite Land – Charlotte Rose Hamlyn

    Penguin Random House ISBN 9780143780816 July 31, 2017 Random House Australia Children’s $14.99 Having a really bad first day at a new school and mother/daughter conflicts are nothing new but this new graphic novel for younger readers presents these in a completely fresh style. Readers who enjoy cartoons of the Adventure Time ilk will really…

  • The Teenage Guide to Friends – Nicola Morgan

    Walker Books ISBN: 9781406369779 Imprint: Walker July 1, 2017 Australian RRP: $16.99 New Zealand RRP: $18.99 Nicola Morgan is a recognised expert on the teenage psyche and has already written successful and well received books. Now she turns her hand to dealing with the issue of friends and friendship. Her engaging and conversational style will certainly appeal to the…

  • Pretty Girls Don’t Eat – Winnie Salamon

    Ford St Publishing Jul 2017 9781925272772 AUD$17.95, NZD$22.99   “Body image is one of the top concerns for young people in Australia right now,” Dr Vivienne Lewis, associate professor and clinical psychologist at the University of Canberra told The Huffington Post Australia. November 2016   Eating disorders are estimated to affect approximately 9% of the Australian population.…

  • Raymie Nightingale – Kate DiCamillo

    Walker Books ISBN: 9781406373189 Imprint: Walker May 1, 2017 Australian RRP: $14.99 New Zealand RRP: $16.99   I know that most folks will already know Raymie Nightingale but this paperback edition has been my ‘waiting for child pick up’ read for a few weeks so it did take me a while to get through in the short snatches. It…

  • Chook Doolan series – James Roy. Illustrated by Lucinda Gifford

      Walker Books Sometimes it can be tricky finding those transition type books for the little ones who are ready to take on their first chapter books. I have found the Chook Doolan series to be ideal for this and I know that many people will already have some in their collection. Now we have…

  • Dotty Detective #1 Super Secret Agent – Clara Vulliamy

    Harper Collins Australia ISBN 9780008132491 ISBN 10: 0008132496 Imprint: HarperCollins – GB 01/06/2017 List Price: 4.99 AUD Girl detectives seem to be quite the popular trend of late and you will perhaps have some younger readers who want to get in on this but are not quite ready for some of the books on offer. This new series will…