Just So Stories

Random Reviews and Ramblings from Redcliffe

  • Smart about Sharks – Owen Davey

    Walker Books October 2016 ISBN:  9781909263918 Imprint:  NB – Flying Eye RRP $27.99 I’ve mentioned previously my childhood geeky obsession with factual books so when glorious new ones arrive in packages I’m always thrilled. This is the first of a few over which I shall rave. It’s unfortunate that the image doesn’t reveal the wonderful…

  • The Godwits – Bruce Pickworth. Illustrations by Lorraine Robertson

    The Godwits – Bruce Pickworth. Illustrations by Lorraine Robertson Bullawai Books, 2016. ISBN 9780994611802 It’s a long way from Shoalhaven NSW to the shores of the Yellow Sea but even longer to Alaska. For the godwits their annual migration is an amazing natural undertaking that of course is not without its perils. The godwits need…

  • The Dragon with a Chocolate Heart: Stephanie Burgis. Illustrated by Freya Harris

    Bloomsbury March 2017 ISBN 9781408880319 RRP $14.99   It’s often not easy being the youngest in the family particularly when your older siblings are considered by all to be brilliant and talented. Arguably it’s even harder to be the baby of a dragon family without the hardened scales or working wings that would allow you…

  • Lift the flap fun from Bloomsbury

    Lift-the-flap Friends Dinosaurs – Peter Allen Allen & Unwin ISBN: 9781408864166 Publisher: Bloomsbury Imprint: Bloomsbury Child       Lift-the-flap Friends Fairy – Peter Allen Allen & Unwin ISBN: 9781408864159 Publisher: Bloomsbury Imprint: Bloomsbury Child Bloomsbury seem to have a special knack for interactive books and these two lift-the-flaps will be very well received by…

  • Push! Dig! Scoop! ; a construction counting rhyme – Rhonda Gowler Greene/Daniel Kirk

    Allen & Unwin Push! Dig! Scoop! ; a construction counting rhyme – Rhonda Gowler Greene/Daniel Kirk Allen & Unwin November 2016 Imprint: Bloomsbury Children’s ISBN: 9781408881668 RRP $9.99   What a darling book! I’m fascinated to learn that the author has been an elementary teacher for learning disabled children. She knows her stuff for sure.…

  • Return of the Dinosaurs _- Bronwyn Houston Magabala Books November 2016 ISBN:9781925360370 RRP $17.99 Over the years as a teacher-librarian I’ve probably lost count of the number of dinosaur books, both factual and fictional, I’ve seen or read or bought or circulated. This is the first one I have ever seen which incorporates an awareness…

  • Happy Holidays for Everyone (especially parents!)

    Here in Queensland, the independent schools broke up over a week ago and the state schools finished up last Friday. I can guarantee that there are already kids complaining about being bored!  Any of these will stop them in their tracks.   The Arty Book – Nikalas Catlow, David Sinden Bloomsbury September 2016 ISBN: 9781408870662 Imprint:…

  • Series-ly Super Stocking Stuffers

    We all know that there are many of our children who absolutely eat up their favourite series. And what a way to keep them hooked on reading! I’ve had a stack of new episodes come in recently so thought I would run through them all for your stocking filling information. Not in any particular order…

  • Chronologica: the Incredible Years that Defined History – compiled by the Whitaker’s Almanack team

    Allen & Unwin Australia Imprint; Bloomsbury ISBN 9781472932945 December 2016 RRP $ 34.99 This is exactly the kind of book I would have loved as a rather nerdy child. I had quite the obsession with books of ‘general knowledge’ and random facts and perused them for hours.  Clearly, why I love trivia competitions so much…

  • Christmas is Coming…

    And it would always be incomplete without The Nutcracker. Two beautiful new books celebrate 200 years since the first publication of Hoffman’s story and the exquisite 1954 rendition of the ballet from George Balanchine for the New York City Ballet. The Nutcracker – Ernst Theodor Amadeus Hoffmann Illustrated by Robert Ingpen Walker Books ISBN: 9781922244550 Imprint: Walker Books…