Just So Stories

Random Reviews and Ramblings from Redcliffe

  • Peggy and Me – Miranda Hart

    Hachette Australia ISBN: 9781444769135 Publication date: 11 Oct 2016 Page count: Imprint: Hodder & Stoughton   Many readers will be familiar with Miranda Hart’s work as a comedic actress; appearances in Absolutely Fabulous, Smack the Pony and of course, Call the Midwife and her own self-titled sitcom Miranda. She had long been more a cat person than a…

  • One Woman’s War and Peace: a nurse’s journey in the Royal Australian Air Force – Wing Commander Sharon Bown (Ret’d)

    Exisle Publishing Hourglass Imprint September 2016 ISBN 9781925335316 RRP $29.99   Many of you will already know that I’m an advocate for Mighty Girls, particularly now that I’m raising Miss Small after the untimely death of her mum, my Jennifer. This is the memoir of a true Australian Mighty Girl and is riveting reading. My…

  • Jinny & Cooper – Tania Ingram

    Penguin Random House 9780143308751 February 1, 2016   $14.99 This is my first taste of the Jinny & Cooper series but it certainly won’t be my last! And it’s already on my ‘read aloud’ list for Miss Small, my library and relief teaching days! When Tania’s young daughter first asked her to write about a…

  • Australia Illustrated – Tania McCartney

    Exisle Publishing November 2016 ISBN 9781925335217 RRP $29.99   Five years ago while the teacher-librarian at Red Hill Primary, Canberra, I invited a local author about whom I had heard good things to come on an author visit to talk about her popular ‘Riley’ picture books.  Elegant Tania McCartney walked into my library and we…

  • The Crayons’ Book of Numbers – Drew Daywalt/Oliver Jeffers Harper Collins

    Harper Collins ISBN:9780008212865 ISBN 10: 0008212864 Imprint: HarperCollins – GB On Sale: 24/10/2016 RRp $14.99   Since the first appearance of the ‘Crayons’ they have been very firm favourites with readers of all ages but of course, especially little people. This delightful board book is a great introduction to these colourful personalities particularly for the tiniest of book-lovers.…

  • Watch Out for Muddy Puddles – Ben Faulks/Ben Cort

    Allen & Unwin ISBN :9781408867204 Publisher: Bloomsbury Imprint: Bloomsbury Child Pub Date: October 2016 RRP $14.99 Being Aussie I was not familiar with Ben Faulks’ name but UK readers will recognise it from his very popular television presence. This is his first picture book and is colourfully illustrated by Ben Cort, who also did the…

  • Beck – Mal Peet, with Meg Rossoff

    Walker Books ISBN: 9781406331127 18 Aug 2016 $24.99   Vale Mal Peet.  What a privilege to review this novel from Carnegie Medal winner, Mal Peet post-humously.  It is powerful, it is harrowing, it is positive and you would need to have a heart of stone to not be moved by the narrative. Ignatious Beck (hereafter…

  • Wormwood Mire: A Stella Montgomery Intrigue – Judith Rossell

    Harper Collins ISBN: 9780733333019 ISBN 10: 073333301X Imprint: ABC Books – AU On Sale: 10/24/2016 Pages: 288 List Price: 22.99 AUD Warning: This review will be chockers with fulsome praise and expressions of delight. From the point I took this book from its package two days ago I was in love with it. We know that you can indeed judge a…

  • Artie and the Grime Wave – Written and illustrated by Richard Roxburgh

    ISBN: 9781760292140 Publisher: Allen & Unwin Imprint: A & U Children October 2016 RRP $16.99 Ok so Richard Roxburgh is a talented actor and director in both theatre and screen and of course the star of Rake. Now he’s added writing and illustrating to his portfolio in a very successful way. I mean to say,…

  • The Eagle of Rome: A Lottie Lipton Adventure – Dan Metcalf

    Allen & Unwin Bloomsbury Publishing ISBN:9781472927583 Imprint: A&C Black Children’S September 2016 RRP $12.99 I have some little girls who will be most excited when this hits the shelves after the holidays. They loved the first one I brought along to the library so the rest of the series is on our ‘to buy’ list…