Just So Stories

Random Reviews and Ramblings from Redcliffe


  • My Love is Bigger Than the Sky – Anna Pignataro

    Scholastic Australia March 2026 ISBN: 9781761528620 RRP: $19.99 We can always expect something utterly beautiful from Anna and this new one does not disappoint. The text is simple enough, though poetic and evocative – and an excellent way to introduce figurative/descriptive language aspects for those kiddos old enough to grasp this technique. Essentially it is…

  • Rain Stones: 35th Anniversary Edition – Jackie French

    Harper Collins Australia March 2026 ISBN: 9781460768808 ISBN 10: 1460768809 Imprint: HarperCollins AU List Price: 17.99 AUD When I opened this package a couple of days ago, there was a sharp intake of breath and a gasp of ’35 years! that can’t be right surely!’ but, of course it’s right. And over the course of 25ish years in school…

  • What Do You Call Your Mum? – Ashleigh Barton. Martina Heiduczek.

    Harper Collins Australia February 2026 The winning combo of Ashleigh and Martina continue their fab collab with another What Do You Call Your… title, this one for all the mums. I love these easy introductions to exploring other cultures and countries, combining geography and social traditions into one engaging expo. In this one Ashleigh includes…

  • Baby’s First Mother’s Day – Cheryl Orsini

    Hardie Grant Australia February 2026 ISBN:9781761217869 Price:AU$19.99, NZ$22.99 Series:Baby’s First Imprint:Hardie Grant Children’s Publishing Starting off a flurry of Mother’s Day titles is one of Cheryl Orsini’s always beautiful books – this one a board book in the Baby’s First series that will delight any first time mums of your acquaintance. One of The Kid’s…

  • Ella and the Mystery of the Missing Frogs – Cassy Polimeni. Illustrated by Hykie Breeze.

    UWA Publishing Distributed by Simon & Schuster March 2026 #3 in the Ella’s froggy series is another engaging read for those early chapter books readers in your circle – the ones who are growing more confident with their sustained reading. Each of these charmers has presented a narrative to which kids will relate and make…

  • I’d Rather Be a Shark – Philip & Laura Bunting

    The Buntings have done it again with an uproariously look at ‘what if…’ when a child is fed up with having to use their manners, or being kind to everyone and taking turns, smiling sweetly and, as for sharing – phooey! What if….one salty kid could transform into a salty, snapping toothy SHARK! That would…

  • The Prime Minister Problem – Brenton Cullen

    Riveted Press April 2026 Dist: Simon & Schuster ISBN13: 9781764256728 RRP: AU$ 17.99 / NZ$ 19.99 Brenton Cullen’s debut novel is a terrific read for middle-grade. This young man has been a keen writer since childhood and is now making his dream of writing professionally come true. And what a great start this is! It’s…

  • What’s That? Australian Sharks, Rays and Skates – Myke Mollard

    Woodslane Press March 2026 ISBN: 9781923350151 RRP: $24.99 Once again Myke Mollard brings his passion for the natural world and, especially, our own Australian animals to young readers in an informative, engaging and entertaining format. Sharks have been very much in the news again over summer and I, for one, have been well-pleased at the number…

  • The Man From Snowy River: Australian Classics for Little Ones Banjo- Paterson/Cate James. llustrated by Cate James.

    Penguin Australia April 2026 I will be the first to say that at first sight I thought – ummm, how is this going to work? But you know what? Somehow it does. Taking lines from the poem as a cue on each page the text is combined with a background colour and a number, so:…

  • Books in Homes

    Yesterday I did my first gig for Books in Homes, which is just such a fantastic initiative to promote a love of books and reading to kiddos. I went to Carole Park SS and while it was a mission to get there, what a delightful little school it is. Their student leaders were fabulous and…