Just So Stories

Random Reviews and Ramblings from Redcliffe

  • The Sea Captain’s Wife – Jackie French

    Harper Collins Australia It really is a given, that a new Jackie French book means that all other books are put on hold (even if half-read!) until I have devoured the newest. And that’s exactly what has happened over the past few days. Just under 500 pages flew by over a couple of nights as…

  • Information Overload!

    Every now and then it happens. There’s been a gradual build-up on the review shelves, which I doggedly work through but then there’s a sudden rush of many parcels arriving (my postie and I are such good friends after him delivering to my last two houses!), and things go completely catawampus. So despite all my…

  • I Hear a Buho – Raquel MacKay/Armando Fonseca

    Scribble April 2024 ISBN: 9781957363653 RRP: $24.99 Given we have done a little bit of learning Spanish here over the last couple of years, I was well pleased to know that I could not only pronounce all the español in this striking picture book but could understand it. Hurra! This a quite simple rhyming picture…

  • Dinosaur in my Pocket – Ashleigh Barton & Blithe Fielden

    Hachette Imprint: Lothian Children’s Books MARCH 2024 | 9780734422668 | RRP $24.99 There are many of us, young as well as old, who love miniatures. I once had a dollhouse as an adult and was, piece by piece, acquiring miniature ‘antiques’ to furnish it. You only need to look at the feeding frenzy the supermarket miniatures create to know…

  • Tania Ingram YABBA 2024 VAP

    Tania’s latest books Aggie Flea is NOT a Liar and Aggie Flea Steals the Show have both been great hits with readers – AND with the CBCA Judges who included Aggie Flea is NOT a Liar on the 2024 Notables list. Recently Tania did a VAP for this year’s YABBA awards. See below for an…

  • Countdown to Yesterday – Shirley Marr

    Penguin Australia January 2024 I love Shirley Marr’s description of herself ‘as having a Western Mind and an Eastern Heart‘, and the success of her books for middle grade readers that explore the experiences of children living in this mix of cultures is self-evident. Her narratives not only speak to the children of Asian heritage…

  • Ivy Newt series

    New South Books Ivy Newt and the Storm WitchDerek Keilty, illustrated by Magda Broll Apr 2023 | Scallywag Press | 9781915252180 | AUD$18.99, NZD$21.99 Ivy Newt and the Time ThiefDerek Keilty, illustrated by Magda Broll Sep 2023 | Scallywag Press | 9781915252333 | AUD$18.99, NZD$21.99 Yes, quite right – both of these were released last…

  • When the World was Soft: Yindjibarndi Creation Stories – Juluwarlu Group Aboriginal Corporation. Illustrated by Alex Mankiewicz.

    Allen & Unwin April 2024 ISBN:9781761180651 Publisher:A&U Children’s Imprint:A & U Children RRP: $34.99 Creation – Ngurra Nyujunggamu Wedgetailed Eagle, Crow and Black Kite – Jargurrungu Wangangga GarranygaNyinkara the StonemanPelican and Quail – Jiruna YuyaBunggaliyarra – FallenBarrimirndi Most would know that I read and review every First Nations children’s book I can get my hands…

  • Michael Morpurgo’s Tales from Shakespeare

    Harper Collins Australia October 2023 Featuring: Macbeth, illustrated by Dapo AdeolaThe Taming of the Shrew, illustrated by Joelle AvelinoRomeo and Juliet, illustrated by Peter BaileyThe Tempest, illustrated by BarrouxTwelfth Night, illustrated by Ian BeckHenry V, illustrated by Christian BirminghamA Midsummer Night’s Dream, illustrated by Alona MillgramHamlet, illustrated by Tom Clohosy ColeKing Lear, illustrated by Michael…

  • Animals Brag about Their Bottoms – Maki Saito

    Greystone Books ISBN: 9781771647106 March 2024 If you have a new baby in your circle, you have just found a perfect little board book to gift them. This is absolutely adorable. Not only does it have that touch of humour to make the sharing a pleasure to the adult reader but it has beautiful artwork.…

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