Just So Stories

Random Reviews and Ramblings from Redcliffe

  • What is a Dot? -Johanna Bell. Illustrated by Amelia Luscombe.

    Thames & Hudson April 2025 ISBN: 9781760764814 RRP: $26.99 What is a dot when a dot is not? Is it a swish? A sweep? Or a swirl? Is it a scurry? A wave? Or a pearl? I was SO keen to see this because I’m such a huge fan of Hervé Tullet and his always imaginative,…

  • Are you ready for Silverborn?

    Just a few weeks ago, I re-read all the books, in preparation for #4’s release- at last!! and today this sumptous box arrived. Like a Xmas present only betterer. So I’m re-posting my original reviews for your delectation. Nevermoor: The Trials of Morrigan Crow Jessica Townsend Hachette October 2017 When you receive a proof copy…

  • Nim’s Island – holiday fun on the Sunshine Coast

    From Wendy Orr: ​Nim’s Island showing on the Sunshine Coast on the school holidays. Always nice to see it still bringing fun for kids. I wonder if they know it’s an Australian book and was filmed not far from them? [Hinchinbrook!] Thrilling activity guide for the holidays on the Sunshine Coast Maybe it’s time to…

  • Thanks !

    If you followed along for the past week’s new First Nations titles, I hope you enjoyed them. Meanwhile, for the next few days it will be a couple of holiday-interest posts plus Mother’s Day titles before I take a little break – The Kid and I are going away for Easter/ANZAC and I need some…

  • Vale Kerry Greenwood

    Like many others, I am devastated to learn of Kerry Greenwood’s death. What a tremendous loss to the Australian literary landscape and how we will all miss the continuing hijinks of Phryne and Corinne. RIP Kerry, thank you for all your wit, intelligence, creativity, body of work and always good humour.

  • Brightest Wild – Tania Crampton-Larking

    Hachette Australia January 2025 9780734420657 | RRP $16.99 Imprint: Lothian Children’s Books This is a ‘bright’ start to a writing career for Tania Crampton-Larking, with a whole lot going on in this novel: loss/grief, moving/changes, mixed heritage families, family/changes to family, bullying, climate change, First Nations culture to mention a few. Alex and her mum move from…

  • Getting Dusty: Uncle Xbox #2- Jared Thomas

    Magabala Books February 2025 Hachette Australia 9781922777546 | RRP $17.99 Just over a decade ago I reviewed Dr Jared Thomas’ YA novel Calypso Summer, which was quite the wild ride showing two sides of young urban Indigenous culture, particularly young men. Over the intervening years Jared has continued to go from strength to strength, award to award…

  • The First Sunrise – Nessa Stevens. Paul Seder

    Magabala Books February 2025  9781922777553 | RRP $27.99 Hachette Australia I am always excited by First Nations books and I can’t think of a single one that hasn’t made me feel that way. But every now and then, one comes along that is really out of the box and this is one of those. There are a…

  • Our Dance – Jacinta Daniher & Taylor Hampton. Illustrations by Janelle Burger

    Hachette Australia Imprint: Lothian Children’s Books Apr 30, 2025 | 9780734423429 | RRP $24.99 As one might expect from this pair of collaborators this is cross-cultural learning made fun and exciting. Taylor Hampton, a proud Ngiyampaa/Wiradjuri man and Jacinta Daniher, an early childhood educator created Birrang Cultural Connections, to which I have previously made reference when I reviewed Our…

  • Rain on the Rock – Jodie Toering. Illustrated by Valerie Brumby.

    Hardie Grant January 2025 ISBN:9781760509880 Price:AU$27.99, NZ$30.99 Imprint:Hardie Grant Children’s PublishingPublish Date:Jan 29th, 2025 Rising above the desert plain, Uluṟu stands,ancient feet planted deep within the dry red earth.For much of the year, Uluṟu bakes in the kuḻi.But on rare days when rain-song beats,waterfalls cascade down the rock,creatures stir …and Uluṟu and Kata Tjuṯa burst…