Just So Stories

Random Reviews and Ramblings from Redcliffe

  • Be The Change: Rob Greenfield’s Call to Kids – Rob Greenfiled and Antonia Banyard

    Making a Difference in a Messed-up World New South Books Publisher: Greystone Books APril 2025 AUD$24.99, NZD$29.99 This is a book completely on point especially for all the kids and schools taking action towards zero waste and climate change/environmental degradation. I love that it’s written jargon-free with an easy conversational tone that feels like author…

  • I Am Not a Fish – Patrick Guest. Katie Abey.

    Scholastic Australia April 2026 ISBN: 9781761647628 ISBN-10: 1761647628 RRP: $19,99 I have such fond memories of The Second Sky, do you? My kiddos, in our countdown to the Book of the Year awards and our sharing of all the short-listed picture books (Early Childhood category, voted it our readers’ choice winner. So… this is NOTHING like that…

  • The First Easter – Illustrated by Jess Racklyeft

    Penguin Australia January 2026 It does not matter if you don’t celebrate Easter in a religious sense, this is still a book that is most definitely worth sharing with Smalls as it does explain the ‘why’ of Easter, and it does it in a purely narrative manner. Retelling the Bible story in a very simple…

  • Pocket Potters-palooza: #4 and 5 – Professor Dumbledore & Luna Lovegood – J. K. Rowling

    Bloomsbury Australia Always excited when my ‘dealer’ comes good with more goodies to feed my addiction, which hasn’t waned one iota in over 25 years now. Thank you, Sonia! Professor Dumbledore Illustrated by Paula Escobar February 2026 $17.99 ISBN 9781526685186 Imprint Bloomsbury Children’s Books You will have already seen the first three titles in this…

  • Beach Buddies – Helen Milroy

    A First Nations picture book of Australian sea creatures Fremantle Press June 2026 ISBN: 9781760997052 RRP: AU$19.99/NZ$24.00/US$14.95 Pre-order now from your usual suppliers This is just the cutest introduction to marine animals ever – and your little readers will love it. Who could resist that puffed-up blowfish on the cover for a start? As I am…

  • Bush Turkey: Easter Hunt – Kate and Jol Temple. Illustrated by Ronojoy Gosh.

    Scholastic Australia February 2026 ISBN: 9781761640124 RRP: $19.99 Like a bush turkey manically constructing his nesting mound to lure all the single ladies, this is rather chaotic and crazy – but then, it is Kate and Jol Temple! When Bush Turkey starts on his nest he kicks up a shiny gold egg that he knows…

  • Medieval Monsters and Other Creatures – Timothy Ide

    Midnight Sun November 2023 ISBN 9781922858177 RRP $34.99 (hbk), When a talented friend sends you a wonderful gift, especially at a time when your spirits are so low, you can’t just accept it and nod your thanks. This technically is not a review but an expression of my real gratitude – as well as my…

  • You’ll Always Be My Baby – Jessica Urlichs. Illustrated by Jedda Robaard.

    Penguin Australia Since the new year, I’ve been busy on a regular basis planning The Kid’s 21st birthday celebration. Just like her mother, she didn’t want anything, but I persuaded her otherwise, so a smallish party at home for friends, followed by a dinner for family and friends-like-family at her favourite restaurant. As I go…

  • One Day Soon – Cristy Burne

    Fremantle Press May 2026 ISBN: 9781760995614 RRP: $17.99 Preorder now This is another verse novel that has given me cause to reconsider my initial lukewarm thoughts about this genre. In fact, so utterly absorbing is this one, that I binge read it in one evening. I don’t know anyone personally with MND but a friend did…

  • Daisy and Bug: Treehouse Troubles – Kim de Haan

    Perentie Press Kim de Haan 9781923543072 April 2026 AUD$15.99, NZD$16.99 To be honest, I said, I’m not a huge fan of graphics. I have reviewed some that were extraordinarily great but, in general, yeah nah – not for me, so I usually avoid them. ‘It’s just a little one for younger kids’. Well, it is…