Just So Stories

Random Reviews and Ramblings from Redcliffe

  • Milly Meelyu – Holly Bradley & Darryl Fogarty. Illustrated by Corinne Fogarty.

    Fremantle Press February 2026 ISBN: 9781760996314 RRP: $24.99 For years now we have seen children and schools becoming more actively interested in conservation and caring for the environment and wildlife. It’s now well over 30 years since my first teaching gig with Year 5 when I created a literature-based unit of inquiry based on Fern Gully,…

  • Bush Tukka Guide for Kids – Samantha Martin

    Hardie Grant Australia ISBN:9781741179163 Price:AU$24.99, NZ$27.99 Publisher:Hardie Grant Explore Amid the burgeoning interest in First Nations culture and practices (despite the nasty background noise of such as certain political sectors and their brainwashed acolytes), there is a steadily growing interest in cultivating traditional bush foods, as well as native plants. And where better to start…

  • One Race – Gregg Dreise

    Scholastic Australia February 2026 ISBN: 9781761298585 RRP: $26.99 Kamilaroi and Euahlayi author and artist Gregg Dreise always produces extraordinary work that is both beautiful and powerful. And this is another, from the stunning endpapers to the evocative and impactful artwork carried along the rhythm and beauty of the poetic text. At a time when the…

  • Cat Nap – Brian Lies

    Harper Collins Australia January 2026 When an adventurous kitten spies a scurrying mouse, he is off and away on the chase, leaping right into the Metropolitan Museum of Art via a convenient poster on the wall – just like Alice stepping through the Looking Glass. The feline adventure starts with small kitten (based on Brian…

  • Piper at the Gates of Dusk – Patrick Ness

    Walker Books Australia April 2026 ISBN13:9781529537581 Australia RRP:$29.99 New Zealand RRP:$32.99 I have never made any secret of the fact that Chaos Walking is my favourite dystopian of all time. And, in fact, Patrick Ness, is definitely in my Top 10 favourite authors as well. So not only was I panting with anticipation waiting on…

  • April Wrap-up

    It was pretty busy and some really stand-out reads here!

  • Girls Like – Katrina Germein. Illustrated by Deb Hudson.

    New South Books Publisher: MidnightSun Publishing 9781922858726 April 2026 AUD$29.99, NZD$34.99 For anyone raising their own Mighty Girl or for those empowering all the mighty girls in a class or cohort this is hands-down a must-have for your shelf. It’s a simple rhythmic text that is almost a rap and just invites clap alongs or…

  • You can’t help but notice..

    Sometimes there is a slew of similar looking books, or titles, or even narratives or content. We all know there are trends in fashion, food, music, movies and even books – but it does sometimes seem that at times various authors, even across continents, simultaneously get the same thought. Other times it’s just seems to…

  • Write Now

    As it happens an assortment of books all geared to writing – for kids and for others, so do enjoy! The Story Writer’s Handbook – Katrina Nannestad. Illustrated by Cheryl Orsini. Harper Collins Australia September 2025 It was completely unintentional to leave this one so long but it sifted down between others and so was…

  • Gimme Some Space (Book #2 Marvellous Submarine) – Clayton Zane Comber & Conor McCammon

    Harper Collins Australia Imprint: Angus & Robertson February 2026 ISBN: 9781460766811 RRP: $17.99 Clayton and Conor continue with their new insanely bonkers series, this time blasting off into space in the retro-fitted submarine now doubling as a spaceship. Twins, Billy and Poppy, plus their assorted menagerie (using the term loosely) of helpers determine to track down…