Just So Stories

Random Reviews and Ramblings from Redcliffe

  • Words Matter – Anita Fitch Pazner & Sophie Casson

    The Story of Hans and Sophie Scholl, and the White Rose Resistance The Story of Hans and Sophie Scholl, and the White Rose Resistance New South Books Publisher: Groundwood Books 9781773069708 January 2026 AUD$29.99, NZD$34.99 While I have known of Hans and Sophie Scholl for many years, as would anyone who follows groups such as…

  • Newcastle: the lives and times of a city – Scott Bevan

    New South Publishing October 2025 9781742238043  RRP: $39.99 Why on earth would a Sydney girl ask to review a book about Newcastle? Growing up and all through school, I knew virtually nothing about Newcastle beyond ‘coal’ ‘dirty industry’ and of course, ‘worst of the worst convicts‘. But then, as an adult and somewhere around the…

  • Board Book Bonanza!

    Mr McGee – Pamela Allen Penguin Australia February 2026 Some top-shelf board book editions with a much-loved character plus some fresh new titles for the Smallest Smalls in your circle. First up is that popular chap, Mr McGee whose last book I reviewed in 2024, the year in which Pamela Allen turned 90. How lovely…

  • Are you the Easter Bunny? – Janeen Brian. Lucinda Gifford

    Harper Collins Australia January 2026 What a sublime pairing of creators here! Janeen’s rhyming text is just a delight, and especially her descriptive bilby body parts e.g. sniffer-snout, scritcher-scratchers and bottom-wiggler. Although an aficionado of rabbits in general – obviously, given the family name! – I am completely and unreservedly on Team Bilby in Australia…

  • Hopping towards Easter 2026

    I have a stash of lovely Easter picture books piled up so keep your eyes peeled for some reviews intermittenly shared over the next couple of weeks!!

  • Cats and Us: A Ten-Thousand-Year Fascination – Marta Pantaleo, translated by Debbie Bibo, Yvette Ghione

    New South Books Publisher: Groundwood Books 9781779460394 January 2026 AUD$29.99, NZD$34.99 They say there are two types of people – dog people and cat people. While I have happily owned both, if I can only have one it’s a cat. Whiskers aka the Demon Spawn thoroughly agrees with this stance as do thousands of others.…

  • Small Wonder – Ross Montgomery

    Walker Books September 2025 ISBN13:9781529526127 Australia RRP:$18.99 New Zealand RRP:$21.99 I loved The Chime Seekers and I am Rebel, both of which cemented Ross as an exciting author of adventure/fantasy, so I was very pleased to get this one. What a rousing rollercoaster adventure this one is! Tick has been raised by Grandfather along with…

  • Neeka and the Great Search: #3 Wilder Zoo – Tina Strachan. Illustrated by Max Hamilton.

    Harper Collins Australia Imprint: Angus & Robertson I would be seriously surprised if anyone had missed the charming trilogy now at its conclusion. What a credit it is to this debut author, Tina Strachan, to start off with such a crackerjack set of books! For me, there’s the added bonus of meeting Tina and adding…

  • The Santa Klaus Murder – Mavis Doriel Hay

    New South Books Imprint:   British LibraryJanuary 2016Edition:   New edition, ISBN:   9780712356305ISBN 10:   0712356304Series:   British Library Crime Classics AUD$22.99, NZD$27.99 Shortly before Xmas and just as I was scheduling the last of the Countdown posts, the marvellous New South Books sent me a parcel of 3 classic books which I pounced upon as some kind of delightful Christmas present…

  • Hasel and Rose – Caroline Magerl

    Penguin Australia Imprint: Viking Books ISBN: 9780670077342 RRP: $24.99 – buy it now from Books Direct for $19.99 or Boomerang Books for $20.99 Writing my special feature blog post on Caroline Magerl and the new French edition of Hasel and Rose made me realise that, while I’ve had a copy in (I think) all my libraries…