Just So Stories

Random Reviews and Ramblings from Redcliffe

  • Good Young Men – Gary Lonesborough

    Allen & Unwin March 2026 ISBN:9781761182174 Publisher:A&U Children’s Imprint:A & U Children RRP: $22.99 Once again Gary brings his own upbringing as a young gay Koori in a regional setting [from the same part of the country as my family] as well as his professional experience working with Aboriginal youth in a skewed justice system,…

  • Dingoes: Up Close series – Jane Forge

    Wild Dog Books Dist: Simon & Schuster June 2026 In a word – stunning! This is exactly the sort of non-fiction book on Australian animals that we all want to complement our UoI on our fauna but, at the same time, is also perfect for those children who are keen to learn more about animals.…

  • Worl Barna / Sky Creatures: Noongar First Words – Jayden Boundry. Tyrown Waigana.

    Fremantle Press June 2026 ISBN: 9781760995607 RRP: $16.99 I’ve reviewed two others in this delightful series for Smallests: Land Creatures and Water Creatures which some of you may have already seen. If not, really this is a terrific series for introducing jarjums to language, even if it’s not the one from the Country on which they…

  • Narm-Jaap: A Flinders Street Station History – Melissa-Jane Fogarty/Dylan Finney

    Hachette Australia Imprint: Lothian Children’s Books Mar 31, 2026 | 9780734423399 | RRP $24.99 Next in this fantastic series tracing the history of a significant landmark comes this absolutely fabulous book. It is every bit as engaging, informative and stylishly composed as Tubowgule…and moves from Sydney to Melbourne. Once again creators Melissa and Dylan have combined their talents into…

  • 2026 Reconciliation Week and National Sorry Day

    Stand by for a slew of new First Nations titles. Search the blog for older reviews using: First Nations, Indigenous, Aboriginal and related terms. There will also be some to find in the archives (work in progress!!) using similar searches. The System Keeps Failing. Aboriginal Children Keep Dying. And the Answer Is Always More Removal.

  • Tiny Good Things – Gabrielle Tozer/Sophie Beer

    Harper Collins Australia Imprint: Angus & Robertson March 2026 ISBN: 9781460764978 RRP: $24.99 Two talented creators teaming up with a result of this gorgeous book. It’s sweet and satisfying. I love – LOVE – that the rhyming text has such lovely cadence and, at no point, comes across as contrived or forced, but has a gentle…

  • The Dream Keeper – Anna Walker

    Walker Books Australia May 2026 ISBN13:9781529520682 Australia RRP:$27.99 New Zealand RRP:$29.99 Anna’s books are always a symphony – the most recent I had seen was the beautiful Between last year – but a mere glimpse of the internals of this new one will re-affirm that notion. And this winsome, evocative and almost wordless new title…

  • Wombat Waiting – Katherine Applegate

    Harper Collins Australia Imprint: Harper Collins UK May 2026 ISBN: 9780008814144 RRP: $17.99 I’ve been following this book’s journey via Katherine’s socials with great interest, knowing full well that it would be another of her totally captivating and heart-warming animal-centric narratives. And that it is. Wombat is a street dog and always has been. She’s…

  • Prickles – Phil Cummings & Jennifer Goldsmith

    Scholastic Australia April 2026 ISBN: 9781760266028 ISBN-10: 1760266027 RRP: $26.99 This is just an absolutely delightful (as usual) from Phil Cummings with an assistance dog who doesn’t just assist her human. Prickles is an alley cat. It’s not a great life what with weather and dangers, but it does have good moments like stretching out on windowsills…

  • I Know What You’re Hiding – Jack Heath

    Scholastic Australia May 2026 ISBN: 9781761526794 RRP: $17.99 My first introduction to Jack Heath and his amazing capacity for inventive and thrilling narrative was at the ASLA Conference Canberra [circa 2005 if I recall?]. I am quite sure his presentation was at The Shine Dome, which was great fun in itself but it’s been a…