Just So Stories

Random Reviews and Ramblings from Redcliffe

  • When the Lights Went Out – Lian Tanner. Illustrations by

    July 2024 ISBN:9781761180019 Publisher:A&U Children’s Imprint:A & U Children RRP: $24.99 You know when you see these creators’ names on a cover, that you are going to get something quite special, and indeed, we do with this gorgeous new picture book. For many of us, an unexpected black-out is a trial… an annoying inconvenience…….a genuine…

  • The Crayons Love Our Planet – Drew Daywalt and Oliver Jeffers

    Harper Collins Australia March 2024 The crayons are funny and make an impact on kiddos every time they pop up in a new adventure. It is remarkable how utterly imbued each one is with a distinctive personality. In this most recent story, the Crayons are showcasing the wonders of the world in all its amazing…

  • Florence & Fox The Pet Mouse – Zanni Louise. Illustrated by Anna Pignataro

    Walker Books Australia July 2024 ISBN13:9781760655525 Australia RRP:$25.99 New Zealand RRP:$27.99 Well if this isn’t just too cute for words, I don’t know what is! It is both charming and sweet, and I’m already in love with these little characters, as will be your Smalls – guaranteed! When Fox asks Florence if she wants to…

  • Paris Olympics 2024

    So my great friend and colleague and I had an off-the-cuff conversation today, sparked by a comment elsewhere that connected Greek myths to the Olympics. We thought that even though we would reference the Ancient Olympics and the Greeks, we thought we would be far more inclined to focus on the era of the modern…

  • Counting to Calm: my first self-regulation book – Pasha Sooful. Art by Betania Zacarias

    Soaring Kite Books Books on Tour PR & Marketing: Book Tour March 2024 ISBN: 9781958372319 RRP: $30.00 Self-regulation, and the development of it, are big in the schools I go to. I have no doubt it would be the same in yours. So how much better is it to start development and acquisition of this at…

  • Imagine a Time -Penny Harrison. Jennifer Goldsmith

    New Frontier June 2024 ISBN: 9781922326966 RRP: AU $26.99/ NZD$32.99 New South Books Imagine a time when all the world stops, when all of the clocks no longer tick-tock. and all of the maps are starting to fade, as the need to be somewhere drifts far away. What an absolutely beautiful book this is! The lyrical…

  • Borderlands: Riding the Slipstream – the preemptive post. Not-Yet-The-Review

    Yes, I know that’s probably the strangest header I’ve ever put up but I’ve been mentally writing this post for a week and here goes. I’m really excited about reviewing the new anthology from Ford St Publishing. It’s been sitting patiently on my shelf waiting till I get NAIDOC reviews done. I think I’m right…

  • Tornado – Jackie French/Bruce Whatley

    Scholastic Australia April 2024 ISBN: 9781760264895 ISBN-10: 176026489X RRP: $26.99 This series collaboration between these two gifted creators has undoubtedly been one of the most successful (and extensively used in classrooms around the country), over recent years. I’m pretty sure a lot of us have been there for the ubiquitous ‘natural disasters’ unit of inquiry. Thank goodness,…

  • Mr McGee and his Hat – Pamela Allen

    Pamela Allen on Mr McGee and turning 90: ‘I’ve always known what I’m doing is good’ Penguin Australia RRP: $24.99 In just the last week I was remembering the furore over Mr McGee’s little penis that was barely visible in Mr McGee and the Biting Flea, and chatting about it to someone. The book was…

  • The Postman’s My Mate – Kelly Louise Jarris. Illustrated by Natalie Herington

    Books on Tour PR & Marketing: Blog Tour  KLJ Books June 2024 ISBN: 9760645535181 RRP: $24.95 There are two things I want to say straight up. I love the stories that are set in outback or remote areas, and while there are a few, possibly not enough. I think the kiddos in those locations love…