Just So Stories

Random Reviews and Ramblings from Redcliffe


  • The Last Kids on Earth Survival Guide – Max Brallier/Illustrated by Douglas Holgate.

    Harper Collins Australia I have to be honest here. This entire series had completely bypassed me and, certainly, I wasn’t aware of a Netflix series either (but then it wouldn’t fall within my usual viewing range) but I can completely see the appeal of this immediately. This week my 2nd oldest grandson turned 25, and…

  • Super Sloth Episode #2: Revenge of the Chick-oats- Aleesah Darlison. Illustrated by Cheri Hughes.

    Big Sky Publishing March 2024 ISBN: 9781923004948 RRP: $14.99 Romeo Fortez, aka the Super Sloth, continues his wacky and wild adventures in New York in this new offering from Aleesah Darlison. Newly independent readers, gaining confidence in their first exploration of easy chapter books, will once again enjoy this one. The machinations of Weird-Warp to gain…

  • Jeff Giraffe – The Great Escape – Amelia McInerney. Illustrated by Alexandra Colombo.

    Larrikin House March 2024 ISBN: 9781922804655 (Hardcover) $24.99 One of our big pleasures during our Canberra visit late last year, was meeting up with Amelia for the first time F2F. She is just as vivacious and entertaining as her books, which I have always loved. For kiddos who love the concept of Madagascar,and the idea of zoo…

  • The Big Book of Australian Nursery Rhymes – Frané Lessac

    Walker Books Australia March 2024 ISBN13:9781760655099 Australia RRP:$26.99 New Zealand RRP:$28.99 Frané once again brings her extraordinary talent to a new picture book that epitomises joy in our Australian wildlife and landscapes, this time for the very smallest of Smalls. For those of us with long experience in literacy and teaching, we know that exposing…

  • I Love Grandma with the Very Hungry Caterpillar

    Penguin Australia Mrach 2024 These little books all follow the pattern set by the VHC and its creator, the late Eric Carle, combining the simple text with selected illustrations from across the vast gallery of Carle’s work. One assumes that additional material created in the same style is also added. This one will make a…

  • Those Girls -Pamela Rushby

    Walker Books Australia April 2024 ISBN13:9781760657840 Australia RRP:$19.99 New Zealand RRP:$22.99 Pamela Rushby’s books are always a treat. For me though, it’s a given that those historical fictions set in Brisbane are the most fascinating. Because I didn’t grow up here, I knew a bare minimum of the city’s history prior to moving here in…

  • Kevin the Sheep – Jacqueline Harvey. Illustrated by Kate Isobel Scott.

    Penguin Australia March 2024 It would be fair to say that I’ve been waiting for this one for some time. Since I knew it was on the way, I was keen to see it, but then (as can happen) delivery of the actual book was problematic but at last it is here. HUZZAH!! And, of…

  • Cora Seen and Heard – Zanni Louise

    Walker Books Australia May 2024 ISBN13:9781760657666 Australia RRP:$17.99 New Zealand RRP:$19.99 Zanni Louise has slam-dunked again with this new middle-grade novel which is an ideal read for your kiddos who love those books with a sensitive, not-so-confident protagonist who finds her own way into a more self-assured mental space. Once again, the setting is unusual…

  • The Last Bookwanderer: Pages & Co #6 – Anna James. Illustrations by Marco Guadolupi.

    Harper Collins Australia March 2024 Synchronicity has been a theme in my life the last few weeks and reading this was no exception. I started reading it two nights ago, the same day I started listening to David Mitchell’s Unruly on audio in the car. I’d enjoyed one of the early chapters in which DM,…

  • Shower Land #1: Break the Curse – Nat Amoore/James Hart

    Penguin Australia February 2024 Well, I’ve read a lot of ‘portal’ books. Portals that were books. Portals that were a piece of jewelry. Portals that were doorways…or mirrors…a wardrobe…a grandfather clock.. a railway platform or a board game – so many different types of portals. But, I have to say, I’ve never thought of a…