Just So Stories

Random Reviews and Ramblings from Redcliffe

  • Evaluating and selecting appropriate resources for educators sharing First Nations learning and culture

    A great resource to consider as you head into NAIDOC in your classrooms. The Guide to evaluating and selecting education resources assists non-Indigenous educators, and others to critically self-reflect on history and the effects that this has on pedagogical practises today. It allows teachers to ensure curriculum resources selected for teaching do not cause harm…

  • Something Special – Emily Rodda

    Harper Collins Australia July 2024 Forty years ago, Emily Rodda’s first book was published by Allen & Unwin, and subsequentlywon the CBCA Younger Readers Award in 1985. Following that auspicious beginning, Emily has continued to delight and engage readers over her remarkable four decade long career, and to mark this occasion, Harper Collins has released…

  • Allen & Unwin NAIDOC share

    With NAIDOC week soon to be celebrated around the country, we’ve put together some suggested reading from our First Nations authors. This year’s theme Keep the Fire Burning! Blak, Loud and Proud honours the enduring strength and vitality of First Nations culture, inviting us all to stand in solidarity, amplifying the voices that have long been silenced. [I’ve…

  • Ming & Ada Spark the Digital Age – Jackie French

    Harper Collins Australia June 2024 What a pleasure it was to read the fourth in this wonderful series early this year, and to, once again, be privileged to create the teaching notes to support Jackie’s work. With her customary diligence, she has dug deep into research to deliver to readers a more personal and engaging…

  • Didge Ya Know?

    Celebrate the strength, culture, and achievements of our mob! This NAIDOC, we honor the theme “Keep the Fire Burning. Blak, Loud & Proud.” “Keep the Fire Burning” is about our resilience, our spirit, and keeping our cultures, traditions, and knowledge alive and strong. “Blak, Loud & Proud” means standing tall in who we are, speaking…

  • Yarrabil: First Nations Songs

    Get your kiddos singing along with this great resource from ABC Education

  • 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…