Just So Stories

Random Reviews and Ramblings from Redcliffe

  • Mr Clownfish, Miss Anemone and the Hermit Crab – Sean E. Avery

    Walker Books Australia ISBN13:9781760654344 Australia RRP:$25.99 New Zealand RRP:$27.99 Here is another quirky tale from Sean E. Avery, whose sense of humour and subtle inferences remind me so strongly of Jon Klassen. And I LOVE it! Most children will know about the symbiotic relationship that clown fish have with anemones, but I’ll guarantee they’ve never…

  • Nothing Ever Happens – Heidi McKinnon

    Scholastic November 2023 ISBN:   9781761298561 RRP: $19.99 Be careful what you wish for is almost always good advice. In this instance, it most definitely is. The text is simplicity itself, but the illustrations are what tell this most hilarious story. ‘Nothing ever happens!’ ‘Every day is always the same.’ ‘Same old rock. Same old shell.’…

  • Picture Book Month bonus #2: Millie Mak the Maker [Millie Mak 1] – Alice Pung. Illustrated by Sher Rill Ng.

    Harper Collins Australia August 2023 As I have said before, one positive to come out of Covid was a renewed focus on renew/repair/recycle initiatives and slow living. Millie Mak may be only 9 years old but she’s a very good example of this. I am so on board with Millie and her Scottish grandma checking…

  • A Friend for Ruby – Sofie Laguna/Marc McBride

    Allen & Unwin ISBN:9781761067648 Publisher:A&U Children’s Imprint:A & U Children August 2023 I know you don’t need me to tell you that this is sensational. Given the two creators how could it be anything but? The story itself is fairly simple and fluid. Ruby wants – needs – a friend, and as she walks home…

  • Picture book month bonus #1: Q&A with Favel Parrett

    Welcome Favel, to Just So Stories! What a pleasure it is to have you share some insights into your life and work with my readers. In 2011, you made quite the splash (sorry, had to be done!) with your debut novel Past the Shallows, shortlisted in the Miles Franklin, Winner of the Dobbie Literary Award,…

  • Gigantic- Rob Biddulph

    Harper Collins Australia This is just an absolute cracker whichever you turn it – both the splendid rhyming text (perfectly cadenced) and the stunning illustrations combine to make it a sure-fire winner. And, definitely, a stand-out to kick off a little series of ‘sea’ themed picture book reviews. Loads of your Smalls will be very…

  • Reflecting on reviewing

    There have been some interesting aspects to my review hobby in recent weeks, all but one or two, supremely satisfying, and the isolated couple that were not, were not actually negative towards my reviewing, merely annoying in a general sense. In particular, over the last couple of days I’ve enjoyed some wonderful and lively conversation…

  • The Bird Art of William T. Cooper – Wendy Cooper

    National Library of Australia October 2023 ISBN:9781922507600 RRP: $64.99 So the lovely field guide to neighourhood birds which I reviewed during the past week, is compact and just the right size for a backpack or even a large pocker – as is befitting for its purpose. This magnificent book is of the big, bold and…

  • The Impossible Secret of Lillian Velvet [a Kingdoms and Empires book] – Jaclyn Moriarty. Illustrations by Kelly Canby.

    Allen & Unwin October 2023 ISBN:9781761067570 Publisher:A&U Children’s Imprint:A & U Children RRP: $22.99 Confession: this was the first Kingdoms and Empires book I’ve read 😳 but in my defence, this series has been so very popular with the readers in my libraries, that they were never on the shelf long enough for me to…

  • Silver Linings – Katrina Nannestad

    Harper Collins Australia I cannot begin to tell you how impatiently I have waited to post this review. When I was invited to write teaching notes for a new Katrina Nannestad book, I was absolutely thrilled. Then, when I read the manuscript for this beautiful, funny, poignant, life-affirming narrative, I realised how easy it would…