Just So Stories

Random Reviews and Ramblings from Redcliffe

  • I Hear a Buho – Raquel MacKay/Armando Fonseca

    Scribble April 2024 ISBN: 9781957363653 RRP: $24.99 Given we have done a little bit of learning Spanish here over the last couple of years, I was well pleased to know that I could not only pronounce all the español in this striking picture book but could understand it. Hurra! This a quite simple rhyming picture…

  • Dinosaur in my Pocket – Ashleigh Barton & Blithe Fielden

    Hachette Imprint: Lothian Children’s Books MARCH 2024 | 9780734422668 | RRP $24.99 There are many of us, young as well as old, who love miniatures. I once had a dollhouse as an adult and was, piece by piece, acquiring miniature ‘antiques’ to furnish it. You only need to look at the feeding frenzy the supermarket miniatures create to know…

  • Countdown to Yesterday – Shirley Marr

    Penguin Australia January 2024 I love Shirley Marr’s description of herself ‘as having a Western Mind and an Eastern Heart‘, and the success of her books for middle grade readers that explore the experiences of children living in this mix of cultures is self-evident. Her narratives not only speak to the children of Asian heritage…

  • Ivy Newt series

    New South Books Ivy Newt and the Storm WitchDerek Keilty, illustrated by Magda Broll Apr 2023 | Scallywag Press | 9781915252180 | AUD$18.99, NZD$21.99 Ivy Newt and the Time ThiefDerek Keilty, illustrated by Magda Broll Sep 2023 | Scallywag Press | 9781915252333 | AUD$18.99, NZD$21.99 Yes, quite right – both of these were released last…

  • When the World was Soft: Yindjibarndi Creation Stories – Juluwarlu Group Aboriginal Corporation. Illustrated by Alex Mankiewicz.

    Allen & Unwin April 2024 ISBN:9781761180651 Publisher:A&U Children’s Imprint:A & U Children RRP: $34.99 Creation – Ngurra Nyujunggamu Wedgetailed Eagle, Crow and Black Kite – Jargurrungu Wangangga GarranygaNyinkara the StonemanPelican and Quail – Jiruna YuyaBunggaliyarra – FallenBarrimirndi Most would know that I read and review every First Nations children’s book I can get my hands…

  • Michael Morpurgo’s Tales from Shakespeare

    Harper Collins Australia October 2023 Featuring: Macbeth, illustrated by Dapo AdeolaThe Taming of the Shrew, illustrated by Joelle AvelinoRomeo and Juliet, illustrated by Peter BaileyThe Tempest, illustrated by BarrouxTwelfth Night, illustrated by Ian BeckHenry V, illustrated by Christian BirminghamA Midsummer Night’s Dream, illustrated by Alona MillgramHamlet, illustrated by Tom Clohosy ColeKing Lear, illustrated by Michael…

  • Animals Brag about Their Bottoms – Maki Saito

    Greystone Books ISBN: 9781771647106 March 2024 If you have a new baby in your circle, you have just found a perfect little board book to gift them. This is absolutely adorable. Not only does it have that touch of humour to make the sharing a pleasure to the adult reader but it has beautiful artwork.…

  • Frog Squad: #1 Dessert Disaster- Kate and Jol Temple

    Harper Collins Australia May 2024 People who know me are well aware of my love of wordplay, especially puns, so this hilarious new series is right up my alley. You might say I almost jumped for joy and honestly, your kiddos will find it un-frog-ettable as well. The Frog Squad is an elite group of…

  • Tweet – Morris Gleitzman

    Penguin Australia April 2024 This arrived last Friday (22/3), and on Sunday I took it with me when we went up the coast for two days of R&R to celebrate The Kid’s birthday. I read 240ish pages the first evening with only a break to head out for the birthday celebration dinner. I was a…

  • The Kindness Project – Deborah Abela

    Penguin Australia May 2024 I have followed Deborah’s progress with this one for the duration of its development, and been eager to read it. And yayyy! it arrived the day before yesterday (27/3). As it happens, I had done a day’s relief teaching in Christian Studies at my local Lutheran primary that same day, and…