Just So Stories

Random Reviews and Ramblings from Redcliffe


  • Goblin Mafia Wars [City of Monsters #2] – DC Green

    Ford St Publishing April 2016 ISBN 9781925272208 RRP $18.95 You would think that as a royal hume dude your life would be one of complete luxury not to mention stressfree. Think again! PT (Prince Thomas of Monstro City) and his Dead Gang friends are embroiled even deeper in nasty situations and deadly – or is…

  • The Selected Adventures of Bottersnikes and Gumbles

    by S A Wakefield illustrated by Desmond Digby   ISBN: 9781460751923 ISBN 10: 1460751922 Imprint: HarperCollins – AU On Sale: 01/01/2016 Pages: 224 List Price: 14.99 AUD   I think I have lost count of how many times over the years as both a classroom teacher and a teacher-librarian I have shared S. A. Wakefield’s classic stories about the Bottersnikes and Gumbles. I…

  • Seahorse – Bruce Pascoe

    Magabala Books August 2015 ISBN:9781921248931 RRP $16.95 Both boys and girls in middle primary or thereabouts will enjoy this exciting story set on the beach of Seahorse Bay. Camping, fishing, snorkelling and a sunken boat are all the makings of a terrific family adventure. Jack is making real progress with his snorkelling with his dad,…

  • Anyone But Ivy Pocket – Caleb Krisp

      t  Allen & Unwin Australia Category:Children’s fiction ISBN:9781408858646 Publisher:Bloomsbury Imprint:Bloomsbury Child Pub Date:February 2016 RRP $12.99   Caleb Krisp’s author bio from the publisher’s website should give you a pretty clear indication of the type of story to expect in this new series:   Caleb Krisp was raised by militant librarians who fed him…

  • A Lottie Lipton Adventure: The Scroll of Alexandria – Dan Metcalf

    Allen & Unwin Australia Bloomsbury Publishing February 2016-04-02 ISBN 9781472911872 RRP $12.99 If you are looking for a new series to engage newly independent readers, you need look no further! Imagine living in a museum full of rare and wonderful objects. Lottie Lipton, nine years old, lives in the British Museum with her Great Uncle…

  • Royal Flying Doctor Service Series – George Ivanoff

      Oh George! These are just fabulous! How often have we looked for really engaging thoroughly Australian adventure stories that will work for both boys and girls? And with this new series you have totally nailed a gap in the collections of many – well done! The stories are true to life and written in…

  • Curiosity House: #1 The Shrunken Head –  Lauren Oliver & H. C. Chester

    Hachette Children’s Books ISBN: 9781444777192 Publication date: 13 Oct 2015 Page count: Imprint: Hodder & Stoughton   Welcome to Dumfrey’s Dime Museum of Freaks, Oddities, and Wonders where mysteries, oddities, freaks, adventures and creepy stuff abound! Orphans Philippa, Sam and Thomas have grown up in this strange and extraordinary place looked after by Mr Dumfrey, owner and proprietor…

  • Deadly D & Justice Jones: #3 The Search – Dave Hartley & Scott Prince

      Magabala Books Published:Oct 2015 Pages:192pp ISBN:9781925360011 Ages:Middle primary, Upper primary Format:Paperback RRP $12.95 The legion of fans that were captured by the first two Deadly D books will lap this one up as well! And who wouldn’t be delighted to picture legendary coach Wayne Bennett caught up in a circus act? In this new…