Just So Stories

Random Reviews and Ramblings from Redcliffe

  • Skippy Blackfeet – Rebecca Fraser. Illustrated by Jennifer Horn.

    Wombat Books March 2025 9781761111662 RRP: $19.99 When you’re in cyclone prep/watch mode as I was a few days ago (at time of writing), you really need to read ‘light’. Whiskers (aka Demon Spawn) who was none too thrilled about being kept completely confined to barracks for fear the wild winds would whisker her right…

  • Wonders Under the Moon – Tai Snaith

    A Collection of Night-time Creatures Thames & Hudson February 2025 ISBN: 9781760764166 RRP: $26.99 It would be fair to say I see a lot of animal books, and really they’re all lovely and the kiddos think they’re marvellous too. But sometimes there those that really stand out. This is one of them. I haven’t seen its…

  • Bravepaw and the Clawstone of Rotwood Mire: a Tail of Adventure. Bravepaw #2- L. M. Wilkinson. Art by Lavanya Naidu.

    Allen & Unwin February 2025 ISBN:9781761180569 Publisher:A&U Children’s Imprint:Albert Street Books RRP: $16.99 My newest favourite mouselings are back and their quest continues apace. Titch and Huckleberry have absolutely no idea how to reach the Heart of Alluria, where they are meant to repair the crack in the world. And even though Titch has the…

  • Epically Good Greek Myths – R. A. Spratt

    Penguin Australia March 2025 ISBN: 9781761349751 RRP: $16.99 Nerdy kid me has always been fascinated with the ancient civilisations: as a primary schooler requesting books on the big three of Egypt, Rome and Greece and acing my project on 6 chosen civilisations, to a highschooler crushing on my Ancient History teacher [not even young, almost as…

  • Washpool – Lisa Fuller

    Hachette Australia Feb 26, 2025 | 9780734420756 | RRP $16.99 Let’s see. Take a little of Alice down the rabbit hole, and mix that with a smidgin of Oz. Then add in some snippets of lands reached using the Subtle Knife plus some of the strangeness of Nevermoor. After that, throw in some Upside Down and sprinkle it all…

  • My Big Secret – Felice Arena

    Penguin Australia ISBN: 9781761349706 RRP: $19.99 As he well knows, I didn’t have a clue who he was back in the days of Neighbours on TV, given I never watched it, but it makes me very happy to now count Felice Arena among my friendship circle. Not only have I reviewed many of his numerous books…

  • What Noise Does the Baby Make? Jacinta Froud. Illustrated by Cat MacInnes.

    Windy Hollow Books June 2024 ISBN 9781921136740 RRP; $26.99 This is a perfectly delightful noisy book for reading aloud to Smalls, and, as we know, those littlest humans LOVE noisy books! If a chick goes CHEEP and a cow goes MOO What noise does the rooster make? COCK-A-DOODLE-DOO! Be prepared for many raucous repeated readings…

  • Encyclopedia of…. :for Young Readers x3 : Birds, Animals and Plants, Fungi and Lichen

    New South Books Publisher: Albatros Media Encyclopedia of Birds – Tomáš Tůma 9788000063508/ December 2022/AUD$29.99, NZD$34.99 Encyclopedia of Animals: Tomáš Tůma 9788000063522/1 November 2022/AUD$29.99, NZD$34.99 Encyclopedia of Plants, Fungi and Lichens – ​Tereza Němcová/Tomáš Pernický 9788000063515/1 December 2022/AUD$29.99, NZD$34.99 This delightful series (there are more it seems) appeals hugely to my inner nerdy child and,…

  • Dragonkeeper – Carole Wilkinson

    Walker Books December 2024 ISBN13:9781761601446 Australia RRP:$17.99 New Zealand RRP:$19.99 What a series this is and how loved it has been by so many over the years! I loved Dragonkeeper the first time I read it over 20 years ago and have re-read it more than once. When I read and reviewed Bronze Bird Tower…

  • The Frog Squad #2: Bungle in the Jungle – Kate and Jol Temple. Illustrated by Shiloh Gordon.

    Harper Collins Australia December 2024 The Temple two have such a fabulous skill in creating hugely humorous reads for kids, without degenerating into crassness. It is one of the reasons I love reviewing their books. And the Frog Squad is certainly proving to be a hilarious delight with this second instalment. The punster in me…