Just So Stories

Random Reviews and Ramblings from Redcliffe

  • Maisy Big, Maisy Small: a book of rhyming opposites – Lucy Cousins

    Walker Books Australia January 2025 ISBN: 9781529514209 ISBN-10: 1529514207 RRP: $24.99 Of one thing we can be certain, and that is, Maisy never loses her appeal for little (and even bigger) Smalls! This is an updated version of one of Lucy Cousins’ most popular concept books featuring one of our favourite mouse characters. With big, bold colours…

  • Caution! This Book Contains Deadly Reptiles – Corey Tutt. Art by Ben Williams.

    Anyone familiar with Corey Tutt’s work, both with the Deadly Science program and his previous books [and if you’re not – why not??? Inconceivable!] will not be one bit surprised to learn that this book is every bit as deadly as its title. I am only sorry that The Kid is now the too-cool-for-school-adult, and…

  • Croc Candy – Claire Thompson. Illustrated by Deborah Brown.

    The True Story of a Rising Star, Angus Copelin-Walters Woodslane Press January 2025 9781922800817/$27.99 Claire Thompson and I connected when she asked if I could help her to develop some professional resources to partner both her forthcoming book and also a writing with kids gig she was undertaking. It has been an all-round pleasure I…

  • Merry Christmas, Little Wombat! Charles Fuge

    Walker Books Australia October 2024 ISBN13:9781760655105 Australia RRP:$19.99 New Zealand RRP:$24.99 This is a super-cute book from a well-established author/illustrator with great credentials. I am the first to say I don’t really know his work though I do recognise Little Wombat. I need to say this first and get it out of the way. A…

  • Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Sleigh – Mo Willems

    Walker Books Australia September 2024 ISBN13:9781760659813 Australia RRP:$19.99 New Zealand RRP:$24.99 Santa leaves his sleigh to wrap presents and the reader is left in charge with the strict instruction of “Don’t let the Pigeon drive the sleigh!”. Well, we all know what sort of capers the Pigeon gets up to when he’s trying to get…

  • One Wise Sheep – Ulrich Hub. Illustrated by Jörg Mühle

    Walker Books Australia Imprint: Gecko Press ISBN13:9781776575961 Australia RRP:$17.99 New Zealand RRP:$19.99 I read this last night, cosy in bed, and was absolutely giggling all the way through. This is the most hilarious take on the biblical Christmas Story ever, with the entire episode from ‘winged creatures’ appearing with blazing lights to finding an empty…

  • On the Hunt for Santa – Lesley Gibbes and Stephen Michael King

    Penguin Australia September 2024 Here’s a completely fun one to share with your Smalls, especially those who love Scary Night. Once upon a snowy day, three friends set out on a journey. Hare with a honey pot, Cat with a candy cane, Pig with a plum pudding. But where were they going that snowy day,…

  • Dear Santa: I Don’t Need Socks. Consuelo Fernandez Ortiz

    Five Mile September 2024 9781922943477 RRP: $24.99 This is a very cute story of Christmas from two very different perspectives. One Koala lives in Mallacoota, along with his best friend Too (a cockatoo, of course). Their tree is their home, They have ocean views and it is a quiet place to live. Cousin Olavi lives…

  • 12 Days of Bush Christmas – Megan Van Den Berg & Emma Bamblett

    Hardie Grant Australia September 2024 Imprint: Hardie Grant Explore ISBN 9781741179088 $24.99 As I started on the Xmas countdown, going through the books I’d been saving, and having shared a pic of a Blak Santa somewhere else, I was thinking we need more First Nations themed Xmas books. And we have one for this year!…

  • The Hullabaloo about Elephant Poo – Dee White. Illustrated by Christopher Nielsen.

    Harper Collins Australia December 2024 To finish off this year’s Picture Book month – ta dah!!! I’ve been waiting and waiting to share this one and I was really hoping that the notes I wrote for it would be already up in their published format [fingers crossed they might be before this goes live] Because…