Just So Stories

Random Reviews and Ramblings from Redcliffe

  • Little Rabbit and the Moon – Inda Ahmad Zahri. Claire Wee.

    Simon & Schuster Little Book Press September 2025 ISBN: 978-1-923141-12-4 RRP: $24.99 I’m not sure if Inda created this based on the ‘rabbit in the moon’ idea. I know one of my girls always talked about the moon rabbit – that is she saw the crater shadows on the moon as a reclining rabbit. I also…

  • Dazzling Diamond Egg: Claris the Chicest Mouse in Paris – Megan Hess

    Hardie Grant Australia September 2025 ISBN:9781761215193 Price:AU$26.99, NZ$29.99 Series:Claris Publisher:Hardie Grant Children’s Publishing I absolutely adore Megan Hess’ books! Though I’ve only had two for review, I’ve bought every one of her fashion titles I could get my hands on for my libraries. I can assure you that my fashionista and arty girls went mad…

  • Dogs with Jobs: the heroic hounds who make a difference – Andrea Rowe. Julia Murray

    Hardie Grant October 2025 ISBN:9781761213991 Price:AU$24.99, NZ$27.99 Publisher:Hardie Grant Children’s Publishing Odd sometimes, that you get similar books within such a short time of each other. Over the past decade or so, it has happened numerous times. So yes, this is another book titled Dogs with Jobs. It will be a great companion book for…

  • All About Antarctica: a Fact Book about the Southernmost Continent – Marc Martin

    Penguin Australia October 2025 Slide through to see inside – you need to see how jam-packed this one is! I feel like it’s been a long time since I’ve seen some of Marc Martin’s work. This thought occurred to me just last week as I shifted more old reviews to the new archive and came…

  • Picture Book Month Bonus; False Versus Facts – Dan Marshall

    Walker Books Australia August 2025 ISBN13:9781760659721 Australia RRP:$19.99 New Zealand RRP:$24.99 This is a terrific fun and fascinating read for your kiddos from around Year 3 to Year 5/6 who like this type of quick grab info books. Each topic covered starts off with a fallacy and then provides 3 actual facts about the subject.…

  • Frogs are Our Friends – Toni d’Alia. Madeline White.

    Hardie Grant June 2025 ISBN:9781761212987 Price:AU$24.99, NZ$27.99 Series:Our Friends in the Garden Publisher:Hardie Grant Children’s Publishing Finishing off today with a splash that is not in the ocean – here’s a really cute rhyming book featuring so many kiddos’ favourite – the frog! This is third in a series, which I have not unfortunately seen…

  • Heading for the ocean today with a watery cast starting with:

    So perhaps you’ve noticed (or not) that during this Picture Book Month, I’ve been attempting to group together like titles in one day’s posting. I’m determined to reduce the piles of dozens of PBs that have been growing like Topsy all year into nothing to start with a clean slate in the new year. So…

  • We Are All Amazing – P. Crumble and Jonathan Bentley.

    Scholastic Australia December 2025 ISBN: 9781761725333 RRP: $19.99 This is, I believe, the newest in a series pitched at younger children to encourage them to develop some positive attributes and attitudes. Anything with Jonathan Bentley‘s name attached is a drawcard for me. Not only is his artwork sublime but he’s a thoroughly nice human…amusing and…

  • CSIRO Publishing line up!

    I seem to have collected a few so here’s the round-up of all I have left for this year – every single one of utmost excellence as we know we will get from this publishing house, and all of them with subject matter that will engage, fascinate and inform kiddos. Every Rock has a Story:…

  • The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Fast and Slow Animals – Sami Bayly

    Hachette Australia September 2025 Imprint: Lothian Children’s Books 9780734421418 | RRP $32.99 I could just say – Sami Bayly – and not need to write another word really. I know it. You know it. The kiddos certainly know it. This woman’s ability to create fascinating and fabulous books that tap into children’s innate love of animals and…