Just So Stories

Random Reviews and Ramblings from Redcliffe

  • Blue: Dragon of the Sea – Aleesah Darlison. Tamlyn Teow

    Wombat Books February 2026 ISBN: 9781761112706 RRP: $26.99 Aleesah Darlison has a deft hand with writing books about wildlife and, as she is herself passionate about critters of all kinds, shapes and sizes, that comes as no surprise. Little Blue is a nudibranch and if you’ve never heard of them, or seen them or even…

  • I Am Not a Fish – Patrick Guest. Katie Abey.

    Scholastic Australia April 2026 ISBN: 9781761647628 ISBN-10: 1761647628 RRP: $19,99 I have such fond memories of The Second Sky, do you? My kiddos, in our countdown to the Book of the Year awards and our sharing of all the short-listed picture books (Early Childhood category, voted it our readers’ choice winner. So… this is NOTHING like that…

  • Beach Buddies – Helen Milroy

    A First Nations picture book of Australian sea creatures Fremantle Press June 2026 ISBN: 9781760997052 RRP: AU$19.99/NZ$24.00/US$14.95 Pre-order now from your usual suppliers This is just the cutest introduction to marine animals ever – and your little readers will love it. Who could resist that puffed-up blowfish on the cover for a start? As I am…

  • Bush Turkey: Easter Hunt – Kate and Jol Temple. Illustrated by Ronojoy Gosh.

    Scholastic Australia February 2026 ISBN: 9781761640124 RRP: $19.99 Like a bush turkey manically constructing his nesting mound to lure all the single ladies, this is rather chaotic and crazy – but then, it is Kate and Jol Temple! When Bush Turkey starts on his nest he kicks up a shiny gold egg that he knows…

  • Medieval Monsters and Other Creatures – Timothy Ide

    Midnight Sun November 2023 ISBN 9781922858177 RRP $34.99 (hbk), When a talented friend sends you a wonderful gift, especially at a time when your spirits are so low, you can’t just accept it and nod your thanks. This technically is not a review but an expression of my real gratitude – as well as my…

  • Feathers of Farwood and the Gripps Curse – Jayne McIntyre

    Riveted Press Distributed by Simon & Schuster March 2026 ISBN13: 9781764256704 RRP: $AU22.99 / NZ$ 26.99 I could have actually written this review 3 months ago because I was lucky enough to be able to write teaching notes for this absolutely gorgeous book back in December. I was thrilled when Jayne contacted me and I…

  • Freddie Jones: The Mystery of the Troublesome Trees – Kate Foster

    Walker Books Imprint: Walker Books Australia February 2026 ISBN13:9781760659936 Australia RRP:$17.99 New Zealand RRP:$19.99 Kate Foster has become such a leading light in middle grade novels featuring neuro-diverse characters. In this, she brings her own personal experience, so always there is such authenticity and such wonderful voice. With this new series she hooks into the…

  • Axel Scheffler’s Treasury of Fairy Tales

    Scholastic Australia Imprint: Alison Green Books May 2026 ISBN: 9780702333194 ISBN-10: 0702333190 There are some favourites that just get better with age, don’t you agree? And this new hardback edition, beautifully bound with its gorgeous dustjacket [like books of my long-ago youth!] is one of these. As if the charms of Axel’s illustrations are not enough, his…

  • Claris and the Easter Delight – Megan Hess

    Hardie Grant Australia January 2026 ISBN:9781761215360 Series:Claris Storybooks Imprint:Hardie Grant Children’s Publishing Price:AU$19.99, NZ$22. Adorable Claris is back as the flowers bloom in Paris and the joy of Easter is at hand. When Megan Hess expanded her repertoire of fashion, art and design to include little Claris, it was a genius stroke. Nearly a dozen…

  • Stanley – Louise Zirbel. Rachel Salmon. Illustrator: Barry Patenaude.

    Boolarong Press October 2025 Imprint: Watson Ferguson Publishing ISBN: 9780645504644 RRP: $24.99 The ubiquitous and much-maligned brush turkey – bush turkey, scrub turkey, whatever your preferred terminology is certainly a character. We have plenty around here, including my regular I see on my morning walk, who has built a glorious mound in the scrub down…