Just So Stories

Random Reviews and Ramblings from Redcliffe

  • The Boy Who Drew Cats- Lafcadio Hearn: a Japanese folktale. Illustratedby Anita Kreituse.

    New South Books Publisher: Tuttle 9780804859561/May 2026/AUD$29.99 I had never heard of Lafcadio Hearn but now that I’ve gone down some wormholes finding out more about him [here’s one article but many more to be found], surely this is a man with an extraordinary life story. And while I have both studied and taught Japanese…

  • The Cats of Australia – Jodie Stewart

    Harper Collins Australia May 2026 Imprint: ABC Books AU ISBN: 9780733343957 This is one I’ve dipped in and out of, which was easy to do with distinctly different chapters like a mini-essay, and I have to say it’s been just a delight over the past few weeks to do so. Although I’ve happily owned both dogs and…

  • Emma Memma: Hide-and-Seek lift-the-flap

    Penguin Australia ISBN: 9781761355639 Imprint: Puffin Format: Board Book RRP: $14.99 I make no secret of how much I🧡 Emma Memma’s work – she was a fabulous Wiggle, even though we were long past Wiggle stage – but has continued to go from strength to strength with her outstanding contribution to both kids lit, children’s imaginations and, of course,…

  • Find Me in the Forest – Jess McGeachin

    Hachette Australia July 2026 Imprint: Lothian Children’s Books ISBN: 9780734423849 RRP $29.99 If you thought Jess’ Find Me on the Coast was beautiful, just wait till you see this one! Of course, The Kid and I love both the coast and the forests – we live beside the sea but spend time bushwalking through forest…

  • Blossom Possum: 20th Anniversary Edition – Gina Newton. Kilmeny Niland.

    SCHOLASTIC AUSTRALIA PTY LTD ISBN : 9781761727962 Imprint : Scholastic Press August 2026 RRP: $19.99 Well I wouldn’t mind a dollar for every time I’ve shared this delightful re-tell with an appreciative audience over the many years in the many libraries. And it’s never on the shelf unless you keep it in reserve for when you do want to…

  • How the Fish got Their Bones – Sam Thaiday. Illustrated by Tori-Jay Mordey.

    Allen & Unwin August 2026 ISBN:978176118271 Imprint:A & U Children RRP: $19.99 Around here Sam Thaiday is pretty much a legend. His stellar NRL career aside, Sam has a close association with the Dolphins, our local team, but also his great commitment to promoting the game, and healthy lifestyles for First Nations peoples, as well…

  • I Call the Ocean Wardan – Ebony Froome. Illustrated by Dellas Bennel and Korrine Bennel-Yarran.

    Fremantle Press September 2026 ISBN: 9781760996307 RRP: $26.99 Re-posting this now that NAIDOC is here on the blog! Celebrate NAIDOC Week 2026 with Fremantle Press • Beach Buddies (Helen Milroy)• Milly Meelyu (Holly Bradley, Darryl Fogarty, illus Corinne Fogarty)• Worl Barna: Sky Creatures (Jayden Boundry, illus Tyrown Waigana)• Kep Barna: Water Creatures (Jayden Boundry, illus Tyrown…

  • Our Flowers/Our Marsupials – Bronywn Bancroft

    Hardie Grant Australia July 2026 Our Flowers ISBN:9781761216541 Price:AU$19.99, NZ$22.99 Our Marsupials ISBN:9781761216558 Price:AU$19.99, NZ$22.99 Two new extremely attractive board books from Bundjalung woman Bronwyn Bancroft in her series introducing Australian wildlife to Smalls. Each image is paired with a rhyming couplet making this both a visual and auditory experience for little humans and with…

  • World’s Most … Extreme, Deadly, Freaky – Australian Geographic

    Hardie Grant Australia April 2026 Series: Australian Geographic World’s Most Publisher: Hardie Grant Children’s Publishing Price:AU$19.99, NZ$22.99 You already know, just by looking at them, that your kiddos are going to go nuts for them. And they are exactly the sort of books that I would keep close to hand for break time browsing –…

  • The Epically Awesome Odyssey, as told by Nanny Piggins – R. A. Spratt

    Penguin Australia June 2026 ISBN: 9781761622472 Imprint: Penguin RRP: $16.99 If there is one sure thing to brighten up a bleak, chilly winter’s night (or day) it is the one, the only Nanny Piggins along with her family: Boris, her bear brother, and the children for whom she slaves day and night to feed, clothe, keep clean,…