Just So Stories

Random Reviews and Ramblings from Redcliffe

  • Caring for Country First Knowledges for younger readers – Bruce Pascoe & Bill Gammage.

    Adapted by Jasmin McGaughy with illustrations by Savi Ross. 2026 CBCA NOTABLE BOOK FOR EVE POWNALL AWARD2026 NATIONAL TRUST HERITAGE AWARDS FINALIST Thames & Hudson September 2025 ISBN: 9781760763572 RRP: $26.99 I am quite sure you have already got this one in your collection, given its recent accolade in the annual CBCA awards, but it…

  • Belonging – Ambelin Kwaymullina

    Magabala Books July 2026 ISBN: 9781922864819 RRP: $27.99 This is absolutely stunning – there’s no other word for it. Both Ambelin’s striking contemporary Aboriginal artwork and her simple yet powerful text make this a must-have for any collection. I’m sure many of you will have already seen it but for those who haven’t, let me…

  • Milbi: Aboriginal Stories from Queensland’s Endeavour River – Told and Illustrated by Tulo Gordon.

    Translated, edited and additional material by John B. Haviland. Aboriginal Studies Press New South Books 9781922102904/ August 2021/AUD$24.95, NZD$29.99 Somehow or other this book had escaped my attention altogether, until I saw it in the Museum of Brisbane bookshop the day The Kid and I did our walking history tour. And now I’m only sorry…

  • Sleeping in the Land – Jasmine Seymour

    Wild Dog Books July 2026 LIST PRICE: AU$ 26.99 / NZ$ 29.99 This stunning book was particularly synchronistic as I had not long ago been collating information about the resurgence of our First Nations languages for some resources I was writing, and indeed was doing so again last week [as of writing this review]. Some…

  • The Cats of Australia – Jodie Stewart

    Harper Collins Australia May 2026 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 cats (not to mention…

  • Reckless: the Saga of Australian Crawl – Jeff Apter

    Allen & Unwin August 2026ISBN: 9781760879792 RRP: $34.99 I will openly admit I was not particularly a fan of Aussie Crawl back in the day. For one thing, I was more absorbed raising small children but my musical tastes, though eclectic as they still are, veered in other directions. But let’s face it, it’s basically…

  • Our History: Hill End Gold – Sue Whiting

    Walker Books Autralia June 2026 ISBN13:9781761601491 Australia RRP:$18.99 New Zealand RRP:$21.99 There’s absolutely no doubt that despite its long existence in the curriculum of every state [I mean to say, it was in the primary school syllabus when I went to school!] it is also always a popular topic with students. And one can never…

  • The Drover’s Son – Leah Purcell. Dub Leffler.

    Penguin Australia March 2026 This one may have waited a while but it is all the more timely for having done so as I can share it to mark 2026 NAIDOC Week on this 50th anniversary of the event. This is particularly so because of this being a collaboration between two such incredibly talented First…

  • Treeshape – Trace Balla

    Allen & Unwin March 2026 ISBN:9781761181252 Publisher:A&U Children’s Imprint:A & U Children Trace Balla’s work always fills me with both admiration and emotion, and I think really, this one is the best yet as it is the most intensely personal as well, outlining the journey of Trace from child to present. Leaf-light (2023) and Rivertime…

  • Narm-Jaap: A Flinders Street Station History – Melissa-Jane Fogarty/Dylan Finney

    Hachette Australia Imprint: Lothian Children’s Books Mar 31, 2026 | 9780734423399 | RRP $24.99 Next in this fantastic series tracing the history of a significant landmark comes this absolutely fabulous book. It is every bit as engaging, informative and stylishly composed as Tubowgule…and moves from Sydney to Melbourne. Once again creators Melissa and Dylan have combined their talents into…