Just So Stories

Random Reviews and Ramblings from Redcliffe


  • Party Rhyme – Antonia Pesenti

    I had not seen the first two rhyme books from this talented creator, and now I’m sorry to have missed them because this is just fantastic. As a punster from way back I believe kiddos, even Smalls, are never too young for some word play and when it’s as tricky and absurd as this, all…

  • Days of Warmth – Gregg Dreise

    Penguin Australia August 2024 Anything from Gregg is always a guaranteed delight and this new board book is just the sweetest thing, full of warmth and comfort. It is both a tender story of family love and security, and an introduction to learning the days of the week, names for family members and various emotions.…

  • Counting to Calm: my first self-regulation book – Pasha Sooful. Art by Betania Zacarias

    Soaring Kite Books Books on Tour PR & Marketing: Book Tour March 2024 ISBN: 9781958372319 RRP: $30.00 Self-regulation, and the development of it, are big in the schools I go to. I have no doubt it would be the same in yours. So how much better is it to start development and acquisition of this at…

  • Emma Memma Little Library

    Penguin Australia Here’s some more delightful Emma Memma joy and this is for your tiniest Smalls. For us, that means little Daisy now a few months old and just adorable! It’s a little slipcase with teeny-sized concept board books just perfect for teeny-sized hands. Includes books– Numbers- Colours- Animals- Auslan and each is just like…

  • Magic Counting – Nabeel Khan. Illustrated by Tete Garcia

    Scribble Kids Books June 2024ISBN: 9781922585400 RRP: $24.99 I am no big fan of maths but there are some aspects that I just love, and one of those is connections, just like the ones made in this book, between numbers, shapes and geometry. Although the suggested age group is 3-7, astute educators will recognise the…

  • Animals Brag about Their Bottoms – Maki Saito

    Greystone Books ISBN: 9781771647106 March 2024 If you have a new baby in your circle, you have just found a perfect little board book to gift them. This is absolutely adorable. Not only does it have that touch of humour to make the sharing a pleasure to the adult reader but it has beautiful artwork.…

  • The Very Hungry Caterpillar’s Christmas Tree by Eric Carle

    Penguin Random House Whatever you do, don’t miss this one for a Smallest of All in your circle!! It is just the cutest thing ever!. With a super simple, rhyming text and big bold illustrations, and exciting lift-the-flap interactivity, little ones can have the fun and excitement of discovering which character is under each flap.…

  • Peter Rabbit Tales: The Christmas Star

    Penguin Random House September 2023 When you open a book parcel and see the shimmering scarlet foiled binding of a board book, somehow you just know it’s almost Christmas! This is a dear little book that will make a perfect stocking stuffer for any Small of your acquaintance. It is a simple little story, but…

  • Extreme Planet #: Deep Inside the Earth – Emily Bone. Illustrated by Rodrigo Cordeiro

    Journey to the Earth’s Core, with flaps Harper Collins Australia September 2023 We are all familiar with the high quality of Usborne’s books, particularly the informational titles and this one will have enormous appeal to your Smalls who are budding geologists. It is a sturdy, large-sized board book so will withstand much handling, particularly as…

  • Love Emma Memma!

    While I really was only vaguely aware of Emma before her books came out (given we haven’t had any kiddos in the Wiggles zone for a decade), I am absolutely loving her books. These two new ones are very much squarely aimed at your younger audience, and so beautifully interactive that your Smalls will love…