Just So Stories

Random Reviews and Ramblings from Redcliffe

  • Dangerous Days: Frances Bloom #2 – Katrina Nannestad. Illustrated by Marina Zlatanova.

    Harper Collins Australia April 2026 ISBN: 9781460718612 ISBN 10: 1460718615 Imprint: ABC Books AU List Price: 17.99 AUD Madcap Frances Bloom is back in her second adventure to delight your younger readers with some more nonsense and 8-year-old anarchy. Only a week or so after the dreadful Ms Thistle has been carted off to the Harsh Island for Unwanted…

  • Mim and the Frazzled Fruit Farmer: The Travelling Bookshop #7 – Katrina Nannestad. Illustrated by Cheryl Orsini

    Harper Collins Australia February 202 No doubt there will be many young readers who will be sad to know that this is the final chapter in this entertaining series but, dare I say, knowing Katrina’s fertile imagination and creativity there is sure to be something new in the offing. Mim, Zeddy and Nat plus the…

  • The Very Fine Clock – Muriel Spark. Drawings by Edward Gorey.

    Transit Children’s Editions New South Books Illustrated by Edward Gorey, author Muriel Spark 9798893380262/ February 2026/AUD$29.99, NZD$34.99 From the archives: Illustrator Edward Gorey Collection of Macabre Author and Illustrator Edward Gorey Item Well I knew Muriel Spark wrote The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie and I certainly knew the name of Edward Gorey, – the…

  • The Witch Who Couldn’t Spell – Jess Galatola & Lu Baker

    June 2026 I can’t tell you how excited I am to finally see this book a finished product as I have been privileged to see Lu Baker‘s ideas for it unfold over time, watching with great interest and such admiration of her talent. And given my penchant for all things witchy, this was always going…

  • Freddie Jones: The Mystery of the Ghostly Garden – Kate Foster

    Walker Books Australia May 2026 ISBN13:9781760659943 Australia RRP:$17.99 New Zealand RRP:$19.99 I am really loving this new series from Kate Foster, who writes not only entertaining narratives but ones that give us all a much clearer insight into neuro-diversity. Freddie is such a likeable character and his self-awareness, especially using the literary device of first-person…

  • Is This a Plum? – Dan & Finn Ojari

    Penguin Australia The first word that springs to mind with this debut book is charming, followed quickly by hilarious! Father and son team but not in the usual sense [thinking of examples like Anthony and Joe Browne] because this father mostly works in theatrical creativity (Aardman Animations) and this son is only 8 years old!…

  • Handbooks for Little Humans: Integrity and Inclusivity – Zanni Louise. Illustrated by Jingting Wang.

    Simon & Schuster Imprint: Affirm Press February 2026 Integrity ISBN13: 9781923293205 LIST PRICE: AU$ 19.99 / NZ$ 24.99 Inclusion ISBN13: 9781923293199 LIST PRICE: AU$ 19.99 / NZ$ 24.99 Following up on the earlier two in this series we have two more titles to add to your kitbag for inclusion in your circle time or social…

  • Connected – R. A. Stephens. Illustrated by Tamlyn Teow.

    Wombat Books April 2026 9781761113178 $24.99 Any of us who have taught Smalls always appreciate a useful ‘maths’ themed picture book. This one doubles as a timely introduction to the concept that we are all connected as humans, in one way or another. The maths aspect is certainly a fact – nodes, networks, circuits, spanning…

  • Lily Tripp: Diary of an Accidental Time Traveller – Amelia Tait

    Hachette Australia Imprint: Starboard May 5, 2026 | 9781444931983 | RRP $16.99 Well yes, it is another ‘diary’ of a tween title but at least this one really does have a point of difference. Lily Tripp, aged almost 13, has developed an unfortunate ability. Several times now she has spontaneously time-travelled on New Year’s Eve. She’s been in ancient…

  • Drawing Nudes While Making Other Plans – Zoe Gaetjens

    Penguin Australia Sometimes it’s just so refreshing to read something that’s different and this was one of those. It’s not that I don’t enjoy reading the YA cosy murder mysteries and so on, but when you get a book that gives you a slice of real life set in your hometown that combines self-belief, friendship,…