Just So Stories

Random Reviews and Ramblings from Redcliffe


  • Purinina – Christina Booth

    CSIRO Publishing  September 2024 | $ 24.99ISBN: 9781486317264  Taking its cue from the 2007 Notable picture book Purinina, a Devil’s Tale, this new devilish tale from Christina Booth follows Purinina’s life from her birth through the death of her mother to her producing her own offspring. It is written in simple yet very evocative terms…

  • Night Watch – Jodi Toering/Tannya Harricks

    Walker Books February 2024 ISBN13:9781760655310 Australia RRP:$26.99 New Zealand RRP:$28.99 With a task to completeand a journey ahead, Tawny Frogmouth calls a drumming call. Moon answers, rising gently over the stubble to meet her and light the way. What a beautiful lullaby of a book this is! as the reader glides across the night sky…

  • Happy Book Week 2024!

    Yesterday kids lit creators and purveyors around the country were either attending celebratory events, presenting at schools or waiting for the newsflash. At the time I was enjoying a massage after treating myself to a leisurely brunch. Am I missing the Book Week buzz? A little, but to be honest, I’m still so deeply entrenched…

  • Dragon Folding – Christopher Cheng. Illustrated by Lucia Masciullo.

    Penguin Australia September 2024 Grief is hard. And most of us know, in one way or another, some losses are harder to bear than others. I know that well, as does author Christopher Cheng. In a beautiful new book from this illustrious author, comes a narrative that explores the depths of grief, and how strength…

  • Wedge-tailed Eagle- Claire Saxby/Christina Booth

    Walker Books Australia August 2024 ISBN13: 9781760655686 Australia RRP: $26.99 New Zealand RRP: $28.99 Another stunning book in the Nature Storybook series, combining a lyrical, almost poetic, narrative with fascinating facts, this time about Australia’s largest raptor – surely, one of our most magnificent winged creatures. For a bird nerd like myself, they are always…

  • Little Axel’s Axolotl – Juliette MacIver. Illustrated by Christopher Nielsen.

    Walker Books Australia July 2024 ISBN13:9781760656195 Australia RRP:$25.99 New Zealand RRP:$27.99 Anyone who has owned an axolotl, or indeed even just seen one, knows that they are such quirky little animals, they are begging to have stories written about them. I loved this picture book which is pure fun and kookiness. With it’s bouncing rhythm…

  • Kevin Saves the Show – Jacqueline Harvey. Illustrated by Kate Isobel Scott.

    Penguin Australia August 2024 Just in time to kick off the animals PB extravaganza, everyone’s newest favourite sheep is back and as one would expect is front and centre in the spotlight. Our jumbuck is the host of a karaoke singing competition, rocking his new purple ‘do’ and looking sharp as a wolf’s tooth. The…

  • Allen the Alien – Stephanie Ward & Aleck Morton

    Yellow Brick Books/Riveted Press June 2024 ISBN13: 9780648492511 Distributed by Simon & Schuster RRP: $24.99 If you love J.Lo (Oh), from the movie Home (and the books The True Meaning of Smekday/Smek for President) as much as I do, you are certainly going to love Allen. And your kiddos will also love this quirky character…

  • The Silverback’s Song – Dannika Patterson and Nick Kohler.

    Morningstar Books August 2024 Iona College presents…. ISBN: 978-0-6485778-2-9 RRP: $25.00 April seems such a long time ago now, when I was thrilled to hear from local author, Dannika Patterson, to ask if I might write some teaching notes for a very special new book. This picture book has been a project like no other…

  • Big, Big Love – Lisa Fuller & Samantha Campbell

    Magabala Books April 2024 ISBN978-1-921248-96-2 RRP: $27.99 What a darling book this is and how pleased I am that it has come my way. It is essentially very simple,but it is also so profoundly special as it expresses a mother’s heart and overwhelming love for her child. I loved you before you were born and…