Just So Stories

Random Reviews and Ramblings from Redcliffe


  • The Sea in Me – Cody Simpson. Written with Jess Black. Illustrated by Amandine Thomas.

    Penguin Australia June 2024 One of the reasons we love where we live is that it is only a five minute walk to the sea. We see the placid ripples of Moreton Bay every single day and it never fails to soothe us, no matter how we are feeling or what kind of day it’s…

  • Billie’s Buzz – Alison Brown

    Harper Collins Australia July 2024 To finish off this week’s little theme of mini-beasts comes this enchanting book from Alison Brown showcasing the extraordinary talents of bees! Take a bow, bees of the world bee-cause we know you are the absolute superstars of the insect world. When Billie sees a poster for the upcoming Pet…

  • BrilliANT : A Journey into the Impressive Life of an Ant- Rosi Ngwenya and Sandy Flett

    For a word nerd such as I, or your participANTs, whether in the classroom or library – including any miscreANTs that some of you will have in your group of readers, this is just fANTastic! Who would ever have ANTicipated a book that would reveal the entire life journey of an ant and its colony…

  • Spiro – Anna McGregor

    Scribble July 2024 ISBN: 9781761381010 RRP: $24.99 Here’s the next delightful book in this week’s mini-beast theme, and what a terrific comedy of errors it is. Spiro is the epitome of perseverance, effort and resilience (which, obviously, will be a great talking point for your Smalls), as he works hard on one web after another…

  • Dung Beetle on a Roll – Sandra Severgnini

    August 2024 | $ 24.99ISBN: 9781486318872 Publisher: CSIRO Publishing You only need to take one look at this adorable vid clip to know that both you and your kids will fall in love with Dung Beetle. Sometimes I’m a bit spoilt and was about a month ago, meeting Sandra for the first time. I was…

  • Puppet – David Almond. Illustrated by Lizzy Stewart.

    Walker Books Australia ISBN13:9781406391619 Australia RRP:$24.99 New Zealand RRP:$27.99 David Almond‘s Skellig is a book that has always stood out among the thousands I’ve read over the past 60 odd years. The magical realism, the sheer beauty of the characters and their actions, and the undeniable urgency to turn the page all make for just…

  • Walls – Tania Ingram. Illustrated by Ruth-Mary Smith.

    Wombat Books July 2024 ISBN: 9781761111518 RRP: $26.99 Really, isn’t Tania Ingram just so multi-skilled? From the JF humour of Jinny & Cooper and Aggie Flea to the recently released The Other Shadow for older readers (a must-read if you haven’t already) through to picture books with heart such as Oma’s Buttons, she is an…

  • Like a Curse – Elle McNicoll

    Walker Books Australia August 2024 Imprint: Knights Of ISBN13:9781913311377 Australia RRP:$17.99 New Zealand RRP:$19.99 I absolutely loved Like a Charm and so, I naturally started to gobble this one up as soon as it arrived two days ago and now as I start to write the review, realise it’s not released till August 🤦 (started…

  • No. 5 Bubblegum Street – Mikolaj Pa. Illustrated by Gosia Herba.

    New South Books Greystone Kids May 2024 ISBN: 9781778400629 RRP: AUD$29.99, NZD$34.99 This is a super addition to this week’s theme of ‘happy-ness’ with it’s quirky subject matter, lively text and vibrant, hand-drawn illos. I’m pretty sure I’ve not seen these creators’ work before, but it’s sensational, and I can guarantee you that your Smalls…

  • Q&A with Carl Merrison

    Gaywambana! to Just So Stories Carl – I’m delighted to have you pop in for a visit. This blog has always been a proud supporter of First Nations creators given our own mob connections. Let’s just jump right on in. I always like to start at the beginning – makes more sense really don’t you…