Just So Stories

Random Reviews and Ramblings from Redcliffe

  • Forevability Awards 2025

    It gives me pleasure to announce that this coming year I will not only be a judge again in the awards but also a sponsor. What a privilege it is! Highlighting Sue Warren as a valued sponsor for the 2025 Forevability Book Awards.Sue Warren has had a long and varied career as a teacher-librarian for…

  • A little break in transmission…

    Just need a little reset time this week. I have paid work to do and I need to get some reviews scheduled, as well as help The Kid with her first assessments, being her critique/proofreader chum. I’ve read some great books recently – and even weeks ago – that I need to write up, so…

  • Song of the Golden Hare – Jackie Morris

    Unbound May 2024 ISBN: 9781783528851 RRP: AUD$29.99, NZD$34.99 Distributed by New South Books This is probably one of the most difficult books to categorise I’ve ever read. Is it a picture book? Well,it’s very heavily and beautifully illustrated but I would need to call it an ‘extended’ picture book because it is quite a lengthy…

  • Herd- Stephen Hogtun

    Bloomsbury Australia July 2024 ISBN 9781526610737 Imprint Bloomsbury Children’s Books RRP: $22.99 Home is where your family is… From start to finish this is just a beautiful book in all respects. With absolutely exquisite illustrations, this exploration of what ‘home’ means will give rise to many bountiful conversations with both Smalls and Not-so-Smalls about the…

  • L.O.L. Goat Laughs Out Loud: G.O.A.T. #2- Kate & Jol Temple. Illustrated by Rebel Challenger.

    Scholastic Australia May 2024 ISBN: 9781760261153 RRP: $18.99 Hooray for nonsense I say!! I know there’s a place for books with messages and deep themes but sometimes we all just need – as I used to tell the kiddos – a ‘lolly’ book. A book that is fun. A book that is light. A book…

  • Listen, Hippo! – Gabriel Evans

    Penguin Australia April 2024 This utterly delightful book completely reminded me of Forrest Gump: For Forrest, the only thing that was going to help was running. For Billy, he just wants Hippo to listen. Hippo is the most willing and helpul friend one could have. But sometimes we don’t want razzamatazz like dressing up, pirate…

  • 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…