Just So Stories

Random Reviews and Ramblings from Redcliffe

  • Nothing Ever Happens – Heidi McKinnon

    Scholastic November 2023 ISBN:   9781761298561 RRP: $19.99 Be careful what you wish for is almost always good advice. In this instance, it most definitely is. The text is simplicity itself, but the illustrations are what tell this most hilarious story. ‘Nothing ever happens!’ ‘Every day is always the same.’ ‘Same old rock. Same old shell.’…

  • Picture Book Month bonus #2: Millie Mak the Maker [Millie Mak 1] – Alice Pung. Illustrated by Sher Rill Ng.

    Harper Collins Australia August 2023 As I have said before, one positive to come out of Covid was a renewed focus on renew/repair/recycle initiatives and slow living. Millie Mak may be only 9 years old but she’s a very good example of this. I am so on board with Millie and her Scottish grandma checking…

  • A Friend for Ruby – Sofie Laguna/Marc McBride

    Allen & Unwin ISBN:9781761067648 Publisher:A&U Children’s Imprint:A & U Children August 2023 I know you don’t need me to tell you that this is sensational. Given the two creators how could it be anything but? The story itself is fairly simple and fluid. Ruby wants – needs – a friend, and as she walks home…

  • Picture book month bonus #1: Q&A with Favel Parrett

    Welcome Favel, to Just So Stories! What a pleasure it is to have you share some insights into your life and work with my readers. In 2011, you made quite the splash (sorry, had to be done!) with your debut novel Past the Shallows, shortlisted in the Miles Franklin, Winner of the Dobbie Literary Award,…

  • Gigantic- Rob Biddulph

    Harper Collins Australia This is just an absolute cracker whichever you turn it – both the splendid rhyming text (perfectly cadenced) and the stunning illustrations combine to make it a sure-fire winner. And, definitely, a stand-out to kick off a little series of ‘sea’ themed picture book reviews. Loads of your Smalls will be very…

  • Reflecting on reviewing

    There have been some interesting aspects to my review hobby in recent weeks, all but one or two, supremely satisfying, and the isolated couple that were not, were not actually negative towards my reviewing, merely annoying in a general sense. In particular, over the last couple of days I’ve enjoyed some wonderful and lively conversation…

  • Silver Linings – Katrina Nannestad

    Harper Collins Australia I cannot begin to tell you how impatiently I have waited to post this review. When I was invited to write teaching notes for a new Katrina Nannestad book, I was absolutely thrilled. Then, when I read the manuscript for this beautiful, funny, poignant, life-affirming narrative, I realised how easy it would…

  • The Turtle and the Flood – Jackie French/Danny Snell

    Harper Collins Australia I could be mistaken, but I do think many of us would be familiar with these little darlings, at least by sight, even if not from personal experience. I think that kiddos would also know these guys from pictures and/or real life. There would be some as well, particularly (I think in…

  • Kimmi: Queen of the Dingoes – Favel Parrett.

    Hachette NOV 1, 2023 | 9780734422057 | RRP $19.99 Many readers fell in love with story of alpine dingo, Wandi, and his followers on SM are astonishing in numbers. Now comes the story of Kimmi, the tropical dingo, destined to be the Queen of her mob. A farmer in their Kimberley homeland has already killed Kimmi’s father, now her…

  • Magic Awry [Big Magic #2] – Sarah Armstrong

    Hardie Grant Children’s Publishing August 2023 ISBN: 9781760508449 Series: Big Magic RRP: $19.99 You know how sometimes, you’ve read an absolutely stonkingly good first book in a series, and when the sequel arrives you feel somewhat let down? Well, trust me, in this case, it is the very opposite. Big Magic was SO good, I…