Just So Stories

Random Reviews and Ramblings from Redcliffe

  • A Lemon for Safiya – Jemima Shafei-Ongu. Illustrated by Nisaluk Chantanakom.

    Hachette Australia May 2025 Imprint: Lothian Children’s Books | 9780734422224 | RRP $24.99 When Safiya spots an old lady sitting on the kerb, she feels worried for her. Her parents sense something is amiss as well. The family are quick to see that the old lady is confused, also that she has no English, and it is apparent by…

  • Brightest Wild – Tania Crampton-Larking

    Hachette Australia January 2025 9780734420657 | RRP $16.99 Imprint: Lothian Children’s Books This is a ‘bright’ start to a writing career for Tania Crampton-Larking, with a whole lot going on in this novel: loss/grief, moving/changes, mixed heritage families, family/changes to family, bullying, climate change, First Nations culture to mention a few. Alex and her mum move from…

  • Grandmother from the East, Grandmother from the West – Jacinta Liu & Freda Chiu

    Hachette Australia Imprint: Lothian Children’s Books Mar 26, 2025 | 9780734421791 | RRP $24.99 I believe many of you will have experienced or know children with mixed cultural heritage, just as I have. Not just as an educator of many years, nor even the fact that I taught at many schools with vibrantly diverse communities. Even growing up in…

  • Parrot Palace – Susanne Gervay with Pooja Mathur. Illustrated by Sarah Tabassum.

    Big Sky Publishing Imprint: Little Big Sky March 2025 ISBN: 9781923300088 RRP: $12.99 When I had an email from the wonderful Susanne Gervay last year, asking if I would write teaching notes for a new book, quite naturally I was delighted. And when I first read Parrot Palace, I was even more delighted. This is…

  • Skippy Blackfeet – Rebecca Fraser. Illustrated by Jennifer Horn.

    Wombat Books March 2025 9781761111662 RRP: $19.99 When you’re in cyclone prep/watch mode as I was a few days ago (at time of writing), you really need to read ‘light’. Whiskers (aka Demon Spawn) who was none too thrilled about being kept completely confined to barracks for fear the wild winds would whisker her right…

  • Little Bones – Sandy Bigna

    UQP March 2025 9780702268878 RRPP: $16.99 I know I’m repeating myself, but I preface this again with the fact that I’ve never been a huge fan of verse novels. But I can tell you, we have some amazing creators who are changing my mind about that. This debut title from Sandy Bigna is hands-down one…

  • A Good Kind of Trouble – Brooke Blurton and Melanie Saward

    Harper Collins Australia January 2024 This is another great novel coming from WA with fresh new voices and perspectives, and one of my most enjoyable reads of last year [I was reading the proof to write the teaching notes]. Jamie is a lively and intelligent girl who is very at ease with both her Aboriginality…

  • Washpool – Lisa Fuller

    Hachette Australia Feb 26, 2025 | 9780734420756 | RRP $16.99 Let’s see. Take a little of Alice down the rabbit hole, and mix that with a smidgin of Oz. Then add in some snippets of lands reached using the Subtle Knife plus some of the strangeness of Nevermoor. After that, throw in some Upside Down and sprinkle it all…

  • Abbie’s True Colours – Claire Thompson Abbie Jane Eliott Bulpett

    Owlet Press May 2025 ISBN: 9781913339654 RRP; $25.99 Yes, I know its release date isn’t until March but given recent events and despicable actions by political parties especially, I want you to note this and support it fully. It’s not just another fine example of a young Australian with vision but represents a social initiative…

  • Emma Memma: Twirly Tuesday

    Penguin Australia February 2025 Honestly, every Emma Memma book is just pure joyfulness! I defy anyone, no matter how staid and grumpy, to ignore Emma’s natural exuberance and zest. You only had to see her in her former role as Yellow Wiggle pouring sunshine and happiness over Grey Wiggle, Simon Cowell, to raise a smile.…