Just So Stories

Random Reviews and Ramblings from Redcliffe

Going Fishing with Nana – Frances and Lindsay Haji-Ali. Karen Briggs.

Publisher: Magabala Books Distributor: Hachette Oct 14, 2025 | 9781922864048 | RRP $27.99 We’re staying with the sea, long trips and grandparents for this one with the setting switched to the far north of the Kimberley region, and a little place called Wyndham. When the authors lived in Broome, there were regular visits to Wyndham with their children, to…

January 29, 2026
Bapa’s Last Canoe – Maree McCarthy Yoelu, Samanta Campbell

Publisher: Magabala Books Distributor: Hachette Oct 14, 2025 | 9781922777775 | RRP $27.99 For many of our kiddos, the very idea of going far away from home to go to school is a strange concept. But then, so is a journey by dug-out canoe taking months to say goodbye to family and friends, before going to the big smoke…

January 28, 2026
Turbo Turtle: Scales and Tails #4- Gregg Dreise

Magabala Books Hachette Australia November 2025 | 9781922864109 | RRP $27.99 A new Gregg Dreise book is always a delight- just like the man himself and this one, in the Scales and Tails sequence, is not only a significant story handed down to Gregg from his uncle, but references the Stolen Generation, providing an opportunity to introduce this topic…

January 27, 2026
Good Morning, Mr Sarra:My life working for a stronger, smarter future for our children (new edition): 10th Anniversary edition – Chris Sarra

UQP December 2022 ISBN 978070226589 A$32.99 In mid-1998 I was in my last year at Nanango State School, then teacher-librarian and six years into my teaching career. That was also the year that Chris Sarra arrived at Cherbourg State School as Queensland’s first Aboriginal school principal. It was a game-changer not only for Cherbourg and…

January 26, 2026
Change the Date

It’s obviously disturbing to me, as the mother and grandmother of First Nations offspring, that for many the continued ‘celebration’ of 26th January as Australia Day is insensitive at best, offensive at worst. Each year the momentum for changing the date grows, although the upswell of racism we have seen of late can impact this.…

January 26, 2026
First Knowledges Ceremony: All Our Yesterdays for Today – Wesley Enoch. Georgia Curran.

Thames & Hudson August 20265ISBN: 9781760764074 RRP: $26.99 What is ceremony for many of us is not the same as Ceremony for our First Nations people. And while there are plenty of us who understand the purpose and meaning of some of these ceremonies, there are still just as many who are not only ignorant…

December 10, 2025
Dreaming: Welcome to our Country- Adam Goodes/Ellie Laing. Illustrated by David Hardy.

Allen & Unwin September 2025 ISBN:9781761065095 Publisher:A&U Children’s Imprint:A & U Children To be honest, I know this series doesn’t need any talking up. The previous books and the enthusiasm with which they’ve been received speaks for them far more eloquently than I can. But just in case you’ve been incommunicado for some time, let…

November 27, 2025
Picture Book Month Bonus: Howzat Pat! #3 & #4 – Pat Cummins & Dave Hartley and Serena Geddes.

HOWZAT indeed!!!!! With splendiferous timing after yesterday’s absolutely spectacular knock by Travis Head, it’s lucky I’ve just read the next two in this cracking series. I was delighted to write the supporting resources for the first two and loved the whole vibe of this series, and these continue in that same vein. With less than…

November 23, 2025
My Dream Holiday – Ash Barty. Jasmin McGaughey. Jade Goodwin.

Harper Collins Australia You may or may not have heard the current furore instigated by The Society of Authors UK over ‘celebrity-authored’ books and that’s hardly surprising. I have seen many books that I know very well have not been written by the person named as author, with there is nary a mention of the…

November 9, 2025
My Story, Our Country: a First Nations Family History – Ryhia Dank

Harper Collins Australia October 2025 When I read this, I immediately sent a text to a dear friend, a committed First Nations ally who always strives to teach her class with solid embedded cultural perspectives, that if she only buys one new book to explain Aboriginality, this is the one. I was so impressed with…

November 9, 2025