Just So Stories

Random Reviews and Ramblings from Redcliffe

  • Kicking off April…

    I’m hoping lots of people are already planning for this year’s NAIDOC week – I’ll be sharing as many new resources and ideas as possible over the next couple of months. I’ve already got my new t-shirt! How about you?? Meanwhile stand by for a week of new First Nations titles coming up. These are…

  • Spirit of the Crocodile – Aaron Fa’Aoso and Michelle Scott Tucker with Lyn White

    Allen & Unwin March 2025 ISBN:978174331709 Imprint:A & U Children’s RRP: $19.99 Just last year some of my circle were saying we would love to see more Torres Strait Islander titles, particularly after the success of Our Flag, Our Story, so when this arrived I was very excited indeed. And this is a fantastic book…

  • Boodja Barna – Land Creatures: Noongar First Words – Jayden Boundry. Tyrown Waigana.

    Fremantle Press June 2024 ISBN: 9781760995317 RRP: $16.99 This is the first of a new series and it is absolutely adorable 💗. Whether this is the language of the traditional owners in your part of the country or not, this makes for a really sweet read for tiny Smalls. To my mind, it’s no matter if…

  • 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…

  • The Bee Squad

    Boosting biodiversity in your neighbourhood – Judy Friedlander New South Books Ferbruary 2025 ISBN: 9781742238227  RRP: $27.99 Last year there were quite a few books come my way with bugs and biodiversity featured. This one is almost a complete wrap-up of them all in a non-fiction package. We know kiddos are enthusiastic about environmental activities.…

  • Caution! This Book Contains Deadly Reptiles – Corey Tutt. Art by Ben Williams.

    Anyone familiar with Corey Tutt’s work, both with the Deadly Science program and his previous books [and if you’re not – why not??? Inconceivable!] will not be one bit surprised to learn that this book is every bit as deadly as its title. I am only sorry that The Kid is now the too-cool-for-school-adult, and…

  • The Skin I’m In – Steph Tisdell

    Pan Macmillan July 2024 ISBN: 9781760984977 RRP: $26.99 It took me a while to get to this one on the review shelf, but when I did, it didn’t take me long to read it – I chomped it up over 3 nights and loved every vibrant word of it. Then of course it was Picture Book…

  • Let’s Talk January 26

    Please find some thoughts, resources and potential growth ideas sourced from some of my go-to First Nations educational providers. Firstly from Deb Hoger @Riley Callie Resources  Every year, we like to remind people what this date actually marks. Let’s get the facts: Learn more about January 26 and the history via Common Ground. Meanwhile check out…

  • 12 Days of Bush Christmas – Megan Van Den Berg & Emma Bamblett

    Hardie Grant Australia September 2024 Imprint: Hardie Grant Explore ISBN 9781741179088 $24.99 As I started on the Xmas countdown, going through the books I’d been saving, and having shared a pic of a Blak Santa somewhere else, I was thinking we need more First Nations themed Xmas books. And we have one for this year!…