Just So Stories

Random Reviews and Ramblings from Redcliffe


  • Mr Duckins’ Chickens: Paw Prints series – Mick Elliott

    Walker Books June 2025 ISBN13:9781760659080 Australia RRP:$12.99 New Zealand RRP:$14.99 It’s a new series for your little newly independent readers who are ready to flap their reading wings a little more. At around 60 pages long and highly entertaining, it would also be a great ploy to introduce some of your more hesitant or reluctant…

  • Down the Plot Hole – Annaleise Byrd

    Walker Books April 2025 ISBN13:9781760659059 Australia RRP:$16.99 New Zealand RRP:$18.99 Annaleise Byrd’s second fractured fairytale is as highly amusing as the first. Basil and Terry resume their reading schedule, continuing on with Grimms’ Fairytales, though Basil is very uncertain about the whole idea of going back into fairytale with all its uncertainties – and dangers!…

  • The Marvellous Submarine -Zane Clayton Comber (The Marvellous Submarine, #1) Clayton Zane Comber. Connor McCammon

    Harper Collins Australia April 2025 This hails the start of a new series, co-written and illustrated by this pair from Kiama [one of my favourite places in the country] which will completely hook your young readers, particularly those who have been languishing for more Treehouse-like books. It is completely absurd and crazy and all the…

  • The Bogan Book Club – John Larkin

    You know how sometimes you’ve waited patiently for something, and it turns out to be a massive disappointment… movie, a meal, a night out – whatever – and you’re left feeling completely ripped off? This is not one of those occasions. I had some slim hope of getting this as a review copy, which didn’t…

  • The Frog Squad #2: Bungle in the Jungle – Kate and Jol Temple. Illustrated by Shiloh Gordon.

    Harper Collins Australia December 2024 The Temple two have such a fabulous skill in creating hugely humorous reads for kids, without degenerating into crassness. It is one of the reasons I love reviewing their books. And the Frog Squad is certainly proving to be a hilarious delight with this second instalment. The punster in me…

  • Too Scared to Sleep – Shaun Micallef. Illustrated by Jonathan Bentley.

    Hardie Grant Australia September 2024 Imprint: Hardie Grant Children’s Publishing ISBN:9781761213090 Price: AU$24.99, NZ$27.99 And I’ve saved the best till last for this Halloween. Now, I’ll be truthful. Most times, when I see a ‘celebrity’ name on a new book cover, I inwardly cringe because frankly, there are some celebrities who should just stick to…

  • Nanny Piggins and the Origin Story – R. A. Spratt

    Penguin Australia October 2024 My deep admiration for Nanny Piggins has never been a secret but, like so many, what did I really know about her? Of course, I know she’s the epitome of glamour, [forget Miss Piggy, who really was such a try-hard], NP is the real deal when it comes to glitz and…

  • Adventures Unlimited #1: The Land of Lost Things – Andy Griffiths. Illustrated by Bill Hope

    Pan Macmillan Australia August 2024 Imprint: Pan Australia ISBN: 9781761268267 RRP: $16.99 By coincidence the Ipswich StoryFest starts today [4/8] and it was at that kids lit festival, very early on in my teacher-librarian career (possibly around 1998?) that I first met Andy Griffiths and enjoyed the uproarious hilarity of his presentation [the exploding check out…

  • Mr McGee and his Hat – Pamela Allen

    Pamela Allen on Mr McGee and turning 90: ‘I’ve always known what I’m doing is good’ Penguin Australia RRP: $24.99 In just the last week I was remembering the furore over Mr McGee’s little penis that was barely visible in Mr McGee and the Biting Flea, and chatting about it to someone. The book was…

  • Frog Squad: #1 Dessert Disaster- Kate and Jol Temple

    Harper Collins Australia May 2024 People who know me are well aware of my love of wordplay, especially puns, so this hilarious new series is right up my alley. You might say I almost jumped for joy and honestly, your kiddos will find it un-frog-ettable as well. The Frog Squad is an elite group of…