Just So Stories

Random Reviews and Ramblings from Redcliffe

  • Eighty-Nine Questions for After – Ashleigh Barton

    Hachette Australia July 2026 ISBN: 9780733654596 RRP: $16.99 I first knew Ashleigh’s work as a picture book creator, one who could create wonderful texts that not only engaged young readers but gave them portals into the larger world. Then along came her middle-grade novel How to Sail to Somewhere which so skilfully demonstrated that her…

  • The Boy and the Shark – Cate James

    Affirm Kids Apri 2026 Distributed by Simon & Schuster LIST PRICE: AU$ 24.99 / NZ$ 26.99 Cate James makes the leap from talented illustrator to doubly talented author/illustrator with this absolutely adorable book. Let’s be honest here, you can utilise any book for teaching purposes if you are a capable and creative educator, but sometimes…

  • What’s That Splat? Johanna Bell & Amelia Luscombe

    Thames & Hudson June 2026 ISBN: 9781760764821 RRP: $24.99 From the talented creators of What is a Dot? comes some more great imaginative and creative read & play experiences and already I can see the paint splatting all over the place! While it may cause some to throw up their hands in horror (probably the…

  • Meooow! – Nicoletta Costa

    Thames & Hudson April 2026 RRP: $14.99 A Cat Book of Seasons ISBN: 9781760765866 A Cat Book of Colours ISBN: 9781760765842 $14.99 A Cat Book of Feelings ISBN: 9781760765859 Well if these aren’t just as cute as a bug’s ear! They are incredibly simple concept board books but those vibrant illustrations combined with the absolutely…

  • Costa’s Garden: Fruit – Costa Georgiadis & Brenna Quinlan

    Harper Collins Australia April 2026 Our favourite colourful garden gnome, Costa, is back in his second book in this series for Smalls and this time he brings a tutti-frutti cornucopia of delectable fruit. From the beginning of fruit (the flower) to the kitchen for creating delicious dishes to cultures celebrating fruit in classic signature ways…

  • Duck Look Who’s Talking! (Duck, #1) – Matt Stanton

    Harper Collins Australia April 2026 Matt Stanton is a king of comedic writing and don’t we know it! And I’m going to be very frank here [no, not Frank – just Los] I really do think the Funny Kid books are great but it was always Duck who was the stand-out for me. Nothing speaks…

  • Oh No! – James Foley

    Penguin Australia Thursday night last I had just the best time at Quick Brown Fox’ Term 2 Reading Between the Wines and quite honestly, I’ve never laughed so much at any of the other RBtW evenings I’ve attended because not only is James Foley as hilarious in real life as his books but paired with…

  • The Midlands – Kate Gordon

    Kate Gordon has certainly forged a following since her first foray into publication. Some of her titles I have reviewed, others I have read but not reviewed but I definitely know which ones have received the positives and enthusiasms. I particularly enjoyed Whalesong. There is a lot to like about this newest one as well.…

  • The Clueless Guide to Solving a Mystery: Clueless #1 – Samera Kamaleddine. Illustrations by Hykie Breeze.

    Harper Collins Australia May 2026 ISBN: 9781460767443 RRP: $17.99 MG readers will thoroughly enjoy meeting Claudia as she has an extended stay with her grandparents in their retirement village. The residents make for hilarious friends with their various quirks but it is when ‘the cousins’, Yasmin and Zayn, come to visit their own grandmother that her…

  • A Great Piratical Rumbustification

    Ok yes, we do know that pirates have been romanticised over the years and we also know that there are pirates in the modern world, including the ones in office politically but there is absolutely no denying that fictional pirates still hold a real fascination for readers both young and old. As it happens, three…