Just So Stories

Random Reviews and Ramblings from Redcliffe

  • 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…

  • Junkyard Fairies:#1 Dig Deep – Edwina Wyatt. Illustrated by Lauren O’Hara

    Walker Books Australia October 2024 ISBN13:9781760657048 Australia RRP:$19.99 New Zealand RRP:$24.99 Even without the addition of the adorable little fairy house [thank you so much Walker Books!🍄] , I would have loved this delightful new take on fairies for a contemporary audience. It’s rather like a mash-up of Enid Blyton with Bottersnikes & Gumbles and…

  • Party Rhyme – Antonia Pesenti

    I had not seen the first two rhyme books from this talented creator, and now I’m sorry to have missed them because this is just fantastic. As a punster from way back I believe kiddos, even Smalls, are never too young for some word play and when it’s as tricky and absurd as this, all…

  • Chronicles of a Lizard Nobody – Patrick Ness. Illustrated by Tim Miller.

    Walker Books September 2024 ISBN13:9781529517958 Australia RRP:$16.99 New Zealand RRP:$18.99 I absolutely love Patrick Ness’ writing. The Chaos Walking trilogy is my all-time favourite YA read. And A Monster Calls is one of the most beautiful, powerful and poignant explorations of pain and grief ever, and breaks me every time I read it. In fact,…

  • Best Idea Yet: Willa and Woof # 8 – Jacqueline Harvey

    Penguin Australia October 2024 Jacqueline Harvey continues to smash this series for younger readers with another exciting adventure from the ever-intrepid and resourceful Willa. Along with Tae and Woof, Willa has been officially helping at the Sunset Views retirement village next door. And the elderly residents are now also even more involved with Willa’s school…

  • Cheese! – Felice Arena. Illustrated by Beatrice Cerocchi.

    Affirm Press September 2024 AUD RRP $22.99 ISBN 9781922992833 Did someone say cheese? Yes, please! Some Brie? Mais oui! Ooh la la, how fancy! Don’t forget the smelly ones: There are quite a few! Stilton, Limburger and Stinking Bishop, too. First da pasta, now da cheese! Of course! one can’t have the one without the…

  • The 113th Assistant Librarian – Stuart Wilson

    Penguin Australia When you get an ARC all wrapped up pretty just like a birthday present, you can be pretty sure it’s going to be an exciting surprise inside and so it was. I mean to say, how could they possibly go wrong sending me something called this with a stern warning about the magic…

  • Happy Millionth Birthday – R. W. R. McDonald – Alexandra Colombo

    Larrikin House July 2024 Distributed by Simon & Schuster There probably isn’t a child alive who hasn’t enjoyed their birthday celebrations so much, that they have wished it could be their birthday every day. But what if….? And that’s exactly what happens in this humorous look at ‘too much of a good thing’. As Jack…

  • Real Stories with Random Writers

    A few weeks ago I had the absolute pleasure of being invited to be the first librarian on this hugely popular and terrific podcast with friends, Jacqueline Harvey, R. A. Spratt and Tim Harris. It was loads of fun and I’m very lucky. Check it out here and have a laugh with us.

  • Jack’s Island – Norman Jorgensen

    Fremantle Press January 2024 ISBN: 9781760992958 RRP: $17.99 Since its initial publication in 2008, Norman Jorgensen’s award-winning historical novel has proven not only an enduring popular choice for many class novel studies, but as a first-rate adventure constantly in circulation among readers from around Year 5 to Year 8. Based on stories from his own father,…