Just So Stories

Random Reviews and Ramblings from Redcliffe

  • Dog Beach – Julie Murphy. Illustrated by Annie White

    New South Books NLA Publishing November 2024 9781922507709/ AUD$24.99, NZD$29.99 What a happy and full-of-warmth book this is! We know to expect entertaining animal stories from Julie Murphy, and we also know we can count on some information as well. This one does not disappoint. With some lovely rhyming descriptors of the many and varied dogs…

  • 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…

  • Spooky Season from Five Mile

    Five Mile October 2024 Tilly’s New Broom – Mary Anastasiou/Giorgia Clerico 9781923091542 RRP: $24.99 I think we’ve all been there. When you need a new ride but nothing seems to be right [thank goodness for my friend who was selling Black Betty just in time for me to hand-me-down Scarlett O’Cara to The Kid a…

  • My Dad Thinks He’s a Scream – Katrina Germein. Illustrated by Tom Jellett.

    Walker Books Australia September 2024 ISBN13:9781760655075 Australia RRP:$24.99 New Zealand RRP:$27.99 While it may have taken it’s time to reach me, it’s here right in time to witch you all a spooktacular Halloween week! I love me a good pun – and a whole book of them? – I love that even more. This is…

  • Hazel’s Treehouse – Zanni Louise. Illustrated by Judy Watson

    Walker Books November 2024 ISBN13:9781760657222 Australia RRP:$19.99 New Zealand RRP:$22.99 I have followed Zanni’s progress with this one for ages and have eagerly anticipated its arrival. When it was delivered yesterday, wrapped like the cutie it is in brown paper, tied up with string, I couldn’t wait to read it! And I can confirm, it…

  • Howzat Pat series #1 and #2 – Pat Cummins & Dave Hartley. Illustrated by Serena Geddes

    Harper Collins Australia October 2024 I admit that I’m not quite the cricket fan I once was [though, of course, I went to see the Bradman Collection when we were in Adelaide a fortnight ago!] but it was still pretty exciting, and also a lot of fun to write teaching notes for these two titles,…

  • The Midwatch – Judith Rossell

    Hardie Grant Children’s Publishing October 2024 ISBN:9781761212369 Price:AU$24.99, NZ$27.99 Holy Mackerel!! This is literally just WOW! The sleek and stylish binding is sensational and I’ve not seen such an enticing invitation to open a book for some time. We may have been waiting a while for a new book from Judith Rossell, but trust me,…

  • 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…