Just So Stories

Random Reviews and Ramblings from Redcliffe

  • When the Mountain Wakes – Matt Shanks

    Affirm Press Simon & Schuster August 2025 Somewhere, towards the beginning of time, a mountain rose from the ocean and came to rest above the clouds.Life sang a lullaby, and the mountain slept for many millions of years.Until one day, when the world became too silent for sleep  If you have a Sophisticated Picture Books…

  • Between – Anna Walker

    Scribe Publications Imprint: Scribble September 2025 ISBN: 9781761381591AUD$27.99 (Hardback) Anna Walker has created a book that is a pure symphony of thoughts, that swirl around like gossamer on a breeze. I only wish I could give you some idea of how utterly beautiful and soothing it is. It is almost a meditation in print and…

  • A Little Bit of Positivity: Potatoes, Peppers an Pineapples to Make Your Day – Jason Cox

    Scholastic UK September 2025 ISBN 9781761725036 RRP: $19.99 What a dear little book this is! If you are looking for a cute little gift book for almost any age really, you won’t go wrong with this one. And it’s the perfect size to pop into a Xmas stocking or for a Secret Santa gift. It’s…

  • One Word and a Bird – Stephen Michael King

    Scholastic Australia April 2025 ISBN 9781761520860RRP $26.99 This one finishes off this week of Birdie Num Nums purely because of its title, because really it’s not all about birds. It’s about love and our own self-belief, the (sometimes lofty and impossible) standards we set for ourselves and how we navigate the world around us. Stephen…

  • Normal Women Making History for 900 years – Philippa Gregory

    Illustrations by Alexis Snell Red Shed March 2025ISBN: 9780008725075 I am quite familiar with Philippa Gregory’s writing. Those books I have read are marvellous examples of historical fiction with such elegant blending of fact and fiction. But the title of this intrigued me as soon as I saw it. I had, in fact, no idea…

  • A Different Kind of Power: a memoir – Jacinda Ardern

    Penguin Australia First up, I’m going to say a big thank you to Penguin, especially the indefatigable Dot Tonkin, for giving me the opportunity to read and review this. As someone who admired this young woman as a trailblazer, it has been interesting to see her in close-up, so to speak. I think for many…

  • Ming and Maria Explore the Universe: The Girls Who Changed the World #5 – Jackie French

    Harper Collins Australia Once again, I was delighted to be asked to write the notes for this last title in what has been an inspiring series for our young people. It was particularly special as Jackie and I had had some conversations about this particular ‘mighty girl’ of history, and how much Maria Mitchell contributed…

  • Blak ANZAC Day

    You are correct. I did say the blog was having a break until after ANZAC Day but when Big Sky Publishing sent me these which arrived today (16th) how could I not read and review them to mark ANZAC 2025. You might already have them or not but be well advised to do so, if…

  • One Day – Shirley Marr. Michael Speechly

    Walker Books May 2025 ISBN13:9781760659790 Australia RRP:$27.99 New Zealand RRP:$29.99 Two acclaimed creators collaborating? Of course, it was bound to be sensational. And it is all that and more. According to Frog, Mayfly will be eaten up by the world, but what will it matter if she only lives for one day in any case.…

  • Soaring with the Sugarbird Lady: the Robin Miller Story – Dianne Wolfer

    Fremantle Press March 2025 ISBN: 978176099527 RRP: $17.99 My love of historical fiction knows no bounds as when I come across a hitherto unknown episode, particularly of the Australian + women variety. Dianne Wolfer has introduced me to a young woman who was an absolute stand-out – in Dianne’s own words ‘a trailblazer for women, winging…