Just So Stories

Random Reviews and Ramblings from Redcliffe

  • For the Wild! More Taronga Presents… with Kristin Darell. Illustrations by Laura Wood.

    Penguin Australia November 2024 Imprint: Penguin RRP: $14.99 Back in September I reviewed the first two books in this delighful new series Poo at the Zoo and Party Animals, and now it’s such a joy to present the next two. I’m absolutely loving this series for its cleverly disguised information, the very realistic look at…

  • Hester Hitchins and the Falling Stars – Catherine Norton

    Harper Collins Australia July 2024 Don’t think it’s taken me all this time to read this one because it didn’t at all. After The Fortune Maker this was high up in the reading order. It’s just a sad fact that it’s taken me this long to get to writing the review. But it is another…

  • The One and Only Family – Katherine Applegate

    Harper Collins Australia All good things must come to an end so they say [and of course, as a Buddhist, I do know that everything is impermanent], but I am, along with many others I have no doubt, sad to say goodbye to Ivan and his friends, and now family. It has given me such…

  • Fallout – Lesley Parr

    Bloomsbury Australia October 2024 ISBN 9781526648013 Imprint Bloomsbury Children’s Books RRP: $15.99 I have been a fan of Lesley Parr’s writing since the very first I reviewed, and this new one is another fabulous read. I ate it up over this past weekend, thoroughly immersed in Marcus’ troubled life in his Welsh valley in the…

  • All the Beautiful Things – Katrina Nannestad

    Harper Collins October 2024 RRP: $22.99 It goes without saying that Katrina Nannestad’s books are going to fly off the shelves. She just produces one amazing narrative after another. When I was asked to write notes for this new one, I was naturally delighted. I found the book not only completely engrossing but quite emotional…

  • Be a Nature Explorer!: Outdoor Activities and Adventures – Peter Wohlleben. Translated by Jane Billinghurst, illustrated by Belle Wuthrich

    New South Books Greystone Kids/David Suzuki Institute July 2024 9781771649698  AUD$24.99, NZD$29.99 Nerdy kid me would have loved this book when I was a munchkin. I actually still love it now and really think I will try some of the suggested activities out [I wonder if I can coerce The Kid? she would also have…

  • 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,…

  • Legend of the Lighthouse Moon – Helen Edwards

    Riveted Press Distributed by Simon & Schuster October 2024 ISBN13: 9781763526013 RRP: AU$ 17.99 / NZ$ 19.99 What an enchanting story Helen Edwards has created with its rich blend of history, legend, family and love! Set on Kangaroo Island in the 1970s, Mona McKenna and her little brother, Albert, live an idyllic family life in…

  • 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…