Just So Stories

Random Reviews and Ramblings from Redcliffe

  • Croc Candy – Claire Thompson. Illustrated by Deborah Brown.

    The True Story of a Rising Star, Angus Copelin-Walters Woodslane Press January 2025 9781922800817/$27.99 Claire Thompson and I connected when she asked if I could help her to develop some professional resources to partner both her forthcoming book and also a writing with kids gig she was undertaking. It has been an all-round pleasure I…

  • Mammalia; an illustrated guide to the world of mammals – Lindy Mattice

    New South Books Bushel & Peck 9781638191285 / July 2024 / AUD$49.99, NZD$57.99 This is likely the last of my animal books for this year (but you never know!) and what a beauty it is too. While it is an absolute treasure chest of interesting, relevant information with the addition of quite quirky quick facts, it is the…

  • Picture Book Month Extra! – Usborne Big Book of Facts

    Harper Collins Australia November 2024 Once upon a time we would likely say this is the sort of book that boys will love to pore over for hours, and while that still holds true, it’s fair to say that in my observations over the past ten years, it is just as likely to be girls…

  • Ask Aunty: Bush Survival Skills – Aunty Munya Andrews. Illustrated by Charmaine Ledden-Lewis

    Hardie Grant December 2024 Imprint: Hardie Grant Explore ISBN:9781741179231 Price:AU$24.99, NZ$27.99 Look out for this stunning new book heading your way in the next week or so. As part of the Ask Aunty series, this title will share an understanding of Country, and its integral role in the lives of First Nations People, and how…

  • How Do I Know if my Body is Upside Down? (and other things my body knows) – Idan Ben-Barak and Zahra Zainal

    Scholastic Australia August 2024 ISBN: 9781761121371 ISBN-10: 1761121375 RRP: $19.99 For those endless questioners, Idan Ben-Barak is heaven sent. He is always able to zone in on exactly what kids want to know about from the small questions to the big ones. And this is another fun book with plenty of answers to those never-ending queries. Focusing…

  • Slug Life- Moesha Kellaway

    Harper Collins Australia ‘Bug’ books, that is books about mini-beasts seem to be very on trend this year and I, for one, am greatly enjoying that. Having had The Kid raising tiny critters such as stick insects in her zoo days, we are pretty chill about our small wildlife. In fact, we both get very…

  • Pollinators Week 2024

    Just in time for Pollinators Week, I have two smashing picture books about the critters who, realistically, feed us. If it wasn’t for their pollination what would grow? Why not see how you can help out our hard workers by visiting the Australian Pollinators Week website? You’ll find heaps of events along with resources like…

  • Christie Williams’ Search and Find: G’Day Australia & Australian Birds

    Five Mile G’day Australia: Search and Find April 2024 9781923091368 RRP: $19.99 Australian Birds: Search and Find 9781923286238 RRP: $24.99 These are some of the prettiest books I’ve seen this year and kids who love some interactivity with their reading will thoroughly enjoy them. Primarily exactly what they say they are – search and find…

  • Into the Ice: Reflections on Antarctica – Alison Lester & Coral Tulloch.

    Allen & Unwin October 2024 ISBN:9781760526061 Publisher:A&U Children’s Imprint:A & U Children RRP: $35.00 Honestly, it is a little hard for me to define this sumptuous book, but I am putting in here as a picture book – although, it is patently so much more than that. Really, it is an illustrated journal with these…

  • A Flock of Beautiful Bird Books

    Woodslane Publishing So this parcel of absolutely stunning bird books arrived just as I’d finished this years Bird Count, but that certainly doesn’t mean that they are any less appreciated. These are all not only sensationally and vibrantly beautiful but packed with pithy facts and information about our most iconic birds. Your kiddos who are…