Just So Stories

Random Reviews and Ramblings from Redcliffe

  • Hatch – Heidi Cooper Smith

    CSIRO Publishing Hardback | April 2025 | $ 26.99ISBN: 9781486318278 This gorgeous narrative non-fiction book makes me think of my Year 1s, 30 years ago as we had the fun of watching chickens hatch, and frogspawn develop, investigating how life begins for many creatures. I know there are many ELC and Prep classes that still…

  • My Very First Britannica Encyclopedia: for curious kids aged 0 to 3 – Sally Symes, Hanako Clulow (Illustrator), Dr Amanda Gummer

    Walker Books Australia RRP: $44.99 I’m going to be completely frank with you. The kind of people who were rushing out to buy the board books of the ilk of the Nuclear Physics for Babies type, made me shudder. I’m sure there were some who were buying them with a sense of humour, but one…

  • Rakali of the Riverbank – Stephanie Owen-Reeder. Illustrated by Rachel Gregg.

    CSIRO PublishingJuly 2025 ISBN: 9781486317547 RRP: $26.99 I’m well aware there are some people who are not fans of any kind of rodentia [inconceivable!] – honestly, I’m not sure why because not only do The Kid and I love them, but we find them absolutely fascinating creatures. I am yet to see a rakali for…

  • Volcano – Claire Saxby. Jess Racklyeft.

    Allen & Unwin April 2025 ISBN:9781761180644 Publisher:A&U Children’s Imprint:A & U Children RRP: $26.99 I think we all know from their previous collaborations that the pairing of these two creators is always going to be a stunning result. And this one certainly is that. Kiddos love volcanoes. They love hearing about them, watching films of…

  • Mabo Day

    Bringing this year’s Reconciliation Week to a close with the reminder that today is Mabo Day. Eddie Mabo, the man behind Mabo Day Overturning terra nullius Eddie Koiki Mabo

  • Country Tells Us When… Written and Illustrated by Tsheena Cooper, Mary Dann, Dalisa Pigram-Ross and Sheree Ford.

    ILF Community Publishing  March 2023 ISBN:   9781922592460ISBN 10:   1922592463 9781922592484 (Karajarri), 9781922592477 (Mangala) RRP: $26.99 Community: Rubibi (Broome), WA Language: Yawuru The Yawuru people are the traditional owners of the lands and waters in and around Rubibi (the town of Broome). As more and more First Nations seasonal calendars are being shared with students, what a wonderful…

  • Spectacular Snakes – Emma Flannery and Professor Tim Flannery. Illustrated by Katie Melrose.

    Hardie Grant Australia December 2024 ISBN:9781761211737 Price:AU$26.99, NZ$29.99 Imprint:Hardie Grant Children’s Publishing This is big, bold and beautiful ,and younger K would have adored this book as she has been an ophiophilist from the time she was toddling after our garden skinks and geckos. Your readers from Smalls to Not-so-smalls will love it too. Katie…

  • Creature Corridors – Billie Rooney and Anke Noack

    CSIRO Publishing February 2025 | $ 26.99ISBN: 9781486318100 For kiddos who love learning about nature and our wildlife (which is most of them really), this will be not only a fun read but informative as well. Quite a few will be able to make connections to their own neighbourhoods and environs, as even in more…

  • 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…

  • What is a Dot? -Johanna Bell. Illustrated by Amelia Luscombe.

    Thames & Hudson April 2025 ISBN: 9781760764814 RRP: $26.99 What is a dot when a dot is not? Is it a swish? A sweep? Or a swirl? Is it a scurry? A wave? Or a pearl? I was SO keen to see this because I’m such a huge fan of Hervé Tullet and his always imaginative,…