Just So Stories

Random Reviews and Ramblings from Redcliffe


  • The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Extinct Animals – Sami Bayly

    Hachette Australia September 2024  9780734421395 | RRP $32.99 Watch this interview with Sami from The Morning Show to hear more about this latest book. It seems almost incredible to realise that Sami Bayly is not yet 30 ! [maybe that’s me because I’m so senior citizen now], given her amazing catalogue of titles thus far. This is…

  • Brainy about Bears – Owen Davey

    Walker Books September 2024 Imprint: Flying Eye Books ISBN13:9781838741617 Australia RRP:$29.99 New Zealand RRP:$32.99 Oh how I LOVE Owen Davey’s books! Sadly, I don’t always get sent all of them 😦 and I wish I had , because my nerdy inner child just adores his retro style and his fascinating facts. There are now about…

  • 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…

  • Design & Building on Country – Alison Page & Paul Memmott. Illustrations by Blak Douglas.

    Thames & Hudson September 2024 ISBN: 9781760763565 RRPP: $26.99 Back when I was teaching in my PYP school in Canberra, over ten years ago now, my Year 4s were doing a unit of inquiry focused on Technology and, of course, I was to partner their unit in the library. To me it was an obvious choice…

  • Djinang Bonar: Seeing Seasons – Ebony Froome. Illustrated by Leanne Zilm.

    Fremantle Press July 2024 ISBN: 9781760994211 RRP: $24.99 This is absolutely beautiful! The illustrations for this gorgeous bilingual book will knock your socks off. We are beginning to see and use many First Nations seasonal calendars e.g. from CSIRO as more and more are researched and developed. This one outlines the signs of the changing seasons…

  • Flora: Australia’s Most Curious Plants – Tania McCartney

    National Library of Australia October 2024 9781922507716 /AUD$29.99, NZD$34.99 Try some Flora puzzles! Watch a Waratah bloom via Tania’s skills I have watched the development of this stunning companion to Fauna for months now and have eagerly anticipated its arrival. And how very beautiful it is – of course! With the meticulous attention to detail we…

  • Fabulous Frogs – Katrina Germein. Illustrated by Suzanne Houghton

    CSIRO Publishing October 2024 | $ 24.99ISBN: 9781486317875  Some readers might recall another froggy book I reviewed recently where I also shared our personal love of our amphibian friends. So, quite naturally, I was delighted to be able to review this one especially when these two outstanding creators have paired up. As you would expect,…

  • Wildlife Wong series – Dr Sarah Pye.

    A while AA Some time ago I enjoyed a wonderful literary lunch hosted by the indefatigable Michelle Nye (when I look it up, I can’t believe it was back in May!! ummmm, excuse me where have those three months gone?!). One of the great pleasures in that was meeting two creators, Sandra Severgnini and amazing…

  • Wedge-tailed Eagle- Claire Saxby/Christina Booth

    Walker Books Australia August 2024 ISBN13: 9781760655686 Australia RRP: $26.99 New Zealand RRP: $28.99 Another stunning book in the Nature Storybook series, combining a lyrical, almost poetic, narrative with fascinating facts, this time about Australia’s largest raptor – surely, one of our most magnificent winged creatures. For a bird nerd like myself, they are always…

  • Oceans at Night – Vanessa Pirotta. Illustrated by Cindy Lane.

     June 2024 | $ 24.99ISBN: 9781486317233 Publisher: CSIRO Publishing I’ve reviewed quite a few beautiful ‘ocean’ PBs, both fictional and narrative non-fiction, but not so many that focus on the ocean at night. This is just a stunning addition, crammed with absolutely glorious illustrations (and oh! those endpapers!), lyrical language and fascinating facts with which…