Just So Stories

Random Reviews and Ramblings from Redcliffe


  • Tarni’s Chance – Paul Collins & Jules Ober

    Ford St July 2022 ISBN: 9781922696052 RRP: $24.99 This is a stunning collaboration between these two fine creators. Paul’s ease and expertise in handling sensitive issues is well established and coupled with Jules’ fantastic mini-sculptures brings this beautiful and poignant story to life with an elegance that will entrance your readers. Tarni withdraws from the…

  • My Baba is the Best – Bachar Houli. Illustrated by Debby Rahmalia

    Penguin Australia August 2022 ISBN: 9781761046568 Imprint: Puffin RRP: $19.99 Read more in this piece from SBS Arabic24 This is simply just a joyous read filled with family and fatherly love. It is wonderful that we have an ever-increasing diverse representation of our Australian children in books, and, in particular, picture books. Bachar proves himself not just…

  • Peppa Pig: Peppa’s Dragon Adventure

    Penguin Australia August 2022 ISBN: 9780241575673 Imprint: Ladybird RRP: $14.99 We can always depend on Peppa and her family to provide us with warm fuzzies, plus imagination combined with happy reality. When George Pig doesn’t want to go to sleep, fearful of bad dreams, Daddy Pig tells a wonderful story about a dragon. Peppa and George enjoy…

  • Diary of a Rescued Wombat – Jackie French/Bruce Whatley

    Harper Collins November 2022 ISBN: 9781460761823 ISBN 10: 1460761820 Imprint: HarperCollins AU List Price: 24.99 AUD Twenty years ago Jackie French and Bruce Whatley collaborated on what was to be the first of ‘the Wombat’ books, and you might say, the rest is history! To celebrate this milestone, this is an absolutely not-to-be-missed prequel to the entire series with…

  • You Can’t Let an Elephant Drive a Racing Car – Patricia Cleveland-Peck and DavidTazzyman

    Bloomsbury Publishing August 2022 ISBN 9781526635402 Imprint Bloomsbury Children’s Books RRP: $14.99 We all know that kiddos love absurd humour and this book fits that bill to a T. I shared this one with a Prep class who were all pretty much shrieking with laughter all the way through it. This is a hilarious look…

  • Peppa Pig: A Trip to the Moon

    Penguin Australia September 2022 ISBN: 9780241610664 Imprint: Ladybird RRP: $16.99 I think it’s safe to say that Peppa’s popularity just does not diminish! I shared this one with a delightful class of Preppies and before reading, when I asked who likes Peppa, there was a forest of hands shooting up and much excited chatter. The kiddos really enjoyed…

  • Amazing Animal Journeys- Jennifer Cossins

    Hachette Australia October 2022 ISBN 9780734421432 RRP $26.99 Another glorious information book sneakily posing as a picture book *grin*, in the most excellent style for which Jennifer Cossins has become well known and loved. The book explores the incredible migratory habits of 25 different species, quite a few from Australia, and when I shared it…

  • Two Puggles – Michelle Guzel and Andrew Plant

    Ford St October 2022 ISBN 9781922696168 RRP $16.95 Over the years there have been numerous books about adoption or foster families which, of course, are terrific for both children to whom that applies as well as those who can gain an understanding of the differences in families. This is a really adorable ‘switched at birth’…

  • Jørn’s Magnificent Imagination – Coral Vass/Nicky Johnson

    Exisle Publishing EK Books October 2022 ISBN: 9781922539144 RRP: $24.99 Last week I was in a Year 1 classroom for the day and this was my choice to share with them. As our pre-reading chat I invited the kiddos to suggest what it might be about after showing them the cover and the [gorgeous] endpapers. Art,…

  • Back on Country – Adam Goodes/Ellie Laing. Illustrated by David Hardy

    Allen & Unwin November 2022 Imprint: A&U Children ISBN: 9781761065088 RRP: $24.99 Another stunning addition to the Welcome to Our Country series from this fabulous team of creators. This is, undoubtedly, one of the most highly acclaimed resources for inclusive teaching of cross-cultural perspectives in the classroom and I have yet to see or hear…