Just So Stories

Random Reviews and Ramblings from Redcliffe

  • Finding Alfie: a D-Day Story – Michael Morpurgo. Michael Foreman.

    Scholastic Australia May 2025 ISBN: 9780702325205 ISBN-10: 0702325201 RRP: $29.95 When I got this it, I decided to save it for Rembrance Day, as the timing from my point of view wasn’t right for the D-Day events. But what a superb book it is, as one would expect from these two literary legends. I have said before…

  • Bowerbird Bloom – Aura Parker

    Scholastic Australia ISBN: 9781761720918 ISBN-10: 1761720910 Series: Bowerbird : Book 3 Published: 1st November 2025 RRP: $19.99 Watch here Teaching notes One might be forgiven for thinking – how can Aura top the first two gorgeous Bowerbird books? – and then you see this and just go – aaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhh 💜. The brood is growing up. They love being together.…

  • My Story, Our Country: a First Nations Family History – Ryhia Dank

    Harper Collins Australia October 2025 When I read this, I immediately sent a text to a dear friend, a committed First Nations ally who always strives to teach her class with solid embedded cultural perspectives, that if she only buys one new book to explain Aboriginality, this is the one. I was so impressed with…

  • No One is Home – Mikolaj Pa. Illustrated by Gosia Herbs.

    translated by Scotia Gilroy New South Books Publisher: Greystone Kids September 2025 9781778402180 AUD$29.99, NZD$34.99 Last year I reviewed No 5. Bubblegum St from this same pair of creators in a week of ‘happy-ness’ reviews. This one seemed a perfect fit for today’s slightly bonkers books, and I love it just as much as I…

  • Oh Dear, Look What I Got! – Michael Rosen. Helen Oxenbury.

    Walker Books Australia September 2025 ISBN13:9781529510898 Australia RRP:$24.99 New Zealand RRP:$27.99 When you open a parcel and find another parcel that is even more exciting because, just look at those names on the wrapping, you know you’re in for a treat! And so it is. This new instant classic [yep, I’m calling it already] will…

  • Bluey: The Sign

    Penguin Australia Close enough to include it in my picture books, this is the stand-out episode that many kids will have seen, and now they can read it as well. In the cutest graphic novel format, find out what happens when the For Sale goes up in the front yard of the Heelers’ place. Bluey,…

  • A Hatful of Dreams – Bob Graham

    Walker Books Australia September 2025 ISBN13:9781529525861 Australia RRP:$27.99 New Zealand RRP:$29.99 When, I ask you, have you ever been disappointed by a Bob Graham book? Never is my answer and this new one is every bit as charming, heartfelt and warm as so many of his others. In a street full of tired, empty houses…

  • The Midnight Chew -Sally Morgan. Karen Blair.

    Fremantle Press October 2025 ISBN 9781760995096 RRP: AU $24.99/ NZ$30/ US $17.95 A happy-go-lucky sort of doggo book from Sally Morgan with definite echoes of Hairy Maclary and his gang, as Skippy Gillespie slips out of his yard in the dead of night to go rummage in the rubbish for his bone. Boofa Boy Jones…

  • Bear to the Rescue – Romane Cristescu and Nic Gill. Illustrated by Sylvia Morris.

    Hardback | October 2025 | $ 26.99ISBN: 9781486314904 Publisher: CSIRO Publishing With splendid synchronicity, I had both Dogs with Jobs and this charming new CSIRO Publishing title to review and schedule together! Huzzah! I love it when a plan comes together – even by happenstance. And doubly fortuitous because Bear is one of the Dogs…

  • Mooshy Crackerjack’s Big Day – Suzanne Patterson. Maia Batumashvill

    New South Books Publisher: Starfish Bay Children’s Books September 2025 9781760362690 AUD$26.99 This is a load of fun that kids will thoroughly enjoy and cackle over, as they recognise what it’s like to be super-excited about their birthday but not quite sure everyone else is! Mooshy bounces up on the morning of his birthday just…