Just So Stories

Random Reviews and Ramblings from Redcliffe

  • Party Rhyme – Antonia Pesenti

    ISBN : 9781761381133 Publisher : Scribe Publications Imprint : Scribble RRP: $19.99 I had not seen the first two rhyme books from this talented creator, and now I’m sorry to have missed them because this is just fantastic. As a punster from way back I believe kiddos, even Smalls, are never too young for some word play and when it’s as…

  • Chronicles of a Lizard Nobody – Patrick Ness. Illustrated by Tim Miller.

    Walker Books September 2024 ISBN13:9781529517958 Australia RRP:$16.99 New Zealand RRP:$18.99 I absolutely love Patrick Ness’ writing. The Chaos Walking trilogy is my all-time favourite YA read. And A Monster Calls is one of the most beautiful, powerful and poignant explorations of pain and grief ever, and breaks me every time I read it. In fact,…

  • L.O.L. Goat Laughs Out Loud: G.O.A.T. #2- Kate & Jol Temple. Illustrated by Rebel Challenger.

    Scholastic Australia May 2024 ISBN: 9781760261153 RRP: $18.99 Hooray for nonsense I say!! I know there’s a place for books with messages and deep themes but sometimes we all just need – as I used to tell the kiddos – a ‘lolly’ book. A book that is fun. A book that is light. A book…

  • Adventures Unlimited #1: The Land of Lost Things – Andy Griffiths. Illustrated by Bill Hope

    Pan Macmillan Australia August 2024 Imprint: Pan Australia ISBN: 9781761268267 RRP: $16.99 By coincidence the Ipswich StoryFest starts today [4/8] and it was at that kids lit festival, very early on in my teacher-librarian career (possibly around 1998?) that I first met Andy Griffiths and enjoyed the uproarious hilarity of his presentation [the exploding check out…

  • How to Avoid Being Eaten by Sharks… and Other Advice – John Larkin. Illustrated by Chrissie Krebs.

    Walker Books February 2024 ISBN13:9781760657451 Australia RRP:$16.99 New Zealand RRP:$18.99 Truth be told, I do already know how to avoid being eaten by sharks. That’s why it’s The Kid who surfs, not me! So the opening page of this hilarious book of wisdom completely resonates with me. There is one absolute sure-fire method to avoid being…

  • Katrina Nannestad: new dresses for old favourites

    Harper Collins Australia July 2023 Olive of Groves (Olive of Groves #1) ISBN: 9780733342615 ISBN 10: 0733342612 Imprint: ABC Books AU Olive of Groves and the Great Slurp of Time(Olive of Groves #2) ISBN: 9780733342646 ISBN 10: 0733342647 Imprint: ABC Books AU Olive of Groves and the Right Royal Romp (Olive of Groves #3) ISBN: 9780733342622 ISBN 10: 0733342620 Imprint: ABC Books AU Here…

  • Pugnacious & Scuttlebutt #2: S.M.Ellybutt Strikes Back – Adam Wallace/Wayne Bryant

    Larrikin House May 2023 ISBN: 9781922804495 RRP: $14.99 This is definitely not your feel-good, cute and fluffy dog story, not that you would imagine it to be, knowing Adam’s rather – let’s say – quirky brand of creativity. Following on from the heroic pound rescue (#1 book), these two dysfunctional doggos are cruising the streets,…

  • Leeva at Last – Sara Pennypacker. Illustrated by Matthew Cordell

    Harper Collins Australia ISBN: 9780008606190 ISBN 10: 0008606196 Imprint: HarperCollins GB RRP: $16.99 This is another fabulous Sara Pennypacker MG novel, but straight up I’m going to say it’s nothing like Pax nor Here in the Real World, which thus far have been my favourites. It is however, a wonderfully absurdist look at values, relationships/friendships, risk, trust, responsibility,…

  • The Time-travelling Caveman – Terry Pratchett

    Penguin Australia September 2020 ISBN: 9780857536020 Imprint: Doubleday Childrens Format: Hardback Pages: 336 RRP: $32.99 Oh Sir Terry how much poorer are we for your departure! This is our final offering from the master and one which will set many young readers on a journey of discovery for more of his completely anarchic and often absurd writing. Previously unpublished this…