Just So Stories

Random Reviews and Ramblings from Redcliffe


  • The Thing that goes Ping! – Mark Carthew. Illustrated by Shane McG

    Ford St Publishing February 2021 ISBN: 9781925804669 RRP: $16.95 If you are looking for a really great rhyming book for your littlies that will also engage them in a guessing game, this is going to be a real hit!! In the faraway town of Figgy-tra-ling, you may hear the faint ring of a thing that…

  • Why I Love the Earth – Daniel Howarth

    Harper Collins Australia February 2020 ISBN: 9780008389109 ISBN 10: 0008389101 Imprint: HarperCollins – GB RRP: $17.99 This is another one to add to your collection for a unit of work on the environment although I also think this would work perfectly for little ones’ Christian Studies if yours is a church school as mine is. It’s not just…

  • What a Lot of Nonsense – Sheena Knowles/Jonathan Bentley

      Harper Collins Australia ISBN: 9781460756140 ISBN 10: 1460756142 Imprint: HarperCollins – AU List Price: 24.99 AUD Lots of fun with this one – but then you would expect no less from the author who gave us Edward and Edwina Emu! While little ones will love this for it’s rollicking rhyming text and wonderfully colourful and quirky illustrations, teachers…

  • The Dingle Dangle Jungle – Mark Carthew and David Atze

    Ford St Publishing February 2020 ISBN: 9781925804936 RRP: $16.99 This is just a delightful picture book not only for its lively and rhythmic text and glorious illustrations but also for the potential to begin an investigation into the richness of the Amazon wildlife and habitat. Certainly my first thought was how this would make a…

  • Aussie Kids

      Introducing an absolutely fabulous new series for your newly independent/emerging readers that will take them all over Australia to meet a diverse array of characters and visit iconic destinations. Not only will this be the perfect share for those units on Australia for Junior school kiddos but is a superb introduction to diversity, inclusion…

  • Counting Our Country – Jill Daniels

    Magabala Books 978-1-925768-65-7 February 28, 2020 RRP: $12.99 The preservation and sharing of First Australian languages and culture is of paramount importance as nations strive to not only keep their traditions intact but also to impart knowledge and understanding. Where better to start than with our youngest readers then? This delightful little board book has…

  • Something Rotten: A Fresh Look at Roadkill – Heather L. Montgomery

    Bloomsbury November 2018 ISBN 9781681199009 Imprint: Bloomsbury Children’s Books   RRP: $22.99 Yep, you did read that title correctly! It’s not for the ‘squeamish or faint-hearted) but it is completely and utterly engrossing (haha grossing!) and often rather humorous. Wildlife researcher Montgomery passes a tyre-treaded rattlesnake as she is jogging one day and on the…

  • Fiona the Hippo – Richard Cowdrey

    Harper Collins Australia ISBN: 9780310766360 ISBN 10: 0310766362 Imprint: HarperCollins – US List Price: 13.99 AUD When a tiny hippo was born prematurely at Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Garden in January 2017 she became an internet sensation. Weighing only 29 pounds this little fighter survived and thrived and has become an inspiration to many for her plucky personality and…

  • The Funny Life of Pets – James Campbell and Rob Jones

    Bloomsbury Australia September 2018 ISBN 9781408889947 Imprint: Bloomsbury Children’s Books RRP: $12.99   This book answers all the big questions, like: do sausage dogs eat sausages? Why has my cat done a poo-poo behind my wardrobe? And, how can I persuade my parents to get me a pet? If you have some reluctant readers in…

  • Begone the Raggedy Witches (The Wild Magic Trilogy: Book 1) – Celine Kiernan

    Walker Australia ISBN: 9781406366020 Imprint: Walker Release Date: April 1, 2018 Australian RRP: $16.99 New Zealand RRP: $18.99   Just wow!! If you have readers who love HP or other magical worlds they are going to love this new series. Set in Ireland with a close family of three generations but one that has secrets. Mup lives with her mum,…