Just So Stories

Random Reviews and Ramblings from Redcliffe

  • 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…

  • The Golden Swift – Lev Grossman

    Bloomsbury July 2022 ISBN 9781526647634 Imprint Bloomsbury Children’s Books RRP: $14.99 A couple of years back I enthusiastically endorsed The Silver Arrow and I am very pleased to say that this second instalment is equally as enchanting for your middle school readers. A year after they first encounter The Silver Arrow and begin their mission…

  • Pearly and Pig and the Great Hairy Beast – Sue Whiting

    Walker Books Australia March 2022 ISBN: 9781760653590Imprint: Walker Books AustraliaAustralian RRP: $15.99 This is quite simply, really good fun! For some reason, it put me very much in mind of the old Rocky & Bullwinkle cartoons (which those elderly people such as myself will recall) especially with the almost absurd characters and situations. Pearly Woe is the epitome…

  • The What on Earth Institute of Wonder – Lisa Nichol

    You can read my review of the The What on Earth Institute of Wonder now at Kids Book Review!!

  • 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…