Just So Stories

Random Reviews and Ramblings from Redcliffe


  • 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…

  • The Bug Book – Tania Ingram. Illustrated by Lucinda Gifford.

    Affirm Press Imprint: Little Book Press October 2024 ISBN 9781923141155 RRP: $24.99 If this isn’t the cutest introduction to the world of mini-beasts!!! When Tania had talked about this one during its inception, I knew it was going to be fun but I had no clue that it was going to be as adorable as…

  • Pollinators Week 2024

    Just in time for Pollinators Week, I have two smashing picture books about the critters who, realistically, feed us. If it wasn’t for their pollination what would grow? Why not see how you can help out our hard workers by visiting the Australian Pollinators Week website? You’ll find heaps of events along with resources like…

  • Picture Book Month Bonus #7: Friendly Bee and Friends: Woe is for Worm! Sean E. Avery

    Walker Books Australia October 2023 ISBN13:9781760654382 Australia RRP:$15.99 New Zealand RRP:$17.99 This is my first encounter with Friendly Bee and Friends, but hopefully not the last. As many or most know, I’m not a huge fan of graphics – they just don’t do it for me. But this is exactly the kind of absurdist humour…

  • 100 Australian Butterflies, Bees, Beetles & Bugs – Georgia Angus

    Hardie Grant February 2023 ISBN: 9781741177978 Imprint: Hardie Grant Explore RR_: $32.99 Oh, how I wish I’d had this when The Kid was younger and fully into her mini-beasts phase ! (I do miss those days of escaped stick insects and other interesting creatures roaming the house). It is certainly chunky but it is the…

  • The Very Hungry Caterpillar’s Bug Hunt: a lift-and-learn book

    Penguin Australia April 2022 ISBN: 9780241553503 Imprint: Puffin Format: Board Book RRP: $14.99 Your littlest readers are going to love this. Every page is pure classic Carle and the fact that there are several flaps on each spread will just send them into paroxysms of squealing joy. Aside from finding the mini-critters, you can focus on some prepositions and…

  • Tulip and Brutus – Liz Ledden/Andrew Plant

    Ford St Publishing October 2019 9781925804348 $14.99 This is such a perfect book for going back to school time as small children find themselves in a classroom full of disparate personalities and temperaments – many of them for the first time. Tulip and her ladybird friends live in the flowers and play in the sunshine…

  • Bonkers About Beetles – Owen Davey

    Walker Books ISBN: 9781911171485 Imprint: NB – Flying Eye Release Date: August 1, 2018 Australian RRP: $27.99 New Zealand RRP: $29.99 I love Flying Eye books (I may have mentioned that once or twice) I love Owen Davey’s wonderful non-fiction series which brings a world of nature, science and history to kids in a remarkably attractive way. My own girl,…

  • Glitch – Michelle Worthington/Andrew Spark

    Ford St Publishing July 2017 Author: Michelle Worthington Illustrator: Andrew Plant   ISBN 978192527271   RRP $16.99   Here is a really lovely picture book about friendship, self confidence, and persistence, upcycling, overcoming anxiety and being positive.   Glitch is a twitchy little bug who lives in the dump and just loves recycling junk into useful things…

  • Animal Activity: Cut , fold and make your own wild things – Isabel Thomas

    Bloomsbury May 2017 ISBN: 9781408870068 Imprint: Bloomsbury Activity Books RRP $14.99 Bloomsbury just has the BEST activity books for all ages! This is a super treat for lovers of science and nature. It’s described as a ‘self-destructing, action-packed activity book’ and it certainly is. So much to cut, fold, create, share, display and think about…