Just So Stories

Random Reviews and Ramblings from Redcliffe

  • Odd Cat Out!: Cat School – Rose Robbins

    New South Books Scallywag Press Rose Robbins 9781836300397/August 2026/AUD$19.99, NZD$22.99 This first in a new trilogy by London author Rose Robbins, who writes from her own personal experience, will make for a great addition to your inclusive collection. Framed as anthropomorphic young cats, the narrative revolves around two friends, Tangle and Eno, starting at their…

  • The Boy Who Drew Cats- Lafcadio Hearn: a Japanese folktale. Illustratedby Anita Kreituse.

    New South Books Publisher: Tuttle 9780804859561/May 2026/AUD$29.99 I had never heard of Lafcadio Hearn but now that I’ve gone down some wormholes finding out more about him [here’s one article but many more to be found], surely this is a man with an extraordinary life story. And while I have both studied and taught Japanese…

  • The Cats of Australia – Jodie Stewart

    Harper Collins Australia May 2026 This is one I’ve dipped in and out of, which was easy to do with distinctly different chapters like a mini-essay, and I have to say it’s been just a delight over the past few weeks to do so. Although I’ve happily owned both dogs and cats (not to mention…

  • Meooow! – Nicoletta Costa

    Thames & Hudson April 2026 RRP: $14.99 A Cat Book of Seasons ISBN: 9781760765866 A Cat Book of Colours ISBN: 9781760765842 $14.99 A Cat Book of Feelings ISBN: 9781760765859 Well if these aren’t just as cute as a bug’s ear! They are incredibly simple concept board books but those vibrant illustrations combined with the absolutely…

  • Prickles – Phil Cummings & Jennifer Goldsmith

    Scholastic Australia April 2026 ISBN: 9781760266028 ISBN-10: 1760266027 RRP: $26.99 This is just an absolutely delightful (as usual) from Phil Cummings with an assistance dog who doesn’t just assist her human. Prickles is an alley cat. It’s not a great life what with weather and dangers, but it does have good moments like stretching out on windowsills…

  • Cats and Us: A Ten-Thousand-Year Fascination – Marta Pantaleo, translated by Debbie Bibo, Yvette Ghione

    New South Books Publisher: Groundwood Books 9781779460394 January 2026 AUD$29.99, NZD$34.99 They say there are two types of people – dog people and cat people. While I have happily owned both, if I can only have one it’s a cat. Whiskers aka the Demon Spawn thoroughly agrees with this stance as do thousands of others.…

  • The Tinysaurs – Sally Odgers. Adele K. Thomas

    Scholastic Australia February 2026 9781761528576 RRP: $16.99 Cute poster for your library or just for fun All your Smalls who have adored Pearl and friends, are going to lap this up like a cat with a saucer of cream. It’s cute and it’s colourful and it’s really cleverly engaging with a twist on many ideas.…

  • An Ancient Witch’s Guide to Modern Dating – Cecilia Edward

    Simon & Schuster November 2025 It absolutely is not a Christmas themed book but it would make a great gift for a YA/NA reader in your circle because aside from anything else, it’s SO pretty! Look at those sprayed page edges!! But it is also a nice light rom-com read AND there’s plenty of cats!…

  • Lost Evangeline – Kate DiCamillo. Illustrated by Sophie Blackall.

    Walker Books Australia November 2025 ISBN13:9781529525892 Australia RRP:$24.99 New Zealand RRP:$27.99 As it arrives hard on the heels of the 25th anniversary of Because of Winn-Dixie [one of my all time favourite books!] it is a special treat to review a new Kate book. It arrived yesterday, much to my delight, and, of course, I…

  • The Christmas Tree Catastrophe – Emma Bowd. Matt Shanks.

    Harper Collins Australia August 2025 ISBN: 9781460765883 ISBN 10: 1460765885 Imprint: HarperCollins AU List Price: 24.99 AU I fell in love with this the day it arrived when I read it immediately, but as I explained to Emma, I really wanted to save it for the Xmas Countdown because – to be honest- this year the Xmas books have…