Just So Stories

Random Reviews and Ramblings from Redcliffe


  • Picture Book Month Bonus: Heart of Ice: a journey into Antarctica’s frozen realm – Joy McCann

    New South Press 9781742237800 / November 2025 / RRP $34.99 This is one of the rare reviews that I’m writing before I’ve actually finished reading the book – simply because it fits so neatly with the earlier post and the lovely kids’ non-fiction book. I confess that this is really slack, particularly because I had this book as an…

  • All About Antarctica: a Fact Book about the Southernmost Continent – Marc Martin

    Penguin Australia October 2025 Slide through to see inside – you need to see how jam-packed this one is! I feel like it’s been a long time since I’ve seen some of Marc Martin’s work. This thought occurred to me just last week as I shifted more old reviews to the new archive and came…

  • Curious Kai Asks Why? – Sarah Pye. Sandra Severgnini.

    September 2025ISBN: 978-1-7640657-0-2 (paperback)ISBN: 978-1-7640657-1-9 (ebook) Last year I had the great pleasure of meeting and making friends with both these Sunshine Coast based creators. A more dynamic and engaging pair of personalities you would find hard to meet. Since then I’ve reviewed books from them, followed their adventures (most recently, Sarah’s trip to Galapagos…

  • Promises and Other Lies – Sue Whiting

    Walker Books Australia September 2025 ISBN13:9781760658649 Australia RRP:$17.99 New Zealand RRP:$19.99 This was absolutely a crackerjack read and I ate it up over two nights. Sue Whiting has such a deft hand with writing narratives that tackle difficult and emotive issues with grace and sensitivity, and this is a prime example. You will all, I…

  • Music Camp – Penny Tangey

    UQP June 2025 9780702269028 A$16.99 If you’re looking for a character-driven middle grade novel to explore characterisation, and particularly, introduce the literary concepts of archetypes and tropes, this would be a good choice. You could very easily use this as a class serial read and then unpack these points and the accompanying themes with a…

  • Spirit of the Crocodile – Aaron Fa’Aoso and Michelle Scott Tucker with Lyn White

    Allen & Unwin March 2025 ISBN:978174331709 Imprint:A & U Children’s RRP: $19.99 Just last year some of my circle were saying we would love to see more Torres Strait Islander titles, particularly after the success of Our Flag, Our Story, so when this arrived I was very excited indeed. And this is a fantastic book…

  • The Bee Squad

    Boosting biodiversity in your neighbourhood – Judy Friedlander New South Books Ferbruary 2025 ISBN: 9781742238227  RRP: $27.99 Last year there were quite a few books come my way with bugs and biodiversity featured. This one is almost a complete wrap-up of them all in a non-fiction package. We know kiddos are enthusiastic about environmental activities.…

  • Afloat – Kirli Saunders/Freya Blackwood

    Hardie Grant October 2024 Imprint: Hardie Grant Children’s Publishing/Little Hare ISBN:9781760505899 Price:AU$24.99, NZ$27.99Page When two award-winning creators join forces we can expect astonishing results, and here is the proof of that. Roam the water with me. We are here to learn.Here to spin wisdom, to grow … Gunai woman, Kirli Saunders, uses the traditional practice…

  • Picture Book Month Bonus #3: Starberries and Kee- Cate Whittle

    Storytorch Press May 2023 ISBN: 9780645191554 RRP: $17.95 Audio Interview with Cate @ Living Arts Canberra More years ago than I care to remember, I was a subscriber to, and devotee of Grass Roots magazine. I pretty much daydreamed constantly about having the kind of life that Hannah finds herself in when she and her…

  • Where Are All the Christmas Beetles? Suzanne Houghton

    CSIRO Publishing November 2023 ISBN: 9781486317905  RRP: $24.99 I think this is a question that many of us have asked in recent years. I particularly requested this book, as in our new little house we have been seemingly in the epicentre of beetle activity lately. They come zooming in through our French doors and racket…