Just So Stories

Random Reviews and Ramblings from Redcliffe

Picture Book Month Bonus: Howzat Pat! #3 & #4 – Pat Cummins & Dave Hartley and Serena Geddes.

HOWZAT indeed!!!!! With splendiferous timing after yesterday’s absolutely spectacular knock by Travis Head, it’s lucky I’ve just read the next two in this cracking series. I was delighted to write the supporting resources for the first two and loved the whole vibe of this series, and these continue in that same vein. With less than…

November 23, 2025
It’s a Scorcher!: Tales of the Australian Summer – William McInnes

Hachette Australia Oct 14, 2025 | 9780733652912 | RRP $34.99 I thought I had missed out on a ticket to William McInnes’ event here in Redcliffe but then was lucky – someone dropped out so I was at the top of the waiting list and scored. And even luckier, when I requested this new title of his, Hachette generously…

October 14, 2025
Howzat Pat series #1 and #2 – Pat Cummins & Dave Hartley. Illustrated by Serena Geddes

Harper Collins Australia October 2024 I admit that I’m not quite the cricket fan I once was [though, of course, I went to see the Bradman Collection when we were in Adelaide a fortnight ago!] but it was still pretty exciting, and also a lot of fun to write teaching notes for these two titles,…

October 11, 2024
The Wonder of Small Things (Young Readers edition) – Vince Copley with Lea McInerney

Harper Collins Australia January 2024 Most readers of this blog know that my kids and grandies are Aboriginal – Wiradjuri mob. For my thirty+ years of teaching, I’ve been a learner of cross-cultural knowledge, embedded these perspectives in my teaching programmes and availed myself of every opportunity to find out more. But, I’ll be honest,…

March 10, 2024
Khawaja – Words by Paul Kelly. Illustrations by Avinash Weerasekera

Penguin Australia July 2023 I’d be pretty certain that when Uzzy was growing up and dreaming of being a Test cricketer, he didn’t ever imagine he’d be the subject of either a song or a children’s book, but here he is – one of our most inspirational players in a long time, and a role…

June 20, 2023
All-Stars bind-ups

Glenn Maxwell 1 and 2 Bindup – Patrick Loughlin Lucky Break Academy All-stars ISBN: 9780857988867 Published: 02/11/2015 Imprint: Random House Australia Children’s Glenn Maxwell 3 and 4 Bindup State Showdown World Domination ISBN: 9780857988881 Published: 02/11/2015 Imprint: Random House Australia Children’s RRP $19.99 In more double your fun your young cricket devotees will be able to indulge in these two…

April 6, 2016