Just So Stories

Random Reviews and Ramblings from Redcliffe

  • Racing in the Rain – Garth Stein [Young Readers Adaptation]

    Harper Collins Australia August 2019 ISBN: 9780062935076 ISBN 10: 0062935070 Imprint: HarperCollins – US List Price: 14.99 AUD For everyone who has loved the series of A Dog’s Purpose (which definitely includes me and K) this book will bring much joy though at times it is both poignant and tense. It is the story of a family in essence.…

  • Animal Crackers

        Now that the pile of review novels is finally getting to a stage that could be described as semi-tamed, it’s time to get stuck into plethora picture books. So here are some animal-focused ones to get into – because we all know that our little readers just love a great animal story and…

  • Pippa’s Island #5: Puppy Pandemonium – Belinda Murrell

    Penguin Random House 9780143793267 December 3, 2018 Random House Australia Children’s   RRP: $14.99 The many young fans who have embraced this series with much enthusiasm will be delighted with the latest – and it’s just in time for Christmas too! It’s been almost a year since Pippa and her mum, Jenna, and brother and…

  • The Tales of Mr Walker – Jess Black. Illustrated by Sara Acton

    Penguin Random House ISBN 9780143793076 October 29, 2018 Imprint: Puffin RRP $24.99   Some readers of this blog will have seen photos of my Pippin – a toy poodle of extraordinary personality but neurotic (apparently a poodle thing). I love him – truly I do! – but seriously if he could be more like Mr…

  • The Adventures of Catvinkle – Elliot Perlman

    Penguin Random House 9780143786368 October 1, 2018 Puffin RRP $19.99   Well regarded author of adult books Elliot Perlman has ably proven that he can turn his hand just as easily to writing for children with this first book for younger readers. It is delightfully whimsical and carries a literary flavour of its Amsterdam setting…

  • Raymond – Yann & Gwendal Le Bec

    Walker Books ISBN: 9781406362428 May 1, 2017 Australian RRP: $24.99 New Zealand RRP: $27.99 What an utterly charming debut to Walker Books from brothers Yann and Gwendal Le Bec!  The plethora dog lovers both young and old who have often wondered what their dog might be like as a ‘human’ will enjoy the gentle humour, others will ruminate…

  • Harry Kruize, Born to Lose – Paul Collins

        Ford St Publishing March 2017 ISBN 9781925272628 RRP $17.95 No doubt about it, Paul’s on a winner with this one! Harry Kruize is an average sort of boy but has an over-abundance of woes and worries. In fact, his self-esteem could hardly be any lower nor his anxiety any less. It’s not that…

  • Peggy and Me – Miranda Hart

    Hachette Australia ISBN: 9781444769135 Publication date: 11 Oct 2016 Page count: Imprint: Hodder & Stoughton   Many readers will be familiar with Miranda Hart’s work as a comedic actress; appearances in Absolutely Fabulous, Smack the Pony and of course, Call the Midwife and her own self-titled sitcom Miranda. She had long been more a cat person than a…

  • Awesome Animal Stories for Kids – Aleesah Darlison

    ISBN: 9780857989680 Published: 01/12/2015 Imprint: Random House Australia Children’s Extent: 208 pages – RRP $14.99 One thing we know as teacher-librarians is that you can never have too many animal stories. Younger readers especially eat up such tales whether crazy, realistic, whimsical or humorous. This new collection from Aleesah Darlison covers all those bases and with a text that…

  • Pig and Pug – Lynne Berry & Gemma Correll

    Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers 40 pages ISBN 9781481421317 June 2015 RRP AU$ 24.99 NZ$ 27.99 Two small animals are quite different – and also very alike! Pig and Pug are rather small, ‘petite and portable’ in fact. They are just the right size to fit in a pocket (for Pig) and a…