Just So Stories

Random Reviews and Ramblings from Redcliffe

  • Good Dog – Kate Leaver

    Harper Collins Australia April 2020 ISBN: 9781460758892 ISBN 10: 1460758897 RRP: 29.99 AUD Well, no….it’s not the usual type of book I review and to be honest I’m more of a cat person than a dog one (though it’s not that I dislike dogs or anything!) but this is a book that I thoroughly enjoyed reading simply because…

  • Evie and Pog: Party Perfect! [#3] – Tania McCartney

    Harper Collins Australia April 2020 ISBN: 9781460757956 ISBN 10: 1460757955 Imprint: HarperCollins – AU List Price: 12.99 AUD The absolutely cute-as-buttons Evie and Pog are back in their third set of adventures ready to delight all those newly independent readers who are already in love with them. Once again your little readers will love the familiar pattern which starts…

  • Evie and Pog (series)– Tania McCartney

    Harper Collins Australia January 2020 I’ve said before that Tania McCartney is uber-talented (as well as being one of the very nicest humans I know) and I for one am tremendously excited about this new series pitched at newly independent readers. It’s just fabulous to see a few new series to add to these collections!…

  • 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…