Just So Stories

Random Reviews and Ramblings from Redcliffe

  • Picture Book Month Bonus: Rory Sparkes and the Elephant in the Room – Hugh Bonneville

    Bloomsbury Australia October 2025 ISBN 9781526685957 Imprint Bloomsbury Children’s Books RRP: $17.99 Most people would know that I’m very wary of books by ‘celebrity’ authors but I am always willing to take a punt when a) I know that it is the person themselves that has written it (or that their collaborator/ghost writer is clearly…

  • The Hullabaloo about Elephant Poo – Dee White. Illustrated by Christopher Nielsen.

    Harper Collins Australia December 2024 To finish off this year’s Picture Book month – ta dah!!! I’ve been waiting and waiting to share this one and I was really hoping that the notes I wrote for it would be already up in their published format [fingers crossed they might be before this goes live] Because…

  • Herd- Stephen Hogtun

    Bloomsbury Australia July 2024 ISBN 9781526610737 Imprint Bloomsbury Children’s Books RRP: $22.99 Home is where your family is… From start to finish this is just a beautiful book in all respects. With absolutely exquisite illustrations, this exploration of what ‘home’ means will give rise to many bountiful conversations with both Smalls and Not-so-Smalls about the…

  • A Good Heart – Lucy Melo & Sandra Severgnini

    Red Back Publishing April 2024 ISBN: 9781761400247 RRP: $26.99 Just a few weeks ago, I had the absolute pleasure of a lunch with some amazing people including award-winning illustrator Sandra Severgnini, who graciously gifted each of us a copy of this adorable and very special book, which was inspired by the real-life bond between elephant siblings,…

  • How to Move a Zoo: the incredible true story – Kate Simpson and Owen Swan

    Allen & Unwin June 2024 ISBN:9781761180309 Publisher:A&U Children’s Imprint:A & U Children RRP: $24.99 I’m a Sydney girl even though I’ve now lived in Queensland, on and off, for almost forty years, so Taronga Park Zoo and Moore Park are familiar names full of memories of a happy childhood. I was taken to Taronga by…

  • The One and Only Ruby – Katherine Applegate

    Harper Collins Australia June 2023 We first fell in love with Ivan and his friends over ten years ago (yes! I know!!), and I still defy anyone to read the gentle gorilla’s story with dry eyes. Then, the amazing Katherine Applegate followed up with The One and Only Bob, and again we were both amused…

  • Ernest the Elephant – Anthony Browne

    Walker Books Australia May 2021 ISBN: 9781406395099Imprint: Walker Australian RRP: $27.99New Zealand RRP: $29.99 Anthony Browne never fails to deliver does he? In this vibrant new picture book from the master a little elephant makes quite a big mistake when he wanders away from his herd and into the tempting jungle, mostly because he was feeling just a little…

  • Elmer – David McKee

    Walker Books Australia March 2020 ISBN: 9781783449910 Imprint: Andersen Press Australian RRP: $14.99 New Zealand RRP: $16.99 Celebrating 30 magical years of Elmer is this gorgeous board book with a special gold-embossed cover. This is the original Elmer story that started it all for all of us who love this adorable, wise and colourful elephant. This much-loved patchwork elephant…