Just So Stories

Random Reviews and Ramblings from Redcliffe

  • Boys Do Cry – Gus Worland. Illustrated by Heath McKenzie.

    Penguin Australia February 2025 To be fair, Gus Worland, former Triple M breakfast presenter, wouldn’t have initially appeared to be a prime candidate to pull together one of the most successful mental health initiatives in the country. I don’t mean that he wasn’t capable or that he was lacking in some way. It’s just that…

  • Hazel’s Treehouse – Zanni Louise. Illustrated by Judy Watson

    Walker Books November 2024 ISBN13:9781760657222 Australia RRP:$19.99 New Zealand RRP:$22.99 I have followed Zanni’s progress with this one for ages and have eagerly anticipated its arrival. When it was delivered yesterday, wrapped like the cutie it is in brown paper, tied up with string, I couldn’t wait to read it! And I can confirm, it…

  • Zoom – Dannika Patterson/Ross Morgan

    Ford St Publishing September 2024 ISBN 9781922696427 RRP: $17.99 Some days are just too much… for any of us, let alone Smalls. And it’s not always big stuff that makes them so. Often, it’s more like one not-so-big thing after another until they all roll into one huge dump of misery. As adults most of…

  • Listen, Hippo! – Gabriel Evans

    Penguin Australia April 2024 This utterly delightful book completely reminded me of Forrest Gump: For Forrest, the only thing that was going to help was running. For Billy, he just wants Hippo to listen. Hippo is the most willing and helpul friend one could have. But sometimes we don’t want razzamatazz like dressing up, pirate…

  • Two Rabbits: even best friends argue sometimes- Larissa Ferenchuk and Prue Pittock

    EK Books January 2024 ISBN: 9781922539656 RRP: $26.99 How utterly adorable is that cover? and how could I possibly resist this one? After all – rabbits!! It is essentially a very simple narrative but one that has a really powerful message, subtly delivered. These two little rabbits are the best of friends but when they have…