Just So Stories

Random Reviews and Ramblings from Redcliffe


  • Wildlife Wong series – Dr Sarah Pye.

    A while AA Some time ago I enjoyed a wonderful literary lunch hosted by the indefatigable Michelle Nye (when I look it up, I can’t believe it was back in May!! ummmm, excuse me where have those three months gone?!). One of the great pleasures in that was meeting two creators, Sandra Severgnini and amazing…

  • In My Garden – Kate Mayes. Tamsin Ainslie

    ….a children’s picture book about belonging Harper Collins Australia August 2023 It was easy to fall in love with this beautiful book when I only had the galley proofs to look at. Now that I see it in its final form, I find it even more enchanting. It really is a work of art, which…

  • Mother Earth: Poems to celebrate the wonder of nature – Libby Hathorn. Illustrated by Christina Booth.

    Hachette June 2023 9780734421555 | RRP $24.99 |Lothian Children’s Books Synchronicity is often amazing. Earlier this week a colleague was asking for suggestions for poetry for little people, and after much discussion and ideas, I picked this up from my bulging review shelves, and thought- PERFECT! Because the poems contained within are of a wide variety of…

  • Wildlife Compendium of the World – Tania McCartney

    Hardie Grant May 2023 ISBN9781741177473 Imprint: Hardie Grant Explore RRP: $32.99 I can safely say without hesitation that Tania’s gorgeous picture books are only surpassed by her utterly glorious non-fiction books. You may disagree – but you’d be wrong in my opinion! I have always loved informational books – yes, I was the nerdy kid…

  • Gaia: Goddess of Earth – Imogene Greenberg. Illustrated by Isabel Greenberg.

    Bloomsbury Publishing July 2022 ISBN 9781526625700 Imprint Bloomsbury Children’s Books RRP: $29.99 The Greenberg sisters have taken the ancient myth of Gaia and updated it with a strong environmental message for young readers in this striking graphic novel/picture book. Following the success of their earlier collaboration, the pair continue with their theme of bringing the…

  • Why I Love the Earth – Daniel Howarth

    Harper Collins Australia February 2020 ISBN: 9780008389109 ISBN 10: 0008389101 Imprint: HarperCollins – GB RRP: $17.99 This is another one to add to your collection for a unit of work on the environment although I also think this would work perfectly for little ones’ Christian Studies if yours is a church school as mine is. It’s not just…

  • One Tree – Christopher Cheng & Bruce Whatley

      Penguin Random House 9780143786733 April 2, 2019 Puffin   RRP: $24.99 Once Grandfather lived at the top of a mountain next to the tallest tree. Even down in the village market his house was a landmark for all to see but as the land changed so did Grandfather’s life. In those days he told…