Just So Stories

Random Reviews and Ramblings from Redcliffe

  • The Big Switch: #2 It’s a Twin Thing – Kristin Darell. Illustrated by A. Yi

    Penguin Australia From the super switched-on and sparky twin, Kristin Darell, comes the second in her terrific new series about twins, Abi and Brook. These girls are so likeable and their posse of friends, along with the readers, would agree. They are smart and funny, they are clever but not obnoxiously ‘swotty’ and they each…

  • Amira Swift: #1Talent Show, #1 Fair Day Fun – Sarah Ayoub. Nina Nill.

    Harper Collins Australia Imprint: HarperCollins AU July 2026 Series: Amira Swift RRP: $15.99 Classroom Resource Talent Show ISBN: 9781460766675 Fair Day Fun ISBN: 9781460766682 And here comes another new series for your younger readers who, I predict, will fall in love with Amira, her family and her friends along with her everyday adventures. This is just delightful as it…

  • The Adventures of Squidape – John Stanton

    Riveted Press Simon & Schuster July 2026 ISBN13: 9781923676046 LIST PRICE: AU$ 17.99 / NZ$ 19.99 When you read a debut novel that is not only hugely enjoyable but written by a fellow school librarian – it’s YAYYY!! This one is (strange as it may seem still) one of the several read in the past…

  • How to Get Rid of a Princess – Alison McLennan. Mel Pearce

    Hardie Grant Australia ISBN:9781761212970 Price:AU$24.99, NZ$27.99 Publisher:Hardie Grant Children’s Publishing – Bright Light Being the youngest sibling by 7 years I guess I could have fit the bill as the annoying princess but I honestly think the 7 and 10 year age gaps worked for me as the big brother and sister were more the…

  • Animal Force – Cerise Madsen

    New South Books Publisher: Midnight Sun 9781922858740/July 2026/AUD$17.99, NZD$19.99 This would be a useful book for a middle-grade serial read to ‘read-around-your-topic’ in environmental themes especially. Although the publisher notes suggest 6 years +, personally I feel it is more suited to older and more discerning readers who would be better able to absorb some…

  • The Goodbye Tree – Pip Harry. Illustrated by Christina Booth.

    Walker Books Australia July 2026 ISBN13:9781760658168 Australia RRP:$25.99 New Zealand RRP:$27.99 Forty-six years ago today my beautiful brown-eyed girl arrived very much in a hurry and now it’s over 11 years since we lost her, so this moving and very personal new book from Pip Harry, is especially poignant for me – particularly at this…

  • Our History: Hill End Gold – Sue Whiting

    Walker Books Autralia June 2026 ISBN13:9781761601491 Australia RRP:$18.99 New Zealand RRP:$21.99 There’s absolutely no doubt that despite its long existence in the curriculum of every state [I mean to say, it was in the primary school syllabus when I went to school!] it is also always a popular topic with students. And one can never…

  • Joey and the Junjardy – Allison Rocca. Illustrated by Brenton E. McKenna

    UQP June 2026 ISBN: 9780702271137 RRP: $17.99 I was already keen to read this one and when I started in and realised it is set in Wakka Wakka country, immediately felt a connection. My first teaching post in 1994 was Nanango SS – yes, on Wakka Wakka lands – so for several years I taught…

  • Six Weeks – Matt Goodfellow

    Hachette Australia Imprint: Starboard June 2026 9781444982886 RRP $16.99 It never ceases to amaze me when I happen to read two books within a week and they both have a similar central theme, in this case a young person’s grief. This is yet another verse novel that has continued to grow this genre as one…

  • Eighty-Nine Questions for After – Ashleigh Barton

    Hachette Australia July 2026 ISBN: 9780733654596 RRP: $16.99 I first knew Ashleigh’s work as a picture book creator, one who could create wonderful texts that not only engaged young readers but gave them portals into the larger world. Then along came her middle-grade novel How to Sail to Somewhere which so skilfully demonstrated that her…