Just So Stories

Random Reviews and Ramblings from Redcliffe

  • Something Somewhere – Richard Yaxley

    Scholastic Australia August 2024 ISBN: 9781760266370 ISBN-10: 176026637X RRP: $18.99 Richard Yaxley is one of our outstanding local authors, acclaimed and awarded for many of his books, and this newest one is another fine example of his skill. Earlier in the year I reviewed the wonderful The Other Shadow and this book is, to my mind, of…

  • Howzat Pat series #1 and #2 – Pat Cummins & Dave Hartley. Illustrated by Serena Geddes

    Harper Collins Australia October 2024 I admit that I’m not quite the cricket fan I once was [though, of course, I went to see the Bradman Collection when we were in Adelaide a fortnight ago!] but it was still pretty exciting, and also a lot of fun to write teaching notes for these two titles,…

  • Legend of the Lighthouse Moon – Helen Edwards

    Riveted Press Distributed by Simon & Schuster October 2024 ISBN13: 9781763526013 RRP: AU$ 17.99 / NZ$ 19.99 What an enchanting story Helen Edwards has created with its rich blend of history, legend, family and love! Set on Kangaroo Island in the 1970s, Mona McKenna and her little brother, Albert, live an idyllic family life in…

  • Nanny Piggins and the Origin Story – R. A. Spratt

    Penguin Australia October 2024 ISBN: 9781761340024 Imprint: Penguin RRP: $16.99 My deep admiration for Nanny Piggins has never been a secret but, like so many, what did I really know about her? Of course, I know she’s the epitome of glamour, [forget Miss Piggy, who really was such a try-hard], NP is the real deal when it…

  • Junkyard Fairies:#1 Dig Deep – Edwina Wyatt. Illustrated by Lauren O’Hara

    Walker Books Australia October 2024 ISBN13:9781760657048 Australia RRP:$19.99 New Zealand RRP:$24.99 Even without the addition of the adorable little fairy house [thank you so much Walker Books!🍄] , I would have loved this delightful new take on fairies for a contemporary audience. It’s rather like a mash-up of Enid Blyton with Bottersnikes & Gumbles and…

  • Hotel Balzaar – Kate DiCamillo. Illustrated by Júlia Sardà.

    Walker Books Australia October 2024 ISBN13:9781529523782 Australia RRP:$24.99 New Zealand RRP:$27.99 One thing is always certain. A book by Kate DiCamillo will always be captivating. After the first Norendy tale, readers knew they could look forward to more of the magic realism of this series and it has come with another glorious story about stories.…

  • Best Idea Yet: Willa and Woof # 8 – Jacqueline Harvey

    Penguin Australia October 2024 ISBN: 9781761343575 Imprint: Puffin $12.99 Jacqueline Harvey continues to smash this series for younger readers with another exciting adventure from the ever-intrepid and resourceful Willa. Along with Tae and Woof, Willa has been officially helping at the Sunset Views retirement village next door. And the elderly residents are now also even more involved…

  • The 113th Assistant Librarian – Stuart Wilson

    Penguin Australia October 2024 ISBN: 9781761342257 Imprint: Penguin RRP: $19.99 When you get an ARC all wrapped up pretty just like a birthday present, you can be pretty sure it’s going to be an exciting surprise inside and so it was. I mean to say, how could they possibly go wrong sending me something called this with a…

  • Salt Runs Through – Mark Rafidi

    Hawkeye Books October 2024 ISBN: 9781923105218 ISBN-10: 1923105213 RRP: $26.99 I was so keen to review this, so thank you Hawkeye, and what a fabulous read it is! Set in Ulladulla, one of my favouritest places in the world [was always my dream retirement plan] at the time of the Currowan bushfire, such a dark time back…

  • 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…