Just So Stories

Random Reviews and Ramblings from Redcliffe

  • Alice-Miranda in the Outback – Jacqueline Harvey

      Penguin Australia June 2020 ISBN: 9781760891039 Imprint: Puffin RRP: $16.99 Once again Jacqueline Harvey has produced an adventure for Alice-Miranda which will both excite and fascinate her legion devoted fans. I love that each new book in this series continues to grab these readers some of whom might be considered to have ‘out-grown’ the diminutive main character!…

  • Evie and Pog: Party Perfect! [#3] – Tania McCartney

    Harper Collins Australia April 2020 ISBN: 9781460757956 ISBN 10: 1460757955 Imprint: HarperCollins – AU List Price: 12.99 AUD The absolutely cute-as-buttons Evie and Pog are back in their third set of adventures ready to delight all those newly independent readers who are already in love with them. Once again your little readers will love the familiar pattern which starts…

  • Magabala Magic

    As you know any books from Magabala make my heart sing because a) they are always so beautiful b) they enable me to promote the First Australian culture which is so important to my family. Here are three of the newest titles: Brother Moon – Maree McCarthy Yoelu & Samantha Fry March 2020 ISBN 9781925936827…

  • Big Hug Little Mouse – Lisa Kerr

    Walker Books Australia March 2020 ISBN: 9781760651107 Imprint: Walker Books Australia Australian RRP: $24.99 New Zealand RRP: $26.99 It is certainly not an ideal time to launch new books but it is the perfect time to share a book about hugs especially for little people who are missing out on those special cuddles from grandparents, other family and friends.…

  • What Stars Are Made Of – Sarah Allen

    Penguin Random House April 2020 ISBN: 9780241427965 Imprint: Puffin RRP: $14.99 This is just a wonderful heart-warming book on many levels and has introduced me to not only a new author but new information. Libby Malone is 12 years old and passionate about science so much so that she wants to be a scientist when she grows up.…

  • Ruby Red Shoes: My Wonderful Grandmother– Kate Knapp

    Harper Collins Australia March 2020 ISBN: 9781460758885 ISBN 10: 1460758889 Imprint: HarperCollins – AU List Price: 19.99 AUD What’s wonderful about my grandmother is she is not only my grandmother but also my friend. On the day before my Jen slipped away from us as I held her hand and stroked her hair and promised I would take care…

  • James Gong The Big Hit – Paul Collins

    Hybrid Publishers June 2020 ISBN 9781925736441 RRP: $16.99 Fourteen year old James Gong is pretty much a fairly average teenage boy living in suburbia with a family who are also pretty average – well in most respects. His mother rescues dogs and keeps them out the back of their house, to the frequent annoyance of…

  • Orphan Warriors: Children of the Otori #1 – Lian Hearn

    JAN 28, 2020 | 9780733641213 | RRP $32.99 Hachette It’s been quite some time since I first read the Tales of the Otori series  but Hearn’s skill as a storyteller has certainly not diminished – witness the fact that I read this over four nights because it is so utterly compelling, just as the original saga was. The long…

  • The Secrets of Magnolia Moon – Edwina Wyatt. Illustrated by Katherine Quinn

      Walker Books November 1, 2019 ISBN: 9781760651541 Imprint: Walker Books Australia Australian RRP: $19.99 New Zealand RRP: $21.99 The first word that popped into my head whilst reading this was ‘whimsical’ so it was no surprise to read the publisher’s blurb to find that was their choice of descriptor as well. I found myself thinking I could sense…

  • Christmas fun for littlies

      As the weeks go rushing past and in no time it will be time to hang the stockings we all seem to go into a kind of frenzy of ‘what to get for..?’. There are some very cute new books for little people which would make great stocking stuffers: Peppa’s Christmas Jumper Day Penguin…