Just So Stories

Random Reviews and Ramblings from Redcliffe

  • Q&A with Lisa Fuller

    Well folks, I promised you a Q&A with Lisa and wowzers! I reckon it’s one of the best I’ve ever had in the 10+ years of JSS!! Lisa, welcome to Just So Stories and thank you so much for taking time to share with my readers. I’m especially glad to have you visit as 30…

  • Our Flag, Our Story: The Torres Strait Island Flag – Bernard Namok Jnr/Thomas Mayo. Illustrated by Tori-Jay Mordey.

    Magabala Books May 2024 ISBN: 9781922613509 RRP: AUD$27.99, NZD$32.99 A few of my mob had commented earlier this year that we needed more First Nations titles about the Torres Strait Islands, and the Ancestors must have heard us because it was shortly afterward that this new title was announced. I was fortunate to create the…

  • The Land Recalls You -Kirli Saunders/David Cragg and Noni Cragg

    Scholastic Australia May 2024 ISBN 9781760975159RRP $26.99  ‘Do not cry for earth who birthed you, for river as she calls your name… Do not weep for songs of land, for your old people and sacred stories’. So begins this beautiful, powerful and poignant new book from award-winning author and OAM, Kirli Saunders. This is a…

  • National Reconciliation Week 2024 & Sorry Day

    My beautiful friend, Kirsty, asked me if I had some suggested titles/resources for Reconciliation Week and that was a prompt for me to create another post focused on First Nations titles and resources. I did also post one in 2023. Of course, there are [now] many books and resources to encourage cross-cultural embedding in your…

  • For 60 000 Years- Maree Silva. Illustrator Rhys Paddick

    Scholastic Australia January 2024 ISBN: 9781760265274 RRP: $26.99 I am the first to say we are privileged to live in Australia, and I am grateful to have been born here. There is so much for which to be grateful, but there are also times I am ashamed of our national behaviour and attitudes (there will…

  • Borderland – Graham Akhurst

    UWA Publishing October 2023 ISBN: 978760802646 RRP: $22.99 This is a really fresh perspective on First Nations YA, and was a hugely enjoyable and gripping read.  Jono and Jenny have known each other all their lives and have just graduated as the inaugural First Nations scholarship students from their private school. Both enrol at Brisbane’s…

  • Walking in Gagudju Country: exploring the monsoon forest – Diane Lucas, Ben Tyler and Emma Long

    Allen & Unwin June 2021 ISBN:9781760525958 Awards: Publisher:A&U Children’s Imprint:A & U Children RRP: $29.99 There would be few of us in school library land who have not used Walking with the Seasons in Kakadu as part of our teaching program with lower grades, as they learn about weather and seasonal calendars. Now we can…

  • We Didn’t Think It Through – Gary Lonesborough

    Allen & Unwin July 2023 ISBN: 9781760526931 Publisher: A&U Children’s Imprint: A & U Children RRP: $19.99 We are all aware of the rise in youth crime – one would have to living in a hermit’s cave not to know about it. And most of us are aware that in some areas, the problem is…

  • My Little Barlaagany (Sunshine) – Melissa Greenwood

    Harper Collins Australia May 2023 Gumbaynggirr artist Melissa Greenwood has created another beautiful and stylish picture book to add to your collection of First Nations titles. This is a dreamy and gentle bedtime love story between mother and child, country and culture. With a text that is interspersed with words from her own traditional language,…

  • My Dream Time – Ash Barty

    Harper Collins Australia November 2022 Like many others, I am a huge admirer of Ash -though I am no fan of tennis per se. This vibrant young woman has completely captivated the nation with her unfailing professionalism, humility, grace and low-key humour. She has become a stand-out role model for our young people, not only…