Just So Stories

Random Reviews and Ramblings from Redcliffe

  • Country Town – Isolde Martyn and Robyn Ridgeway. Illustrated by Louise Hogan.

    Ford St Publishing September 2023 ISBN: 9781922696359 RRP: $19.99 I have always loved those English books that explored ‘Through Time’ e.g. A Street Through Time – the history nerd in me just revels in the minutiae from days gone by to the present. While this book doesn’t cover 12, 000 years as such, it does…

  • Follow the Rainbow – Juliet M. Sampson. Illustrated by Anne Ryan.

    Ford St Publishing August 2023 ISBN: 9781922696335 RRP: $17.99 This new picture book from Juliet and Ford St is a fun and colourful excursion in curiosity for your young readers. It has been inspired by both The Wizard of Oz and Juliet’s own adorable Westie, Bryce. Little Ruby is idly making shapes from the clouds…

  • This Spells Trouble – Paul Collins/Sean McMullen

    Ford St Publishing July 2023 ISBN:9781922696311 RRP: $17.95 This is just a riotous, joyful comic adventure from the very first page, and, I tell you now, your kids from middle school to upper will eat it up with relish! 14 year old Winton is apprenticed to a very dodgy wizard named Faramond – a lazy,…

  • Hedgehog the Wonder Dog – Dannika Patterson/Ross Morgan

    Ford St Publishing February 2023 ISBN : 9781922696212 RRP: $17.95 It took some time for this one to arrive into my eagerly waiting hands, but it was definitely worth the wait. It was an absolute delight to share this one with some bouncy Year 2s this week, all of whom (even the neuro-diverse child who had been…

  • The Secret History of the Rainbow Trout Hotel – David Metzenthen

    Ford St Publishing June 2023 ISBN: 9781922696274 RRP: $19.99 Andy Lightfoot’s gap year takes him deep into the past – at the oldand weirdly wonderful Rainbow Trout Private Hotel. Here, high in themountains, Andy discovers working for nothing gives him everything. . . and that the middle of nowhere is the centre of an amazinguniverse,…

  • Pippa and the Troublesome Twins – Dimity Powell/Andrew Plant

    Ford St Publishing June 2023 ISBN: 9781922696298 RRP: $17.95 Pippa is back in a new story and it is one with which many young readers will make connections. Being a big sister or brother is a very exciting time but it can also be very frustrating and leave an older sibling feeling quite resentful, no…

  • Our Mob – Jacinta Daniher & Taylor Hampton/Seantelle Walsh

    Ford St Publishing May 2023 ISBN: 9781922696236 RRP: $17.99 This is a stunning new picture book for your younger readers that will take them around Australia to visit various mobs on Country and find out a little more about each. Authors, Jacinta and Taylor, are the co-founders of Birrang Cultural Connections, based in Victoria [check…

  • Downtown Sewertown – Tull Suwannakit

    Ford St Publishing March 2023 ISBN: 978192296250 RRP: $17.99 What to do when your home is destroyed? There is nothing, except to take what belongings you can,and try to find a new place to live. The woodland creatures are forced to flee when their homes and woods are flattened for new urban housing. They try…

  • Tulips for Breakfast – Catherine Bauer

    Ford St Publishing October 2022 ISBN 9781922696199 RRP: $19.99 As always, I am grateful to have the opportunity to review a book that provides young people with a perspective of one the darkest times in human history, particularly in order to endeavour that such atrocities will never be repeated. In this novel’s dedication Catherine Bauer…

  • Peace on Earth, good will toward all

    Whatever, and however you celebrate I wish you all safe and happy holidays, from me and The Kid. Many thanks to all who follow and bother to read my reviews – which are haphazardly posted at best – and I’m thrilled to see that this year the blog has had well over 10 000 views!!!!…