Just So Stories

Random Reviews and Ramblings from Redcliffe

  • The Fishmonger and the Pastrychef- Sophie Masson. Cheryl Orsini.

    Hardie Grant Australia November 2025 ISBN:9781761211225 Price:AU$24.99, NZ$27.99 Publisher:Hardie Grant Children’s Publishing Just OH MY!! This is simply an absolutely beautiful treasure from every angle. Sophie Masson has brought the flavour of her family background and her upbringing in France to young readers in what is the most delicious sounding narrative ever. Not to be…

  • Family Secrets: The Girl and the Ghost #2 – Jacqueline Harvey.

    Penguin Australia October 2025 Officially, my blog break doesn’t finish until the weekend but how can I resist posting this one immediately, after gobbling it up over two nights! I was very excited to be back in France with Jet, Louis and Gabriel in another adventure. There is an exciting opening event as the Mona…

  • The Girl and the Ghost – Jacqueline Harvey

    Penguin Australia April 2025 OMG!!! JH fans, both young and old, are about to lose their minds!!! This fabulous new book, which I gobbled up in two sittings, heralds the start of another new series from the best-selling author, who really knows how to reach her audience. In this instance, the audience has just expanded…

  • Nanette’s Baguette – Mo Willems

    Walker Books Australia March 2017 ISBN13:9781406376210 Australia RRP:$16.99 New Zealand RRP:$18.99 Honestly, the kiddos go nuts for Mo’s books – which you probably already know. This one is my absolute favourite of all and I have used it several times. This past week I’ve been back in my happy place being teacher-librarian for a one…

  • Jacqueline: a soldier’s daugher – Pierre-Jacques Ober/Jules Ober

    Ford St Publishing October 2021 ISBN: 9781925804911 RRP: $34.99 Jacqueline is an only child and has always dreamed of having a sister. Little does she know she will find one in the most unexpected and, arguably, difficult circumstances ever. When the Second World War breaks out, Jacqueline’s life is turned topsy-turvy. Her father goes away…

  • The Silver Hand – Terry Deary

    Bloomsbury Australia July 2018ISBN: 9781472929488 Imprint: Bloomsbury Education Series: Flashbacks RRP $14.99 We all know Terry Deary’s expertise in bring history to life – witness the success of Horrible Histories. Now he turns his hand to a lesser explored part of history in the closing days of the First World War, examining this through the…

  • Flamingo Boy – Michael Morpurgo

    Harper Collins Australia ISBN: 9780008134648 ISBN 10: 0008134642 Imprint: HarperCollins – GB On Sale: 26/02/2018 RRP $19.99 With his expected flair Michael Morpurgo takes some history and transforms it into a fascinating and poignant narrative blending modern day and World War II. Young Vincent is about to take his final exams and is finding it difficult to focus and…

  • Happy Bastille Day!

    In honour of Bastille Day a review of a newish picture book plus a revisit of two older titles for your revolutionary pleasure. An Armadillo in Paris – Julie Krause Random House Australia ISBN: 9781770495265 Published: 02/02/2015 Imprint: Tundra Books Extent: 32 pages $29.99 This whimsical travelogue has been lurking on my shelves for months but with hindsight I’m…