Just So Stories

Random Reviews and Ramblings from Redcliffe

  • How to be a Friend – Anna Branford

    Walker Books July 2023 ISBN13:9781760657246 Australia RRP:$15.99 New Zealand RRP:$17.99 If you are looking to add to your collection for your newly independent readers, this will be a super choice. Some of your Smalls will already be exploring the Violet Mackerel series or have read How to be the New Person, both of which have…

  • Friendship Survival Guide[Book #0 Usborne Life Skills] – Caroline Young

    Harper Collins Australia August 2023 It is absolutely true that all kids, younger or older, will have some friendship issue/s at some point. And certainly we try to help them navigate this as best we can in our respective educational or other settings. Which makes books such as this tremendously important to have at hand.…

  • A Friend for George – Gabriel Evans

    Penguin Australia May 2023 Anyone who has taught or worked with children will probably agree that we can never have enough books about friendship, and in particular, how to be a good friend. Once I probably would have said this is most true of the younger grades but realistically, more and more, I see kids…

  • Crookhaven: the School for Thieves – J. J. Arcanjo

    Hachette FEB 28, 2023 | 9781444965735 | RRP $16.99 This is another one that got delayed despite being read very swiftly when it first arrived. Two reasons for that being I was taking it to and fro to read to a Year 5 class with whom I was spending quite a bit of time, and then because it got…

  • Spellhound: a Dragons of Hallow #1 – Lian Tanner

    Allen & Unwin April 2023 ISBN:9781761180057 Publisher:A&U Children’s Imprint:A & U Children RRP: $17.99 I’m so remorseful that I didn’t get to this one sooner (one of the books that was shunted into a box during the great house move) because it is just wonderful! I love this intro from the publisher…A fascinating tale filled…

  • Katrina Nannestad: new dresses for old favourites

    Harper Collins Australia July 2023 Olive of Groves (Olive of Groves #1) Olive of Groves and the Great Slurp of Time(Olive of Groves #2) Olive of Groves and the Right Royal Romp (Olive of Groves #3) Here comes one of the most popular series I’ve had in my primary libraries, all dressed up in delectable…

  • Picasso and the Greatest Show on Earth – Anna Feinberg

    Allen & Unwin July 2023 ISBN:9781760296988 Publisher:A&U Children’s Imprint:A & U Children RRP: $17.99 It’s been quite some time since I’ve read a book from Anna, so I was well pleased to receive this one to review (thank you lovely A&U peeps!) and it is absolutely beautiful. There is a lot going on in this…

  • The Black Cockatoo with One Feather Blue – Jodie McLeod/Eloise Short

    On KBR today Confidence can be a frail commodity for many of us, but, perhaps, particularly for little people. And, as a result, it is easy to imbue a particular object with special qualities that make us feel braver, stronger and smarter – whether professional golfer with a lucky tee or a toddler with a…

  • Being Jimmy Baxter – Fiona Lloyd

    Penguin Australia This is often a very funny book. This is often a very moving book. I ate it up in one sitting because Jimmy’s story is one that demands to be read. Jimmy is not so good with school stuff, and he has a kind of innocence in his thinking that completely reminds me…

  • The Bravest Word – Kate Foster

    Walker Books Australia May 2022 ISBN13:9781760654719 Australia RRP:$18.99 New Zealand RRP:$20.99 Thankfully, there is an ever-growing awareness around mental health, and a wider knowledge of help sources available. We have media focus both in information sharing, and valuable help agencies that did not exist years ago. The stats above provide some insight into the extent…