Just So Stories

Random Reviews and Ramblings from Redcliffe

  • What Zola did on Wednesday – Melina Marchetta

    Penguin Australia September 2020 ISBN: 9781760895174 Imprint: Puffin RRP: $12.99 I don’t know about you but I am getting incredibly fond of Zola and her neighbourhood. This little series is just truly delightful and I know that little readers must love being able to make connections with their own family, friends, schools and communities. Boomerang St has been…

  • Finding Francois – Gus Gordon

    Penguin Australia July 2020 ISBN: 9780143794141 Imprint: Puffin RRP: $24.99 In over eighty books Gus Gordon has demonstrated time and again his talent at producing the type of quality books we love to share with our young readers. This beautiful picture book is heart-warming and endearing as two little characters, both lonely and longing for real friendship, discover…

  • What Zola did on Tuesday – Melina Marchetta

    Penguin Australia August 2020 ISBN: 9781760895167 Imprint: Puffin RRP: $12.99 I reviewed the first in this joyful series a little while back and now we have the delight of the second instalment which is just as gorgeous! Zola and her cousin over the back fence, Alessandro, would love to get to meet their new neighbours – more playmates!…

  • The Key to Finding Jack – Ewa Jozefkowicz

    Harper Collins Australia May 2020 ISBN: 9781800240421 ISBN 10: 1800240422 Imprint: Head Of Zeus – Zehpyr – GB $14.99 Perfect for your middle primary to lower secondary kiddos this new adventure/mystery is just a great read with lots of excitement but also loads of great messages about the importance of connections with family and friends, self-belief, empathy and…

  • Anisha, Accidental Detective #1 – Serena Patel

    Harper Collins Australia June 2020 ISBN: 9781474959520 ISBN 10: 1474959520 Imprint: Usborne – GB List Price: 12.99 AUD Serena Patel wants to do more than entertain with her stories. She is determined to offer her readers insight into the experience of being ‘different’ and in her case that means growing up as a culturally different child in her school…

  • Peanut Goes for Gold – Jonathan Van Ness. Pictures by Gillian Reid

    Harper Collins Australia May 2020 ISBN: 9780062941008 ISBN 10: 0062941003 Imprint: HarperCollins – US List Price: 24.99 AUD It has been very reassuring in recent years to be able to review a number of picture books which embrace diversity in children but particularly those who may be struggling or feeling isolated due to their gender/sexual self-identity. There would be…

  • The One and Only Bob – Katherine Applegate

    Harper Collins Australia For all of us who fell in love with the story of Ivan and his friends, this is such an exciting new release – and all I can say is if you haven’t read The One and Only Ivan – what are you thinking?! Get to it now before the long-awaited movie…

  • What Zola did on Monday – Melina Marchetta. Illustrated by Deb Hudson

    Penguin Australia June 2020 ISBN: 9781760895150 Imprint: Puffin RRP: $12.99 This is certainly a departure from Looking for Alibrandi and Melina’s other novels for YA but what an absolute joy it is! From start to finish it ticks every box I love! Zola lives with her mum and Nonna Rosa in a little house in the suburbs, with…

  • Starfell: Willow Moss and the Forgotten Tale [Starfell #2]- Dominique Valente

    Harper Collins Australia April 2020 ISBN: 9780008308445 ISBN 10: 0008308446 Imprint: HarperCollins – GB List Price: 16.99 AUD Being the youngest in the family is often a reason for feeling overlooked and somehow lesser and for Willow Moss this is especially true. She is both the youngest and the least magical in her family of witches. Even though in…

  • Funny Kid Peeking Duck [Funny Kid #7] – Matt Stanton

    Harper Collins Australia April 2020 ISBN: 9780733340598 ISBN 10: 0733340598 Imprint: ABC Books – AU List Price: 14.99 AUD Matt Stanton’s Max has become one of the most popular characters in Australian kids’ lit in recent years – with the first debuting at #1 Australian kids’ book in 2017. The Funny Kid continues to garner enthusiastic fans not only…