Just So Stories

Random Reviews and Ramblings from Redcliffe


  • The Marvellous Submarine -Zane Clayton Comber (The Marvellous Submarine, #1) Clayton Zane Comber. Connor McCammon

    Harper Collins Australia April 2025 This hails the start of a new series, co-written and illustrated by this pair from Kiama [one of my favourite places in the country] which will completely hook your young readers, particularly those who have been languishing for more Treehouse-like books. It is completely absurd and crazy and all the…

  • The One and Only Family – Katherine Applegate

    Harper Collins Australia All good things must come to an end so they say [and of course, as a Buddhist, I do know that everything is impermanent], but I am, along with many others I have no doubt, sad to say goodbye to Ivan and his friends, and now family. It has given me such…

  • The Silverback’s Song – Dannika Patterson and Nick Kohler.

    Morningstar Books August 2024 Iona College presents…. ISBN: 978-0-6485778-2-9 RRP: $25.00 April seems such a long time ago now, when I was thrilled to hear from local author, Dannika Patterson, to ask if I might write some teaching notes for a very special new book. This picture book has been a project like no other…

  • Big Gorilla: a book of opposites – Anthony Browne

    Walker Books Australia May 2024 ISBN13:9781529509588 Australia RRP:$27.99 New Zealand RRP:$29.99 It is no secret that I absolutely adore Anthony Browne’s work – always have, always will. He is without doubt, in my top 10 creators list. And, like so many others, I particularly love his apes. This new book is just a lovely way…

  • Steve Goes to Carnival – Joshua Button & Robyn Wells

    Magabala Books Published: Jul 2016 ISBN: 9781925360219 RRP $24.95   What a joyous feel-good book this is! I suppose to be honest I wasn’t expecting a book from Magabala to be about a gorilla in Rio – but why not?! Steve is a gorilla and he lives in a zoo in Rio. His favourite person…

  • The One and Only Ivan – Katherine Applegate

    Harper Collins Australia I may well be one of the last to read The One and Only Ivan although I have heard all the fulsome praise for it since its publication.  And now what to say about a book that not only lives up to its hype and my expectations but exceeds them? No reader…