Just So Stories

Random Reviews and Ramblings from Redcliffe

  • Dancing with Memories – Sally Yule with Professor Ralph Martins & Maggie Beer. Illustrated by Cheryl Orsini.

    Harper Collins July 2022 Imprint: ABC Books AU RRP: $24.99 The length of time I’ve been sitting on this is certainly no reflection of its quality or value so please don’t think it is. Given my rather tumultuous year, there came a point where I just thought – save all these PBs for November so…

  • Ruby Red Shoes: My Wonderful Grandmother– Kate Knapp

    Harper Collins Australia March 2020 ISBN: 9781460758885 ISBN 10: 1460758889 Imprint: HarperCollins – AU List Price: 19.99 AUD What’s wonderful about my grandmother is she is not only my grandmother but also my friend. On the day before my Jen slipped away from us as I held her hand and stroked her hair and promised I would take care…

  • Evie and Pog (series)– Tania McCartney

    Harper Collins Australia January 2020 I’ve said before that Tania McCartney is uber-talented (as well as being one of the very nicest humans I know) and I for one am tremendously excited about this new series pitched at newly independent readers. It’s just fabulous to see a few new series to add to these collections!…

  • Bad Nana #1: Older but Not Wiser – Sophy Henn

    Harper Collins ISBN: 9780008268053 ISBN 10: 0008268053 Imprint: HarperCollins – GB June 2018 RRP $17.99 Newly independent readers who love a giggle are bound to fall in love with Bad Nana and her granddaughter, Jeanie. Of course Bad Nana isn’t really bad – but she is cheeky and unconventional, most definitely mischievous, and certainly the type of granny…

  • The Dream Bird –  Aleesah Darlinson/Emma Middleton

    Wombat Books ISBN: 9781925563337 Release: 1 April 2018 Price: $19.99 Hardback   For a family of insomniacs no explanation is needed about the difficulties sometimes of going to sleep – no matter how busy the day, or the level of tiredness. Young and old in my crew this is something we deal with constantly. Over…

  • Oma’s Buttons – Tania Ingram/Jennifer Harrison

    Penguin Australia 9780143786573 April 2, 2018 Viking Imprint RRP$24.99   We grandmothers know there is a special bond between us and our grandchildren – some of us even more so than others.  Tania and Jennifer have produced a beautiful book which encapsulates just one aspect of this relationship.   So many of us would have…

  • Nanna’s Button Tin – Dianne Wolfer & Heather Potter

    Walker Books ISBN: 9781922077677 June 1, 2017 Australian RRP: $24.99 New Zealand RRP: $27.99 This is an absolutely charming story for young readers and a beautiful gentle lead in to the idea of memories, keepsakes and family story telling.  When a special little girl needs a very specific button to repair a much loved teddy, Nanna’s button tin…

  • Grandparents are the Bomb!

      Random House Australia Of course I can be a little smug since Small so often tells me  lovingly that I am ‘the best Gran in the whole world’. This little person and I have always had such a close bond and that was made even closer when Mummy became so critically ill and K…

  • The First Third – Will Kostakis

    Penguin Australia Published:24/07/2013 Format:Paperback, 248 pages RRP:$17.99 price:AUD $17.99 ISBN-13:9780143568179 ISBN-10:0143568175 Yes, ok, I admit it. I may well be one of the last few teacher-librarians in Australia who hadn’t read The First Third – until the past couple of weeks.  I knew, from all the glowing recommendations and recognitions that it must be a…