Just So Stories

Random Reviews and Ramblings from Redcliffe


  • How Our Garden Grows – Saurav Kiran Shrestha. Illustrated by Estee Sarsfield.

    WestWords October 2026 ISBN 9781923044708 RRP: $28.95 There is always something so warming about a feel-good community story and this one from WestWords is a fine example of this with something that is becoming more and more of a staple around the country – a community neighbourhood collective garden. Just as a plant starts from…

  • Bella Grows a Bicycle – Lollie Lopter. Chiara Franceschetti.

    Five Mile, May 2026, 24 pp., $24.99 (hbk), ISBN 9781923457720 Swap/trade/barter groups have been springing up all over in recent times. For many communities this is a terrific way to share abundance and cut down on expenses in supermarkets and stores. And it doesn’t hurt to start early finding about the power of barter. Bella…

  • Baabinje’s Backyard – Ella Noah Bancroft & Bronwyn Bancroft

    Hardie Grant Australia Little Hare July 2025 ISBN:9781761214325 Price:AU$24.99, NZ$27.99 Imprint:Hardie Grant Children’s Publish My baabinje always had dirt under her fingernails. She would take me out to the backyard and say, ‘Sit, Marli. Observe and connect with the day.’ While I do miss the days when The Kid and I would garden, at least,…

  • Plantabulous!

    New South Books From Albatros Books/Media are two absolutely delightful new titles. Both about plants, both non-fiction, both exquisitely designed but providing lower-middle primary kiddos with information about plants from two different angles. How Plants Talk – Helena Haraštová. Illustrated by Linh Dao 9788000068114 / 1 August 2023 AUD$24.99, NZD$29.99 Your Smalls will be fascinated to see…

  • Seeds – Carme Lenniscates

    Candlewick Press March 2020 Imprint: Candlewick  Studio ISBN 9781536208443 Another timely book – certainly for us – as we’ve been re-invigorating and re-planting our veggie patch after a long hot summer. Magical seeds are popping up in the propagator on our front verandah waiting until they are sturdy enough to be planted out in the…

  • What Will Grow? – Jennifer Ward. Illustrated by Susie Ghahremani

    Bloomsbury Publishing Australia Imprint: Bloomsbury USA Childrens February 2017 ISBN: 9781681190303 RRP: $19.99   In my experience children love to garden and they are fascinated to see seeds sprout and grow – especially when they can eat the end results! This charming book with a very simple but engaging rhyming text and fabulous richly coloured…