Just So Stories

Random Reviews and Ramblings from Redcliffe

  • Happy Book Week 2026!

    If I’m completely honest I will say there’s not much that I miss about my work of 30 years – except when it comes to the special events, the displays and – of course! – the dressing up! But I love seeing what others are doing so here are a few ‘bookish’ books I’ve saved…

  • How to Get Rid of a Princess – Alison McLennan. Mel Pearce

    Hardie Grant Australia ISBN:9781761212970 Price:AU$24.99, NZ$27.99 Publisher:Hardie Grant Children’s Publishing – Bright Light Being the youngest sibling by 7 years I guess I could have fit the bill as the annoying princess but I honestly think the 7 and 10 year age gaps worked for me as the big brother and sister were more the…

  • Our Flowers/Our Marsupials – Bronywn Bancroft

    Hardie Grant Australia July 2026 Our Flowers ISBN:9781761216541 Price:AU$19.99, NZ$22.99 Our Marsupials ISBN:9781761216558 Price:AU$19.99, NZ$22.99 Two new extremely attractive board books from Bundjalung woman Bronwyn Bancroft in her series introducing Australian wildlife to Smalls. Each image is paired with a rhyming couplet making this both a visual and auditory experience for little humans and with…

  • World’s Most … Extreme, Deadly, Freaky – Australian Geographic

    Hardie Grant Australia April 2026 Series: Australian Geographic World’s Most Publisher: Hardie Grant Children’s Publishing Price:AU$19.99, NZ$22.99 You already know, just by looking at them, that your kiddos are going to go nuts for them. And they are exactly the sort of books that I would keep close to hand for break time browsing –…

  • My Nonna Loves- Adelle Frittitta. Claudia Frittitta.

    Hardie Grant Children’s Publishing Imprint: Little Hare February 2026 ISBN:9781761214486 Price:AU$24.99, NZ$27.99 Publisher:Hardie Grant Children’s Publishing Mother’s Day is a special time for all the grannies as well and in an Italian family, Nonna is a particularly important and much-loved figure. Any of us who have spent time with Italians know this. It’s a culture…

  • Baby’s First Mother’s Day – Cheryl Orsini

    Hardie Grant Australia February 2026 ISBN:9781761217869 Price:AU$19.99, NZ$22.99 Series:Baby’s First Imprint:Hardie Grant Children’s Publishing Starting off a flurry of Mother’s Day titles is one of Cheryl Orsini’s always beautiful books – this one a board book in the Baby’s First series that will delight any first time mums of your acquaintance. One of The Kid’s…

  • The Fishmonger and the Pastrychef- Sophie Masson. Cheryl Orsini.

    Hardie Grant Australia November 2025 ISBN:9781761211225 Price:AU$24.99, NZ$27.99 Publisher:Hardie Grant Children’s Publishing Just OH MY!! This is simply an absolutely beautiful treasure from every angle. Sophie Masson has brought the flavour of her family background and her upbringing in France to young readers in what is the most delicious sounding narrative ever. Not to be…

  • Castle Crashing – Andrea Rowe. Hannah Sommerville.

    Hardie Grant October 2025 ISBN:9781761214073 Price:AU$24.99, NZ$27.99 Publisher:Hardie Grant Children’s Publishing It’s already beach time and soon it will be the holidays and there will be more time to spend with friends at the beach for many children. Riding on the wave of success of Jetty Jumping and Sunday Skating, comes the newest collaboration beween…

  • Dazzling Diamond Egg: Claris the Chicest Mouse in Paris – Megan Hess

    Hardie Grant Australia September 2025 ISBN:9781761215193 Price:AU$26.99, NZ$29.99 Series:Claris Publisher:Hardie Grant Children’s Publishing I absolutely adore Megan Hess’ books! Though I’ve only had two for review, I’ve bought every one of her fashion titles I could get my hands on for my libraries. I can assure you that my fashionista and arty girls went mad…

  • Dogs with Jobs: the heroic hounds who make a difference – Andrea Rowe. Julia Murray

    Hardie Grant October 2025 ISBN:9781761213991 Price:AU$24.99, NZ$27.99 Publisher:Hardie Grant Children’s Publishing Odd sometimes, that you get similar books within such a short time of each other. Over the past decade or so, it has happened numerous times. So yes, this is another book titled Dogs with Jobs. It will be a great companion book for…