Just So Stories

Random Reviews and Ramblings from Redcliffe

  • Rain Stones: 35th Anniversary Edition – Jackie French

    Harper Collins Australia March 2026 ISBN: 9781460768808 ISBN 10: 1460768809 Imprint: HarperCollins AU List Price: 17.99 AUD When I opened this package a couple of days ago, there was a sharp intake of breath and a gasp of ’35 years! that can’t be right surely!’ but, of course it’s right. And over the course of 25ish years in school…

  • What Do You Call Your Mum? – Ashleigh Barton. Martina Heiduczek.

    Harper Collins Australia February 2026 The winning combo of Ashleigh and Martina continue their fab collab with another What Do You Call Your… title, this one for all the mums. I love these easy introductions to exploring other cultures and countries, combining geography and social traditions into one engaging expo. In this one Ashleigh includes…

  • Lila MacKay is Very Misunderstood – Gill Sims

    Harper Collins Australia December 2025 If you have followed and shrieked with laughter over Gill Sims’ FB posts Peter and Jane over the years or read her books e.g. the Why Mummy Drinks series , you will know instantly that this book is utterly hilarious. It is pure Gill Sims, with less sweary bits. Written…

  • Easter Cuddle – Kate Mayes. Sara Acton

    Harper Collins Australia Imprint: ABC Books January 2026 ISBN: 9780733343711 ISBN 10: 0733343716 RRP: $24.99 Two talented creators team up again for this one which will delight tiny readers, and would make a superb Easter gift for a newly arrived little human.  The Easter Bunny at our house always delivered a new book each as well as…

  • Living in the Past – Ancient History with a Twist of Fun

    I’ve had a passion for ancient history since I was a nerdy kid. I still have my Ancient Civilisations book my darling mum bought me when I was around 10 years old. I snaffled all my seven-years-older brother’s ancient history textbooks when he was done with them. I aced my project in 6th class on…

  • Are you the Easter Bunny? – Janeen Brian. Lucinda Gifford

    Harper Collins Australia January 2026 What a sublime pairing of creators here! Janeen’s rhyming text is just a delight, and especially her descriptive bilby body parts e.g. sniffer-snout, scritcher-scratchers and bottom-wiggler. Although an aficionado of rabbits in general – obviously, given the family name! – I am completely and unreservedly on Team Bilby in Australia…

  • Neeka and the Great Search: #3 Wilder Zoo – Tina Strachan. Illustrated by Max Hamilton.

    Harper Collins Australia Imprint: Angus & Robertson I would be seriously surprised if anyone had missed the charming trilogy now at its conclusion. What a credit it is to this debut author, Tina Strachan, to start off with such a crackerjack set of books! For me, there’s the added bonus of meeting Tina and adding…

  • A Song for the King – Katrina Nannestad. Freya Black.

    Harper Collins Australia September 2025 Honestly, would you expect anything less than marvellous from this pair of celebrated creators? This is a truly lovely and fresh take on the nativity that will appeal to your Smalls greatly. It will also pave the way for some interesting discussions on changing perspectives in narratives with your older…

  • This is an Elf – Beck & Matt Stanton

    Harper Collins Australia August 2025 Earlier this year I reviewed the 10th anniversary edition of This is a Ball and just as that one and many other Stanton bursts of hysterical humour have entertained kids (and adults) over the past decade, so too will this one. Kids LOVE proving you wrong. And they especially love…

  • A Barney Gumnut Christmas (Barney Gumnut #2)- Tamsin Ainslie

    Harper Collins Australia August 2025 Hmm, I don’t know why but I never saw the #1 Barney Gumnut [gives the HC crew the side-eye] which was surely some kind of oversight? Regardless, this is my first meeting with Barney and his friends and, honestly, I’m in love with them all. There’s Barney – as you…