Just So Stories

Random Reviews and Ramblings from Redcliffe

  • Time Travelling with a Tortoise – Ross Welford

    Harper Collins Australia January 2024 I have thoroughly enjoyed every single one of Ross Welford’s books that I have read. These adventures are chockful of adventure, humour, heart and a sense of the absurd, and every time I’ve pushed one into a reader’s hands they have come back for more. That, for me, says it…

  • Sense and Second-degree Murder – Tirzah Price

    Harper Collins Australia November 2023 Book #2 Jane Austen Murder Mysteries Now that I’ve read this one, I’d really like to get hold of #1 because this is a really top-notch, fresh take on detective stories. Of course, young ladies in Regency England did not pursue business, nor study chemistry and so on, but a…

  • The Case of the Fishy Detective (Einstein the Penguin, Book 2) – Iona Rangeley

    Harper Collins Australia October 2023 I thoroughly enjoyed Einstein’s first outing, and enjoyed this second one just as much, particularly as it is often a challenge finding that next book for readers moving on from the easy chapter books to something with a little more substance and length. Ever since Imogen’s and Arthur’s first adventure…

  • Louder! – Kate Asquith

    A Guide to Finding Your Voice and Changing the World Harper Collins Australia August 2023 Young activists have made news often in recent years whether they are agitating for climate change, gun reform, LGBQTI+ rights, equality, immigrants/refugees rights, water, ending poverty, and more. And I know that when I talk with children as young as…

  • Lani and the Universe – Victoria Carless

    Harper Collins Australia January 2024 I really enjoyed Victoria’s earlier book, Gus and the Starlight, so the invitation to write teaching notes for this new one was a great pleasure, and, of course, gave me a very early read of another fresh, funny and poignant MG novel. It’s been patiently awaiting review time for a…

  • Christmas Days in the Sunshine – Byll & Beth Stephen. Illustrated by Simon Howe.

    Harper Collins Australia September 2023 Singing sisters Teeny Tiny Stevies, ARIA winners in 2020 for Best Children’s Album, are now on their 4th picture book for Littles. This simple but easily recognisable celebration of Christmas Aussie style, will resonant with even tiny kids who will make connections with their own families, and festive activities. Mozzies…

  • The Boy Who Slept Through Christmas – Matt Lucas. Illustrated by Forrest Burdett.

    Harper Collins Australia October 2023 To be completely honest, when I first got this one I thought – uggh, another “celebrity” book – so many, most disappointing IMO. But with Xmas coming up, I was determined to give it a go to add to my rather scanty list of new festive releases, and to be…

  • Juniper’s Christmas – Eoin Colfer.

    Harper Collins Australia November 2023 It’s been a while since we’ve heard from Eoin (well, me at least) but this one was definitely worth a wait. I absolutely think it’s one of the most original Christmas MG novels I’ve ever read, and I loved every word of it. It encapsulates so much about contemporary life,…

  • Picture Book Month 2023 is a wrap!

    November is Picture Book Month, a tribute to the enduring importance of the picture book form. Dianne de Las Casas (author & storyteller) and her team co-founded the month-long celebration to champion the power and beauty of picture books: In this digital age where people are predicting the coming death of print books, picture books (the print kind) need love. And…

  • Being a Cat: a tail of curiosity – Maria Gianferrari. Pictures by Pete Oswald

    Harper Collins Australia August 2023 It seems that for most people it’s either one or the other. Cats or Dogs (always one of my most popular weekly ‘This or That’ votes in my libraries!) For me, it’s cats. I’ve owned dogs and loved dogs but I find it hard to live without a cat. Although,…