Just So Stories

Random Reviews and Ramblings from Redcliffe

  • Dylan Alcott: Game On! – Dylan Alcott/Fiona Regan. Illustrated by Nahum Ziersch.

    Harper Collins November 2024 ISBN: 9780733343209 ISBN 10: 0733343201 RRP: $16.99 What an absolute honour it was for me to be asked to write the teaching notes for this book – the first in a series – from sporting legend, disability advocate, radio host, actor, founder of his self-named foundation, film-maker, motivational speaker, Australian of the Year…

  • The Frog Squad #2: Bungle in the Jungle – Kate and Jol Temple. Illustrated by Shiloh Gordon.

    Harper Collins Australia December 2024 ISBN: 9781460716410 ISBN 10: 1460716418 Imprint: HarperCollins List Price: 12.99 AUD The Temple two have such a fabulous skill in creating hugely humorous reads for kids, without degenerating into crassness. It is one of the reasons I love reviewing their books. And the Frog Squad is certainly proving to be a hilarious delight with…

  • The Skin I’m In – Steph Tisdell

    Pan Macmillan July 2024 ISBN: 9781760984977 RRP: $26.99 It took me a while to get to this one on the review shelf, but when I did, it didn’t take me long to read it – I chomped it up over 3 nights and loved every vibrant word of it. Then of course it was Picture Book…

  • Clementine’s Christmas- Annie White

    New South Books New Frontier October 2024 9781923145061 / AUD$26.99, NZD$32.99 Not so long ago I had the pleasure of seeing Annie’s skill with dogs in Julie Murphy’s Dog Beach and now she brings her popular canine character, Clementine, back for a humorous Christmas romp that your Smalls will enjoy greatly. The narrative is an easy and…

  • Jingle Belly – Jacinta Froud. Illustrated by Gabriella Petruso.

    Distributed by Simon & Schuster Imprint: Larrikin House 2021 ISBN13: 9781922503503 LIST PRICE: AU$ 19.99 / NZ$ 22.99 I know it’s not ‘new’ but it’s new to me. I hadn’t seen it previously and, very kindly, author Jacinta Froud sent me this copy (as well as a couple of others which I’ll post after my…

  • Mr Santa – Jarvis

    Walker Books Australia October 2024 ISBN13:9781529511574 Australia RRP:$24.99 New Zealand RRP:$27.99 Yep, we’ve all known those kids who have a seemingly endless supply of questions and this little person has many for Santa, when she catches him delivering gifts. Mr Santa, want to hear me play? Do the reindeer talk? And can I ride your sleigh? When…

  • The Completely Chaotic Christmas of Lottie Brooks – Katie Kirby

    Penguin Books Australia ISBN: 9780241679166 Imprint: Puffin RRP: $16.99 Somehow or other, I have completely missed Lottie Brooks until now but I’m glad we have met. I found this quite hilarious and can easily see why this series has been so popular with tweens. It’s reminiscent of the likes of Wimpy Kid or Tom Weekly but more…

  • One Wise Sheep – Ulrich Hub. Illustrated by Jörg Mühle

    Walker Books Australia Imprint: Gecko Press ISBN13:9781776575961 Australia RRP:$17.99 New Zealand RRP:$19.99 I read this last night, cosy in bed, and was absolutely giggling all the way through. This is the most hilarious take on the biblical Christmas Story ever, with the entire episode from ‘winged creatures’ appearing with blazing lights to finding an empty…

  • Meerkat Mayhem – Mem Fox and Judy Horacek

    Penguin Australia November 2024 ISBN: 9780143777687 Imprint: Puffin RRP: $19.99 You will find numerous posts here referencing Mem Fox, going back almost the entire decade of the blog’s existence, including an insightful Q&A posted back in 2019. My joy in Mem’s work and her presence goes back many years. Possum Magic was a book I bought to share…

  • Pretty Ugly – David Sedaris and Ian Falconer.

    Scholastic Australia November 2024ISBN: 9781761525032 RRP: $19.99 If you were going to go by David Sedaris‘ remarks, you would think that this book is not worth you spending your time on it. Don’t be fooled! Sedaris is, I think, one of America’s darlings, though arguably not so well-known here. He is a comedian, columnist, radio…