Just So Stories

Random Reviews and Ramblings from Redcliffe

  • The Bug Book – Tania Ingram. Illustrated by Lucinda Gifford.

    Affirm Press Imprint: Little Book Press October 2024 ISBN 9781923141155 RRP: $24.99 If this isn’t the cutest introduction to the world of mini-beasts!!! When Tania had talked about this one during its inception, I knew it was going to be fun but I had no clue that it was going to be as adorable as…

  • Nobody Likes Monday – Kelly Lee & Amy Calautti

    EK Books August 2024 9781922539847 $24.99 So I’ll admit there are not many truly positive songs about Mondays: Imagine Dragons‘ offering [such a great band!] has terrific upbeat lyrics but the whole premise of their video clip is a tad unsettling, The Mamas and the Papas had a very dreary break-up song, then there’s Manic…

  • Be the Bus! The Lost and Profound Wisdom of The Pigeon (as told to Mo Willems)- Mo Willems

    Walker Books Australia November 2024 ISBN13:9781760659806 Australia RRP:$19.99 New Zealand RRP:$22.99 As mentioned previously [probably more than once because that seems to be a thing at my age!] I’ve been a fan of Mo’s work from the start. While my favourite is still Nanette’s Baguette, really they are all fabulous. You have only to remind…

  • Too Scared to Sleep – Shaun Micallef. Illustrated by Jonathan Bentley.

    Hardie Grant Australia September 2024 Imprint: Hardie Grant Children’s Publishing ISBN:9781761213090 Price: AU$24.99, NZ$27.99 And I’ve saved the best till last for this Halloween. Now, I’ll be truthful. Most times, when I see a ‘celebrity’ name on a new book cover, I inwardly cringe because frankly, there are some celebrities who should just stick to…

  • Spooky Season from Five Mile

    Five Mile October 2024 Tilly’s New Broom – Mary Anastasiou/Giorgia Clerico 9781923091542 RRP: $24.99 I think we’ve all been there. When you need a new ride but nothing seems to be right [thank goodness for my friend who was selling Black Betty just in time for me to hand-me-down Scarlett O’Cara to The Kid a…

  • Nanny Piggins and the Origin Story – R. A. Spratt

    Penguin Australia October 2024 ISBN: 9781761340024 Imprint: Penguin RRP: $16.99 My deep admiration for Nanny Piggins has never been a secret but, like so many, what did I really know about her? Of course, I know she’s the epitome of glamour, [forget Miss Piggy, who really was such a try-hard], NP is the real deal when it…

  • Chronicles of a Lizard Nobody – Patrick Ness. Illustrated by Tim Miller.

    Walker Books September 2024 ISBN13:9781529517958 Australia RRP:$16.99 New Zealand RRP:$18.99 I absolutely love Patrick Ness’ writing. The Chaos Walking trilogy is my all-time favourite YA read. And A Monster Calls is one of the most beautiful, powerful and poignant explorations of pain and grief ever, and breaks me every time I read it. In fact,…

  • The 113th Assistant Librarian – Stuart Wilson

    Penguin Australia October 2024 ISBN: 9781761342257 Imprint: Penguin RRP: $19.99 When you get an ARC all wrapped up pretty just like a birthday present, you can be pretty sure it’s going to be an exciting surprise inside and so it was. I mean to say, how could they possibly go wrong sending me something called this with a…

  • Jack’s Island – Norman Jorgensen

    Fremantle Press January 2024 ISBN: 9781760992958 RRP: $17.99 Since its initial publication in 2008, Norman Jorgensen’s award-winning historical novel has proven not only an enduring popular choice for many class novel studies, but as a first-rate adventure constantly in circulation among readers from around Year 5 to Year 8. Based on stories from his own father,…

  • Aisle Nine – Ian X. Cho

    Harper Collins Australia September 2024 ISBN: 9781460760680 ISBN 10: 1460760689 Imprint: HarperCollins AU RRP: $19.99 Your fans of Stranger Things, Good Omens and Wednesday, any horror x comedy x side-serve of romance, are absolutely going to love this one. When I was asked to write the teaching notes I was not quite sure after reading the summary but…