Just So Stories

Random Reviews and Ramblings from Redcliffe

  • Wombats are Pretty Weird: a [not so] serious guide – Abi Cushman

    Harper Collins Australia October 2023 Here in the land of Down Under, we are pretty relaxed about wombats. They are, for many of us, the most loveable buffoons of the marsupial clan. They have been immortalised in literally dozens of picture books, including, so notably, Jackie French’s wombat series, ensuring that our kiddos are pretty…

  • Nothing Ever Happens – Heidi McKinnon

    Scholastic November 2023 ISBN:   9781761298561 RRP: $19.99 Be careful what you wish for is almost always good advice. In this instance, it most definitely is. The text is simplicity itself, but the illustrations are what tell this most hilarious story. ‘Nothing ever happens!’ ‘Every day is always the same.’ ‘Same old rock. Same old shell.’…

  • A feathered funny

    I thought this was quite amusing especially given the timing as it was shared just after my earlier review of Getting to Know the Birds in Your Neigbourhood. And yes, it’s a totally legit story, reported in several news forums here’s the BBC link. #whenbirdsgobad

  • Grandma’s First Tattoo – Phillip Gwynne and Tony Flowers

    Yaffler Press October 2023 RRP: $19.99 Well, I was 45, and a grandmother of 2 when I got my first tattoo so I have taken great interest in the development and progress of this book from the very start. Tony’s sharing ideas and concepts for the artwork has been an ongoing pleasure, and I was…

  • Parcel for Turtle – Shelley Knoll-Miller

    Penguin Australia How absolutely delighted am I that the first ‘Parcel for…’ title I review, so closely reflects our happy place – the beach, and some of its very nicest inhabitants – indeed, practically our neighbours. Each book in this series is a clever, but simply written guessing game for Littles, with absolutely gorgeous comic…

  • Rabbit – a global superstar!

    Walker Books Australia Author/Illustrator: Jo Ham September 2023 Uh-oh! Rabbit ISBN13:9781529504439 Australia RRP:$19.99 New Zealand RRP:$22.99 Yippee! Rabbit! ISBN13:9781529509106 Australia RRP:$19.99 New Zealand RRP:$22.99 Have you met Rabbit yet? The brainchild of Joanna Ham, artist and illustrator, Rabbit has graced almost everything from Body Shop packaging to giant murals and art installations. Rabbit epitomises all…

  • Idiots, Follies & Misadventures – Mikey Robins

    Simon & Schuster Australia July 2023 As someone who has adored Horrible Histories – especially Stupid Deaths – and also Mikey Robins, since the days of Good News Week (I miss that show SO MUCH!), this was just comedy gold for me. Of course, I’m fascinated by history of all kinds, but it really is…

  • Ruby and the Pen – David Lawrence. Illustrated by Cherie Dignam.

    EK Books August 2023 ISBN: 9781922539380 RRP: $16.99 I’m fairly sure that at one time or another, we’ve all wished we had a magic wand to just ‘swish and flick’ to remove any obstacles, problems or annoyances. Somehow, I’d never pictured it as a magic pen though! 12-year-old Ruby is an inveterate cartoon-sketching kid, who…

  • It’s Q&A Time with Tania Ingram

    Welcome Tania to Just So Stories – so excited to have you drop in! I’m as excited as a guinea pig with a corncob! Thanks for taking the time to chat. Let’s get into it! I think we should start at the start really ;-). Tell us about little Tania: growing up, family, pets, hobbies,…

  • Aggie Flea is NOT a Liar- Tania Ingram

    Scholastic Australia September 2023 ISBN: 9781760972547 RRP: $16.99 Move over, Barbie – there’s a new girl rocking the pink all over town, and hers is fluoro! Meet Aggie Flea, whom you will immediately fall for,  because she’s inquisitive, imaginative and completely inept in most situations. Really, she’s a bit like Anne of Green Gables in…