Just So Stories

Random Reviews and Ramblings from Redcliffe

  • Cardboard Cowboys – Brian Conaghan

    Bloomsbury May 2021 ISBN: 9781526628602 Imprint: Bloomsbury Children’s Publishing RRP: $12.99 12 year old Lenny is deeply unhappy. For many kids, their first year in high school is full of wonder and adventure with new experiences and friendships, but for Lenny it represents misery and isolation, as he relentlessly bullied and fat-shamed by other kids…

  • Truly Tan Shocked! – Jen Storer. Illustrated by Clare Robertson

    Harper Collins Australia January 2021 ISBN: 9780733334146 ISBN 10: 0733334148 Imprint: ABC Books AU List Price: 17.99 AUD It has been ages since I’ve had the delight of reading a new Truly Tan book and the joy has not diminished one whit! In this new adventure Tan and Gloria are most worried about their teacher, Miss Dragone, who has…

  • Friday Barnes #9: No Escape – R. A. Spratt

    Penguin Australia February 2021 ISBN: 9781760895761 Imprint: Puffin RRP: $15.99 R. A. Spratt (aka Rachel) said to me ‘NO spoilers’ when I mentioned I was about to review this new Friday Barnes instalment and given she is both fit and feisty albeit small, I am not about to quibble! So here’s my rather ‘different’ review ;-). A) Friday…

  • The Time-travelling Caveman – Terry Pratchett

    Penguin Australia September 2020 ISBN: 9780857536020 Imprint: Doubleday Childrens Format: Hardback Pages: 336 RRP: $32.99 Oh Sir Terry how much poorer are we for your departure! This is our final offering from the master and one which will set many young readers on a journey of discovery for more of his completely anarchic and often absurd writing. Previously unpublished this…

  • Happy Halloween!

    We are preparing for a teen ‘Ween party here but I’ve been saving these titles for today so here we go! Peppa Pig: Peppa’s Spooky Halloween Penguin Australia September 2020 ISBN: 9780241412268 Imprint: Ladybird RRP: $14.99 Peppa and her Pig famiy continue to be firm favourites with little ones and this one will delight them as the Pigs…

  • Mind the Gap, Dash & Lily – Rachel Cohn & David Levithan

    Allen & Unwin October 2020 ISBN:9781760526214 Publisher:A&U Children’s Imprint:A & U Children RRP: $19.99 This is my first encounter with Dash and Lily – and I’m in love with them! As it happens I had put this title on our orders list because I liked the sound of it so much – and as it…

  • Go for Gold! (Pea and Nut #2) – Matt Stanton

    Harper Collins Australia August 2020 ISBN: 9780733340680 ISBN 10: 0733340687 Imprint: ABC Books – AU List Price: 17.99 AUD The second in the Pea + Nut series is another rowdy rambunctious read that will have your kiddos in fits of laughter and with swimming season upon us there will no doubt be many connections made. Pea the panda really…

  • Kitty is not a Cat – Jess Black/Bogan Entertainment Solutions

    Hachette Lights Out JUL 28, 2020 | 9780734419750 | RRP $9.99 Teddy’s Bear JUL 28, 2020 | 9780734419774 | RRP $9.99 I no longer have a little person to watch such shows but by all accounts Kitty is not a Cat is a hugely successful animated series. A rather motley clowder of cats live together in a ramshackle old mansion, left to them…

  • League of Llamas [#3 and #4] – Aleesah Darlison

    Penguin Random House Australia July 2020 Aleesah Darlison continues her hilarious new series with these two new episodes in the adventures of Phillipe, Lloyd and Elloise, those daring LOL agents who are afraid of nothing – well almost nothing. Kids love the antics of rather hapless Philippe and Lloyd who are generally getting themselves into…

  • Funny Kid Peeking Duck [Funny Kid #7] – Matt Stanton

    Harper Collins Australia April 2020 ISBN: 9780733340598 ISBN 10: 0733340598 Imprint: ABC Books – AU List Price: 14.99 AUD Matt Stanton’s Max has become one of the most popular characters in Australian kids’ lit in recent years – with the first debuting at #1 Australian kids’ book in 2017. The Funny Kid continues to garner enthusiastic fans not only…