Just So Stories

Random Reviews and Ramblings from Redcliffe

  • Shadowghast – Thomas Taylor

    Walker Books Australia September 2021 ISBN: 9781406386301Imprint: WalkerAustralian RRP: $17.99New Zealand RRP: $19.99 It’s back to Eerie-on-Sea for another cracking and creepy mystery. In this new adventure a seriously spooky magician arrives in town, accompanied by henchmen, and purports to be Herbie’s long-lost aunt. She seems to enthrall the boy but his friend and ally, Violet, is far from…

  • Funny Kid Prank Ninjas [Funny Kid #10] – Matt Stanton

    Harper Collins September 2021 ISBN: 9780733340628 ISBN 10: 0733340628 Imprint: ABC Books AU List Price: 14.99 AUD I freely admit it. I’m not a huge fan of the many comic mega-series. They always seem to me to be very formulaic and same-same BUT I never find that in Matt’s books. Each Funny Kid I have read has provided delicious…

  • There’s a Ghost in this House – Oliver Jeffers

    Harper Collins Australia October 2021 ISBN: 9780008298357 ISBN 10: 0008298351 Imprint: HarperCollins GB List Price: 29.99 AUD Without doubt books for young readers which invite the children to become part of the whole experience of text and illustrations are far and away the most popular in any setting, in my experience – just think, Herve Tullet, Beck & Matt…

  • The Tea Ladies of St Jude’s Hospital – Joanna Nell

    Hachette September 2021 ISBN: 9780733642906 RRP: $32.99 Hilary, Joy and Chloe could not, on first impressions, be any more different to each other and yet, as their friendship develops, they discover that each is trying desperately to hide a secret from the wider world. Hilary has been the manager of St Jude’s cafeteria for years.…

  • Being You is Enough series- Josh Langley

    Big Sky Publishing RRP: $14.99 It was such a joy to become connected with the uber-talented Josh Langley online earlier this year and to discover his own magical brand of positivity, particularly as it applies to children. It’s taken a while but this week I received the four books in his amazingly successful series and…

  • The Shadow Arts – Damien Love

    Bloomsbury July 2021 Imprint: Rock the Boat ISBN: 9780861540860 RRP: $14.99 A few months ago, Alex’s world changed forever. Now, just when it seems life is almost getting back to normal, his grandfather crashes back into the picture with grave news…Innocent lives –  even history itself – could be at stake. Monstrous Devices was one…

  • Shockingly Good Stories – R. A. Spratt

    Penguin Australia ISBN: 9781761043376 Imprint: Puffin RRP: $19.99 The hilarious author, R. A. Spratt, knows well that her stories make me snort laugh in an extremely undignified manner. I do my utmost to keep these moments private as I have noted that when reading hilarious stories from what is obviously a kids’ book on a train full of…

  • Backyard Birdies – Andy Geppert

    Hachette JUL 28, 2021 | 9780734420695 | RRP $19.99 Imprint: Lothian Books Well, you know, I’m a secret bird geek. I love spotting them. I take part in the annual backyard bird survey every year and, even going way way back to my first year of teaching, had my class keeping tally of the birds they saw in the…

  • 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…