Just So Stories

Random Reviews and Ramblings from Redcliffe

  • Scare B’n’B – Catherine Doyle

    Bloomsbury June 2026 ISBN 9781526655141 Imprint Bloomsbury Children’s Books RRP: $16.99 Well this is a complete departure from the previous Catherine Doyle books I’ve reviewed which were all far more magic realism, echoing folk tales and legends and ‘serious’. But this is very different – hilarious fun whilst also taking a good look at family…

  • Joey and the Junjardy – Allison Rocca. Illustrated by Brenton E. McKenna

    UQP June 2026 ISBN: 9780702271137 RRP: $17.99 I was already keen to read this one and when I started in and realised it is set in Wakka Wakka country, immediately felt a connection. My first teaching post in 1994 was Nanango SS – yes, on Wakka Wakka lands – so for several years I taught…

  • The Epically Awesome Odyssey, as told by Nanny Piggins – R. A. Spratt

    Penguin Australia June 2026 If there is one sure thing to brighten up a bleak, chilly winter’s night (or day) it is the one, the only Nanny Piggins along with her family: Boris, her bear brother, and the children for whom she slaves day and night to feed, clothe, keep clean, educate – oh wait…

  • Costa’s Garden: Fruit – Costa Georgiadis & Brenna Quinlan

    Harper Collins Australia April 2026 Our favourite colourful garden gnome, Costa, is back in his second book in this series for Smalls and this time he brings a tutti-frutti cornucopia of delectable fruit. From the beginning of fruit (the flower) to the kitchen for creating delicious dishes to cultures celebrating fruit in classic signature ways…

  • Duck Look Who’s Talking! (Duck, #1) – Matt Stanton

    Harper Collins Australia April 2026 Matt Stanton is a king of comedic writing and don’t we know it! And I’m going to be very frank here [no, not Frank – just Los] I really do think the Funny Kid books are great but it was always Duck who was the stand-out for me. Nothing speaks…

  • Oh No! – James Foley

    Penguin Australia Thursday night last I had just the best time at Quick Brown Fox’ Term 2 Reading Between the Wines and quite honestly, I’ve never laughed so much at any of the other RBtW evenings I’ve attended because not only is James Foley as hilarious in real life as his books but paired with…

  • Zac Power to the max!

    Hardie Grant April 2026 Mission Files #4 Mission Files #5 Mission Files #6 I am quite certain I’m not the only one who can say there were times in my libraries when I feared that the Zac Power books would end up in shreds when, as one or more was being returned, there would be…

  • A Great Piratical Rumbustification

    Ok yes, we do know that pirates have been romanticised over the years and we also know that there are pirates in the modern world, including the ones in office politically but there is absolutely no denying that fictional pirates still hold a real fascination for readers both young and old. As it happens, three…

  • Dangerous Days: Frances Bloom #2 – Katrina Nannestad. Illustrated by Marina Zlatanova.

    Harper Collins Australia April 2026 ISBN: 9781460718612 ISBN 10: 1460718615 Imprint: ABC Books AU List Price: 17.99 AUD Madcap Frances Bloom is back in her second adventure to delight your younger readers with some more nonsense and 8-year-old anarchy. Only a week or so after the dreadful Ms Thistle has been carted off to the Harsh Island for Unwanted…

  • Mim and the Frazzled Fruit Farmer: The Travelling Bookshop #7 – Katrina Nannestad. Illustrated by Cheryl Orsini

    Harper Collins Australia February 202 No doubt there will be many young readers who will be sad to know that this is the final chapter in this entertaining series but, dare I say, knowing Katrina’s fertile imagination and creativity there is sure to be something new in the offing. Mim, Zeddy and Nat plus the…