Just So Stories

Random Reviews and Ramblings from Redcliffe

  • The Adventures of Catvinkle – Elliot Perlman

    Penguin Random House 9780143786368 October 1, 2018 Puffin RRP $19.99   Well regarded author of adult books Elliot Perlman has ably proven that he can turn his hand just as easily to writing for children with this first book for younger readers. It is delightfully whimsical and carries a literary flavour of its Amsterdam setting…

  • Help Around the House – Morris Gleitzman

    Penguin Random House 9780143793236 September 3, 2018 Penguin   RRP $16.99 Classic Morris Gleitzman! And pure unadulterated joy! In these parlous times when politicians behave without regard for those they are sworn to represent this could not be more timely or indeed, pointed. Ludo is a helper. A year after losing his mother his desire…

  • Dragon Apocalypse: City of Monsters #3 – DC Green

    Sep 2018 Ford Street Publishing 9781925272680 AUD$19.95, NZD$24.99   DC, you have completely smashed it with this thrilling conclusion to the trilogy – darker, edgier and gripping!  I’ve watched with such joy as the Dead Gang monster misfits have grown from their funky beginnings to truly kickass warriors united in their mission to save not…

  • The Peski Kids #1: The Mystery of the Squashed Cockroach – R. A. Spratt

    Penguin Random House 9780143788812 July 30, 2018 Puffin   $16.99   There were many sad faces in my library when I reported that the Friday Barnes series had come to an end (including mine) but there was the consolation that R. A. Spratt was working on a new series. And here it is! And it’s…

  • Mr Bambuckle’s Remarkables #4: Go Wild – Tim Harris

    Penguin Random House 9780143789024 September 3, 2018 Random House Australia Children’s RRP : $14.99   Being curled up and cosy with a steaming cup of Himalayan tea – what could be better? If you have the new adventure of Mr B and 12B to make you laugh, of course. The class camp is going to…

  • Tom Weekly 6:  My Life and other Failed Experiments – Tristan Bancks. Illustrated by Gus Gordon

    Penguin Random House 9780143781615 July 2, 2018 Random House Australia Children’s RRP: $14.99 So my read last night was the new hilarious instalment in Tom Weekly’s adventures and it didn’t disappoint. Fortunately alone in my bedroom there’s no one to witness my snorts of laughter! Where to start? Well I just loved Nanna Nancy’s stealthy…

  • The Chocolate Factory Ghost – David O’Connell

    Bloomsbury ISBN: 9781408887066 ISBN-10: 1408887061 Series: The Dundoodle Mysteries Published: 1st May 2018 Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing RRP; $12.99 Archie McBudge has lucky underpants. He knows he does because he and his mum have just discovered that Archie has inherited a huge mansion, a famous sweets factory and more from his Great-Uncle Archibald. What makes this even more astonishing is that…

  • Little Lunch: Triple The Games– Danny Katz/Mitch Vane

    Walker Books Australia ISBN: 9781760650278 Imprint: Black Dog Books March 1, 2018 Australian RRP: $12.99 The kids from Little Lunch really do crack me up! As I’ve said before I reckon I’ve taught every one of them at one time or another.  The fun continues for fans of the popular TV show with this latest instalment of another…

  • Who Hid the Socks?  – Rosemary Coombs/ Lorraine Robertson & Warren Brown

    Bullawai Books April 2018 9780994611819 9780994611826 RRP: $16.99 We all know the problem of disappearing socks. Miss Small favours odd socks but even with that un-complication we still seem to be scratching around for the little blighters often. So many children will get the giggles as they help search for the missing socks in the…

  • Fabio the World’s Greatest Flamingo Detective: The Case of the Missing Hippo – Laura James

    Bloomsbury March 2018 ISBN: 9781408889312 Imprint: Bloomsbury Children’s Books RRP  : AU$12.99 Like many others I am addicted to great detective fiction be it books or TV shows and also like many others my favourite sleuth is the one and only Hercule Poirot (as in David Suchet not – you know who KB bleuggh). So…