Just So Stories

Random Reviews and Ramblings from Redcliffe

  • Planet Middle School – Nikki Grimes

    Bloomsbury ISBN: 9781619630123 ISBN-10: 1619630125 Format: Paperback Imprint: Bloomsbury Childrens Books Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing Plc Publish Date: 2-Jan-2018 Country of Publication: United States RRP AU $14.99 Joylin Johnson has an uncomplicated life at 12 years old as she has had all her life. Baggy jeans and t-shirts, plain ponytail and a passion for basketball which she regularly plays with the neighbourhood boys…

  • Mr Bambuckle’s Remarkables:  Fight Back – Tim Harris

    9780143785873 January 29, 2018 Random House Australia Children’s RRP : $14.99 The kids in 12B are pretty despondent.  Mr Bambuckle has been sent packing by Principal Sternblast and their replacement teacher Miss Frost is as icy as her name.  Every day is a complete nightmare with dreary worksheets and stony silences.  However, there is some…

  • Triple Treat: Jacqueline Harvey, Belinda Murrell and R. A. Spratt

      Such fun to open parcels with books from the most popular authors in my library – and my literary circle! The titles from this trio are highly sought after among my readers and there is always much exchanging in the returns line up with ‘She had this but I want to borrow it next’.…

  • Mr Bambuckle’s Remarkables – Tim Harris….and Mr Bambuckle himself!!!

    Tim Harris, illus by James Hart Random House Released September 2017 Paperback ISBN 9780143785859 RRP $14.99 Tim Harris exploded onto the children’s literature scene quite literally with his Exploding Endings books. Now he brings us a true hero of the classroom, Mr Bambuckle. The children of Room 12 B are wary of their expected new…

  • The Getaway : Diary of a Wimpy Kid #12 – Jeff Kinney

    Penguin Australia 9780143782797 November 7, 2017 Puffin 224 pages RRP $14.99   Well as if there isn’t always enough going on for the Heffleys on a regular day-to-day basis their holiday plans go completely awry and full on pandemonium ensues!   The Heffley parentals have decided that they are going to completely avoid the stress…

  • The City of Secret Rivers – Jacob Sager Weinstein

    Walker Books Australia August 2017 ISBN: 9781406368857 RRP $19.99 For children who are keen on fantastical adventures this first volume in a new trilogy will provide a thrilling subterranean ride through the underbelly of London. Hyacinth Hayward and her mother have just arrived to live in the country of their forebears and Hyacinth hates it already.…

  • The Girl, the Dog and the Writer in Rome – Katrina Nannestad

    Harper Collins Imprint: ABC Books October 2017 ISBN: 9780733338175 RRP: $16.99 Maybe it’s because spring is here (my favourite season) or maybe it is just the stars aligning but I have been so blessed to be sent so many absolutely delightful books to review lately. This is just gorgeous and I love it. Young Freja is…

  • Nevermoor: The Trials of Morrigan Crow– Jessica Townsend

    Hachette October 2017 9780734418074 | RRP $16.99 When you receive a proof copy of an upcoming debut novel about which the publisher says stuff like ‘sold by eight-way auction’ and ‘film rights pre-empted’ you can assume it’s going to be a cracker. And it is that indeed. Written by Jessica Townsend (Sunshine Coast! Yay!) this…

  • Wolfie: an Unlikely Hero – Deborah Abela/Connah Brecon

    Penguin Random House ISBN 9780143781509 May 1, 2017 Random House Australia Children’s RRP $24.99 One thing I’ve learned in my years of being a teacher-librarian is that all kids, big and little, love fractured fairy tales. Wolfie is fed up with fairy tales promoting the nonsense that wolves are the bad guys. He’s determined to…

  • Little Lunch series – Danny Katz/Mitch Vane

      Walker Books I said earlier today that I’m not that across kids’ TV but this is one show I’ve watched with Miss K and we both think it is very funny.  She, like other kids, because she thinks the antics of the kids and their interactions a real hoot and me, because I reckon…