Just So Stories

Random Reviews and Ramblings from Redcliffe


  • CSIRO Publishing line up!

    I seem to have collected a few so here’s the round-up of all I have left for this year – every single one of utmost excellence as we know we will get from this publishing house, and all of them with subject matter that will engage, fascinate and inform kiddos. Every Rock has a Story:…

  • No One is Home – Mikolaj Pa. Illustrated by Gosia Herbs.

    translated by Scotia Gilroy New South Books Publisher: Greystone Kids September 2025 9781778402180 AUD$29.99, NZD$34.99 Last year I reviewed No 5. Bubblegum St from this same pair of creators in a week of ‘happy-ness’ reviews. This one seemed a perfect fit for today’s slightly bonkers books, and I love it just as much as I…

  • Little Bee’s Year of Blooms – Sarah Jane Lightfoot

    I’ve had quite a few board books come my way this year and truly they’ve all been lovely but this one is the pièce de résistance with its sculptured pages and combination of plants and insects. I hadn’t seen any of Sarah Jane Lightfoot’s books before but if this one is any indication, they must…

  • Hatch – Heidi Cooper Smith

    CSIRO Publishing Hardback | April 2025 | $ 26.99ISBN: 9781486318278 This gorgeous narrative non-fiction book makes me think of my Year 1s, 30 years ago as we had the fun of watching chickens hatch, and frogspawn develop, investigating how life begins for many creatures. I know there are many ELC and Prep classes that still…

  • Bugs in the Spotlight

    Given the recent bug books I thought perhaps you might like to know about Minibeast Wildlife. This is where we used to buy The Kid’s mini-zoo creatures. We first discovered them not long after K came to live with me and I took her to Cairns for a few days, about a month after her…

  • The Bug Book – Tania Ingram. Illustrated by Lucinda Gifford.

    Affirm Press Imprint: Little Book Press October 2024 ISBN 9781923141155 RRP: $24.99 If this isn’t the cutest introduction to the world of mini-beasts!!! When Tania had talked about this one during its inception, I knew it was going to be fun but I had no clue that it was going to be as adorable as…

  • Pollinators Week 2024

    Just in time for Pollinators Week, I have two smashing picture books about the critters who, realistically, feed us. If it wasn’t for their pollination what would grow? Why not see how you can help out our hard workers by visiting the Australian Pollinators Week website? You’ll find heaps of events along with resources like…

  • Where Are All the Christmas Beetles? Suzanne Houghton

    CSIRO Publishing November 2023 ISBN: 9781486317905  RRP: $24.99 I think this is a question that many of us have asked in recent years. I particularly requested this book, as in our new little house we have been seemingly in the epicentre of beetle activity lately. They come zooming in through our French doors and racket…

  • How We Came to Be: Creatures of Camouflage and Mimicry – Sami Bayly

    Hachette SEP 27, 2023 | 9780734421371 | RRP $19.99 Imprint: Lothian Children’s Books Sami Bayly‘s books are always something special and this new one will completely fascinate your young readers with another cavalcade of weird and wonderful creatures. In this new natural history excursion, kiddos will discover a range of cleverly evolved creatures who can camouflage themselves by various…

  • The Very Hungry Caterpillar’s Bug Hunt: a lift-and-learn book

    Penguin Australia April 2022 ISBN: 9780241553503 Imprint: Puffin Format: Board Book RRP: $14.99 Your littlest readers are going to love this. Every page is pure classic Carle and the fact that there are several flaps on each spread will just send them into paroxysms of squealing joy. Aside from finding the mini-critters, you can focus on some prepositions and…