Just So Stories

Random Reviews and Ramblings from Redcliffe

  • Whispers and Roars – Patrick Guest. Jonathan Bentley.

    Simon & Schuster September 2025 As if to prove my comments about these two creators previously in this 2025 line-up of picture books, here is a stunning one with them in combination as they were for the acclaimed The Second Sky. And this one is a good addition to today’s titles focused on well-being for…

  • We Are All Amazing – P. Crumble and Jonathan Bentley.

    Scholastic Australia December 2025 ISBN: 9781761725333 RRP: $19.99 This is, I believe, the newest in a series pitched at younger children to encourage them to develop some positive attributes and attitudes. Anything with Jonathan Bentley‘s name attached is a drawcard for me. Not only is his artwork sublime but he’s a thoroughly nice human…amusing and…

  • Koala Koala – John Williamson. Illustrated by Jonathan Bentley.

    Penguin Australia April 2025 Koala, Koala – we love youSo soft in the fork of your tree . . .Koala, Koala – where will you goIf we take your gum trees away? I’ve mentioned my association with John along with koalas previously on this blog. While my fond memory is about Goodbye Blinky Bill, Koala…

  • Too Scared to Sleep – Shaun Micallef. Illustrated by Jonathan Bentley.

    Hardie Grant Australia September 2024 Imprint: Hardie Grant Children’s Publishing ISBN:9781761213090 Price: AU$24.99, NZ$27.99 And I’ve saved the best till last for this Halloween. Now, I’ll be truthful. Most times, when I see a ‘celebrity’ name on a new book cover, I inwardly cringe because frankly, there are some celebrities who should just stick to…

  • When the Lights Went Out – Lian Tanner. Illustrations by

    July 2024 ISBN:9781761180019 Publisher:A&U Children’s Imprint:A & U Children RRP: $24.99 You know when you see these creators’ names on a cover, that you are going to get something quite special, and indeed, we do with this gorgeous new picture book. For many of us, an unexpected black-out is a trial… an annoying inconvenience…….a genuine…

  • Where Will the Sleepy Sheep Sleep? – David Metzenthen. Illustrated by Jonathan Bentley.

    Allen & Unwin August 2023 ISBN:9781761066160 Publisher:A&U Children’s Imprint:A & U Children RRP: $19.99 We know that little kids love wordplay (who doesn’t?), and this will be an ideal book to showcase the fun we can have with language. It will be a riotous read-aloud romp but also a completely comprehensive classroom curriculum companion….*grin*. Take…

  • What a Lot of Nonsense – Sheena Knowles/Jonathan Bentley

      Harper Collins Australia ISBN: 9781460756140 ISBN 10: 1460756142 Imprint: HarperCollins – AU List Price: 24.99 AUD Lots of fun with this one – but then you would expect no less from the author who gave us Edward and Edwina Emu! While little ones will love this for it’s rollicking rhyming text and wonderfully colourful and quirky illustrations, teachers…