Just So Stories

Random Reviews and Ramblings from Redcliffe

  • Willa and Woof #2: Birthday Business – Jacqueline Harvey

    Penguin Australia October 2022 Willa happens to find out that it’s almost Frank’s birthday and it’s a super special significant one. She feels pretty sad when she knows that Frank’s family, son and his wife plus children, who live in England are unable to even be in touch on this special day so, of course,…

  • Term 3 Displays

    We’ve really been upping our game with displays this year in my library we believe. But this term we’re really having some fun. As soon as I was aware of Josh Langley’s latest book in his Being You is Enough series (reviewed yesterday here) Being Wildly Kind and certainly seeing his bee accoutrements as he…

  • Being You is Enough series- Josh Langley

    Big Sky Publishing RRP: $14.99 It was such a joy to become connected with the uber-talented Josh Langley online earlier this year and to discover his own magical brand of positivity, particularly as it applies to children. It’s taken a while but this week I received the four books in his amazingly successful series and…

  • We Are Wolves – Katrina Nannestad

    Harper Collins Australia October 2020 ISBN: 9780733340888 ISBN 10: 0733340881 Imprint: ABC Books – AU List Price: 19.99 AUD One book about children surviving in the conflict of war that has always remained with me was Journey into War by Margaret Donaldson. It was one I used often with upper primary children and it offered so much scope for…

  • Seeds – Carme Lenniscates

    Candlewick Press March 2020 Imprint: Candlewick  Studio ISBN 9781536208443 Another timely book – certainly for us – as we’ve been re-invigorating and re-planting our veggie patch after a long hot summer. Magical seeds are popping up in the propagator on our front verandah waiting until they are sturdy enough to be planted out in the…

  • Eight Princesses and a Magic Mirror – Natasha Farrant/Lydia Corry

    Harper Collins November 2019 ISBN: 9781788541152 ISBN 10: 1788541154 Imprint: Head Of Zeus – Zehpyr – GB List Price: 29.99 AUD Whether you are looking for alternative princesses or fairy tales or just looking for a beautiful book for the Mighty Girls in your readership this stunning gift book ticks all the boxes. When an enchantress prepares for a…

  • White Bird: a Wonder Story – R. J. Palacio

      Penguin Australia October 2019 ISBN: 9780241397244 Imprint: Puffin RRP: $39.99 Millions of readers have fallen in love with Wonder and its subsequent books and will most likely think of Julian as Auggie’s tormentor but in this first foray into graphic novels Palacio presents a completely different side to the erstwhile bully. Those who have also read Auggie…

  • The Underhills: a Tooth Fairy Story – Bob Graham

    Walker Books Australia October 1st 2019 ISBN: 9781406387612 Imprint: Walker Australian RRP: $24.99 New Zealand RRP: $27.99 Always exciting to see a new Bob Graham story and this one which is a charming companion book to April Underhill, Tooth Fairy will similarly delight young readers of that much-loved title. Mum and Dad need to be away working so the…

  • 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…

  • Maya & Cat – Caroline Magerl

    Walker Books Australia ISBN: 9781921977282 Release Date: August 1, 2018 Australian RRP: $24.99 New Zealand RRP: $27.99 Throughout our college and certainly in my library at present we are having a great focus on kindness and empathy. With my little people I am using a range of picture books which offer this theme that also feature animals as this…