Just So Stories

Random Reviews and Ramblings from Redcliffe

  • Lost Evangeline – Kate DiCamillo. Illustrated by Sophie Blackall.

    Walker Books Australia November 2025 ISBN13:9781529525892 Australia RRP:$24.99 New Zealand RRP:$27.99 As it arrives hard on the heels of the 25th anniversary of Because of Winn-Dixie [one of my all time favourite books!] it is a special treat to review a new Kate book. It arrived yesterday, much to my delight, and, of course, I…

  • How Big is Love? – Carl Merrison and Hakea Hustler. Illustrated by Jade Goodwin.

    Hachette Australia Imprint: Lothian Children’s Books Aug 26, 2025 | 9780734420176 | RRP $24.99 Three of my favourite First Nations creators have produced this gorgeous picture book which would make a beautiful gift for a small person in your family or friendship circle especially. Of course, it would also be eminently suited to an EC setting or home. Small…

  • The Fierce Little Woman and the Wicked Pirate – Joy Cowley. Illustrated by Miho Satake.

    Walker Books Australia Imprint: Gecko Press ISBN13:9798765671696 Australia RRP:$16.99 New Zealand RRP:$19.99 Not only did this arrive in timely fashion to be included in the fishyness scheme of reviews, but also in the same week as I rediscovered some memories on an old USB including just one from my pirate wedding [yes, you did read…

  • One Word and a Bird – Stephen Michael King

    Scholastic Australia April 2025 ISBN 9781761520860RRP $26.99 This one finishes off this week of Birdie Num Nums purely because of its title, because really it’s not all about birds. It’s about love and our own self-belief, the (sometimes lofty and impossible) standards we set for ourselves and how we navigate the world around us. Stephen…

  • Tomato Sandwich – an encore!

    Many of you will already have Tomato Sandwich in your collections [if you don’t – why on earth not? Get thee to the bookshop forthwith!] and will have seen my review of a few months ago. Now it gives me the greatest pleasure to tell you that there are now teaching notes available, to help…

  • The Gift of a Good Death Our palliative dementia story – Lisa Twigg

    November 2024 I had great pleasure in reviewing Lisa’s first book 80 Years Without Dementia last year, not only because she is one of our friends from Redcliffe SLS but also because her story touches so many lives. This is particularly so for those of us who are older and have had the heartache of…

  • Me and You – Ellie Royce and Penelope Pratley

    Ford St Publishing March 2025 ISBN: 9781922696502 RRP: $27.95 When it comes to Mother’s Day, it’s always a bitter-sweet feeling in our house as we each grieve for our own mothers, but we have each other and that’s important too. Just like the grandmother and granddaughter in this absolutely delightful picture book from Ellie Royce…

  • The Undead Fox of Deadwood Forest – Aubrey Hartman

    Walker Books Australia May 2025 ISBN:9781761601453 RRP: $17.99/New Zealand RRP:$19.99 Now, how to describe this delightfully quirky and sometimes dark quasi-horror with heart? It’s a little bit My Dead Rabbit, maybe a little bit Coraline, and a little bit The Graveyard Book. And then there’s A Girl Called Corpse – and soon you will get…

  • Tomato Sandwich – Caroline Magerl

    Walker Books April 2025 ISBN13:9781760658045 Australia RRP:$25.99 New Zealand RRP:$27.99 Last week I was unwell for a few days with a horrid summer cold. Even when I started to feel better, I was still a long way from 100%. Just as I started to crawl back up the scale, along comes Alfred. This week we’re…

  • My Big Secret – Felice Arena

    Penguin Australia ISBN: 9781761349706 RRP: $19.99 As he well knows, I didn’t have a clue who he was back in the days of Neighbours on TV, given I never watched it, but it makes me very happy to now count Felice Arena among my friendship circle. Not only have I reviewed many of his numerous books…