Just So Stories

Random Reviews and Ramblings from Redcliffe

  • Lucky’s Star – Mark Greenwood. Illustrated by Lucia Masciullo.

    CSIRO Publishing June 2025 Last ‘sky’ book for the day and I have to be honest. I’d not even heard of the Murchison’s Meteorite, but it’s not really a topic that would often grab my attention, and to be fair at the time of the event, I was only just starting high school – so…

  • The Legend of Jessie Hickman – Mark Greenwood/Frané Lessac

    NLA 9781922507853/1 October 2025/AUD$24.99, NZD$29.99 If you believe in legends … I would venture to say that not many people know about Jessie Hickman. In fact, despite my long interest in Australian bushrangers, I probably wouldn’t either except for the fact of having spent a reasonable amount of time in the proximity of Jessie’s one-time…

  • Our Country: Where History Happened – Mark Greenwood/Frane Lessac

    Walker Books Australia September 2023 ISBN13:9781760653576 Australia RRP:$26.99 New Zealand RRP:$28.99 This is the second in this stunning series from talented couple Mark Greenwood & Frane Lessac. I have previously reviewed the first (twice! hardback and paperback!) Ancient Wonders and I know that many people took that first title to their hearts. In this new…

  • Ancient Wonders – Mark Greenwood/Frané Lessac

    Walker Books August 2023 ISBN13:9781760658083 Australia RRP:$16.99 New Zealand RRP:$18.99 Now in paperback, this is the first in the Our Country Series by this very talented couple (both of whom I’ve had the pleasure of meeting). I have no doubt you would be well acquainted by the many outstanding collaborations Mark and Frané have produced, and…

  • Our Country: Ancient Wonders – Mark Greenwood/Frané Lessac

    Walker Books February 2022 ISBN: 9781760652241Imprint: Walker Books AustraliaAustralian RRP: $26.99New Zealand RRP: $28.99 What a talented partnership this couple is and how grateful am I that I’ve had the opportunity to meet and talk with them both, as well as see them present. Now this first in a new series from the always remarkable Walker house will be…

  • The Book of Stone – Mark Greenwood/Coral Tulloch

    Walker Books Australia November 2019 ISBN: 9781760650872 Imprint: Walker Books Australia Australian RRP: $27.99 New Zealand RRP: $29.99 Here’s another terrific book for sparking some scientific interest whether just because you are in ‘stay at home’ mode or because your reader has a curious mind and loves to investigate (or pick up those stones on their walks around…

  • All of Us [a history of SouthEast Asia] – Jackie French and Virginia Hooker. Illustrated by Mark Wilson

    Harper Collins October 2019 ISBN: 9781460750025 ISBN 10: 1460750020 Imprint: HarperCollins – AU List Price: 29.99 AU Is it a history book? Poetry? A work of art? Geographical work? Actually it’s pretty much all of these wrapped up in one stunning picture book. The incomparable Jackie French teams up with Emeritus Professor Virginia Hooker, social historian, to take readers…