Just So Stories

Random Reviews and Ramblings from Redcliffe

  • Odd Cat Out!: Cat School – Rose Robbins

    New South Books Scallywag Press Rose Robbins 9781836300397/August 2026/AUD$19.99, NZD$22.99 This first in a new trilogy by London author Rose Robbins, who writes from her own personal experience, will make for a great addition to your inclusive collection. Framed as anthropomorphic young cats, the narrative revolves around two friends, Tangle and Eno, starting at their…

  • Animal Force – Cerise Madsen

    New South Books Publisher: Midnight Sun 9781922858740/July 2026/AUD$17.99, NZD$19.99 This would be a useful book for a middle-grade serial read to ‘read-around-your-topic’ in environmental themes especially. Although the publisher notes suggest 6 years +, personally I feel it is more suited to older and more discerning readers who would be better able to absorb some…

  • The Boy Who Drew Cats- Lafcadio Hearn: a Japanese folktale. Illustratedby Anita Kreituse.

    New South Books Publisher: Tuttle 9780804859561/May 2026/AUD$29.99 I had never heard of Lafcadio Hearn but now that I’ve gone down some wormholes finding out more about him [here’s one article but many more to be found], surely this is a man with an extraordinary life story. And while I have both studied and taught Japanese…

  • Gold Standard? Remembering the Hawke Government – Edited by Frank Biongiorno, Carolyn Holbrook & Joshua Black

    NewSouth Books 9781761170522 / April 2026 / RRP $39.99 For a considerable chunk of my adult life I was completely apolitical and then along came Gough Whitlam and after the disgraceful dismissal, some 8 years later Robert James Lee Hawke, brash and breezy, blew into the top slot and completely changed the landscape of our country with economic…

  • The Library That Made Me: 200 Years of The State Library of NSW: edited by Richard Neville and Phillipa McGuiness

    New South Publishing New South Books 9781761170713 / March 2026 / RRP $49.99 This magnificent volume has been on my shelf for a couple of months now and I have been glorying in dipping in and out of it. I’ve still not quite finished exploring every single page and detail but the time is right for the review to…

  • The Story House – Vikki Conley. Illustrated by Jennifer Falkner.

    New Frontier Publishing Distributed by New South Books May 2026 9781923145979/AUD$26.99, NZD$32.99 What an utterly beautiful and poignant book this is and what a book to share with all young readers! Coming hard on the heels of that odious red-head’s Press Club twaddle yesterday and the heinous implications of her deriding those of other cultures,…

  • The Very Fine Clock – Muriel Spark. Drawings by Edward Gorey.

    Transit Children’s Editions New South Books Illustrated by Edward Gorey, author Muriel Spark 9798893380262/ February 2026/AUD$29.99, NZD$34.99 From the archives: Illustrator Edward Gorey Collection of Macabre Author and Illustrator Edward Gorey Item Well I knew Muriel Spark wrote The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie and I certainly knew the name of Edward Gorey, – the…

  • Ayaiga: Neighbour and Hero – Thomas Higgs with Colin Hall. Illustrated by Wally Wilfred.

    New South Books Publisher: NLA 9781922507785 February 2026 AUD$24.99, NZD$29.99 What an amazing episode from history this is and certainly one I’ve not heard of previously. It makes me wonder how many other little-known Aboriginal heroes are in our history. And how wonderful it is that this book brings this particular story to the attention…

  • Girls Like – Katrina Germein. Illustrated by Deb Hudson.

    New South Books Publisher: MidnightSun Publishing 9781922858726 April 2026 AUD$29.99, NZD$34.99 For anyone raising their own Mighty Girl or for those empowering all the mighty girls in a class or cohort this is hands-down a must-have for your shelf. It’s a simple rhythmic text that is almost a rap and just invites clap alongs or…

  • Write Now

    As it happens an assortment of books all geared to writing – for kids and for others, so do enjoy! The Story Writer’s Handbook – Katrina Nannestad. Illustrated by Cheryl Orsini. Harper Collins Australia September 2025 It was completely unintentional to leave this one so long but it sifted down between others and so was…