Just So Stories

Random Reviews and Ramblings from Redcliffe


  • Cats and Us: A Ten-Thousand-Year Fascination – Marta Pantaleo, translated by Debbie Bibo, Yvette Ghione

    New South Books Publisher: Groundwood Books 9781779460394 January 2026 AUD$29.99, NZD$34.99 They say there are two types of people – dog people and cat people. While I have happily owned both, if I can only have one it’s a cat. Whiskers aka the Demon Spawn thoroughly agrees with this stance as do thousands of others.…

  • The Santa Klaus Murder – Mavis Doriel Hay

    New South Books Imprint:   British LibraryJanuary 2016Edition:   New edition, ISBN:   9780712356305ISBN 10:   0712356304Series:   British Library Crime Classics AUD$22.99, NZD$27.99 Shortly before Xmas and just as I was scheduling the last of the Countdown posts, the marvellous New South Books sent me a parcel of 3 classic books which I pounced upon as some kind of delightful Christmas present…

  • giwang: Weather & Wildlife on Wiradjuri Country – Belinda Bridge. Illustrated by Peta-Joy Williams.

    New South Books Publisher: Aboriginal Studies Press November 2025 9781922752031 AUD $24.95, NZD $29.99 I acknowledge the Gubbi Gubbi, the traditional custodians of the land on which I live and write, and pay my respects to elders past and present – Redcliffe, Australia. I also acknowledge and pay my respects to all the First Nations…

  • My First Book of Zen: simple wisdom for children – Tracy Gallup

    New South Books Tuttle Publishing 9784805318980 September 2025 AUD$29.99 As you might expect, this one very much speaks to my Buddhist soul. It is gentle and soothing, a tranquil taste of what it means to be both mindful and meditative in our daily lives. Over the years I’ve had several books that were focused on…

  • Picture Book Month Bonus: Heart of Ice: a journey into Antarctica’s frozen realm – Joy McCann

    New South Press 9781742237800 / November 2025 / RRP $34.99 This is one of the rare reviews that I’m writing before I’ve actually finished reading the book – simply because it fits so neatly with the earlier post and the lovely kids’ non-fiction book. I confess that this is really slack, particularly because I had this book as an…

  • Good Golden Sun – Brendan Wenzel

    New South Books Publisher: Scallywag Press May 2025 9781836300304 AUD$29.99, NZD$34.99 This one would be an excellent springboard into your UoI into those Earth/Sky/Weather type topics as while it is not informational per se, it provides a great opening gambit for conversations about why the sun is important and what it means to life on…

  • My Friend May – Julie Flett

    New South Books Greystone Kids June 2025 ISBN 9781778401718 RRP: 29.99 How can I not absolutely love this one? Based on a true story and about a little girl and her friend, her black cat May, my first thought was of The Kid and Whiskers aka The Demon Spawn. This pair has been together for…

  • No One is Home – Mikolaj Pa. Illustrated by Gosia Herbs.

    translated by Scotia Gilroy New South Books Publisher: Greystone Kids September 2025 9781778402180 AUD$29.99, NZD$34.99 Last year I reviewed No 5. Bubblegum St from this same pair of creators in a week of ‘happy-ness’ reviews. This one seemed a perfect fit for today’s slightly bonkers books, and I love it just as much as I…

  • Mooshy Crackerjack’s Big Day – Suzanne Patterson. Maia Batumashvill

    New South Books Publisher: Starfish Bay Children’s Books September 2025 9781760362690 AUD$26.99 This is a load of fun that kids will thoroughly enjoy and cackle over, as they recognise what it’s like to be super-excited about their birthday but not quite sure everyone else is! Mooshy bounces up on the morning of his birthday just…

  • Where the River Runs Free – Vikki Conley. Jedda Robaard.

    Windy Hollow Books July 2025 ISBN: 9781922998217 AUD$29.95, NZD$34.99 This spring weather is just glorious and a perfect time for a family walk out in the beauty and calm of nature. Why not follow the example of this family as they take an adventurous walk along the local river.  What might they see? A frog?…