Just So Stories

Random Reviews and Ramblings from Redcliffe

  • The Friendship Book – Zanni Louise

    Walker Books Australia November 2025 ISBN13:9781760658106 Australia RRP:$24.99 New Zealand RRP:$27.99 Zanni has been very busy this year! And here is yet another of her new releases (another one is coming up in review shortly). I don’t know about you but for me this time of year would always see me planning for the following…

  • New Home :Millie the Cutest Puppy in the World #1 – Cate Whittle. Illustrated by Nicky Johnston.

    Not only the cutest puppy but possibly the cutest book. Everything about this sweet new book from Cate Whittle and Nicky Johnston is just absolutely delightful, from the cover with it’s glossy accents to the endpapers, and everything between. Millie was a tiny puppy when she was left on the doorstep of St Bernard’s Home for…

  • Mama’s Chickens – Michelle Worthington & Nicky Johnston

    EK Books March 2023 ISBN: 9781922539458 RRP: $24.99 When the news about Bruce Willis’ aphasia condition first came out, my family and friends will attest to the fact that I was devastated – given that I freely admit, and have done for years, that he is my ‘Oh yeahhhhhh’ guy and always has been. But…

  • Jørn’s Magnificent Imagination – Coral Vass/Nicky Johnson

    Exisle Publishing EK Books October 2022 ISBN: 9781922539144 RRP: $24.99 Last week I was in a Year 1 classroom for the day and this was my choice to share with them. As our pre-reading chat I invited the kiddos to suggest what it might be about after showing them the cover and the [gorgeous] endpapers. Art,…

  • The Incredibly Busy Mind of Bowen Bartholomew Crisp – Paul Russell/Nicky Johnston

    Exisle Publishing Imprint: EK Books ISBN: 9781925820881  RRP: $24.99 Without doubt we (as educators) have all met a Bowen Bartholomew Crisp at some point and many of us will remember our first encounter with a neuro-diverse child before we were even fully aware of such diversity. And we also know, that these children are among…

  • MoonFish  [Poems to make you & Think] – Harry Laing. Various Illustrators

    Ford St Publishing May 2019 9781925804256 RRP: $16.95 Sharing poetry with kiddos is one of my favourite things to do – and even the ones who kind of screw their noses up at first really get into it with the right selection. This will definitely be one of those and I know that many teachers…

  • Animal Crackers

        Now that the pile of review novels is finally getting to a stage that could be described as semi-tamed, it’s time to get stuck into plethora picture books. So here are some animal-focused ones to get into – because we all know that our little readers just love a great animal story and…

  • At the End of Holyrood Lane – Dimity Powell/Nicky Johnson

    Harper Collins Australia ISBN: 9781925335767 ISBN 10: 1925335763 Imprint: Exisle Kids Publishing – NZ On Sale: 20/08/2018 List Price: 24.99 AUD   Just before Miss Small (who really is no longer small!) came to live with me, she was absolutely petrified of storms. She would watch the sky anxiously and literally quiver with fear. While I guessed that this was…