Just So Stories

Random Reviews and Ramblings from Redcliffe

  • Monster Island – George Ivanoff

    Penguin Australia May 2023 ISBN: 9781761047244 Imprint: Puffin RRP: $16.99 Soooooooo, take a little Jurassic Park, a pinch of Big Foot, a handful of Little Shop of Horrors, a smidgin of mad scientists, a scoop of Bass Strait Triangle [like the Bermuda one, but closer] and an actual drop bear, and stir vigorously with some George Ivanoff –…

  • Kensy and Max #10: Time’s Up – Jacqueline Harvey

    Penguin Australia May 2023 ISBN: 9781761043307 Imprint: Puffin RRP: $16.99 Fasten your seatbelts for one last rollercoaster ride with the intrepid twin spies, in their most difficult and worrying adventure/mission yet! When their closest family members begin disappearing – apparently kidnapped – the twins become increasingly isolated and anxious. With no ransom notes or other explanations, the snatching…

  • Hello, Emma Memma – Emma Memma

    Penguin Australia February 2023 ISBN: 9781761341045 Imprint: Puffin RRP: $19.99 We no longer have anyone little enough to be a Wiggles fan in our family – in fact, just recently I was recalling taking my oldest grandson to see the colorful four at the Kingaroy Town Hall (cost $5, and we all sat on the floor – circa…

  • All Four Quarters of the Moon – Shirley Marr

    Penguin Australia July 2022 ISBN: 9781760899554 Imprint: Puffin RRP: $16.99 On the last day of her old life, Peijing makes moon cakes with Ah Ma for the Autumn Festival. The following Peijing and her family, Ba Ba, Ma Ma, little sister Biju and Ah Ma, move to Australia and their new lives begin. Moving house is always…

  • Willa and Woof 3: Grandparents for Hire – Jacqueline Harvey

    Penguin Australia January 2023 ISBN: 9781761043338 Imprint: Puffin RRP: $12.99 It makes me very happy that my first review for 2023 is for my lovely friend, and über-talented creator, Jacqueline Harvey for #3 in her latest sensational series. Jacqueline has a sublime knack for creating character with whom readers can immediately connect, empathise and love, and Willa –…

  • Meerkat Christmas – Aura Parker

    Penguin Australia October 2022 ISBN: 9780143777229 Imprint: Puffin RRP: $19.99 Seriously, I’m always so in awe of creators who can do both the text and the illustrations – for someone who yearns to have even a smidgin of creativity it seems a little unfair -haha! This is another title I shared with numerous classes over the closing weeks…

  • Christmas Goodies

    Zola and the Christmas Lights – Melina Marchetta/Deb Hudson Penguin Australia October 2022 ISBN: 9780143777649 Imprint: Puffin RRP: $19.99 For the entirety of the delightful What Zola did On… series, Melina Marchetta consistently delivered such beautiful and meaningful messages to young readers around diversity, community, empathy, friendship and family, all without once becoming preachy or tedious. It…

  • Peace on Earth, good will toward all

    Whatever, and however you celebrate I wish you all safe and happy holidays, from me and The Kid. Many thanks to all who follow and bother to read my reviews – which are haphazardly posted at best – and I’m thrilled to see that this year the blog has had well over 10 000 views!!!!…

  • The Amazing Maurice and his Educated Rodents[ film tie-in edition] – Terry Pratchett

    Penguin Australia November 2022 ISBN: 9780552578929 Imprint: Corgi Childrens RRP: $16.99 Twenty years ago the late, great Sir Terry Pratchett won the Carnegie Medal for his 28th book in the Discworld series, the first written for children, so it is utterly fitting that finally this extraordinary, absurd fantasy should be brought to life – and brought to a…

  • So long Picture Book Month 2022

    Well it was a bit of a mammoth effort and one I haven’t undertaken for a few years but a new PB review posted each day of the month – whew!! Thanks for anyone who played along with me :-). Hope you discovered some treasures for your collections!! and of course, thanks to the publishers…