Just So Stories

Random Reviews and Ramblings from Redcliffe

  • What I Ate in One Year (and related thoughts) – Stanley Tucci

    Penguin Australia October 2024 I have loved Stanley in every role in which I’ve seen him from Caesar/Lucky Flickerman (Hunger Games/Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes) to Muertes (Undercover Blues), from Nigel (The Devil Wears Prada) to Mr Stringer (The Witches – and everything inbetween. I think the only film I’ve eschewed was The Lovely Bones…

  • Are We There Yet? 20th Anniversary edition – Alison Lester

    Penguin Australia October 2024 Hands up if you’ve also forgotten how many times in the past 20 years you’ve shared this one? I know it was a focal point of my literature-based unit with Year 3s often and on many occasions, aside from all the times I’ve just read it to Smalls. And it never…

  • Nanny Piggins and the Origin Story – R. A. Spratt

    Penguin Australia October 2024 My deep admiration for Nanny Piggins has never been a secret but, like so many, what did I really know about her? Of course, I know she’s the epitome of glamour, [forget Miss Piggy, who really was such a try-hard], NP is the real deal when it comes to glitz and…

  • The Space Between – Jess McGeachin

    Penguin Australia July 2024 Jess’ books are always a delight [I still love Business Chickens so much especially] and this one has all the warmth of a cosy blanket and a mug of hot chocolate, with a lovely look at both imagination and enduring friendship. Max and Milo are neighbours and they spend lots of…

  • Best Idea Yet: Willa and Woof # 8 – Jacqueline Harvey

    Penguin Australia October 2024 Jacqueline Harvey continues to smash this series for younger readers with another exciting adventure from the ever-intrepid and resourceful Willa. Along with Tae and Woof, Willa has been officially helping at the Sunset Views retirement village next door. And the elderly residents are now also even more involved with Willa’s school…

  • The 113th Assistant Librarian – Stuart Wilson

    Penguin Australia When you get an ARC all wrapped up pretty just like a birthday present, you can be pretty sure it’s going to be an exciting surprise inside and so it was. I mean to say, how could they possibly go wrong sending me something called this with a stern warning about the magic…

  • Yarn Quest series – Brooke Scobie. Illustrated by Jade Goodwin

    Penguin July 2024 RRP: $12.99 Yarn Quest 1: The Search for the Story Realm ISBN: 9781761345227 So This is an exciting new series that has evolved from a highly-successful First Nations led children’s podcast, incorporating stories written by the Awesome Black team. Author Brooke Scobie is, herself, a queer, auDHD, First Nations author, and this has…

  • The Outside – Larry Blair and Jeremy Goring

    Cheating death, chasing waves and growing up in one of Australia’s most notorious crime families Penguin Books This isn’t really a review – but a recommendation. A few weeks ago the lovely Dot Tonkin from Penguin gave this one a book talk and on the strength of that, plus the fact that it was related…

  • The Dog who Danced on the Moon – John Boyne. Illustrated by Ashling Lindsay.

    Penguin Australia July 2024 This a rather charming rhyming story with a special leaning towards bedtime, exploring aspirations and determination in a warm and inspirational way. Jeremy’s dreams of space exploration are scoffed at by his peers, and even his teachers, but that doesn’t stop his absorbing as much information about the topic as possible,…

  • Taronga Presents series – Kristin Darrell. Illustrations by Laura Wood.

    Penguin Australia September 2024 Brand spanking new this week comes this terrific new series for junior readers who are the animal lovers in your crowd. Having raised mini-Attenborough for half her life and watched her obsession with all creatures great and small (quite literally – at one time she had 34 pets including all the…