Just So Stories

Random Reviews and Ramblings from Redcliffe


  • The Fierce Little Woman and the Wicked Pirate – Joy Cowley. Illustrated by Miho Satake.

    Walker Books Australia Imprint: Gecko Press ISBN13:9798765671696 Australia RRP:$16.99 New Zealand RRP:$19.99 Not only did this arrive in timely fashion to be included in the fishyness scheme of reviews, but also in the same week as I rediscovered some memories on an old USB including just one from my pirate wedding [yes, you did read…

  • We’re going on a Treasure Hunt – Martha Mumford. Laura Hughes.

    lift the flaps and find the treasure! Bloomsbury Australia June 2025 ISBN: 978152627384 Imprint: Bloomsbury Children’s Books Series: The Bunny Adventures RRP: $16.99 We’re going on a treasure hunt. Yo! Ho! Ho!Help us find the golden coins … Arrrrr! Off we go! Well, it’s rabbits so of course I’m in! But seriously, how cute are the Bunnies?…

  • The Marvellous Submarine -Zane Clayton Comber (The Marvellous Submarine, #1) Clayton Zane Comber. Connor McCammon

    Harper Collins Australia April 2025 This hails the start of a new series, co-written and illustrated by this pair from Kiama [one of my favourite places in the country] which will completely hook your young readers, particularly those who have been languishing for more Treehouse-like books. It is completely absurd and crazy and all the…

  • Escape from Cuttlefish Cove- Rachel Jackson

    Riveted Press Dist: Simon & Schuster September 2024 ISBN13: 9780645869392 LIST PRICE: AU$ 17.99 / NZ$ 19.99 I don’t recall ‘choose your own adventure’ books when I was reading as a child but I certainly remember those my girls enjoyed in the 80s. My Kim’s especial favourites were the Enid Blyton adventure game series. She…

  • Pirates of Darksea – Catherine Doyle

    Bloomsbury Australia June 2024 ISBN 9781526655103 Imprint Bloomsbury Children’s Books RRP: $16.99 I fell in love with Catherine Doyle’s writing with The Stormkeeper trilogy and when the ARC arrived for this – many months ago- I devoured it with just as much enthusiasm – and this review has been scheduled since then!! This is an…

  • Salt Water Therapy

                              Here are four picture books all of which centre on the ocean but with very different purpose, style and execution, each of them truly lovely.   Beach Song – Ros Moriarty. Illustrated by Samantha Campbell Allen & Unwin January 2024 ISBN:9781761180248 Publisher:A&U Children’s Imprint:A & U Children RRP: $24.99 Ros Moriarty comments ‘my emotional wellbeing…

  • Blackbeard’s Treasure – Iszi Lawrence

    Bloomsbury Australia May 2023 ISBN 9781801990967 Imprint Bloomsbury Education RRP: $14.99 It’s been quite a long time since I’ve read a swashbuckling pirate adventure, and this was a good one to break that drought. It is adventure/historic novel based on facts about that period of time when pirates and privateers were roaming the waters, particularly…

  • The StrangeWorlds Travel Agency : The Edge of the Ocean Book #2 – L. D. Lapinski

    Hachette Australia APR 13, 2021 | 9781510105959 | RRP $16.99 Now that Flick is officially a member of the StrangeWorlds Travel Agency, and with one exciting adventure already under her belt, in which she demonstrated some unexpected and remarkable powers, she and Jonathan Mercator are summoned to help another world. This time they are joined by Jonathan’s distant cousin,…

  • Pirate Pug: The Dog who Rocked the Boat – Laura James/Eglantine Ceulemans

      Bloomsbury Australia February 2019 ISBN 9781408895948 Imprint: Bloomsbury Children’s Books Series: The Adventures of Pug RRP $12.99 This is the fourth in this hugely funny series for newly independent readers and just as hilarious as the earlier ones. Pug and his owner, Lady Miranda, seem to encounter all kinds of mischief and mishaps whenever…

  • Treasure of the Golden Skull: Maudlin Towers #2 – Chris Priestley

    Bloomsbury December 2018 ISBN: 9781408873106 Imprint: Bloomsbury Children’s Books RRP : $14.99 AU $16.99 NZ Readers return to the wacky world of Maudlin Towers with Mildew and Sponge as they attempt to save their mouldering school from closure, due to its pecuniary troubles. Ever since the funds for the renovations disappeared in time (see the…