Just So Stories

Random Reviews and Ramblings from Redcliffe

  • One Race – Gregg Dreise

    Scholastic Australia February 2026 ISBN: 9781761298585 RRP: $26.99 Kamilaroi and Euahlayi author and artist Gregg Dreise always produces extraordinary work that is both beautiful and powerful. And this is another, from the stunning endpapers to the evocative and impactful artwork carried along the rhythm and beauty of the poetic text. At a time when the…

  • The Man From Snowy River: Australian Classics for Little Ones Banjo- Paterson/Cate James. llustrated by Cate James.

    Penguin Australia April 2026 I will be the first to say that at first sight I thought – ummm, how is this going to work? But you know what? Somehow it does. Taking lines from the poem as a cue on each page the text is combined with a background colour and a number, so:…

  • If I Could Eat the Stars and Other Poems – Chosen by Rebecca. M. Newman & Sally Murphy. Illustrated by Briony Stewart.

    Publisher: Fremantle Press April 2026 ISBN: 9781760996482 RRP: $17.99 It is no secret that I love a great poetry book and, remarkably, after not having had one for review for quite some time, suddenly I have two stunning ones! The first is this absolute little cracker from Fremantle Press and a stellar cast of contributors. Here’s just…

  • Australian Lullaby Treasury – Sally Odgers. Lisa Stewart

    Scholastic Australia December 2025 ISBN 9781761643088 RRP: $29.99 [Pre-order from your usual suppliers] Combining all four of the Lullaby stories into one exquisite hardcover this would make a truly beautiful gift for a Small in your circle or, of course, to share with your class of little humans. The gentle verses could easily be used…

  • Between – Anna Walker

    Scribe Publications Imprint: Scribble September 2025 ISBN: 9781761381591AUD$27.99 (Hardback) Anna Walker has created a book that is a pure symphony of thoughts, that swirl around like gossamer on a breeze. I only wish I could give you some idea of how utterly beautiful and soothing it is. It is almost a meditation in print and…

  • Goose on Christmas Eve: poems for children – Marg Gibbs

    Marg Gibbs October 2024 ISBN 978 0 6451309 8 0 (pbk) RRP: $28.00 Bookish local and writer, Marg Gibbs [I say local because Mapleton is close enough for us to regard as part of our piece of SE Qld] has called upon family and friends to put together an anthology that reflects not only the…

  • Borderlands: Riding the Slipstream – Edited by Paul Collins

    Ford St Publishing June 2024 ISBN: 9781922696403 RRP: $29.99 Paul Collins and Ford St Publishing are, IMO, the most successful editors and creators of anthologies for young people in the country. Just yesterday FB reminded me that the very first published review I ever did was sent off to ReadPlus 12 years ago and it…

  • I Think of You & Other Poems – Alexander McCall-Smith

    New South Books Nov 2023 | Polygon | 9781846976452 | 112pp | 198x129mm | GEN | AUD$29.99, NZD$34.99 I’ve been a AM-S fan for a long time, but this is the first time I’ve experienced his poetry. As he does throughout much of his prose writing, the author shares his deep love of both his…

  • What You Need to be Warm – Neil Gaiman

    Bloomsbury October 2023 ISBN 9781526660619 Imprint Bloomsbury Children’s Books RRP: $19.99 This morning (Sunday 10/12/23) The Kid and I went to the city by train to an event, and as we crossed over the Brisbane river and I looked back to the Coronation Drive/Riverside expressway I noticed something. In some places, there are gaps between…

  • Always Never Always – Meg McKinlay/Leila Rudge

    Walker Books Australia October 2023 ISBN13:9781760655204 Australia RRP:$25.99 New Zealand RRP:$27.99 Always follow secret tracks –the paths that wind and wend through cracks.Never worry where they go.When you get there, then you’ll know. For everyone who could use some poetically pithy life-advice, this creative pairing has delivered a blueprint for quirky wanderings along the byways…