Just So Stories

Random Reviews and Ramblings from Redcliffe

  • Weirdosaurus – Philip Bunting

    Pre-history’s Most Peculiar Creatures Hardie Grant Australia September 2025 ISBN:9781761214 Price:AU$29.99, NZ$34.99 Publisher:Hardie Grant Children’s Publishing Here are some words from the publisher and the author to describe this hilarious but extremely informative book: playful, humour, witty jokes, funny anecdotes, and fabulous facts. But as it’s Philip Bunting, you would have worked that out without…

  • Miss Understood- Kathryn Apel & Beau Wylie

    Scholastic Australia May 2025 Publisher ‏ : ‎ Scholastic Press ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1760978310 ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1760978310 Yes, it has taken far too long to get to this one but it’s worth it – and if you haven’t grabbed it, you should! It’s been way too long since I had a fractured fairytale to share…

  • The Night Librarian – Christopher Lincoln

    Scholastic Australia Scholastic Australia January 2025 ISBN: 9781761643507 RRPP: $19.99 There was a lot to like about this one but as usual the graphic format, didn’t quite do it for me, which I freely admit is just a personal thing. There were definitely moments when I felt confused about sequences or even conversations but I…

  • Sink or Swim: Frog Squad #3 – Kate and Jol Temple. Shiloh Gordon.

    Harper Collins April 2025 ISBN: 9781460716427 ISBN 10: 1460716426 Imprint: HarperCollins RRP: $8.99 Everybody’s favourite famous frogs are back – leaping into action with all the finesse of the fit and feisty ‘phibians that they are. This small, but dedicated, army of frogs – drawn from all over the world [and by Shiloh Gordon] are hopping with excitement…

  • The Frog Squad #2: Bungle in the Jungle – Kate and Jol Temple. Illustrated by Shiloh Gordon.

    Harper Collins Australia December 2024 ISBN: 9781460716410 ISBN 10: 1460716418 Imprint: HarperCollins List Price: 12.99 AUD The Temple two have such a fabulous skill in creating hugely humorous reads for kids, without degenerating into crassness. It is one of the reasons I love reviewing their books. And the Frog Squad is certainly proving to be a hilarious delight with…

  • My Dad Thinks He’s a Scream – Katrina Germein. Illustrated by Tom Jellett.

    Walker Books Australia September 2024 ISBN13:9781760655075 Australia RRP:$24.99 New Zealand RRP:$27.99 While it may have taken it’s time to reach me, it’s here right in time to witch you all a spooktacular Halloween week! I love me a good pun – and a whole book of them? – I love that even more. This is…

  • Party Rhyme – Antonia Pesenti

    ISBN : 9781761381133 Publisher : Scribe Publications Imprint : Scribble RRP: $19.99 I had not seen the first two rhyme books from this talented creator, and now I’m sorry to have missed them because this is just fantastic. As a punster from way back I believe kiddos, even Smalls, are never too young for some word play and when it’s as…

  • Neil the Amazing Sea Cucumber – Amelia McInerney & Lucinda Gifford

    Affirm Press April 2023 RRP: $19.99ISBN: 9781922848635 These days The Kid and I have beach days that look like her surfing and me sitting, enjoying the view or reading but in the past, from the time she was toddling, exploring the beaches at low tide was one of our favourite pastimes. We especially loved the…