Just So Stories

Random Reviews and Ramblings from Redcliffe


  • When Santa Got Stuck in a Gum Tree – Jackie Hosking. Nathaniel Eckstrom.

    Walker Books Australia September 2024 ISBN13:9781760657406 Australia RRP:$24.99 New Zealand RRP:$27.99 What if? always such a good provocation for writing … Plenty of children have wondered what if Santa got stuck in a chimney, but what if he got stuck in a gum tree? Well, how could he be rescued? This could be the start…

  • The Hullabaloo about Elephant Poo – Dee White. Illustrated by Christopher Nielsen.

    Harper Collins Australia December 2024 ISBN: 9781460766194 ISBN 10: 1460766199 Imprint: HarperCollins AU RRP: $24.99 To finish off this year’s Picture Book month – ta dah!!! I’ve been waiting and waiting to share this one and I was really hoping that the notes I wrote for it would be already up in their published format [fingers crossed they…

  • The Bug Book – Tania Ingram. Illustrated by Lucinda Gifford.

    Affirm Press Imprint: Little Book Press October 2024 ISBN 9781923141155 RRP: $24.99 If this isn’t the cutest introduction to the world of mini-beasts!!! When Tania had talked about this one during its inception, I knew it was going to be fun but I had no clue that it was going to be as adorable as…

  • Dog Beach – Julie Murphy. Illustrated by Annie White

    New South Books NLA Publishing November 2024 9781922507709/ AUD$24.99, NZD$29.99 What a happy and full-of-warmth book this is! We know to expect entertaining animal stories from Julie Murphy, and we also know we can count on some information as well. This one does not disappoint. With some lovely rhyming descriptors of the many and varied dogs…

  • Too Scared to Sleep – Shaun Micallef. Illustrated by Jonathan Bentley.

    Hardie Grant Australia September 2024 Imprint: Hardie Grant Children’s Publishing ISBN:9781761213090 Price: AU$24.99, NZ$27.99 And I’ve saved the best till last for this Halloween. Now, I’ll be truthful. Most times, when I see a ‘celebrity’ name on a new book cover, I inwardly cringe because frankly, there are some celebrities who should just stick to…

  • A Wish for Baby – Caz Goodwin/Sara Acton

    Affirm Press July 2024 AUD RRP $22.99 ISBN 9781922930293 I wish you health and happiness,but even when there’s pain …I hope you see the rainbowsas you’re running through the rain. Caz Goodwin and Sara Acton have created an absolute joy of a picture book, which will make the perfect present for a new babe in…

  • Jonty Gentoo: The Adventures of a Penguin- Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler

    Scholastic Australia September 2024 Publisher: SCHOLASTIC LTD UK Imprint: Alison Green Books ISBN: 9780702329432 RRP: $26.99 Pesto is the biggest penguin the Melbourne aquarium has ever had — and he’s just a chick As the news about Pesto, the ‘chunky monkey’ penguin chick hits our news reports [first shared with me by The Kid] it’s perfect timing…

  • 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…

  • Wombat Stew 40th Anniversary Edition – Marcia K. Vaughan/Pamela Lofts

    Scholastic Australia August 2024 Publisher: Omnibus Books ISBN: 9781761290688 RRP: $19.99 It’s not that I’m not happy to see yet another old favourite with a new anniversary dress but 40 years!! EEEEK! It’s kind of hard to believe and yet, obviously it is not because apart from anything else, I bought this one for The Kid’s mum…

  • Fabulous Frogs – Katrina Germein. Illustrated by Suzanne Houghton

    CSIRO Publishing October 2024 | $ 24.99ISBN: 9781486317875  Some readers might recall another froggy book I reviewed recently where I also shared our personal love of our amphibian friends. So, quite naturally, I was delighted to be able to review this one especially when these two outstanding creators have paired up. As you would expect,…