Just So Stories

Random Reviews and Ramblings from Redcliffe

  • Ella and the Call of the Wild- Cassy Polimeni. Illustrated by Hykie Breeze.

    UWAP August 2026 ISBN13: 9781760803360 LIST PRICE: AU$ 15.99 / NZ$ 18.99 Sadly we are now at the end of the wonderful froglicious Ella series but what a great one to finish it up. Because in this final, this little girl who has been a ‘voice’ for frogs, their safety and their habitats throughout, takes…

  • Amira Swift: #1Talent Show, #1 Fair Day Fun – Sarah Ayoub. Nina Nill.

    Harper Collins Australia Imprint: HarperCollins AU July 2026 Series: Amira Swift RRP: $15.99 Classroom Resource Talent Show ISBN: 9781460766675 Fair Day Fun ISBN: 9781460766682 And here comes another new series for your younger readers who, I predict, will fall in love with Amira, her family and her friends along with her everyday adventures. This is just delightful as it…

  • Little Lunch for Littles

    Walker Books Australia August 2026 Australia RRP:$15.99 New Zealand RRP:$17.99 When The Kid was a little ‘un, and honestly – whether she was around or not – the Little Lunch series on ABC was always entertaining. I defy anyone who has taught primary kids to not identify repeatedly with the crew of diverse children as…

  • Joey and the Junjardy – Allison Rocca. Illustrated by Brenton E. McKenna

    UQP June 2026 ISBN: 9780702271137 RRP: $17.99 I was already keen to read this one and when I started in and realised it is set in Wakka Wakka country, immediately felt a connection. My first teaching post in 1994 was Nanango SS – yes, on Wakka Wakka lands – so for several years I taught…

  • Dangerous Days: Frances Bloom #2 – Katrina Nannestad. Illustrated by Marina Zlatanova.

    Harper Collins Australia April 2026 ISBN: 9781460718612 ISBN 10: 1460718615 Imprint: ABC Books AU List Price: 17.99 AUD Madcap Frances Bloom is back in her second adventure to delight your younger readers with some more nonsense and 8-year-old anarchy. Only a week or so after the dreadful Ms Thistle has been carted off to the Harsh Island for Unwanted…

  • How to Have the Best School Year Ever – Jess Sanders. Art by Andrea Onishi.

    Simon & Schuster Publisher: Affirm Press November 2025 This one takes another tack altogether from the previous two reviews. This is intended for any child or class at the start of a new year and is, essentially, a primer in resilience, self-belief and growth mindset. All of that sounds quite serious and of course it…

  • How to Train Your Teacher- Bethany Walker. Sophie Kent.

    Scholastic Australia December 2025 Imprint: Scholastic UK ISBN: 9781761727023 ISBN-10: 1761727028 RRP: $19.95 This is loads of fun and gives Smalls a humorous viewpoint on being at school, as it explains from the kiddos’ perspective how a teacher works and what to expect. It’s a completely different approach to a ‘new to school’ book. Whether it’s helping…

  • How to Go to Big School – Sarah Ayoub. Mimi Purnell.

    Harper Collins Australia November 2025 I’m not familiar with the stats of other states but in Queensland there are now almost 12, 000 students being home-schooled. Between 2020 and 2024 there was almost a 164% increase in registrations. I knew the stats were escalating a few years ago when I was home-schooling The Kid myself.…

  • Picture Book Month Bonus: Frances Bloom – Katrina Nannestad. Illustrated by Marina Zlatanova.

    Harper Collins October 2025 Earlier this year I was not only excited to find out that Katrina had a new series on the way but was invited to write notes to support this first Frances Bloom and what fun it was! Anyone, young or old, who has loved Pippi Longstocking will fall in love with…

  • What Have They Done to Liza McClean? – Amy Doak

    Penguin Australia October 2025 No doubt about it, Amy Doak has rocketed into ‘force to be reckoned with’ status since Eleanor Jones first burst onto our YA shelves. After three hugely successful titles in that series, we now have a new aspect of Amy’s talent. Your kiddos who are into the whole Dark Academia vibe…