Just So Stories

Random Reviews and Ramblings from Redcliffe

  • Handbooks for Little Humans: Fairness and Friendship – Zanni Louise. Art by Maja Veselinovic.

    Affirm Press Simon & Schuster $19.99 Fairness May 2026 ISBN13: 9781923293229 Friendship May 2026 ISBN13: 9781923293212 Zanni’s extremely valuable series of Handbooks for Little Humans continues with these two new instalments and just how important are these two topics for Smalls?! Whether as educators or parents, we have all dealt with those issues that crop…

  • Bandoola: an elephant’s story – Beverley McWilliams

    UWA Publishing Simon & Schuster July 2026 ISBN13: 9781760803377 LIST PRICE: AU$ 17.99 / NZ$ 20.99 Your middle grade readers, particularly the animal lovers or indeed the historical fiction lovers, will lap this one up. Inspired by a true story of an amazing rescue during WWII in Burma, now Myanmar, this is an elephant story…

  • Freedom Braids – Monique Duncan. Oboh Moses.

    Lantana Distributed by Simon & Schuster May 2026 LIST PRICE: AU$ 24.99 / NZ$ 28.99 While I make a point of sharing own our Blak kids lit books and creators, it is always important to remember the struggles of PoC from other settings and cultures. This is a particularly beautiful picture book which relates an…

  • The Stolen Bairn – Katrina Macdonald Roe

    Riveted Press Distributed by Simon & Schuster May 2026 ISBN13: 9781764256773 LIST PRICE: AU$ 17.99 / NZ$ 19.99 The gorgeous cover and enticing title bespeak the thoroughly engaging nature of this fantasy faerie tale from newcomer Katrina Macdonald Roe [Fun Fact: while the Macdonald clans, in their variations, are now scattered all over the world,…

  • The Boy and the Shark – Cate James

    Affirm Kids Apri 2026 Distributed by Simon & Schuster LIST PRICE: AU$ 24.99 / NZ$ 26.99 Cate James makes the leap from talented illustrator to doubly talented author/illustrator with this absolutely adorable book. Let’s be honest here, you can utilise any book for teaching purposes if you are a capable and creative educator, but sometimes…

  • My First Aussie Dinosaurs – Sarah Jane Lightfoot

    Affirm Press Dist: Simon & Schuster December 2025 I think I’m officially in love with Sarah Jane Lightfoot’s books . After reviewing my first couple last year, I have no hesitation in asking for more when I see them. This one has been out for a while but only recently came to my attention. And,…

  • Lexie Moon & the Remote Control Disaster – Melissa Garside and Lauren Mullinder

    Riveted Press Distributed by Simon & Schuster June 2026 ISBN13: 9781764256766 LIST PRICE: AU$ 12.99 / NZ$ 14.99 Hooray for #3 in the Lexie Moon series with this young inventor extraordinaire. In this new adventure, Lexie is constructing a ‘sauce bottle’ remote control car for an upcoming competition but is really having difficulties. Finding the…

  • The Midlands – Kate Gordon

    Kate Gordon has certainly forged a following since her first foray into publication. Some of her titles I have reviewed, others I have read but not reviewed but I definitely know which ones have received the positives and enthusiasms. I particularly enjoyed Whalesong. There is a lot to like about this newest one as well.…

  • Dingoes: Up Close series – Jane Forge

    Wild Dog Books Dist: Simon & Schuster June 2026 In a word – stunning! This is exactly the sort of non-fiction book on Australian animals that we all want to complement our UoI on our fauna but, at the same time, is also perfect for those children who are keen to learn more about animals.…

  • Handbooks for Little Humans: Integrity and Inclusivity – Zanni Louise. Illustrated by Jingting Wang.

    Simon & Schuster Imprint: Affirm Press February 2026 Integrity ISBN13: 9781923293205 LIST PRICE: AU$ 19.99 / NZ$ 24.99 Inclusion ISBN13: 9781923293199 LIST PRICE: AU$ 19.99 / NZ$ 24.99 Following up on the earlier two in this series we have two more titles to add to your kitbag for inclusion in your circle time or social…