Just So Stories

Random Reviews and Ramblings from Redcliffe

  • Jo Weston’s Netball Besties – Double or Nothing. Foul Play – Jess Black. Sam Loman.

    Penguin Australia Jess Black has real skill in creating these sporty adventures based on the life and career of various notable players in their field. And all the netballers in your cohort will love these. The first one was released early this year but for whatever reason passed me by, but the next two did…

  • Superstar: Ash Barty Tennis Camp Diaries #2 – Ash Barty/ Jasmin McGaughey and Jade Goodwin.

    Harper Collins Australia December 2024 Your newly independent readers, so proudly on their journey to extended narratives, will have, I hope, already discovered the fun of this series with #1 Doubles Disaster. Now the happy and positive vibe continues with Ash and her friends back at tennis camp and once again learning new skills, navigating…

  • Paris Olympics 2024

    So my great friend and colleague and I had an off-the-cuff conversation today, sparked by a comment elsewhere that connected Greek myths to the Olympics. We thought that even though we would reference the Ancient Olympics and the Greeks, we thought we would be far more inclined to focus on the era of the modern…

  • Welcome back Little Ash!

    Two new titles in the delightful Ash Barty presents… Little Ash series – perfect timing for this week. These gorgeous little books for newly independent readers have been such a big hit! Harper Collins Australia by Ash Barty with Jasmin McGaughey, illustrated by Jade Goodwin ISBN: 9781460716533ISBN 10: 1460716531Imprint: HarperCollins RRP: $5.99 Little Ash is…

  • Little Ash series #7 and #8 – Ash Barty and Jasmine McGaughey/Jade Goodwin

    Harper Collins Australia October 2023 Everyone’s favourite tennis superstar, Ash Barty, is back with two new titles in her hugely popular series for newly independent readers. With engaging themes of sport, school, friends and family, these little chapter books have been such a big hit with the kiddos I know, both as read-aloud and read-to-self.…

  • The Unstoppable Flying Flanagan – Felice Arena

    Penguin Australia 29 March 2022 ISBN: 9781761044366 Imprint: Puffin RRP: $16.99 In a completely genius move, Felice Arena has combined his love of football (the AFL kind) and his skill with bringing lesser-known history to life. Set in Melbourne in the later years of WWII, this is the story of Maggie Flanagan who loves the game of football,…

  • Happy Specky-versary!

    Following up on my review of Specky’s 20th anniversary edition – as the actual birthday is today – it was timely to kick off the 2022 footy season with not only a display to feature everyone’s favourite young AFL player, but the code itself. And of course, an opportunity to have a ‘win’ incentive to…

  • Specky Magee- Felice Arena, Gary Lyons

    Penguin Australia 1st March 2022 ISBN: 9780143777168 Imprint: Puffin RRP: $16.99 Seriously, these anniversaries always give me such a jolt – “Whaddya mean 20 years of Specky?” she says with disbelief as she opens the parcel. Yep, face it, you have been doing this job a long time! I’m the first to admit (much to the disgust of…

  • Born to Run (picture book edition) – Cathy Freeman. Illustrated by Charmaine Ledden-Lewis.

    Penguin Australia November 2021 ISBN: 9781761043802 Imprint: Puffin RRP: $24.99 There are some moments in Australia’s sporting history that are just complete standouts: Bradman’s first international century or, indeed, his final ‘duck’, Australia II crossing the finish line in the America’s Cup, Adam Scott’s US Masters playoff win or Cadel Evans’ triumph in the Tour de France, and…

  • Girls Change the Game – Gabrielle Gloury/Michael Hyde

    Ford St Publishing April 2020 ISBN: 9781925804492 RRP: $14.99 Although the women’s version of Aussie Rules has been around since the early 20th century with regular competitions and state leagues being established over the years it wasn’t until 2017 that women’s AFL first became professionalised at a national level. Now with more 2 million viewers/followers,…