Just So Stories

Random Reviews and Ramblings from Redcliffe

  • What is a Dot? -Johanna Bell. Illustrated by Amelia Luscombe.

    Thames & Hudson April 2025 ISBN: 9781760764814 RRP: $26.99 What is a dot when a dot is not? Is it a swish? A sweep? Or a swirl? Is it a scurry? A wave? Or a pearl? I was SO keen to see this because I’m such a huge fan of Hervé Tullet and his always imaginative,…

  • Flashback

    After reviewing the gorgeous animal book from Thames & Hudson yesterday, I thought I’d take you all back in time. Back to 2014, when T&H asked me if I would care to write a couple of pages of teaching notes for a book they were bringing out. Of course, I was very happy to do…

  • Wonders Under the Moon – Tai Snaith

    A Collection of Night-time Creatures Thames & Hudson February 2025 ISBN: 9781760764166 RRP: $26.99 It would be fair to say I see a lot of animal books, and really they’re all lovely and the kiddos think they’re marvellous too. But sometimes there those that really stand out. This is one of them. I haven’t seen its…

  • Design & Building on Country – Alison Page & Paul Memmott. Illustrations by Blak Douglas.

    Thames & Hudson September 2024 ISBN: 9781760763565 RRPP: $26.99 Back when I was teaching in my PYP school in Canberra, over ten years ago now, my Year 4s were doing a unit of inquiry focused on Technology and, of course, I was to partner their unit in the library. To me it was an obvious choice…