Just So Stories

Random Reviews and Ramblings from Redcliffe

  • Chronicles of a Lizard Nobody – Patrick Ness. Illustrated by Tim Miller.

    Walker Books September 2024 ISBN13:9781529517958 Australia RRP:$16.99 New Zealand RRP:$18.99 I absolutely love Patrick Ness’ writing. The Chaos Walking trilogy is my all-time favourite YA read. And A Monster Calls is one of the most beautiful, powerful and poignant explorations of pain and grief ever, and breaks me every time I read it. In fact,…

  • Night Watch – Jodi Toering/Tannya Harricks

    Walker Books February 2024 ISBN13:9781760655310 Australia RRP:$26.99 New Zealand RRP:$28.99 With a task to completeand a journey ahead, Tawny Frogmouth calls a drumming call. Moon answers, rising gently over the stubble to meet her and light the way. What a beautiful lullaby of a book this is! as the reader glides across the night sky…

  • Queen of Dogs – Joe Weatherstone

    Walker Books June 2024 ISBN13:9781760658588 Australia RRP:$16.99 New Zealand RRP:$18.99 What a super fun read this was!! It’s a real mixed bag – humour, drama, mystery, family and … doggos galore! Maddy often feels like the changeling in her family of high-flyers. They are all very sporty and academic and always on the go-go-GO! Maddy,…

  • Helping Little Star – Sally Morgan and Blaze Kwaymullina. Illustrations by Sally Morgan.

    Walker Books Australia July 2024 ISBN13:9781760658700 Australia RRP:$16.99 New Zealand RRP:$18.99 August 4 is National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children’s Day so what a better to mark that than with some reviews of some wonderful new titles. What an absolutely charming story this is for Smalls! It is essentially quite simple but could easily develop into…

  • The House at the End of the World – Victoria M. Adams

    Walkers Books Australia July 2024 Imprint: Andersen Press ISBN13:9781839134234 Australia RRP:$17.99 New Zealand RRP:$19.99 Isn’t it exciting when you read an author’s debut novel and are just blown away? You know you can look forward to more and that’s always a thrill. Victoria M. Adams has woven a story of Fey and family, grief and…

  • The Secret Lives of Dragons Prof Zoya Agnis. Alexander Ulkin.

    Walker Books December 2023 Imprint: Flying Eye Books ISBN13: 9781838741174 Australia RRP: $24.99 New Zealand RRP: $27.99 Who doesn’t love dragons? Am I right? You know I am. Young or old, so many of us are fascinated by them and whether they are straight out of Berk or Pottermore or ancient China, their stories, habits…

  • National Day for War Animals

    A few weeks ago I reviewed the beautiful new picture book Wear a Purple Poppy. I was going to schedule it for today but knew that there would be many who would wish to order in time to share, now that everyone is well and truly back at school. So here are a few more…

  • Feather [The Twitchers series] – M. G. Leonard

    Walker Australia February 2024 Imprint:Walker Books ISBN13:9781529506112 Australia RRP:$18.99 New Zealand RRP:$21.99 I have loved this series – I guess, firstly, because I’m a bird nerd – but also because the whole friendship aspect, and the teamwork of this bunch of kids working together, each to their own strengths, has been a joy. Although I…

  • Madame Badobedah and the Old Bones – Sophie Dahl. Illustrated by Lauren O’Hara.

    Walker Books Australia October 2023 Imprint: Walker Books Madame Badobedah Series ISBN13:9781406384420 Australia RRP:$27.99 New Zealand RRP:$29.99 In case you haven’t yet met Madame Badobedah and Mabel who live at the Mermaid Hotel, you are in for a fine treat. And, in case you didn’t know, author Sophie Dahl has quite the pedigree. She is the…

  • Mini and Milo: the Big Flappy Ears – Venita Dimos & Natasha Curtin

    Walker Books Australia September 2023 ISBN13:9781760656164 Australia RRP:$25.99 New Zealand RRP:$28.99 In times gone by, books for children were of an ‘improving’ nature and it seems that there is quite a resurgence of these in recent times. Perhaps justifiably, given what we, as educators, are observing with our youngest students beginning prep (particularly after the…