Just So Stories

Random Reviews and Ramblings from Redcliffe

  • Scout and the Rescue Dogs – Dianne Wolfer. With Illustrations by Tony Flowers.

    Walker Books June 2023 ISBN13: 9781760655860 Australia RRP: $15.99 New Zealand RRP: $17.99 Dianne Wolfer’s books are always so full of heart I find, there is a ‘feel good’ thread to them that is warming and reassuring. This new title is certainly no exception. Scout has been struggling to fit in at her new boarding…

  • Queen Narelle – Sally Murphy. Illustrated by Simon O’Carrigan.

    Walker Books June 2023 ISBN13: 9781760655334 Australia RRP:$16.99 New Zealand RRP:$18.99 Although I have often noted that the kiddos in my libraries are not all that taken with stories in verse, the one exception, always, is Sally Murphy’s books. These have invariably been on a constant rotation in our circulation stats. Clearly, this delightful new…

  • Drover – Neridah McMullin/Sarah Anthony

    Walker Books April 2023 ISBN13: 9781760653910 Australia RRP:$16.99 New Zealand RRP:$18.99 This is the remarkable story of an unusual woman and perhaps, for many, a previously uknown history. Edna Jessop was one of a kind. She is considered to be the first woman to lead a droving team and she did this, with passion, tenacity…

  • Miss Penny Dreadful & the Malicious Maze – Allison Rushby

    Walker Books Australia ISBN13:9781760654047 Australia RRP:$15.99 New Zealand RRP:$17.99 I love a great mystery, and I especially like that some of our authors will pitch this popular genre to our younger readers. This is the second Penny Dreadful from Allison Rushby and I can already see a growing fanbase for this series. We know Penny…

  • Queenie in Seven Moves – Zanni Louise

    Walker Books Australia February 2023 ISBN13:9781760655662 Australia RRP:$16.99 New Zealand RRP:$18.99 So this is another that took some time to reach me but when it did I was immediately picking it up to read. Firstly, because of that gorgeous cover art but secondly because it’s Zanni Louise. Not only is she a fine writer, but…

  • The Hidden Girl – Louise Bassett

    Walker Books Australia August 2022 Imprint:Walker Books Australia ISBN 9781760654788 Australia RRP:$19.99 New Zealand RRP:$21.99 It is clear to see why Louise Bassett‘s debut novel was short-listed for the Ampersand Prize. It is a tense and gripping mystery/thriller that will hook readers in from the first page. Drawing on her real-life experience working in the…

  • Peace on Earth, good will toward all

    Whatever, and however you celebrate I wish you all safe and happy holidays, from me and The Kid. Many thanks to all who follow and bother to read my reviews – which are haphazardly posted at best – and I’m thrilled to see that this year the blog has had well over 10 000 views!!!!…

  • So long Picture Book Month 2022

    Well it was a bit of a mammoth effort and one I haven’t undertaken for a few years but a new PB review posted each day of the month – whew!! Thanks for anyone who played along with me :-). Hope you discovered some treasures for your collections!! and of course, thanks to the publishers…

  • Ella and the Useless Day – Meg McKinlay/Karen Blair

    Walker Books August 2022 ISBN13:9781760653095 Australia RRP:$25.99 New Zealand RRP:$28.99 Imprint:Walker Books Australia Even though many of us have been banging on about Reduce/Reuse/Recycle and being more sustainable for years, dare I say since the arrival of the dread pandemic a slower, more thoughtful approach to being waste-free has become more evident. Perhaps it was…

  • Dreaming by Starlight – Siobhan Curham

    Walker Books August 2022 ISBN13:9781529504019 Australia RRP:$16.99 New Zealand RRP:$18.99