News Blog @ Wellington City Libraries

Some sweet picture books that will keep you and your family entertained.

The wreck of the Diddley / Fatcat & Fishface ; illustrations by Stephen Templer.
“The wreck of the Diddley is a cheerfully dark tale of shipwreck on the South Seas. The Captain and his extremely rude parrot tell the story, but cannot agree on a single detail of their adventure.” –Back cover.

Hey, Al / story by Arthur Yorinks ; pictures by Richard Egielski.
“A city janitor and his treasured canine companion are transported by a large colorful bird to an island in the sky, where their comfortable paradise existence threatens to turn them into birds as well.” (Syndetics summary)

The old man and the cat / by Anthony Holcroft ; illustrated by Leah Palmer Preiss.
“When an old man carves a wooden flute he discovers he has created something magical. But magic can have unforeseen consequences if it is misused. Suggested level: primary.” (Library Catalogue)

Looking for Rex / Jan Ormerod, Carol Thompson.
“The children are sure that Gramps would never feel lonely if he had a dog of his own. They say the dog should be called Rex, but what would Rex look like? So they play Looking for Rex, and pretend to see Rex, but whenever they think they find Rex…it is never really the right Rex.” (Library Catalogue)

The dreadful fluff / Aaron Blabey.
“Serenity’s life was perfect. But then she discovered something perfectly awful… The dreadful fluff!” (Library Catalogue)

The Goobledygook is eating a book / Justine Clarke and Arthur Baysting ; illustrated by Tom Jellett.
“Something is coming. Can you see? It snuffles and shuffles. What can it be? Look! look! it’s a Gobbledygook! It’s ripping up pages and eating a book!” (Library Catalogue)

Cats and dogs are everyone’s best friends in these great picture books.

Raj, the bookstore tiger / Kathleen T. Pelley ; illustrated by Paige Keiser.
“Raj loves being a bookstore “tiger”. He greets the customers, patrols the storerooms, and relishes stoytime. But when teh cranky cat Snowball arrives, his comments make Raj doubt his own tigerness. Is Raj just an ordinary kitty-cat, or is it Snowball who’s got it all wrong?” (Book cover)

Bailey at the museum / Harry Bliss.
“Precocious, school-going dog Bailey joins his human classmates on a field trip to the Museum of Natural History in his second picture book. As the class observes a dinosaur exhibits, Bailey gets distracted by T. rex bones. An understanding museum guard swoops in (“I think he’s hungry. I feel his tummy growling,” he reports), and the two become friends. ……. The tender relationship between Bailey and the steadfast guard is the heart of this light, funny story.Bailey the dog is excited to go on a school trip to the Museum of Natural History.”(adapted from Publishers Weekly)

Cat tale / Michael Hall.“Hall cleverly plays with homophones in this diverting word adventure. Three curious cats, propelled by their imaginations, bring books to life as they traverse spacious, white spreads. Together they “flee a steer,” “steer a plane,” “plane a board” and “board a train.” Each sentence or scenario offers hints of what’s to come. Discerning compositions and a rhyming text further drive the momentum until, alas! The words’ many meanings confound these friendly felines. Humorous permutations ensue as the kitties try to untangle their tales. After they successfully “shoo a truly naughty gnu,” (it’s munching shoes—truly naughty indeed!), things go sadly awry. “They use their paws to rock a squashberry! Rock a squashberry?” Once back on track, they befriend a bear, sail a whale and ultimately find comfort and contentment in words…..”(adapted from kirkusreview.com)

Cat Heaven / written and illustrated by Cynthia Rylant.“Via simple verse and bold, folk-art illustrations, Newbery Medalist Cynthia Rylant invites readers to visit Cat Heaven, a place where cats have an eternal supply of catnip, tuna, and warm laps.” (Scholastic)

Dog Heaven / written and illustrated by Cynthia Rylant.“This Newbery Medalist makes her debut as an illustrator in a warm, whimsical picture book about the wonderful place where all good dogs go for an endless supply of ham biscuits, good meals and lots of petting.” (Scholastic)

Rocket writes a story / by Tad Hills.“For new reader Rocket, every new book is a treasure and an adventure, “like a place he’d never been to, like a friend he’d never met.” The little yellow bird introduced in How Rocket Learned to Read (2010) continues to teach and encourage this special dog. Rocket sniffs out wonderful new words in his environment, and the bird helps him create a glorious word tree……A perfect choice to inspire new readers and writers.”(adapted from Kirkusreview.com).

Learning your ABCs and 123s is easy and lots of fun with these hilarious and entertaining books.

Animal 1 2 3 / Britta Teckentrup.
“Learn to count and make friends along the way with wriggly snales, marching elephants, creeping bears and dancing dragonsflies. Britta Teckentrup’s gorgeous illustrations are brought to life in this colourful book, which has a surprise around every corner.” (Art Gallery of NSW)

Guinea pig party / Holly Surplice.
“Based on traditional counting rhymes, this lively story from Scottish author/ illustrator Surplice features 10 guinea pigs going wild at a birthday party. “Ten little guinea pigs, dancing in a line./ Bump! go the guinea pigs, and then there are… [page turn] 9.” Like an Agatha Christie for toddlers, Surplice uses ingenuity and variety to get rid of her characters (gently) one by one. The first guinea pig departs after getting stuck with a “pin the tail on the donkey” pin, another leaves after bumping his nose during a “jump and dive” session on a pile of pillows, and another floats “up and up and up” holding onto a balloon. At the end of the party, the birthday boy, all alone, “makes a wish… And once more there are… ten!” Surplice differentiates the guinea pigs with capes, tutus, and other accessories (all wear brightly colored party hats) to aid children with counting; the pigs and their brightly colored toys, gift bags, and other party fare pop against the white backdrops. As energetic and entertaining as a party full of higgledy-piggledy toddlers.” (Publisher Weekly)

Count the sheep to sleep / Philippa Rae ; illustrated by Stéphanie Röhr.
“Philippa Rae’s sing-songy verse and Stephanie Rohr’s bright, whimsical illustrations provide a visual counting aid, as well as complete entertainment in the monments before bedtime. Count the sheep the sleep is sure to help children to fall asleep to their own leaping sheep, transforming bedtime from a struggle into a fluffy white parade!” (book cover)

1-2-3 peas / Keith Baker.
“A welcome companion to Baker’s alphabet book, LMNO Peas (2010), this counting book features a large cast of the same odd but charming little characters: green peas with skinny arms and legs, occasional footwear or headgear, and abundant energy……. Children will enjoy finding the right number of characters in each scene in this inviting introduction to counting.” (adapted from Booklist)

Apple / Nikki McClure.“Follow the life stages of an apple from the time it falls from the tree, ripe and red, to its return to the soil. Written in single words, the story is told primarily through the images that are done in exquisite cut paper. In each image, red is used solely to illuminate the apple with the rest of the image in black and white. This serves to not only highlight the apple as the focus, but also makes for a dynamic minimalist style.
The simplicity and minimalism really work here. It is a stunning book both in the strength of the illustrations and the focus on life stages. This is a book I would suggest for parents reading to infants, because it has that strong contrast of black, white and red that infants’ brains respond to. Even better, it’s a book that adults will enjoy reading again and again.” (wakingbraincells.com)

Anteaters to zebras / Alan Fletcher.“From anteaters to zebras, from bears to x-ray fish and yetis, this witty and playful introduction to the alphabet will captivate children and adults alike. Created by legendary British designer Alan Fletcher, its bold colours and quirky characters are set to make it an instant and much-loved classic.” (book cover)

Over the school holidays we’ll be celebrating the 200th anniversary of the Brothers Grimm and the 150th anniversary of Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland with stories and activities at participating libraries.

You can find a full schedule of activities on at our libraries on our Kids’ What’s On page — come along for Wonderland croquet, special themed storytimes, scary Halloween stories, dressing up, and more!

These free fun activities are suitable for 5-12 year olds, and no bookings are required.

Come along to the Central Library on Thursday the 4th of October at 11am for amazing performance poems, action rhymes, songs and stories with Children’s Poet Greg O’Connell!

Greg O’Connell is an exciting new children’s poet, recently published in eleven issues of the School Journal. A dynamic performer, Greg entertains audiences throughout New Zealand, and around the world, with his unique brand of interactive poetry. Come along, be part of the fun…and experience poetry like never before!

This is a free event – no bookings required.

Suitable for 5-10 year olds.

A selection of colourful and funny new picture books with some really great stories that will keep your kids amused.

Goldilocks and just the one bear / Leigh Hodgkinson.
“…Our little Bear is all grown up now and lives happily in the forest. One day he’s out walking, doing nothing particular, when he finds himself in the city. It’s very busy and noisy, and Bear really doesn’t like it and looks for somewhere quiet to go. He steps into Snooty Towers and the chaos begins; dizzy from the spinning door, Bear needs to sit down, but where can he go? A lift awaits and Bear finds himself taken up to a lovely apartment. At last, some quiet! What lies in store is a comical turn of events when the family comes home…” – (adapted from welovethisbook.com summary) 

Slinky Malinki, early bird / Lynley Dodd. 
“A fantastic new addition to the Hairy Mclary and friends series. Slinky Malinki wakes every member of the family and gets them out of bed by sitting on them, patting faces, yowling and more. Written with Lynley Dodd’s rhythm and rhyme making it very satisfying to read aloud.” – (Staff Member summary)

The unexpected crocodile / Kim Kane & Sara Acton.
“Peggy’s family is hosting a barbecue for their neighbours, the Dawsons. Peggy isn’t too sure about those Dawson boys. But she’s delighted when an unexpected crocodile invites himself to tea…with unexpected consequences!” – (adapted from Book cover summary)

The perfect present / Fiona Roberton.
“In this follow-up to Wanted: The Perfect Pet (2010), Henry and his pet duck, Spot, have settled into life together. Now it’s Henry’s birthday, and before he can open Spot’s excellent gift a fishing rod his grandparents arrive with an even more excellent gift, a black-and-white dog! Spot begins to feel like the lesser pet, and so he packs his belongings and heads off into the night. When he’s caught in a storm, it takes Henry, the dog (unnamed and a nonspeaker), and the aforementioned fishing rod to make things right. There are plenty of three’s-a-crowd books out there, but this one is special in its own right. Roberton’s black-and-white line illustrations, with pops of color, are endearing as they depict a pitiful Spot leaving home and a joyful, huggy reunion as well as abundant charming details, such as swanky earmuffs made from gloves…” – (adapted from Booklist summary)

Blue gnu / written by Kyle Mewburn ; illustrated by Daron Parton.
“Boo is a gnu. The one and only BLUE gnu. Boo is unique … until he meets Hoo. Hoo is blue too, and he wants to be friends with Boo. But Boo doesn’t want to be friends, he wants to be unique. Boo tries everything to make himself stand out — jumping in bushes, in mud, painting himself with berries. Nothing works quite as planned, and what’s worse, Hoo does the same — Hoo wants to match Boo. Boo is frustrated. Then Hoo loses Boo, and Boo realises he’d much rather have a friend, because everything’s much more fun with two.”–Supplied by publisher.

Author and illustrator Amy Burrell will be visiting the Preschool Storytime at Wellington Central Library at 10.30am on Friday 17th August. She will be reading aloud her new book Catch That Fly, doing some drawing with children and even has an activity to take home.

Amy will have copies available of her book to collect if parents wish to pre-purchase it.

Come along, listen to some exciting stories with your children on the cushions and they’ll have heaps of fun.

It’s a way for children to win prizes just by reviewing books!  Starting today (August 1st), Kids’ Club will replace BookBusters and BookSeekers, which means there will no longer be monthly book club meetings in the library.
Instead children can post their great reviews on the Kids’ Blog, for everyone to see and comment on. Best of all, they’ll earn prizes for their reviews, encouraging children to read and review more items.

Check out the club info here, or start reviewing books straight away here.

Kids’ Club is open to all 5-12 year olds that have a Wellington City Libraries’ membership.

What is Ramadan?

Ramadan is a time of spiritual reflection and worship during the ninth month of the Islamic calendar, in which participating Muslims refrain from eating and drinking during daylight hours. The dates of Ramadan vary, moving backwards by about eleven days each year depending on the moon.

Muslims believe Ramadan to be the month in which the first verses of the Qur’an were revealed to the Islamic prophet, Muhammad. Ramadan is thought to establish a link between themselves and God through prayer, charity, good deeds, kindness and helping others. The elderly, the chronically ill, and the mentally ill are exempt from fasting, although the first two groups must endeavor to feed the poor in place of their missed fasting.

Since it is a festival of giving and sharing, Muslims prepare special foods and buy gifts for their family and friends and for giving to the poor and needy who cannot afford it; this can involve buying new clothes, shoes and other items of need.

At the end of Ramadan, Eid-ul-Fitr celebrates the conclusion of the month of dawn-to-sunset fasting. Eid is an Arabic word meaning “festivity”, while Fiṭr means “breaking the fast”.

Want to know more? Here are some useful links and items from our collection:

• Wellington City Libraries’ Popular Topics page on Beliefs: Islam
• Explore Islam on our Kid’s Catalog Web
• Explore Muslim holidays on our Kid’s Catalog Web

Ramadan / Suhaib Hamid Ghazi ; illustrated by Omar Rayyan.
“Describes the celebration of the month of Ramadan by an Islamic family and discusses the meaning and importance of this holiday in the Islamic religion.” (Syndetics summary)

The white nights of Ramadan / Maha Addasi ; illustrated by Ned Gannon.
“Noor lives in a country near the Arabian (Persian) Gulf. Shes looking forward to the festival known as Girgian that comes in the middle of the holy month of Ramadan. These middle days are known as the three whites, because they include the day of the full moon and day before and after. Its when children, dressed in traditional clothes, go from house to house collecting treats from their neighbors.” – (adapted from Syndetics summary)

Id-ul-Fitr / Cath Senker ; photography by Chris Fairclough.
“This book introduces the reader to the festival of Id-ul-Fitr and explores how one child and her family celebrate it. The book includes panels to show how people around the world celebrate Id and an Id recipe for you to try yourself.” – (adapted from Global Books In Print summary)

Islam in New Zealand : the first mosque : a short history of the New Zealand Muslim Association & the Ponsonby Mosque / by Abdullah Drury.
“Islam is without doubt one of the fastest growing religions in New Zealand and also one of the least understood by the general public. Yet Muslims have been living in this country for over a century – peacefully and conscientiously. New Zealand Muslims have proved it perfectly possible to remain devout and faithful to Islam and at the same time function effectively in a modern Anglo-Saxon Western society The New Zealand Muslim Association is the oldest Islamic institution in this country. The first mosque in New Zealand, and the definitive heart of Islam in this country, was built twenty years ago in 1979 in Ponsonby, central Auckland. It represented the culmination of thirty years hard work and effort on behalf of the immigrants and refugees who were the driving force behind its construction. The building marks the collective turning point from being a group of expatriate migrants to becoming the foundation stone of the New Zealand Muslim community, and stands as a milestone in the history of the wider Muslim community across the land.” – (adapted from Publisher’s summary)

Introduction to Islam [videorecording] / with Bilal Dannoun.
There are many myths and misconceptions portrayed about Islam and Muslims everyday in the media which causes disharmony and fear. A lot of what the media portrays Islam to be is incorrect and against its teachings, although some (who call thermselves Muslims) carry out terrible crimes against humanity. These actions are condemned by Islam. Voice of Islam presents Islam through its television programs, lecture tours, DVDs and other books and publications in a correct manner as a reminder and education for Muslims, and to show non Muslims the correct manner in which we should be acting and practising our religion” – (adapted from DVD booklet summary)

The complete idiot’s guide to understanding Islam / by Yahiya Emerick.
“Yoursquo;re no idiot, of course. You know Islam is an ancient religion with millions of followers and has a profound impact on world affairs. But are you aware of how many facets of modern life were influenced by Islamic inventions and discoveries? Or that Islam is the fastest-growing religion in the United States? The Complete Idiotrsquo;s Guidereg; to Understanding Islam takes you back to the origins of this faith and explores its beliefs and practices through the centuries and in the present. In this Complete Idiotrsquo;s Guidereg;, you get: An overview of the major tenets of the Islamic holy book, the Qurrsquo;an, including quotes from the actual text. The life and philosophies of the Prophet Muhammad as enacted in Islamic thought. Religious ceremonies for weddings, births, and funerals, and the celebrations behind the two major holidays, Ramadan and Hajj. Islamic contributions to the arts and sciences, including algebra, chemistry, astronomy, and medicine. Muslim perspective on the Crusades.” – (adapted from Syndetics summary)

The essential message of the Qur’an / Shaykh Fadhlalla Haeri.
“The Essential Message of the Qur’an captures the spiritual significance of the sacred text of Islam and how it inspired countless millions across the ages.” – (adapted from Publiher’s summary)

Being Muslim / Haroon Siddiqui.
“In the wake of 9/11, Islam-bashing bears all the symptoms of racism as it holds up the relatively few fanatics as representative of all 1.3 billion Muslims. That’s the argument of award-winning Canadian journalist Siddiqui, past president of PEN Canada, a writers’ group that is a leading advocate of free speech. His clear, passionate discussion confronts international issues that are in the news now, including recent controversies over cartoon representations of Prophet Muhammad, the debate surrounding the wearing of the hijab (traditional headscarf), and issues of faith and feminism, suicide bombing, and more. While clearly concerned about terrorism and other dangers, Siddiqui attacks the propaganda of collective guilt. Without preaching or political jargon and drawing on his travels and interviews in Muslim countries, he shows that the extremists are being challenged by a new generation of Muslims, and welcomes the current internal reformation. He also asks penetrating questions: for example, Why does the U.S. turn a blind eye to suffocating restrictions on women in Saudi Arabia? Including documented chapter notes and an Essential Reading list, this timely volume in the Groundwork Guide series is sure to spark debate. Like Jane Springer’s Genocide (2006), also part of the series, this is excellent for classroom discussion. –Hazel Rochman Copyright 2006 BooklistFrom Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.” – (adapted from Booklist summary)

Islamic art : architecture, painting, calligraphy, ceramics, glass, carpets / Luca Mozzati ; [translation from the Italian, D. Radzinowicz [et al.]].
“This large format volume is notable for its remarkable illustrations, all in color. Most of the photographs are large scale, and although they include many familiar monuments and the usual canon of great monuments, readers will find many surprises, e.g., the striking madrasah and minaret in Khiva, Uzbekistan, from the early 20th century. The photographs are often from unusual points of view, or offer excellent details, and cover material from Spain and Morocco to central Asia and the Indian subcontinent. Although many sources are credited, by far the largest number of photographs are Mozzati’s, and they are very valuable. The subtitle of the book is accurate in that many different media are represented by the works illustrated, but the overwhelming emphasis is on architecture. All photographs are accompanied by descriptive and discursive captions, often lengthy. The book includes introductory essays on general topics that will provide a useful introduction for general readers, for whom this book is clearly intended. Specialists in and teachers of Islamic art will, however, find the photographic record very useful. Summing Up: Recommended. General readers; lower-division undergraduates through faculty/researchers. L. Nees University of DelawareCopyright American Library Association, used with permission.” – (adapted from CHOICE summary)

Spend some time reading aloud to your older kids, they will love these as much as you will!

Magritte’s marvelous hat : a picture book / by D.B. Johnson.
“One bright day in the dark of night, the painter Magritte saw a marvelous hat in a store window. So begins this playful introduction to the style and subjects of the Belgian surrealist….The art flows until the painter becomes overly absorbed in his work and attempts to control the bowler’s impetuous personality. When the hat flees, the hunt begins…References to Magritte’s visual impossibilities and details are woven throughout; the illusions are further enhanced through the occasional use of cellophane pages that cleverly function on both sides. The artist’s fascination with the limits of perception and two-dimensional representation provides mind-boggling images that children will relish. Johnson’s additional layer of a hide-and-seek game and the inclusion of his own tricks offer more reasons to look closely. An author’s note gives a brief context. Moving back and forth between this book and Magritte’s art would be instructive and enjoyable for puzzle enthusiasts of any age. Beckoning, buoyant. Brilliant.” – (adapted from School Library Journal summary)

Heroes of the surf : a rescue story based on true events / Elisa Carbone ; [illustrations by] Nancy Carpenter.
“In 1882, the British steamship Pliny left Brazil for New York City with a cargo of coffee, hides, and a small group of passengers. Nearing the New Jersey shore, it encountered a furious storm and went aground. Carbone plays off this incident, telling of the journey through the eyes of a young passenger named Antonio, who, along with his friend Pedro, fantasizes about pirates and finds danger with the roll of every wave. When the Pliny nearly sinks, the children are convinced that the men on shore are their imagined pirates rather than rescuers. Saved via a breeches buoy by the Life-Saving Service, the boys discover what real danger is all about. Carpenter matches Carbone’s growing pace with line work that effectively depicts the roiling seas and frothy waves…” – (adapted from School Library Journal summary)

Virginia Wolf / Kyo Maclear, Isabelle Arsenault.
“One day my sister Virginia woke up feeling wolfish. She made wolf sounds and did strange things,” begins narrator Vanessa. Huddled in bed, only pointy ears showing, is a wolf. Virginia’s unable to bear the bright-yellow gingham of Vanessa’s dress or the sound of Vanessa brushing her own teeth….Vanessa creeps into bed to comfort her sister, but what finally helps is painting. At the wolf’s suggestion, Vanessa paints a whimsical, expanding world called “Bloomsberry,” bursting with blossoms, birds and magic…The wolf—previously a black near-silhouette with snout and tail, wearing a dress—morphs back into a girl. Wolf ears, silhouetted from behind, become a hair bow.” This story, based on the relationship between author Virginia Woolf and her painter sister Vanessa Bell is able to be read and understood on many different levels – simply as an animal transformation tale, a bad-mood/bad day story or for readers who know actual depression as something much deeper.” – (adapted from Kirkus summary)

Little bird / Germano Zullo ; illustrated by Albertine.
“Shimmering, color-saturated landscapes and a message about cherishing small things make this English-language debut by a Swiss team an unexpected treasure. It’s about a man whose job, apparently, is to release a truckful of large, colorful birds into the endless expanse of a golden desert-perhaps they’ve been rehabilitated, or confiscated at the border of some unnamed country. He sets his flock free, but discovers a small black bird in the back of his truck who won’t leave. They share his lunchtime sandwich, after which he reminds the bird gently (and comically) how to fly. The bird leaves, but returns with an offer so enchanting that the man can’t refuse, and readers may long to join him. Zullo’s text lets the artwork do the storytelling, instead presenting a parallel series of spare philosophical reflections: “There are no greater treasures than the little things,” it concludes. “Just one is enough to change the world.” To enter into the spirit of the story, it’s best to sit down and pay close attention to it-just as the bird-delivery man does with the small black bird. Ages 5-up.” – (adapted from Publisher Weekly summary)