Kids Blog

The LIANZA (Library and Information Association of New Zealand Aotearoa) children’s book awards finalists have been announced.

Basically these are New Zealand librarians recognising the best books that have been published for children and teens in the last year.

The awards are separated up into 5 categories: best junior fiction (the top book wins the Esther Glen Medal), best illustration (The winner gets the Russell Clark Award), best non-fiction (the winner gets the Elsie Locke Award), best book written in te reo Maori (Te Kura Pounamu Award), and there is also a prize for the top teen book too.

The finalists for each category have just been announced (check them out below). A winner will be chosen from the finalists in each category, which will be announced at a sparkly awards ceremony on August 5th in Wellington.

Hot fact: The Esther Glen Medal for Junior Fiction is the oldest book award in New Zealand. It was first awarded in 1945 – that’s 68 years ago!

LIANZA Junior Fiction Award – Esther Glen Medal

The Queen and the Nobody Boy: A tale of Fontania by Barbara Else

The Drover’s Quest by Susan Brocker

When Empire Calls by Ken Catran

Red Rocks by Rachael King

The ACB with Honora Lee by Kate de Goldi

Lightning Strikes: The Slice by Rose Quilter (We don’t have this in the libraries yet. Check back later)

LIANZA Illustration Award – Russell Clark Award

The Dragon Hunters by James Russell, illustrated by Link Choi

Mister Whistler by Margaret Mahy, illustrated by Gavin Bishop

Kiwi: The Real Story by Annemarie Florian, illustrated by Heather Hunt

Blue Gnu by Kyle Mewburn, illustrated by Daron Parton

Melu byKyle Mewburn, illustrated by Ali Teo and John O’Reilly

A Great Cake by Tina Matthews

LIANZA Non Fiction Award – Elsie Locke Medal

At the Beach: Explore & Discover the New Zealand Seashore by Ned Barraud and Gillian Candler

Eruption! Discovering New Zealand Volcanoes by Maria Gill

100 Amazing Tales from Aotearoa by Simon Morton and Riria Hotere,

Te Kura Pounamu (te reo Māori)

Hautipua Rererangi story by Julian Arahanga, illustrated by Andrew Burdan

Ngā Waituhi o Rēhua by Katerina Te Heikoko Mataira

Arohanui by Huia Publishers, illustrated Andrew Burdan (Sorry, we don’t have this one in our libraries yet)

Ko Meru by Kyle Mewburn, translated by Ngaere Roberts, illustrated by Ali Teo and John O’Reilly  (Sorry, we don’t have this one in our libraries yet)

Taea ngā whetū by Dawn McMillan, translated by Ngaere Roberts, illustrated by Keinyo White

Python For Kids.

This is the computer programming manual you must have! Python for kids introduces the basics of the Python programming language (not the snake), covering how to use data structures, organize and reuse code, draw shapes and patterns with turtle, and create games and animations with tkinter. The best thing about the manual is that the new terms are defined; code is colored, dissected, and explained and quirky, full-color illustrations keep things on the lighter side. Also comes complete with  programming puzzles designed to stretch your brain and strengthen your understanding. Great resource for kids aged 10 years and over.

National Geographic Kids Infopedia 2013.

Check out this new and updated edition of National Geographic Kids Infopedia that promises you will have fun, get smarter and dares you to explore at the same time! This guide is packed with fun facts, games and incredible photos. Also find out fascinating information, like some frogs glow in the dark when they eat fireflies and Australia’s great barrier reef is the biggest living structure on earth.

Maths Puzzles and Games for ages 7 – 9.

Having trouble with your maths homework? This book is here to help kids ages 7 to 9 years do well and excel in maths. Enclosed with this book is a CD ROM with puzzles and games designed to get kids using their maths without even realizing it, addresses the need for children to learn number facts and develop their skills in using and applying mathematics.

Information Everywhere.

Want to see the world as you’ve never seen it before? If you’ve got a question, this book has the answer. This  illustrated overview of the physical world  uses infographics and provides facts and information on the connections between the Earth, people, power, and industry. Each page is crammed with up-to-the-minute facts, stats and graphics to give a fascinating snapshot of our planet and what makes it tick.

The Kingfisher History Encyclopedia.

This encyclopedia is a treasure-trove of human experience and the perfect research tool for all the family. Comes complete with illuminating photographs, lavish artwork and provides essential guidance that will replace hours of unguided web research. Great to use for history assignments and homework.

Moshi Monster Character Encyclopedia.

The Moshlings are back in this cool and exciting character encyclopedia! Read all about more that 200 of the wackiest, weirdest and cutest monsters you could ever imagine. You will also learn about each character and the gloopendous world they live in, along with monsterific facts. Great for anyone a fan of Pokemon and Digimon.

Calling all book lovers aged 9-13 years old…

The Children’s Bookshop in Kilbirnie is starting a book club for tweens on 7th June.

Meeting on the first Friday of every month 4-5pm, the group will discuss a different genre each time (the kids choose their own books to discuss). There will be games, quizzes and prizes, plus we’ll even lay on hot chocolate in the winter months. The club members will get a $20 shop voucher for every 5 meetings they attend. A great way of getting everyone to read outside their beloved genres…

To sign up ( free of charge) drop by the Children’s Bookshop at Shop 26 Kilbirnie Plaza Kilbirnie Wellington (Phone: 04 3873905 and email: books@thechildrensbookshop.co.nz)

On Monday 27 May at 10.30am we will be holding a very special preschool storytime at Ruth Gotlieb, Kilbirnie Library. Come along and listen to African stories with our Librarian-turned-Story-reader, Taitu! There will also be music and songs to celebrate Africa month. See you there!

Monster and Chips by David O’Connell

Hey kids – did you know that there are places where our ordinary world rubs against strange, magical worlds? When this happens holes sometimes get worn between the two, creating doorways.

It can happen anywhere. Perhaps on a street near you. An ordinary-looking door will appear, so ordinary that you might not even notice it. Like the door of a takeaway- just the place that sells burgers and chips. But there might be a very special takeaway on the other side of that door, with very special customers.

Joe has been sent on a perilous quest by his mum to find the finest chips in the land. He now stands at the doorway to McGreasy’s takeaways and I bet he can’t guess whats waiting for him through the door.

Magic Trix: The Witching Hour by Sara Grant

There are three signs that you may be a witch.

1. You occasionally see witches flying across the midnight sky on their broomsticks.

2. Rhyming spells pop into your head.

3. You love planning magical surprises for your friends.

When Trix turns ten she finds out that she’s a witch! It’s the best birthday present ever and Trix can’t wait to start casting spells. But learning witchcraft isn’t easy, and nobody non-magical must know. Find out how Trix gets on learning about magic, keeping it a secret and using magic to help her best friend.

Aunt Severe and the Toy Thieves by Nick Garlick

Daniel gets more than he bargained for when he visits his Great-Aunt Emily. She’s grumpy and extremely severe because her fiance, the Colonel, has vanished into thin air. And it looks as though two evil toy thieves were responsible.

Soon Daniel is in hot pursuit. But he’s not alone. Along for the ride are his aunt, two clumsy ostriches, three even clumsier monkeys and a penguin who never stops talking. Not to mention a very, very sad pink crocodile.

Daniel is in for the ride of his life!

Avoid being Sir Isaac Newtown!

Sir Isaac Newtown was one of the greatest scientists who ever lived. But he didn’t have it easy; he survived plague, civil war and poverty to become a Professor of Mathematics at 26!  He went on to live an amazing life and make many important discoveries that changed science forever.

Awesome Adventures at the Smithsonian

This is the official guide to the Smithsonian Institution, which is not just one but a collection of museums mostly located in Washington D.C.  There are exhibitions on everything, from human flight (The National Air and Space Museum) to the origins of human life (  National Museum of Natural History.) While this would be a great book to take on a trip to the U.S.A, it’s really interesting to read in its own right.

ANZAC Day The New Zealand story : what it is and why it matters

This is an important book about New Zealand’s role in World War I. Although it does talk about Gallipoli, it also mentions other places that New Zealanders fought, such as the Western front.  The Maori and Pacific Island soldiers who fought are also discussed. The book also looks at what happened after the war; what life for the soldiers who came back was like, how the dead were memorialised and the first ANZAC day services.

Dogs: a very peculiar history

This is a great little book will tell you all about the history of dogs,  from the wild dogs that our ancestors domesticated to the pampered pooches of today’s top celebrities. Not only will this book tell you the history of dogs, it also explains their doggy behaviors and quirks.  Also included are stories about heroic dogs, fictional dogs and movie star dogs! Basically this is a great book for you canine lovers. However, if you’re more of a cat person, there’s also Cats: A very peculiar history. 

The Book of Blood

A lot less gruesome than its name suggests, this book will tell you everything you need or want to know about blood. As well as looking at the science of blood, this book also takes a look at what people in the past thought about blood (and how it worked) and how that changed over time.  There’s also some really interesting sections on bloodsuckers, from the real ones, like mosquitoes to the fictional, like vampires.  It’s a well written book with great pictures and lots of interesting information.

The Arab-Israeli conflict

The Arab-Israeli conflict is one of the most contentious issues of our time and sometimes it’s hard to know what to think. This book lays out the history of the conflict and how it’s shaped international relationships.

Medicine through the Ages: Modern, Renaissance, Medieval and Industrial Age

These are some really fantastic books about how medicine changed and developed over time.  They’re extremely informative, and filled with great (if gory!) illustrations.  They’re a bit more serious than books like the Horrible Histories, but they’re still very interesting and worth a read.

Forget Me Not by Jo Cotterill

Kate Morrell used to have it all – fun, friends and family. But since her mum died three years ago, Kate can’t remember what it’s like to feel properly happy any more. A summer job at the local garden centre gives Kate a chance to re-discover the spark she once had – and arguing with her arrogant (but gorgeous) co-worker Simon makes her really come out of her shell! But then there’s an attack on the centre – and Kate begins to wonder if Simon knows more than he’s letting on…

Pea’s Book of Best Friends by Susie Day

 Meet eleven-year-old Pea and her definitely not ordinary life! When Pea’s dizzy but dazzling single mum becomes the super-selling author of the Mermaid Girls series, everything changes overnight. It’s time to leave their tiny flat in Tenby for a fancy house in London, and a whole new life! Pea likes the red front door, and the attic bedroom all to herself. She even likes her hideous school uniform, in a masochistic Malory Towers sort of way. But something is missing. There’s an empty chair beside her in every lesson, and no one seems to want to fill it. In the absence of volunteers, Pea is going to have to acquire a best friend.

Smells like Pirates by Suzanne Selfors

“Homer thought membership in L.O.S.T., the mysterious Society of Legends, Objects, Secrets, and Treasures, would help him find pirate Rumpold Smeller’s missing treasure. But when Homer’s enemy, Lorelei, forms an evil organization called FOUND, Homer and Dog face an impossible decision: Work with Lorelei to find the prize once and for all, or abandon their lifelong quest to locate the treasure”–Provided by publisher.

Itch by Simon Mayo

Meet Itch, a fourteen-year-old, accident-prone accidental hero. Science is his weapon. Elements are his gadgets. This is Alex Rider with Geek-Power! Itchingham Lofte — known as Itch — is fourteen, and loves science, especially chemistry. He’s also an element-hunter: he’s decided to collect all the elements in the periodic table. Which has some interesting and rather destructive results in his bedroom. Then, Itch makes a discovery. A new element, never seen before. At first no one believes him but soon, someone hears about the strange new rock and wants it for himself. And Itch is in serious danger…

Fawn by Margi McAllister

Kirsty Weaver loves watching a herd of deer in the hills behind her house. She discovers that a fawn has been left abandoned on the hill. She rescues him and coaxes him down from the hill and into a shed. As Kirsty battles to keep Fawn both safe and a secret, she realizes she can’t keep doing everything alone and has to decided whether she can trust Toby, the local farmer’s boy, with her secret.

The kids at Tawa library storytime enjoyed a visit from the Encore! School of Music this week to help celebrate New Zealand Music month.

About 40 kids and parents had fun playing instruments, singing, dancing and even using toys and puppets to music.

Check out our great pictures. We have lots of budding musicians in the making.