Kids Blog

Check out the 2008 New Zealand Post Book Award Finalists released recently.

Here are some really good books that maybe even your parents read when they were younger.

One:
Flat Stanley by Jeff Brown. Stanley is flattened one day when a billboard falls on him. Rather than ruining his life, this means he can get into all sorts of places and do things that three-dimensional people can’t. (Age 6+)

Two:
Little House series, by Laura Ingalls Wilder and her relatives. When I was at school this was on TV as well. These stories are based on the true story of Laura Ingalls Wilder’s childhood in a pioneer family in 19th Century United States and they’re very interesting. My favourite bit is from Little House in the Big Woods where they make candy out of molasses and snow. You too can make this if you follow the recipe in The Little House Cookbook (page 192)… and if you can find some snow… (ages 7 and up)

Three:
Ramona series by Beverly Cleary. Ramona’s awesome! She first appears in Beverly Cleary’s Henry Huggins books, but she’s such a good character that she deserved a whole series of her own. There are 8 Ramona books (and 6 Henry Huggins ones). Good for 7 and up.

Four:
Peter Pan by J. M. Barrie. Flying… pirates… sword fighting… ticking crocodiles… Neverland. They’ve made so many movies out of this book it’s got to be good! (Ages 8+)

Five:
Swallows and Amazons series by Arthur Ransome. I always thought it would be pretty special to spend the day sailing around on a lake in your own dinghy. Beats homework, anyway. These books are good if you’re 8+ and you love reading.

Six:
Willard Price Adventure series. Who wouldn’t want to be Hal or Roger Hunt, travelling the world escaping danger and coming face to face with exotic animals. Plus we’ve got nice shiny new copies for you to read. It doesn’t matter if you’re a boy or a girl, they’re completely fabulous! (Sort of age 9 and over-ish.)

Seven:
Nancy Drew series by Carolyn Keene. Excellent mystery stories! (9 and up.)

Eight:
Green Grass of Wyoming, My Friend Flicka and Thunderhead by Mary O’Hara. These are really good quality, classic horse stories for kids who want a bit more of a challenge than those pony club series. For ages 10 and up.

Nine:
Summer of My German Soldier by Bette Greene. Patty Bergen lives in Arkansas in the United States during World War II. She meets an escaped German prisoner of war and befriends him… I loved this book! (Age 10+)

Ten:
The Little White Horse by Elizabeth Goudge. J K Rowling (Harry Potter) likes it so it must be good. She says on the cover, “I absolutely adored The Little White Horse. It had a cracking plot… It was scary and romantic in parts and had a feisty heroine.” (For people, especially girls, about 10ish.)

For Viking warriors, honour and glory in battle were very important. A warrior had to follow his lord or king into battle, or on a raid or expedition. As a member of a loyal band of followers, known as a lid, a Viking could be called to fight at any moment. 

In battle Vikings fought on foot. They wore iron helmets, chain mail armour, and carried swords, axes, spears and wooden shields. Vikings were also skilled with bows and arrows.  The weapons were made with iron, and often decorated with inlaid, or encrusted silver or copper. The sword was the most prized weapon. A richly decorated one was a sign of the owner’s wealth. Axes with long wooden handles were the most common Viking weapon. A Viking’s weapons were usually buried with him when he died. For more follow this link.

Do you like the idea of deciding what happens in a story? Well, there’s a cool new adventure series called I, Hero where you are the master of what happens… you’re in charge! It’s like Choose your own adventure, but newer and cooler (and for younger kids – great if you’re 6-ish or 7-ish).

In Viking Blood you’re captain of a Viking trading ship, in Gorgon’s Cave you’re an adventurer living in Ancient Greece and in Death or Glory! you’re a warrior at war with the Romans. Then there’s the coolest: Code Mission… you’re a British Special Intelligence Service Agent in World War II trying to recapture a top-secret code breaking machine from the Germans.

Give them a go and tell us what you think of them.