Kids Blog

London: A Time Traveler’s Guide.

Did you know that London is thousands years old? So when you walk through its busy streets, you are standing on top of history. Forget Doctor Who, With this guide you can travel back in time and discover all the relics of the past, ancient treasures and long forgotten buildings throughout London, England. You will find out all about  of the Romans, Anglo-Saxons, the Vikings, Medieval times, the Tudor, the Victorians to the present day. So come on down to the library and take a fact-filled journey through the history of London, one of the world’s greatest cities.

A City Through Time : From Ancient Colony to Vast Metropolis.

In the mood for some more time travel? Check out this new and  stunning update of the popular original, A City Through Time. Follow the story of a city from ancient colony to vast modern metropolis with full-colour illustrations that will transport you back to another age. Reading this book may be the closest you ever get to what really goes on in a Roman bath-house, a medieval castle or a modern skyscraper. Comes complete with a photographic section that profiles great cities through history and a glossary that tells you what you need to know about architecture, technology, work and costumes throughout the ages. Great  for parents and children to look at together or for school projects.

Norse Myths and Legends.

This book explores the gods, goddesses, heroes, villains, tricksters, and quests that make Norse myths and legends so compelling. Forget Thor, the hero from the Marvel comics, now is the time to really study and learn all you have ever wanted to know about the Norse Mythology and the Vikings. As a bonus, you will also discover facts and information that  you didn’t know, like Thor’s favorite weapon was a magical hammer, (Okay, maybe that’s something you already knew), some gods used goats or cats to pull their chariots and gods believed rainbows could be bridges between worlds.

Solving Mysteries with Science.

Do you like reading about the strange  and unknown? With this new series on solving mysteries, you are in for a treat. Read all about the encounters, what scientists and other experts think and the evidence that supports the existence of  The Loch Ness Monster, Mermaids and The Bermuda Triangle.

Treasure Hunters.

Two new books from the Treasure Hunters series is now available at Wellington City Libraries. Tomb Explores explores all the tombs and treasure you will find in parts of the world such as Egypt, China and South America. You will also discover amazing facts and found out answers to questions like what sort of booby traps were hidden in Pyramids?, Why were the Terracotta Army craftsman ordered to be killed? and Where have tomb explorers used remote-controlled cameras? Great Art Thefts combines the subjects of Art, Mysteries and Crime into one resource. Read all about the great art crime capers that took place throughout history including the theft of the Mona Lisa that took place in 1911, the Boston burglary in 1990 where 13 artworks were stolen and the theft of The Scream in Norway, 1994 during the Winter Olympics.

Move over wikihow, Wellington City Libraries has a new range of junior non fiction that provides you information where you can learn skills on the following:

How to use an iPad.

My iPad for Kids.

No doubt, the iPad is a great device… and toy. There has never been a a consumer device like the iPad that kids (and adults) are instantly and universally embraced.  However, even such a device like the iPad that could use some modifications and adjustments that could make it even more kid friendly. My iPad for Kids is here to help kids, parents  (and you!) get the most out of your iPad2, iPad 3rd or 4th generation, or iPad mini running iOS 6. Using full-colour, step-by-step tasks, My iPad for Kids provides  step-by-step instructions on various topics which includes iPad setup, customization, syncing accessing the Internet, applications and learning how to use your iPad for home, school, and just for fun! Best for ages 12 years and over.

How to start your own business.

The Quick Experts Guide to Starting your own business.

You’re never too young to start your own business. Why not start now? Part of the series, Quick Expert’s Guides this book is aimed at ‘tweens’ interested in starting their own business whether it is offering services in tidying up  gardens, ironing shirts or even designing your very own social networking site. This book includes features that break down all the  technical/scientific/complex aspects of starting your own business , inspirational case studies, activities, the do’s and don’t's of business management and a final project to test the reader’s new skills. Chapter round-ups also offer tips on key words and phrases as well as boosting self esteem and confidence, in order to walk the walk and talk the talk of a true expert.

The Glamorous Girl’s Book.
Girls, it’s time to get your glam on! This book tells you everything you need to go from being glum to glam! You will learn how to walk in high heels, make your own jewelry box, jazz up a boring hairstyle and accessorize yourself brilliantly. The ideal book for girls that will teach them to be confident, fabulous and gorgeous.
 

 
How to speak horse?!

How to Speak Horse.
Yes, believe it or not horses can talk and everyone can learn how to speak horse. But have you ever wondered how horses ‘talk’ to each other?, How do they ‘talk’ to you and how can they ‘talk’ back? This book will show you how. You will learn how horses use body language to communicate, easy groundwork exercises you can do to learn your horse’s body language and how to use your own posture and movement to ask your horse to go forward, stop, turn and follow. Also includes a dictionary of common horse body signals to help get you started.  An ideal guide for pony-mad kids that will teach you how to read body language and talk back to your equine friend.
 

 
How to know everything!

5,000 Awesome Facts (About Everything.)
For someone who wants to know everything about… everything, this is the book for you. Newly published by National Geographic Kids, this book is bursting with 5.000 awesome facts about everything, including a baby whale gains 200 pounds everyday, snakes use their tongues to help them smell and that the human brain is 78% water.  There’s even two pages of facts about peanut butter and a frog that smells like peanut butter!
 

How to teach, inspire and amuse any boy and girl for hours on end.

 
This series presents Boys Miscellany and Girls Miscellany, which is full of weird, wacky and wonderful facts that are essential for every boy and girl should know. Boys Miscellany will tell you everything you need to know on how to spot a man-eating shark,  a list of superhero sidekicks, details of dangerous dolphins and tales of meat-eating plants. Girls will learn all they need to know in Girls Miscellany.  This book will teach, inspire and amuse any girl for hours on end. They will learn interesting facts and information,  including the top ten problems for cave girls, superpowers every girl should have, how to confuse a pigeon and  which woman has the longest legs in the world.
You will also like The Dangerous Book for Boys and The Daring Book for Girls.
 

How to get these awesome new books? Pop on down to your local library!

If you love adventure and mystery then make sure you check out this great new series called Adventure Island.

Set on a fictional island called Castle Key off the coast of Cornwell the books follow two brothers Scott and Jack along with their friend Emily and her dog called Drift.

Full of adventure and mystery you will find everything from ghosts and whistling caves to vanishing skeletons and hidden gold.

If you love Enid Blyton you will love these books.  There is also a great Adventure Island website that you might like to check out as well.

So start reading and let the adventure begin!

Here is a book with everything you need to know about all kinds of swimming creatures, from fearsome sharks and enormous whales to glow-in-the-dark squid and stinging jellyfish.

The earths oceans are fill of weird and wonderful creatures and scientists believe that there are several million species of animals and plants that live in the earth’s water.

I learnt an interesting fact when I was reading this book. Did you know that if you put all the earth’s water into a balloon it would be about a third the diameter of the moon. Wow that’s a big balloon!

So check out Everything you need to know about Sharks and other Creatures of the Deep and learn how these creatures dive, wriggle, squirt, and snap their way through the worlds waters.

What is contemporary art?

Read this book and parents dragging you along to an art gallery will never be boring again. In fact, if you read this book, you might end up knowing more than your olds! This book takes you through different types of contemporary artist and what they use, which is everything from crushed cars to rocks to eggshells. Of course, painting is also featured but not in any way you might have seen before. It goes without saying that this book has great pictures of all the art works, and next time you go to an art gallery, you’ll look at things in a whole new way.

Great Britain: everything you ever wanted to know

Despite it’s title, this book doesn’t cover the great battles, powerful monarchs or mighty castles of British history. Instead it covers all the ‘cool’ bits of British culture; tea, James Bond and Nessie. It’s also got great information on mainstays of life and history in Britain, such as the ‘great’ schools such as Eton and Harrow, eccentric aristocrats and the Beatles.  This is not your average history book, but a fun read if you happen to be  interested in what makes Old Blighty so unique. There library also has two other books in this series, on China and on Australia.

The Kingfisher History Encyclopedia

This book is an excellent reference for those interested in history. It covers human history from 4000 BCE to the present, and at almost 500 pages, you wouldn’t want to read it all at once! Instead, use it as a ‘jumping off’ point for when you’ve got a homework assignment on the Thirty Years War or The Boxer Rebellion. You’ll learn who, what, where, why and how…and then use these references to find more information! Despite being crammed full of facts, this book is hardly dry reading. There are plenty of interesting photographs and illustrations to go along with the text.

My cookbook of Cakes

Want to bake delicious cakes but too scared? This book is perfect. Its recipes are simple but delicious, and there are plenty of cakes to choose from. Whether you prefer rose petal cupcakes, a zesty orange drizzle cake or berry and vanilla cheesecake, you’ll find all your tastes catered for. And don’t worry, chocoholics, there’s plenty of recipes for you, too. Every step is illustrated with cool pictures, so this is a great book for beginner bakers.

Ninjago masters of Spinjitzu : character encyclopedia

Lego fan? Check out this cool new character encyclopedia about the heroes and villains of the Lego series Ninjago, which features four young ninjas training hard to defeat various monsters. It will tell you all about each character and the changes they go through as the series progresses. It also goes into great detail about the figures themselves; how they change from series to series, in both appearance and personality. This is a must read for any Ninjago or Lego Fan!

Five minute faces and Wild faces

If you’ve got a Christmas party coming up, and are looking for costume ideas, these books are a great resource. They’ll teach you all the basic skills of face painting, how to run a stall and how to create basic accessories to improve your costume.  The first book, Five Minute Faces, has a whole range of different faces; Miss Muppet, pirate, joker, skull and jester to name a few. The faces in the second book, Wild Faces, focuses more on animal faces and the make up’s more complex.  But if you want to win first place with your tiger costume, this is the book for you!

Make an animation

If you want to be the next Walt Disney, this is the book for you! It talks about the different types of animation, such as traditional hand-drawn animation to stop-motion animation made from ‘found’ objects. It will also show you how to make storyboards and shoot your own masterpieces.

Everyone’s excited about the release of the first of Peter Jackson’s films based on The Hobbit, by J. R R. Tolkien. It is a prequel to the Lord of the Rings, and tells the story of Bilbo Baggins, a hobbit who impulsively goes off on adventure with a group of dwarves and a wizard named Gandalf.  On this journey Bilbo meets elves, orcs and dragons, and finds that he is braver than he ever could have thought. Even today it’s unique among other fantasy books in that its main character is not chosen by destiny to be a hero; rather, he chooses his own path and sticks to his own principles.  It would be unfair to reveal anymore of the plot, but the book itself is well worth reading whether or not you go to the film.

The Hobbit was published in 1937, although it was not an immediate success. While it was loved by the critics, it was not immediately popular with the reading public. The English edition, published by Allen and Unwin, featured illustrations by J.R.R Tolkien himself.  Indeed, the book cover to the left is a picture by J R.R Tolkien.  Not all editions of the book feature his artwork.  We’ve got many different editions of The Hobbit in the library; there’s a graphic novel, one full-cast dramatisation, one  read by a single actor ,  a copy in Dutch, an annotated version, plus all the books about the movie that will be flooding our shelves! Click on the pictures below to check out the books we’ve got in our collection 

 

 

 

 

New non-fiction books to get stuck into. Enjoy!

It’s Always Time for a Nursery Rhyme illustrated by Emma Stuart.

‘Hickory Dickory Dock’, ‘Incy Wincy Spider’ and ‘Hey Diddle Diddle.’ You will find all your favorite nursery rhymes in this new and exciting read! Great for preschoolers!

The Adventures of Achilles by Hugh Lupton, Daniel Morden and Carole Henaff.

This book retells the events of the war between Greece and the city of Troy. Achilles is the son of a king and a goddess and also the best warrior in Greece.  So when Prince Paris claims Helen from a Greek King, and Troy declares war, everyone knows that Achilles will be vital to the Greek cause. This book also includes bibliographical references and comes  complete with two full-length audio CDs. A fantastic book for anyone who is interested and/or studying  Greek Mythology.

Pokemon: Guide to Pokemon Legends.

For anyone who is a fan of Pokemon, this is the book to read! From Arceus to Zekrom, fans will discover dozens of the most renowned Pokémon of all time in this guide.

The Word Witch by Margaret Mahy.

Do you know about the Word Witch? Has she cast her spell over you? Her name is Margaret Mahy. These are her spells. This is a fantastic book of poems aimed for children written by Margaret Mahy through the whole of her literary life and acquired from a number of literary sources including Learning Media and Margaret’s own private papers. Also accompanied by CD of poems performed by Margaret Mahy.

Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Special Edition 2013.

Nothing is stranger that the truth! Can you believe hair that measures more than 20 feet long?, An ocean that turned into a giant bubble bath?, or a tongue so long that it can reach someone’s eyeball? you find all these  bizarre facts, stories, and photographs featuring strange creatures, people, places, and adventures from around the world in the new Ripley’s Believe It or Not Special Edition 2013.

Cheetahs by Sally Morgan.

A great resource to use if you are interested in finding out information of cheetahs. You will discover everything you have ever wanted to know – Where they live, how they grow and learn and the dangers they face. This book contain stunning photos of these beautiful animals in action and locator maps to show where they can be found.  You will also find out amazing facts about the cheetah, for example an adult cheetah weighs up to 65 kilograms, can grow up to 135 centimeters long and its is about 80 centimeters in length.

Big Cats by Annabelle Lynch.

Read and find out all you need to know about the exciting world of big cats. Learn lots of interesting facts like a lion had a very loud roar, a tiger can creep up without being seen and Jaguars have smooth fur and long whiskers. Great for younger children or children who are learning how to read.

Jaguars by Tammy Gagne.

The jaguar is the third largest feline after the tiger and lion, and the largest cat in the Western Hemisphere, but are also at the risk on becoming extinct. This new book by Tammy Gagne allows you find out amazing facts about these beautiful, amazing cats. You will learn  where they live, what they hunt and how they live from day to day.

Weird True Facts: Pets! by Moira Butterfield.

Which cat helped save the lives of dozens of sailors? Who had his horse stuffed? What on earth is an axolotl?

Find out the answers and more in this new exciting read. You will find out all the weird, wonderful and true facts about your common household pets as was as some information about famous animals such as Red Dog from Dampier, Australia, Hachiko, the faithful dog who waited nine years for his master and Simon the cat, who hunted rats on board HMS Amethyst and won a medal for his actions.

Guinness World Records 2013.

Who is smaller – the new shortest man or the heaviest newborn baby? What weighs more – the largest donkey or the heaviest hot dog? The latest Guinness World records is now available with the answers to those questions  and contains lots more of amazing facts and world records. You can also download the FREE Augmented Reality app to see records come to life in amazing 3D. Guinness World Records 2013 is truly a fantastic read.

Train your Brain to be a Maths Genius.

This book is great for anyone who finds Maths a struggle. This book is full of problems, puzzles and fun activites that will boost your brain cells and improve your Maths skills. As a bonus, you will also find information on some of the greatest maths minds in history, from Greek Gods, such as Archimedes, to world War II code-breaker Alan Turning.

The Weird Series by Erin Frankel and Paula Heaphy:

If you are being bullied, know someone who is being bullied or if YOU are the bully, these are the books to read. The WEIRD series consists of three books called WEIRD, DARE and TOUGH which are stories of bullying told from all perspectives: the target, the bystander and the child doing the bullying. The weird series is part of Bully Free Kids – Free Spirit Publishing’s bullying prevention resources just for kids.  An excellent resource for children, parents and teachers with information on how to recognize the signs of bullying, how to prevent bullying and positive messages to build your confidence.

 Weird Science Mad Marvels from the Way-Out World! by Matt Lake and Randy Fairbanks.

Ever wanted to know what’s WEIRD about science? Ever wanted information on two-headed cows, animals with ears on their knees, frogs falling from the sky and scientists from planet Venus? You will find all the answers and more in this amazing book that takes kids on a scientific ride to the wacky side. From Zany Zoology to Medical Mishaps, the creators of Weird U.S., scout out wonders, but mostly of the astonishing or gross out sort facts from all scientific fields. You will also learn find out all about Crazy Chemistry, Freaky Physics, Mysterious Phenomena and much, much more.

Tony Robinson’s Weird World of Wonders: Greeks.

Tony Robinson is back with more from Weird World of Wonders. Why the ancient Greeks were mad about olive oil? Who Pythagoras was? Why Alexander the Great named a city after his horse, Bucephalus? ?How the Greeks invented the first computer, vending machine and death-ray? You will find out all the answers to these questions and more in this action packed read.  If you enjoyed Tony Robinson’s last book on Ancient Egypt and the British, then you will love this one on British history.

 

My First Sewing Book: 35 easy and fun projects for children aged 7 years old + 
Love sewing? Then this is the book for you.You will find in this book 35 projects that will help you learn how to sew. All the instructions and cute step-by-step artworks are easy to follow; plus, each project has a grade so that you can start with easy sewing and move onto using more advanced stitches as you get better at it.

 
Monkeys by Claire Thorp.
Where do monkeys live? Can Monkeys tell lies? What can you do to help the Monkeys?