Percy Jackson is back on screen!

In case you’ve missed it, the new adaptation of the beloved Percy Jackson series just released and our librarians are understandably excited. Earlier this year, the “What Comes Next?” series started by looking at Percy Jackson since it’s a favourite of many who work here. In that post, we focused on fiction books, but for this one we wanted to highlight that the library has excellent non-fiction choices for myth-mad kids as well.

If you loved the gods, goddesses, heroes and monsters mentioned in Percy Jackson then these pukapuka will help you learn even more about where they came from and what they did. There’s also some books on other ancient stories because the Greeks weren’t the only ones with cool gods and goddesses to learn about!

Complete Greek myths / Brook, Henry
“Comprehensive and beautiful volume of Greek Myths, including maps, glossary and every story you can think of! This comprehensive volume of Greek Myths contains all of the best known myths, told in a detailed and fresh way to alight the interest of any child or adult with an interest in the gods and heroes of Ancient Greece. Beautifully illustrated plates introduce all the characters, story by story, from the most famous to the more obscure.” (Adapted from Catalogue)

Treasury of Greek mythology : classic stories of gods, goddesses, heroes & monsters / Napoli, Donna Jo
“Presents illustrated retellings of classic Greek myths, sharing the stories of Zeus, Aphrodite, Apollo, Athena, Helen of Troy, Perseus, and Medusa, with sidebars for each god, goddess, hero, and monster that link the tales to constellations, history, geography, and culture, and including profiles, a family tree, and other resources.” (Catalogue)

Greek myths / Braun, Eric
“Make the mythology of Ancient Greece come to life for young readers through engaging stories and dramatic photos and illustrations. Discover the gods and goddesses behind the myths and the powers they used to control and change the world. There’s Zeus, the king of the gods who ruled the sky, and Poseidon, the god and ruler of the seas, plus many more.” (Adapted from Catalogue)

Poseidon : earth shaker / O’Connor, George
“Graphically adapts the adventures of the Greek god of the seas, presenting the myth of how Poseidon became the king of the oceans and such stories as Theseus and the Minotaur, Odysseus and Polyphemos, and the founding of Athens.” (Catalogue) While this comic is about Percy’s dad Poseidon there are also comics about lots of the other Olympians, including Zeus, Hades and Athena!

Myths & legends of Aotearoa : 15 timeless tales of New Zealand / Te Ake Ake, Annie Rae
“Fifteen timeless and essential Maori myths and legends are retold by gifted storyteller Annie Rae Te Ake Ake in this stunning, one-of-a-kind treasury.” (Catalogue)

Norse myths / Ralphs, Matt
“Exciting stories, extraordinary creatures, and compelling gods, goddesses, and heroes come together in this compendium of Norse myths – first told long ago by the Vikings. Read about Thor, the god of thunder and how he once disguised himself as a bride to seek revenge on a giant and retrieve his powerful hammer; Mjoelnir, and how Sif, the goddess of fertility had her long golden hair cut off by Loki, the trickster god. (Adapted from Catalogue)

Egyptian myths / Menzies, Jean
“Delve into a world of strange creatures, magical powers, and warring gods in this thrilling compendium of ancient Egyptian stories. With over 30 exciting tales alongside fascinating historical information, this is a must-have introduction for young readers interested in one of the world’s great early civilizations”–Publisher’s description.” (Catalogue)

Roman myths / Braun, Eric
“Make the mythology of Ancient Rome come to life for young readers through engaging stories and dramatic photos and illustrations. Discover the gods and goddesses behind the myths and the powers they used to control and change the world. There’s Jupiter, who ruled from the Roman pantheon and defended the state, and Neptune, the powerful god of the sea, plus many more.” (Adapted from Catalogue)

Cool mythology : filled with fantastic facts for kids of all ages / Croft, Malcolm
“This fun book is a fascinating introduction to world mythology, broken up into handy bite-sized chunks. It covers all the main world mythologies, including Sumerian, Incan, African, Native American, African, Egyptian, Persian, Hindu, Norse and, of course, Greek and Roman. It explores mythological places like Atlantis and various versions of the afterlife, from the idyllic Arthurian Avalon to the rather less pleasant Yomi, the dark and gloomy underworld of Japanese mythology.” (Adapted from Catalogue)

A year full of stories / McAllister, Angela
“This treasury of 52 stories collects a re-telling of myths, fairy tales and legends from around the world, with a story for every week of the year. The book is broken into 12 chapters, for each of the 12 months of the year, and throughout, stories are matched to internationally celebrated dates, including Valentines Day and the International Day of Friendship, as well as seasonal events and festivals.–Publisher.” (Catalogue)

Magazines for Kids: In Print and Online

You might have a stack of books waiting for you to read, but sometimes flicking through a magazine is enough! They are colourful, have interesting bytes of info, and if you want to delve further, there are always more in-depth articles for you to read.

Wellington City Libraries have loads of kids’ mags for you to browse and issue – both as hard copies and online. There is something in the catalogue to cater for every taste. There are also a number of ways you can access these magazines. It’s as easy as tahi-rua-toru!

  1. Selected hard copies of kids’ mags are available at all our branch libraries… come in and have a rummage! Kids’ mags are free to issue on a child’s or young adult card, and are issued for ONE week.
  2. The latest issues of kids’ e-mags are available on OVERDRIVE or LIBBY to borrow using your library card. You can then read them on your device at your leisure.
  3. Have you checked out Press Reader? This is an online newspaper and magazine database that is free for Wellington City Libraries patrons to use, and has a great selection of kids’ mags for you to browse online.

Here’s just a small selection to whet your magazine appetite:

You might like a little bit of everything, why not try:

Overdrive cover K-Zone

It’s jam-packed with fun including movie news, gaming goss, comics and stacks of puzzles, quizzes, activities and posters. Every issue is themed around something special, be it superheroes, videogames or even K-Zoner favourites like pranks and jokes. (Overdrive description)

If tech and gaming is where it’s at for you:

Minecraft world magazine.
“Minecraft World is the essential monthly guide to the planet’s best videogame: Minecraft! In each issue, we’ll be keeping you bang up to date with what’s happening in Minecraft, as well as sharing secrets, essential tips, advice and the very latest news. We’ll be also serving up brilliant Minecraft constructions, expert hints, answering your questions, and packing page after page with as much as we possibly can about the game! Whether you’re playing Minecraft on a computer, a portable device or a games console, Minecraft World is going to be your essential independent guide to getting as much out of the game as possible. And none of the game’s monsters will be safe from us either.” (Catalogue)

Overdrive cover Scratch: Learn to program the easy way,

“Anyone can code. Certainly, writing the next Minecraft or programming complex simulations from scratch will require a deeper knowledge, but anyone and everyone has the potential to learn some basic coding skills, then take those skills and write a simple program. […]

The projects in this magazine are fun, so that kids and adults will enjoy making them, and playing them once they are done. They are also easy to customise, so that novice programmers can take what we have put together, change it and make their own mark.” (Adapted from Overdrive description)

Fun ideas for preschoolers:

Overdrive cover DOT Magazine,

“Aimed at preschoolers, DOT carries stories and games all aimed to foster imagination, creativity and fun in children aged 5 and under.” (Overdrive description)

You want to know how this big, beautiful planet works?

National geographic kids.
“National Geographic Kids magazine – the perfect balance between learning and fun! A must-have for children ages 6 and up. Each issue is packed with colorful photos, games, puzzles, fun features and facts about animals, science, technology, and more.” (Catalogue)

National Geographic little kids.
“National Geographic Little Kids magazine – perfect for children ages 3 to 6. Irresistible photos and simple text to enhance early reading experiences, along with games, puzzles, and activities, that turn playtime into learning time.” (Catalogue)

Is current affairs your interest?

Overdrive cover The Week Junior

“The Week Junior is a brilliant current affairs magazine for children aged between 8 and 14. It’s filled with fascinating stories and information, written to engage curious young minds and encourage them to explore and understand the world around them.” (Overdrive description)

What about animals and pets?

Overdrive cover Animal Tales

“Animal Tales is a children’s animal and poster magazine perfect for animal-loving kids between the ages of six and twelve. It’s filled with heart-warming animal stories, articles that will educate, and an extensive fun and games section- plus a series of six collectible animal posters will be included in each issue.” (Overdrive description)

Are you keen to know how everything works?

How it works.
“Welcome to How It Works, the magazine that explains everything you never knew you wanted to know about the world we live in. Loaded with fully illustrated guides and expert knowledge, and with sections dedicated to science, technology, transportation, space, history and the environment, no subject is too big or small for How It Works to explain.” (Catalogue)

Or maybe the stars and universe is your jam:

Overdrive cover Astronomy for Kids,

“Get 200+ astronomy facts, activities, & fun for kids exclusively from Astronomy magazine.This 100 page special issue includes engaging and fun articles, hands-on STEM activities, and even a 12-page comic by Michael Bakich, Astronomy Senior Editor and longtime planetarium educator.” (Overdrive description)

Does ancient Egypt really interest you?

Overdrive cover All About History Book Of Ancient Egypt

“All About History is the stunningly realised new magazine from the makers of How It Works and All About Space. Featuring beautiful illustrations, photos and graphics depicting everything from ancient civilisations to the Cold War, All About History is accessible and entertaining to all and makes history fun for the whole family.” (Overdrive description)

 

 

New Non fiction and comics!

Hey kids! The School holidays have ended. Winter is around the corner, which means there will be more days spent indoors. Luckily, Wellington City Libraries has some new non fiction and junior comics in the children’s collection to keep you entertained while indoors. Head on down to your local library and grab hold of these books… before someone else does!

Enjoy!

New Non Fiction!

image courtesy of syndeticsA pharaoh’s manual for ruling his lands.

Want to know how to rule the world? No better way to learn than reading about how a pharaoh of Egypt rules his lands. Funny, witty and full of useful information on the history of Ancient Egypt… and how to be a world leader.

image courtesy of syndeticsThe LEGO movie 2 : the awesomest, most amazing, most epic movie guide in the universe!

Everything is the awesomest, most amazing in the universe with The LEGO movie 2 movie guide. Holds information about the characters, vehicles, and locations featured in The LEGO Movie 2.

You may also like Emmet to the Rescue: The Lego Movie 2!

image courtesy of sydneticsJoin Emmet, Lucy, Batman and Unikitty from THE LEGO MOVIE 2 on their new adventures in this exciting book for children learning to read. Packed with images of THE LEGO MOVIE 2 sets and minifigures, this book will get young fans hooked on reading.

image courtesy of syndeticsFearless and Fantastic! Female Superheroes save the world!

“Meet the amazing Marvel Super Heroes who use their powers to help others and save the day. How does superstar pilot and space explorer Captain Marvel protect Earth from alien threats? Why did genius inventor Moon Girl form a crime-fighting duo with a T. rex named Devil Dinosaur? And how did Gamora become the deadliest woman in the galaxy? Discover the amazing stories of all these female heroes and many more, including Ms. Marvel, Spider-Woman, Squirrel Girl, Shuri, Quake, Black Widow, America Chavez, and Storm.”– Provided by publisher.

image courtesy of sydneticsEgyptian Myths.

Discover the Egyptian gods and goddesses and the powers they used to control and change the world. Dramatic photos and illustrations, along with sidebars, facts and infographics help uncover how these myths influenced the culture and daily life of ancient Egypt.

image courtesy of syndeticsGreek Myths.

Make the mythology of ancient Greece come to life through stories of adventure, magical powers and the powerful mighty force of the Greek gods and goddesses who controlled and changed the world forever.

image courtesy of sydneticsRoman Myths.

Discover the Roman Gods and goddesses who used their extraordinary powers to control and change the story forever.

 

New Junior Comics!

im age courtesy of syndeticsHephaistos God of Fire.

Read all about Hephaistos, the god of fire, the latest in the Olympians series by New York Times bestselling author, George O’Connor.

Thrown from Mount Olympus as a newborn and caught by Thetis and Eurynome, who raised him on the island of Lemnos, Hephaistos had an aptitude for creating beautiful objects from a very young age. Despite his rejection from Olympus, he swallowed his anger and spent his days perfecting his craft. His exquisitely forged gifts and weapons earned him back his seat in the heavens, but he was not treated as an equal-his brothers and sisters looked down at him for his lame leg, and even his own wife, Aphrodite, was disloyal. In this installment of George O’Connor’s bestselling Olympians graphic novel series, witness Hephaistos’ wrath in God of Fire as he creates a plan that’ll win him the respect he deserves.

image courtesy of sydneticsMickey Mouse and the fire Eye of Atlantis.

Come along with Mickey, Goofy, and explorer extraordinaire Eurasia Toft for an action-packed adventure, hot on the dangerous trail of an uncharted world! But where there’s action there’s trouble, and our heroes find it with the megalomaniacal Horde of the Violet Hare! Along the way, they’ll uncover new mysteries: Did Earth once have a second moon? Did ancient Atlantis save the planet from a deadly interstellar collision? And, the greatest mystery of all – will Mickey, Goofy, and Eurasia get out of another scrape alive?

image courtesy of syndeticsScooby- Doo Team Up Volume 6.

Scooby Doo and the gang team up with Batgirl, Black Canary, and others as they travel the galaxy solving a number of mysteries.

6 New Non Fiction

Hey kids!

Check more and amazing new junior non fiction books added to the children’s collection at Wellington City Libraries! Check out great books on history, exploring, outdoor adventures and a classic fairy tale retold.

Enjoy!

 

image courtesy of syndeticsMeet the Ancient Egyptians.

With vibrant artwork and snappy text, learning about Ancient Egypt has never been cooler! Get to know the basics on from gods and worship to mummification, with easy, humorous text that is reminiscent of the best-selling Horrible Histories series. James Davies’ stunning artwork and infographics provide a fresh non-fiction approach. Age 6+.

 

image courtesy of syndetics

Also check out Meet the Ancient Romans and get to know the ancient Romans and history in this bright and snappy series. A great way to learn and have a laugh at the same time.

 

 

 

 

image courtesy of syndeticsUltimate explorer guide : explore, discover, and create your own adventures with real National Geographic explorers as your guides.

Filled with in depth information and inspiration, this book will take you on a daring adventure through the land, sea and ski. A great handbook for budding explorers looking for an adventure.

 

 

image courtesy of syndeticsThe New Zealand Wars.

“The story of the 19th century New Zealand Wars, a part of New Zealand’s history that many people wish they knew more about. The book describes how the wars came about, where and when they were fought, who was involved, and how they affected women and children. It explains the emergence of Kīngitanga or Māori King movement, the land confiscations and the story of Parihaka. Other chapters look at war memorials, graves and monuments, the work of the Waitangi Tribunal, how the wars have featured in New Zealand art, music and literature, and how they are being remembered today, including new ways of working towards understanding and reconciliation. The story is told in an accessible way full of fascinating detail, eye-witness accounts, illustrations and little known facts, with lists of websites, resources and books for those who want to discover more.”–Publisher description.

 

image courtesy of syndeticsSnowWhite and the seven dwarfs : a tale from the Brothers Grimm.

This book retells the classic fairy tale of Snow White and the seven dwarfs. Overall a beautifully retold tale with stunning and captivating illustrations. A librarian’s choice all the way!

 

 

 

image courtesy of syndetics101 fun outdoor activities for children : have fun outside!

The pillars of play, explore, learn and arts and crafts come together in 101 outdoor activities for children. Take a journey in the great outdoors with this amazing book filled with 101 activities that will keep you busy from dawn until dusk.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Come on a time travelling adventure!

If you could travel back in time to any point in history, where would you go?

Right back to the Stone age being chased by a saber tooth tiger. Maybe in Ancient Egypt helping build the great pyramids or how about being a Viking sailing on one of their great ships.

What about going the other way – into the future. What do you think our world will be like? Maybe we could be living on Mars!

How do you feel about time travel? Do you think that one day we might be able to travel to any point in time or do you think that’s just weird.

Either way it is fun to read books on time travel and we have heaps of choice for you.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

5 new children’s non fiction to read in term 3.

Here is your chance to discover a hidden world beneath the surface of things. Whether it is what goes on deep within the bowels of a city, what is really going on inside the human body. Or even what is going on right outside your backyard.

 

image courtesy of syndeticsPeeking under the city.

Tall building and bright lights. Honking  and cool water fountains. This is what a city looks like above ground. But what wonders lie beneath? Let’s go below the streets and take a peek.

 

 

 

image courtesy of syndeticsPeeking under your skin.

Arms, leg and a big smile. Waving hands and dancing feet. This is what a person looks like from the outside. But what wonders lie inside? Let’s go below your skin and take a peek!

 

 

 

image courtesy of syndeticsPeeking Underground.

Leafy trees and green grass. Chirping birds and children playing games. This is what the earth looks like above ground.

 

 

 

image courtesy of syndeticsEgyptian Mummy: The Embalmer’s Handbook.

Prepared to be dazzled and spellbound the glorious mysteries of ancient Egypt. Read this and discover a civilisation of the ancient Egyptians and discover how they embalmed their dead. Contains beautiful illustrations, a guide to Egyptian coffins, ‘true or false’ quizzes, and a spectacular gatefold image of the River Nile.

 

 

image courtesy of syndeticsThe beginners guide to netball.

Willing to bring out your inner Silver Fern? This check out this fantastic beginners guide to netball. This book features the basic skills every netballer should be familiar with, no matter what their position. Read about the story of netball as well as Maria’s own journey to becoming an international netball superstar.

 

 

 

New Non Fiction: The Ancient world and toilet humour.

You Can Get Sucked Down An Aeroplane Loo!

If you like Ripley’s Believe it or not, then you will love this book. You Can Get Sucked Down An Aeroplane Loo! will allow you to explore the greatest urban myths, legends and tales of all time and will fill you in once for all whether they are true or false. In other words, this is the book that will teach you how NOT to be a sucker. Overall I enjoyed this book, which was a barrel of laughs. I don’t think you will be surprised of shocked over which blunders are false, however I think the ones that are true will surprise you.

 

 

 

image courtesy of syndeticsimage courtesy of syndetics

Feel like a trip to the Ancient world? Be rest assured that you don’t have to call on Doctor Who to make sure the trip is possible when you have these awesome books right here. Usborne books have done it again with the Visitor’s Guide to Ancient Egypt and Ancient Rome, that is packed with essential time tourist tips on anything and everything you need to know about the Ancient world.

Ancient Egypt covers a wide range of information on how to behave at an Egyptian party and how to make a mummy, while Ancient Rome advises you one what to eat, where to go and how to come back on one piece.

Speaking of coming back in one piece…

 

 

image courtesy of syndetics

Why not check out this awesome handbook The Usborne Official Roman Soldiers Handbook, that provides all the helpful hints and tips on how to survive in Ancient Rome… and if you join the Roman Army. This book also reveals all the gruesome truths of life in the Roman army including what soldiers ate, what they wore and how they lived. Overall I think this book is an excellent read. I feel the witty illustrations complement the text which creates a friendly and accessible introduction to Roman history.

These books from Usborne series are ideal for anyone who is a fan of the Horrible Histories series and has a keen fascination for history.

 

 

 

image courtesy of syndetics

Just joking 5.

Looking for a joke book that is not going to bore you with endless knock, knock jokes? Look no further. This book presents a variety of jokes and facts, including knock-knocks, tongue twisters, riddles, silly animal photos and traditional question and answer jokes. Overall, I think it’s a fantastic book. Loved the jokes. I even managed to have a go at the tongue twisters, some easy, others take a lot of concentration.

Top 10 Non-Fiction for June

Most popular facts for Children:

1.   Star Wars by David West Reynolds

2.   Star Wars character encyclopedia edited by Simon Beecroft

3.   Ripley’s believe it or not!  edited by Rosie Alexander

4.   Beware the Sith by Shari Last

5.   The horrible history of the world by Terry Deary

6.   The LEGO book by Daniel Lipkowitz

7.   Guinness world records 2013 by Craig Glenday

8.   Guinness world records 2014 by Craig Glenday

9.   Treasury of Egyptian mythology by Donna Jo Napoli

10. Wow! dinosaur by Douglas Palmer

Top 10 Non Fiction for May

Favoured fashionable facts

1.  Star Wars character encyclopedia by Simon Beecroft

2.  Ripley’s believe it or not! edited by Alexander, Rosie.

3.  Guinness world records 2014 edited by Craig Glenday

4.  The LEGO book by Daniel Lipkowitz

5.  Treasury of Egyptian mythology  by Donna Jo Napoli

6.  Moshi Monsters by Steve Cleverley

7.  The LEGO movie by Hannah Dolan

8.  See inside the First World War by Rob Lloyd Jones

9.  Art detective by Doris Kutschbach

10. Big book of papercraft by Fiona Watt

 

Most popular non-fiction books in April

Here are the most popular children’s non-fiction books for April! Grab them from your library NOW!

 

1.   Star Wars by David Reynolds

2.   Ripley’s believe it or not! series by Rosie Alexander

3.   Star Wars character encyclopedia by Simon Beecroft

4.   Pokemon ultimate handbook by Cris Silvestri

5.   Treasury of Greek mythology by Donna Jo Napoli

6.   Cat by Juliet Clutton-Brock

7.   The LEGO book by Daniel Lipkowitz

8.   Wow! dinosaur by Douglas Palmer

9.   The Usborne big book of big machines by Minna Lacey

10.  Treasury of Egyptian mythology by Donna Jo Napoli