Kids Blog

Well summer’s nearly over, but fear not. Wellington City Libraries has a new range of non fiction in the Children’s collection for your enjoyment and pleasure. This month’s blog post pays tribute to fine arts and inspirational lives.

Here you will find a list of books on fine arts that can give you ideas on activities, like drawing, whether it’s drawing a picture or creating your own graphic novel; playing a musical instrument, even if it happens to be a guitar made from a cardboard box  and helping you find a hobby (or a talent).

What about reading about a celebrity who has become famous for their achievements and contribution to writing and entertainment industries, such as Music, Film and Television.  There are two new books published from the series, Inspirational Lives that focuses on influential people and key figures in the public eye. Who knows, maybe reading about their inspiring lives may inspire you to follow your creative dreams and goals.

Fine Arts Series:

More Fine Arts:

Eco-friendly crafting with kids.

Sometimes children prefer to play with household objects, like a cardboard box rather than the latest (and sometimes expensive) toy. This new and exciting read provides 35 bold, fun and colorful projects designed for preschool children up to five years old that can give you ideas on making and creating toys and games with simple household objects. Possible toys and games include making play dough, creating musical instruments, like a box guitar and invisible ink. Accompanied with easy step by step instructions and photographs showing exactly how to create this amazing and gorgeous toys and games.

Telling the story in your graphic novel.

Like graphic novels? Interested in creating your own? You can learn how to draw a  graphic novel by reading this book from the “How to draw your own graphic novel” series. This book shows you how to plan scenes that will create a sense of drama and excitement in your story and different kinds of panels to create the perfect mood.

Draw Fantasy Characters.

Now that you have Telling the story in your graphic novel to create your setting, what about adding characters into the mix? Particularly fantasy characters like an orge, goblin or a zombie?  Or perhaps musical, punk and naughty fairies? This book contains 96 pages of step by step instructions on how to draw everything from a fairy to a vampire.

Crafting and drawing not your talent? What about playing a musical instrument? Did you know playing the piano (or any instrument) is considered a fine art. Check out this new non fiction book from the Usbourne series on how to play the piano.

Very easy piano tunes.

Interested in learning the piano? This book will keep beginner pianists happily entertained while learning new skills and aquiring information about the music. You will learn to play all the songs you know so well which includes The grand old Duke from York, London Bridge is falling down and Silent Night. You can also listen to the tunes in this book on the Usbourne Quicklinks website.

Inspirational Lives.

Discover more about famous people in the Inspirational Lives series.

J.K. Rowling.

We all know her as the best selling author of the Harry Potter series, but what don’t you know? Read the latest and revised biography of J.K. Rowling and find out everything you have ever wanted to know about her:  Her childhood, her inspiration for writing and how Harry Potter came to life. You find information on tips to be a writer, an insight on how J.K. Rowling spends her day and a quiz that can show you if you have what it takes to be an author.

Simon Cowell.

The moment you’ve all been waiting for! The latest and revised biography of Simon Cowell, the man we know for his  blunt and often controversial criticisms, insults, wisecracks about contestants (and his own mother!) and dubbed Mr. Nasty on talent TV shows like American Idol is now available at Wellington City Libraries!   Read all about Simon Cowell, the global music mogul and  creator of popular television  music competition shows of The X Factor and Britain’s Got Talent and find out facts and information that you never thought you knew about him, for example he once swapped his father’s handkerchief in his father’s suit pocket for his mother’s best knickers and how Michael Jackson inspired him with the idea that TV had the potential to sell music.

Here are the most popular children’s comics during the months of February. Is your favourite on the list?

1. Pokemon by Hidenori Kusaka
2. The Complete Peanuts by Charles M Shultz
3. Amulet by Kazu Kibuishi
4. Babymouse by Jennifer L. Holm
5. Chi’s Sweet Home by Kanata Konami
6. Warriors by Dan Jolley
7. Big Nate by Lincoln Pierce
8. The Baby Sitters Club by Ann M. Martin
9. Tiny Titans by Art Baltazar
10. Asterix in Switzerland by Goscinny