food

New non-fiction stuff to make

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The brilliant book of easy recipes

If you’ve ever wanted to learn to cook, but been too intimidated, then have no fear: there is a book for you.  There’s a great range of easy, delicious recipes for you to make, and most of them you should be able to make on your own, without needing a parent looking over your shoulder! Although asking for help isn’t a bad thing, of course. But you might want to keep everything you make to yourself, as there’s some really yummy treats in here, like marshmallow fingers and quesadillas.

 

The brilliant book of Easy crafts

Like the previous book in this series, this a simple book for crafters beginning in crafting. It’s perfect for younger children, as most of the projects aren’t really that difficult.  What’s great about this book is that chapters are arranged by types of project, so if you feel like making a mask or a puppet you can find what you want easily.

 

Rock star style: fun fashions you can sketch

Lights! Camera! Action! Learn how to draw the latest celebrity fashions with this cute book.  The fashions are wild but there’s plenty here to appeal to everyone. Each design is named after a genre or type of musician, from “cross-over artist” to “rock royalty.”  If you’re just starting out drawing, then you might find this book a little tricky, but it’s certainly good inspiration and something to challenge yourself. But this is a great book for any budding fashionista.

 

My first knitting book

Winter’s nearly over, so surely you don’t want to be spending your time stocking up on winter woolies, right? Luckily for the more DIY inclined among you, this book is packed full of cute things to knit like soft toys and Ipod covers.  Perhaps you might want to work on these projects during the summer so by the time winter rolls around again (we do live in Wellington, after all!) you’ll be ready to make hats and scarves for you and your friends.

 

 

Sewing for kids

Knitting not for you? Take a look at this book.  As well as having lots of fun projects (mostly toys and stuff for your room) it will teach you the basics  of both hand and machine sewing. It’s a great book for beginners, although there’s enough here to interest ardent sewers of all abilities.

 

 

Craft it up: Around the world

Travel around the world without leaving your house; this book has projects from many countries, and all of them cute and colourful. There’s a ton of different types of craft represented, so this is a good book if you’re looking for a bit more of a challenge.

 

 

Odd Stuff: Hot chip vending machine

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Belgium has long claimed their fries (which they call frites) are the best in the world and now they can prove it with the first ever vending machine that cooks you yummy hot fries.

We’ve all seen the usual vending machines that have drinks, chocolate and junk food in them, but imagine being able to get hot chips!

The machine fries the chips for you in 90 seconds in either vegetable oil or beef fat (the belgium standard), and you can even get a fork, and tomato sauce or mayonnaise on your chips.

One 135 gram pot of hot chips will cost your €2.50 ($4.20 NZ Dollars).

Hungry yet?

 

New non-fiction: Cooking up a storm

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Here’s a great selection of cookbooks  for younger readers.

Cook it! 30 delicious recipes for scientists of all ages

This book is written by the “Punk Scientists”; three wacky guys who love science and cooking and try to bring the two together. All the recipes are easy, but look pretty delicious.  They’re mostly ‘classic’ recipes, like spaghetti and pizza and muffins, but there are some trickier recipes as well, like Baked Alaska and chicken casserole. But it’s not just a cookbook; there are plenty of science factoids that go along with the recipes, as well as some fun experiments in the back for you to try.

 

 

 

 

Christmas fairy cooking

Ok, so it’s a bit early for books about Christmas cooking. But this book is so adorable that I couldn’t resist including it here. It’s also filled with things you could make all year round. It’s mostly made up of sweet treats; my particular favourites are mini raspberry swirls and frosty fairy fudge.  None of the recipes are complicated, and all the ingredients are easily available. It’s also a lovely looking book, with a mixture of cute photos and illustrations in pastels.

 

 

 

 

Princess Poppy’s Cookbook

Princess Poppy is a popular series of picture books in our collection. Now Poppy and her friends will show you how to cook all sorts of delectable treats, both sweet and savory.The recipes are divided by occasion, rather than by meal type, but it’s pretty easy to find what you’re looking for. The illustrations are really cute, as they’re done in the same style as the picture books. There’s also a wide range of food to make; the sticky sausages and Daisy’s Fruity Banana split sound really good! And while you’re waiting for your food to cook, you can whip up one of the adorable craft projects that are also included.

 

 

 

One world kids’ cookbook

If it’s your turn to cook  dinner and you want something out of the ordinary, then you should turn to this cookbook.  It promises “easy and healthy” meals from around the world, and it delivers! There’s a section of information about each country, and then a typical national dish.  New Zealand even features, with a yummy kumura recipe. I think what makes this book really unique is the variety of the different countries mentioned; try Jolof Rice from Ghana or salmon stew from Brazil.

 

 

New Non Fiction: Ready, Steady, Cook!

Katie

Almost two-thirds of the winter has now gone!  We have had cold and nasty periods of gale winds, hail, snow, rain and storms in the Capital. So now that the school holidays have started, why not come in from the cold and check out Wellington City Libraries’  new range of cooking and baking non fiction in the Children’s collection for your enjoyment and pleasure.

Our new range of cookbooks contains information on how to make an assortment of savories and sweets for ideal for breakfast, lunch, dinner, snacks parties, and high tea. Also included are ideas on how to make Italian dishes, Kiwiana themed cupcakes, Narnian themed food and meals that meet the nutritional guidelines  of healthy eating.

Fancy some Italian…

The Silver Spoon for Children.

Fancy some Italian this winter? This delightful book holds 40 Italian recipes adapted from The Silver Spoon by a specially commissioned expert on children’s food and nutrition. The recipes have been chosen for their simple instructions, fresh and healthy ingredients and delicious flavor, and are guaranteed to appeal to the fussiest of children, so parents can rest easy knowing that their children will be eating healthily. You will learn how to make your own pizza, spaghetti and ice cream. Every step is described and illustrated to make the recipes easy to follow and there are photographs so that you can see what the finished dishes are suppose to look like.

 

 

Take a trip back to Narnia…

The Unofficial Narnia Cookbook.

We all know the series (and the movies). Have you ever wished you could travel through the wardrobe and simply taste some of the wondrous food featured? With The Unofficial Narnia Cookbook, you can recreate the delicious meals from Narnia in the comfort of your own home without worrying about the White Witch or epic battles. Menus include more than 150 easy-to-make recipes for breakfast, snacks, lunch, dinner, and of course dessert. Relive the magical and glorious world of Narnia as you cook your way through foods so good, you’ll think Aslan delivered them himself.

If you’re visiting your local library, you might also want check out the books and the DVDs.

Books: The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe, Prince Caspian, The Voyage of the Dawn Treader, The Silver Chair, The Horse and his boy, The Magician’s Nephew and The Last Battle.

DVDs (BBC): The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe, Prince Caspian and The Voyage of the Dawn Treader and The Silver Chair

DVDs (Motion Picture): The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe, Prince Caspian and The Voyage of the Dawn Treader.

 

Simple, easy (and healthy recipes) for kids…

4 Ingredients Kids.

This is a cookbook that all health conscious parents should read (or perhaps own.) 4 Ingredients Kids is loaded with healthy and fun recipes that will encourage kids to eat healthily without spending a fortune nor taking hours to make. I was very impressed with how the author, Kim McCosker has come up with imaginative themed recipes for children, like Volcanic eggs, grape wands  and Cinderella’s pumpkin soup that makes meal times fun and enjoyable. I also liked the idea for creating butterfly themed snack bags, (see the recipe for Play Date Buddies.)

 

 

Cookbooks by Sabrina Parrini.

Little Kitchen.

In the mood for quick after-school snacks, impressive dinners and sweet desserts. Then look no further. Little Kitchen is a beautifully designed and photographed collection of forty recipes for children aged six years and up. With clear, step-by-step instructions, each recipe will teach you how to make all the tasty treats you long to  eat and when to ask a grownup for help. Included are recipes for: Little Egg and Bacon Breakfast Pies, Minestrone, Yummy Mini Burgers, Meatballs, Tutti Frutti Salad, Gingerbread Snowflakes, and more! Yum!

 

 

Half-Hour Hungries.

Got the munchies? Want an easy meal in less than 30 minutes? Then Half-hour Hungries is the book for you! This book contains information on 36 awesome dishes for kids to make when the time is short, like Nacho-flavoured popcorn, Sloppy Joes and Croque Monsieur that are bound to satisfy rumbling tummies.

 

 

 

 

Celebrating Kiwiana…

Party Food for Girls.

Sugar and spice and all things nice. That’s what little girls are made of. And this book goes to show that the proof is definitely in the pudding. (No pun intended)  Written by Italian-born, New Zealand based food writer and travel journalist, Alessandra Zecchini, Party Food for Girls is perfect for girls who want to create scrumptious sweet treats, like teapot biscuits, and healthy snacks, like lavash salad rolls for birthday parties and high tea events.

 

 

 

Kiwiana Cupcakes, Cake Pops and Whoopie Pies.

“Kirsten Day does cupcakes, cake pops and whoopie pies Kiwiana-style, creating delectable treats to celebrate our Kiwi culture. In full colour with never-fail recipes, tips and hints, advice on Kiwiana styling and variations on design.” – Publisher information. Day’s take on Kiwiana styling of cupcakes is fantastic, especially with the Chocolate Kiwi, Chocolate Kiwifruit, Tomato sauce bottle and even Fish and Chips themed cupcakes. This book puts all cupcake recipes you know and heard of to shame.

 

New Non Fiction for the school holidays: Absolute Gems, animal adventures, eating like a dinosaur and learning how to be a superhero.

Katie

Well another term has ended and the school holidays are here.  Luckily for you, Wellington City Libraries has stocked up on precious gems also known as new non fiction books to keep the boredom busters at bay, especially with all the cold and miserable weather we have had lately.

This month’s blog post introduces you to instruction manuals on how to be a superhero (or an evil genius) and how to eat like a dinosaur, books that features some of the cutest animals on the planet, fairy tales around the world and traveling back in time to visit ancient historical lands, monuments and important figures that changed the world forever.

101 Things to do to become a Superhero… or evil genius.

Well kids, there has finally been a book released that many evil geniuses would attempt to destroy. 101 Things to do to become a Superhero… or evil genius. that not only tells you  all about the 101 things to do to become a Superhero… or evil genius, but probably what  Superman, Batman, Spiderman and every superhero you know and heard of had to go through while they were superheroes in training. And excellent timing with the school holidays coming up and the release of the movie, Man of Steel. 101 Things to Do to become a Superhero has been praised on Amazon as “an absolute gem.” The book includes information on what you need to transform yourself from mere mortal into exciting, dynamic total superhero material. So what you are you waiting for, don’t waste time as a mere mortal, begin your transformation today.

 

 

An Illustrated Treasury of Scottish Folk and Fairy Tales.

Ready for another “absolute gem?” If you are bored with Fairy tales, Greek mythology and enjoyed Spellbound: Tales of Enchantment from Ancient Ireland, a collection of Irish Folk Tales a reviewed in a previous post? How about a dose of Scottish Folk Tales? Check out this  wonderful treasure filled with stunning illustrations that holds a collection of eleven stories that brings Scottish folk tales and tradition to life. Fantastic themes of magic and enchantment that are that will make you EVEN more spellbound! Great for kids aged 6 to 9 years, who love adventure, romance and talking animals.

Also check out Nessie the Loch Ness Monster.

 

 

A little book of sloth.

Brace yourself for cuteness! If you have a weakness for cute, baby animals (like myself), then cozy up with adorable baby sloths in this irresistible photographic picture book during the school holidays! British filmmaker and sloth expert Lucy Cooke has produced this book that takes you behind the scenes of what goes on at Avarios Sloth Sanctuary in Costa Rica, the world’s largest sloth orphanage. Complete with with  hilarious, heart-melting photographs of sloths (Babies and Adults – A couple of charming photos of sloths dressed in oneises!), you will get to know the delightful residents of the at Avarios Sloth Sanctuary and become more knowledgable of the laziest and one of the cutest animals on the planet. A delightful addition to our libraries and a treat for adults and children during the school holidays.

WARNING: Baby sloths can be highly addictive. Prepare yourself for cute overload.

 

 

 The secrets of stonehenge.

In the mood for some time travel? Travel back in time 5,000 years and more to relive the mysteries and secrets of one of the greatest ancient monuments in the world! You will discover the very first henge, dug out with antler-horn picks and find out about the Amesbury Archer, buried with his archer’s wrist-guard and flint arrowheads. This is a great resource that can help you with your homework and answer every question you ever wanted to know about Stonehenge, for example why was this amazing monument erected? How did our Stone-Age ancestors bring such massive stones to the site from so far away? How did they raise the enormous stones to their upright positions? What was Stonehenge used for, and who lived around the site?

 

 

Eat like a Dinosaur: Recipe and guidebook for gluten-free kids.

This is a book that parents should have if they have children that suffer from gluten intolerance and food allergies. In Eat Like a Dinosaur, you will find over a 100 kid-approved recipes and projects that are free of grains, dairy, soy and refined sugar that will steer your child toward meats, vegetables, fruits, nuts and healthy fats. For those with food allergies, the top 8 allergens have been visually marked on each recipe for children to self-identify recipes that may contain eggs, nuts, fish, or shellfish.

 

 

The Romans: Gods, Emperors and Dormice.

This book is great resource that gives children a basic introduction to the history of the rise and fall of the Roman empire. Blended with illustration and text in the form of a graphic novel, you will read and find out who Romulus and Remus were, discover what happened to Julius Caesar and experience life what happened during the times of Ancient Rome.

 

 

 

 

Funny Bums.

Ever wanted to find out why some animals have funny bums? This is a fantastic picture book  for younger children answer this question and gives insight to the rear ends of animals that comes in many shapes and sizes. None of them are boring and maybe some that funny. Great book to use as a learning tool and for a laugh. Great for primary school age.

 

 

Odd stuff – England Crowned World Egg Throwing Champs

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I’m not kidding. There is such a sport and it even has world champs, which the team from England have just won.

Teams from the Netherlands, Germany and Japan took part in the event which was held in Lincolnshire

The competition involves two teams throwing eggs at each other over different distances – one team throws and the other catches without dropping it or smashing it. The winning team is the one who catching the egg intact.

The English team won with a throw of 58metres!

 

Don’t believe me? Here’s a video to prove it.

Amazing things to make – New non-fiction

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Little Cakes and cookies to bake

According to the author “little cakes are easier to make than big cakes, because you are handling smaller quantities.” This makes the book perfect for the beginner baker. All the recipes have great illustrations  that take you through the stages of baking step by step. There are lots of different yummy recipes to try, and they’re all a bit different to what you might find in your average baking book! A mouthwatering read for all the aspiring bakers.

 

 

 

Half-Hour hungries

For something a little more substantial, you might want to check this awesome book. Its focus is on dishes that are quick, healthy and tasty.  Whip up a Knickerbocker  Glory,  chicken satay skewers, nacho flavoured popcorn or a Mont Blanc. All these sound complicated and fancy , but the recipes are easy to follow. There are plenty of delicious choices, and perhaps after you see how simple everything is to make, you’ll never want to eat take out again.

 

 

 

Have fun with Arts and Crafts: animals

Winter is coming and so is the rainy weather. Beat the ‘stuck-inside-on-a-weekend-blues’ with these great craft projects. My favourite projects are the bendy monkeys made from pipe cleaners and pompoms, and the cute cake-pop piglets! You can make most of these projects with things you’ll probably already have around the house, so you won’t have to brave the rain to head out for crafting supplies. They’re fun and easy projects and you probably won’t need an adult hanging over your shoulder, interrupting your crafting time.

 

 

 

Tricks: rad stunts and sneaky pranks

This book is aimed at kids but any adult would be proud to know some of these tricks.  But ‘tricks’ doesn’t quite do the book justice; there’s plenty of skills and things to make.  These range from the simple (walk on your hands!) to the complex (booby trap a bathroom).  There are also some great pranks. Something fun to fill up your days when the weather turns.

 

 

 

Print it!

Bored with your wardrobe or your decor? How about customising a boring t-shirt with a rainbow print of your favourite animal? Or making some personalised stationary. The rainbow sneakers are awesome, too! This is a great book for beginner crafters, but make sure you put plenty of paper down before you rip into the paint.

 

 

 

 

 

The Lego adventure book

A must read for any Lego fanatic, this book will take you through different and amazing ways to make Lego models.  This book is made from the contributions of the best Lego builders in the world, and it really shows! No matter your favourite setting -Steampunk, medieval or science fiction- there’s something cool for you to make.  The builder also talks about how they come up with their ideas and share a few techniques for you to use in your own building.

Three Bears Breakfast at the Central Library

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We have a very cool event happening to celebrate NZ Book Month – fancy having breakfast and stories at the library…?

You are invited to The Three Bears Breakfast on Saturday 9th March, 10.30 am at the Wellington Central Library. This free event is perfect for children and families of all ages. Come along and listen to stories (including brand new book ‘The Three Bears Sort Of’ by NZ authors Yvonne Morrison and Donovan Bixley. Breakfast will be supplied (thanks Uncle Tobys and Meadow Fresh!) so you can munch happily while listening to great stories read aloud by talented superstar librarians. Fun fun fun!

Calling all scientists!

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Have you heard about The Great NZ Science Project? Now’s your chance to get behind science and help New Zealand decide how we use it to invest in our future. Explore areas of interest and join the debate. The future of science in New Zealand is in your hands.

Important and leading NZ scientists have teamed up with our best free-thinkers -you guys, to figure out what science areas NZ should be focusing and spending our money on.

There are lots of ideas and projects suggested in the areas of

In each of these areas you can find out about what’s happening, what could happen in the future and why it’s important for scientists to work in these areas. There are heaps of facts and videos to watch. The videos are really cool, I reckon you should watch them.

Then you get to vote and write your opinion on whether you support science developments in these areas, which areas you think are most important and, coolest of all, you get to tell the scientists what you think they should be working on.

If you have an idea for a project for NZ scientists you can suggest it and you never know, an awesome scientist out there might think it’s a good idea and start working on it -Cool!

 

The Great NZ Science Project is on Facebook and Twitter for you to like, follow, post and comment.