Top 10 Children’s non-fiction for November 2016

Star Wars fans are having a great lead into the holidays with the release of Rogue One. There are some great materials related to the space epic in the library, some of them remain exclusively in the library! The reference shelf has some amazing paper engineering – known as pop-up books.  If you don’t see the Star Wars : a galactic pop-up adventure on the shelf, ask at a desk and you’ll get to see the glowing lightsaber appear from the pages!

 

1.  LEGO Books, by Daniel Lipkowitz

2.  Minecraft ; The survivors’ book of secrets, by Stephanie Milton

3.  Harry Potter and the cursed child, by Jack Thorne, John Tiffany and J. K. Rowling

4.  Star Wars, by Adam Bray

5.  Star wars ; complete vehicles, by David West Reynolds

6.  Minecraft, by Nick Farwell

7.  Star Wars character encyclopedia, by Simon Beecroft

8.  Guinness world records 2016, edited by Craig Glenday

9.  Lego DC comics Super heroes character encyclopedia, by Simon Hugo

10.Minecraft hacks master builder, by Megan Miller

Top 10 Children’s non-fiction October 2016

What’s so special about October’s most favourite non-fiction library loans?

Literature! It’s been a great year for Children’s literature, with the new Gecko Press Annual filled with stories, songs, poems and illustrations hitting the shelves (find it on the shelf at 828 ANN).

Shakespeare in the library, there’s another performance coming up on December 10 at the Central Library and now…

The Harry Potter play. The much read book is found in the non-fiction section, with the Dewey number: 822 THO (if it’s not being borrowed by some other Harry Potter fan!)

 

But that aside, here were the most borrowed non-fiction items from the library in October:

1. Lego : Awesome ideas, by Daniel Lipkowitz

2. Minecraft : the survivor’s book of secrets, by Stephanie Milton

3. Hacks for Minecrafters : Mods, by Megan Miller

4. Star Wars : absolutely everything you need to know, by Adam Bray

5. Minecraft : Redstone handbook, by Nick Farwell

6. Star Wars character encyclopedia, by Simon Beecroft

7. Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, by Jack Thorne

8. Star Wars, by David West Reynolds

9. Minecraft. Construction handbook, by Matthew Needler

10. LEGO Star Wars character encyclopedia, by Hannah Dolan

Fun Kids’ Fiction: Springtime Reading!

Spring is here, and some sunny days have started happening! YAY! The perfect weather to relax and lose yourself in one of these fantastic new kids fiction books which can now be found at your local library.

 

Quest for JusticeImage courtesy of Syndetics by Sean Fay Wolfe

New players join the game Minecraft every day. But dark forces are at work on the Elementia server, and when Stan, Kat, and Charlie arrive on the scene, they quickly find themselves in peril. The King has passed a law banishing all lower-level players from the server by the next Proclamation Day. Anyone who tries to help the noobs will be silenced. With the natural forces of the game closing in anf the King’s deadline approaching, Stan, Kat, and Charlie must work together to unravel the mysteries of Elementia and lead the battle for justice.

 

 

Dragonfly SongImage courtesy of Syndetics by Wendy Orr

The little girl found under a bush has no name and cannot speak. Is she a miracle child who escaped the raiders, or is she a bad-luck child, the one who called the Bull King’s ship to the island? No one sees the mama-stone around her neck, with the sign of the dragonfly. And only Luki, in training to leap the bulls, knows that she charmed the viper who would have killed him. When the girl turns twelve, she discovers her name – Aissa – and she knows that her one chance to live freely is to become a bull dancer, and be taken away to the island of the Bull King.

 

 

Image courtesy of SyndeticsGorilla Dawn by Gill Lewis

The thrilling, heartbreaking, and inspirational new story from award-winning storyteller Gill Lewis. Deep in the heart of the African jungle, a baby gorilla is captured by a group of rebel soldiers. Imara and Bobo are two children also imprisoned in the rebels’ camp. When they learn that the gorilla is destined to be sold into captivity, they swear to return it to the wild before it’s too late. But the consequences of getting caught are too terrible to think about. Will the bond between the gorilla and the children give them the courage they need to escape?

 

 

Image courtesy of SyndeticsWilf the Mighty Worrier is King of the Jungle  by Georgia Pritchett

Things Wilf was worried about before: 1) Fish sucking his toes when he goes for a paddle 2) Garden gnomes coming to life 3) Losing his ‘How to Stop Worrying’ leaflet. Things Wilf is worried about now: 1) Alan coming on holiday with him 2) Alan raising an army of terrifying animals in his quest for world domination 3) Being the only person who can stop Alan. As usual.

 

 

Image courtesy of SyndeticsThe Hundred-Mile-An-Hour Dog, Master of Disguise by Jeremy Strong

Streaker, the fastest dog in the world, is on the run again!  There’s a mysterious pet-napper at large, Dad wants to send Streaker to behaviour boot camp and Trevor and Tina think they can save her with hair extensions and dye! No wonder Streaker’s desperate to escape!

Top 10 Children’s Non-Fiction September 2016

Harry Potter in the Non-Fiction section? What’s going on?

As the new Harry Potter book came out in the format of a play, or script, it can be found with other theatrical greats in the literature section where the other plays hang out.  The play version of The Witches by Roald Dahl hangs out there along with Shakespeare!

 

1. Minecraft, by Stephanie Milton

2. LEGO, by Daniel Lipkowitz

3. Minecraft, by Megan Miller

4. Star Wars, by David West Reynolds

5. Minecraft, by Nick Farwell

6. Harry Potter and the cursed child, by Jack Thorne, J. K. Rowling and John Tiffany

7. Star Wars character encyclopedia, by Simon Beecroft

8. Minecraft, by Matthew Needler and Phil Southam

9. Small scenes from a big galaxy, by Vesa Lehtimaki

10. How Maui found his father and the magic jawbone, by Peter Gossage

Minecraft fiction for Children

Love Minecraft? We know that heaps of you are block-mad. Did you know that there is a new series of Minecraft chapter books called The Elementia Chronicles? Perfect for ages 8+; there are four books in the series:

 

Elementia Chronicles Book 1: Quest for justice by Sean Fay Wolfe

New players join the game Minecraft every day. But dark forces are at work on the Elementia server, and when Stan, Kat, and Charlie arrive on the scene, they quickly find themselves in peril.

The King has passed a law banishing all lower-level players from the server by the next Proclamation Day. Anyone who tries to help the noobs will be silenced.

With the natural forces of the game closing in and the King’s deadline approaching, Stan, Kat, and Charlie must work together to unravel the mysteries of Elementia and lead the battle for justice.

 

Elementia Chronicles Book 2: The new order by Sean Fay Wolfe

President Stan has led his people through an epic battle and brought peace to the Republic of Elementia. But dissent is rippling through the countryside.

King Kev’s loyal followers are still at large, and a new organization, the Noctem Alliance, is poised to strike terror throughout the land.

With new threats on the horizon and citizens of the Republic dividing between two loyalties, Stan must decide the best way forward for his people and stop the Noctem Alliance before it destroys them all.

 

Elementia Chronicles Book 3, Part 1: The dusk of hope by Sean Fay Wolfe

President Stan and his council are joined by a mysterious adversary in their efforts to reunite and gain freedom for the server-based Republic of Elementia.

 

 

Elementia Chronicles Book 3, Part 2: Herobine’s message by Sean fay Wolfe

The final chapter of the Elementia Chronicles Series.

President Stan and his council are joined by a mysterious adversary in their efforts to reunite and gain freedom for the server-based Republic of Elementia.

 

 

About the Author: Sean Fay Wolfe was 16 years old when he finished Quest for Justice, the first book of The Elementia Chronicles trilogy; and 17 when he finished the second book. He is an avid Minecraft player and loves creating action adventure tales in its endlessly creative virtual world. Sean lives with his mother, father, grandmother, two brothers, three cats, and a little white dog named Lucky.

 

Top 10 Children’s Non-Fiction for August 2016

Lego, Minecraft and Star Wars are yet again leading as the favourites of the Children’s non-fiction world.  But… Language books are a really cool part of the non-fiction collection. First readers in Maori nearly squeaked into the Top 10 this month.  So for those of you practicing the Reo you can find a good start in these pukapuka. Ka wani ke! (Awesome!)

 

1. LEGO, by Daniel Lipkowitz

2. Minecraft, by Stephanie Milton, illustrated by Joe McLaren

3. Star Wars, by Adam Bray

4. Star Wars character encyclopedia, by Simon Beecroft

5. Minecraft, by Nick Farwell

6. Small scenes from a big galaxy, by Vesa Lehtimaki

7. Minecraft hacks master builder, by Megan Miller

8. Minecraft, by Matthew Needler and Phil Southam

9. Star Wars, by David West Reynolds

10. Lego Star Wars in 100 scenes, by Daniel Lipkowitz

8 New Children’s Non Fiction to read during August – Part Two.

Impress your friends and teachers further by surprising them with some amazing new facts about animals, world history, science and Minecraft.

Stumped on where you’re going to find these facts? From these amazing 8 new books the library has just purchased.

Get your hands on them before someone else does.

 

image courtesy of syndeticsMy first book about our world.

Read this book and find all you need to know about the wonders that take place in our world, like what makes it rain, where do penguins live and how many oceans there are. You will learn fantastic things about our world and at the same have fun doing the quizzes and puzzles enclosed in this book.

 

 

image courtesy of syndeticsMinecraft : redstone and transportation.

Learn how to use redstone to build advanced Minecraft structures such as automated doors and powered mine carts.

 

 

 

 

image courtesy of syndeticsCars, trucks and trains.

Have you ever wondered why and how the car was invented? From steam cars and trains to experiments with rocket powered and flying cars, It’ll Never Work: Cars, Trucks and Trains explores the history and development of vehicles that have led to the comforts of modern passenger transport that we know today. Each title in this exciting, high-interest series looks at a different area of technology and engineering and reveals the pioneering ideas and scientific thinking that enabled its development, as well as exposing those that proved to be a dead end. Each spread examines a particular example in depth, bringing in other similar ideas where relevant, and revealing that experimentation and failure often pave the way to technology success.

 

image courtesy of syndeticsDK findout! Animals.

DK findout! Animals is full of interesting facts about the animal kingdom. With beautiful photography, lively illustrations, and key curriculum information, the DK findout! series will satisfy any child who is eager to learn and acquire facts – and keep them coming back for more! It is packed with up-to-date information, fun quizzes and incredible images of mammals, birds, fish, & reptiles. Discover what makes up a bird, how animals use camouflage to hide, and which animal spends the longest time in bed.

 

image courtesy of syndeticsMinecraft Beginner’s Guide.

Minecraft is more than a simple video game. It is also a creative tool that allows players to build and explore their own virtual worlds. A bit of a novice when it comes to Minecraft? Have no fear, this book will bring you up to speed on everything you need to know about Minecraft.

 

 

image courtesy of syndeticsDK findout! Dinosaurs.

DK findout! Dinosaurs is full of dinosaur facts supported by beautiful photography, lively illustrations, and key curriculum information. It is packed with up-to-date information, quizzes, fun facts and incredible images of all their favourite dinosaurs. Discover how fossils are formed, find out which was the biggest dinosaur, and what was the size of a cat. DK findout! Dinosaurs will let children uncover the ancient animals of our planet.

 

image courtesy of syndeticsThe Usborne Medieval World.

A lavishly illustrated guide to the medieval world, covering the years 500 to 1500 and following events worldwide including the Crusades, Marco Polo’s travels to China, the Maya, Aztecs and Samurai, as well as medieval knights and explorers.

 

 

 

image courtesy of syndeticsHome lab : exciting experiments for budding scientists.

Want to unleash your inner mad scientist.? Homelab can help you with that.  This book will how you how to create fantastic projects, ideal from science fairs using everyday materials that you can find in your own home. Great for science projects and homework.

 

 

7 new back to school children’s non-fiction you must get your hands on!

The holidays may be over, but have no fear, Wellington City Libraries always has fantastic new books in stock for your viewing and reading pleasure. Come on down to your local library and check out what’s new in our junior non fiction collection, especially some must have new reads about the Olympics, which you should get your hands on before the games officially start:

 

image courtesy of syndetics

Travel the world Atlas.

Take a trip around the world and back again where you can  expand your geographical knowledge and stimulate  curiosity with this delightful map book.  Filled with fascinating, bite-sized facts about the landscape and the culture of each geographical region. Great for children over 6 years old.

 

image courtesy of syndeticsSuperbug.

Grab hold of this book and read all about the biggest, fastest, deadliest creepy crawlies on the planet.

 

 

 

IMAGE COURTESY OF SYNDETICSMy Little Book Tractors.

Packed full of cool photos and fascinating facts about tractors. Perfect for reluctant readers and young children interested in tractors and automobiles

 

 

image courtesy of syndeticsPokemon visual companion.

Pokemon madness has taken over the library, especially with the release of this fantastic Pokemon guide. Here is your chance to really catch all the Pokémon you can find, as uncover amazing artwork, fascinating facts and comical anecdotes. This is truly a must have reference for every Pokemon fan!

 

 

image courtesy of syndeticsOlympic Sport: The Whole Muscle-Flexing Story.

From running a marathon to beating your friends at basketball or being the bendiest gymnast around, find out everything you ever wanted to know about sports and games and what it is that makes athletes the best at what they do. A must have read to have in time for the Olympics.

 

 

image courtesy of syndeticsOlympic Expert.

Read this book and discover record breaking sprints of 100m legend Usain Bolt, Gymnast Nadia Comenaeci’s perfect ten, Bob Beamon’s amazing long jump and David Weir’w wheelchair racing heroics and much, much more! This book is also crammed full of facts and statistics, quotes, trivia and lots of other essential information for every Olympic fan. Grab it quick before someone else does.

 

image courtesy of syndeticsMinecraft : the survivors’ book of secrets.

The latest instalment of Minecraft as arrived in the form of  Minecraft : the survivors’ book of secrets. This Official Minecraft book contains collective knowledge of the Survivors – an underground group of Minecraft experts who’ve been around since the early days of alpha. Out in the field you’ll learn how to stalk your enemies, how to master the art of practical munitions and how to crush any opponent in hand-to-hand combat.

Top 10 Children’s non-fiction July 2016

Minecraft domination! This game has taken over the top ten this month!

Other popular books from the libraries’ non-fiction collections covered Arabic language and Matariki. We’ve been having some great clear skies in the evening, giving you a chance to spy out the constellations in our winter sky.

Arabic language books are part of the foreign language collection in the Children’s non-fiction.  There are stories in different languages from around the world as well as dictionaries and books that help with learning a new language.

You don’t have to travel far to use other languages as we are lucky to have people from many different countries living in Wellington.  Great phrases to have handy are “hello and goodbye, please and thankyou”.  Did you know that New Zealand has three official languages? Te Reo. English and Sign Language.

How many languages can you say  these words in? Let us know in the comments.

Ka kite!

 

Here’s your Top 10 for July 2016:

1. The LEGO ideas book, by Daniel Lipkowitz

2. Minecraft: beginner’s handbook, by Stephanie Milton, Paul Soares, Jordan Maron and Joe Bolder

3. Star Wars, David West Reynolds

4. Star Wars character encyclopedia, by Simon Beecroft

5. Minecraft: redstone handbook, by Nick Farwell

6. Minecraft hacks master builder, by Megan Miller

7. LEGO play book, by Daniel Lipkowitz

8. Hacks for Minecrafters, by Megan Miller

9. Minecraft, by Matthew Needler and Phil Southam

10. Cool creations in 35 pieces, by Sean Kinney

Top 10 Children’s Non-Fiction for June 2016

There are some great illustrations in Under earth; under water.  Explore the world beneath your feet or kayak! Under the earth there are root systems, pipes for water, electricity and the internet, insect and animal burrows and more!

Books on cats and dogs were runners up to the Top 10.  Who has a favourite pet at home? Maybe you have something other than a cat or a dog? Who has the strangest pet out there? Brothers or sisters aren’t classified as pets!

1. LEGO, by Daniel Lipkowitz

2. Minecraft, by Stephanie Milton

3. Star Wars, by David West Reynolds

4. Minecraft, by Nick Farwell

5. Minecraft, by Matthew Needler and Phil Southam

6. Small scenes from a big galaxy, Vesa Lehtimaki

7. Minecraft hacks master builder, by Megan Miller

8. Lego Star Wars in 100 scenes, by Daniel Lipkowitz

9. Minecraft blockopedia, by Alex Wiltshire

10. Under earth; Under Water, by Aleksandra Mizielinska and Daniel  Mizielinska