New Zealand Music Month!

New Zealand Music Month is back again!

May is New Zealand Music Month, which celebrates music from New Zealand, and the people who make it.
So we thought we would share some music, (and picture books) by Kiwi musicians from the children’s collection!

 


image courtesy of nzcurriculum.tki.org.nz

 

For more information, on events and ideas on how to celebrate, visit the following websites:

NZ Music Month official website.

New Zealand Curriculum Online – New Zealand Music Month.

NZ History – New Zealand Music Month.

Enjoy!… and Happy New Zealand Music Month!


 

Songs for Bubbas by Anika Moa.

Move over, The Wiggles! There’s a new (solo) performer, cheeky and beautiful Kiwi songwriter, Anika Moa returns with her albums for children: Songs for Bubbas One and Two. Filled with songs about love, laughter and… animal noises that will keep children… and parents entertained for hours on end!

The albums are half Te Reo Maori, half English. These songs will be enjoyed in every primary school and kindy around the country for years to come.

 

Music box. Vol. 5.

A collection of songs from the NZ Children’s Music Awards performed by various Kiwi musicians.

 

Baby Rock and Rhyme.

Homegrown and performed by Wellington City Libraries’ finest, Baby Rock and Rhyme’s CD contains 33 classic songs and rhymes that babies and parents will enjoy!…

Babies, toddlers and parents can also come, and sign along to these songs during the  weekly interactive sessions of Baby Rock and Rhyme. Available at the following branches:

Miramar Library Tuesday, 10.15am
Island Bay Library Tuesday, 9.30am
Johnsonville Library Wednesday & Thursday, 9.30am
Cummings Park (Ngaio) Library Tuesday, 10.30am
Karori Library Thursday & Friday, 10.30am
Ruth Gotlieb (Kilbirnie) Library Friday, 10.15am
Mervyn Kemp (Tawa) Library Friday, 9.30am


 

Topp Twins Series

Kiwi performers, and sisters, The Topp twins have published picture story books for children featuring the illustrated text, and CD of classic children’s song, which includes:

image courtesy of syndeticsDo your ears hang low?

“The traditional song ‘Do Your Ears Hang Low?’, performed by the Topp Twins,  featuring a number of animals with differently shaped ears, which includes a hound dog, a mouse, lop-eared rabbit, llama, pig, etc”.

image courtesy of sydneticsThere’s a hole in my bucket!

Henry’s bucket has a hole and as Liza gives the instructions on how to fix it, he in turn gives her all the reasons why he can’t.

image courtesy of sydneticsSkip to the loo, my darlin’

“”Skip, skip, skip to the loo, Skip, skip, skip to the loo, Skip, skip, skip to the loo, Skip to the loo, my darlin’!” There’s a hullaballoo down on the farm. Animals are here, there and everywhere—even in the loo. Sing along to this song with Topp Twins Lynda and Jools. The barn animal mayhem includes sheep, cows, chickens, dog, tractor, horse – and a possum!”–Publisher information.

image courtesy of syndeticsOld MacDonald had a farm.

“Old MacDonald had a farm, E-I-E-I-O, and on that farm he had some fun and games and DRAMAS with those rascally, rowdy farm animals! Cluck, moo, woof and hum along to this all-time favourite song by the Topp Twins”–Publisher information.

 

Other NZ picture books, with music CDs:

image courtesy of syndeticsJungle bells / sung by Anika Moa ; illustrated by Stephanie Thatcher.”

Based on the traditional Christmas song Jingle Bells but rewritten (to same tune) as a jungle holiday animal Christmas. Featuring a cast of jungle characters including elephants, hippos, monkeys and even a dung beetle. Recording sung by Anika Moa”–Publisher information.

image courtesy of syndeticsThe Kiwi hokey tokey.

“New Zealand animals all come together to dance to the Kiwi Hokey Tokey. Sheep, Tuataras, Kiwis, you name it!”–From publisher.

You also might like Row, kiwi, row your boat.image courtesy of syndetics


image courtesy of syndeticsThe Wonky Donkey.

An oldie, but a goodie! Winner of the 2010 New Zealand Post Children’s Choice Awards, New Zealand Post Children’s Choice Award, Picture Book Category winner and APRA Children’s Song of the Year, 2008, this very funny, cumulative song, each page tells us something new about the donkey until we end up with a spunky, hanky-panky, cranky, stinky, dinky, lanky, honky-tonky, winky, wonky donkey which will have children in fits of laughter!
You also might like Willbee the Bumblebee. image courtesy of syndeticsWillbee’s yellow and black stripy jumper catches on a thorn and unravels completely, he’s too embarrassed to move. How will he make it home? Suggested level: junior.

image courtesy of syndeticsRow, row, row your waka.

An illustrated picture book and CD audio recording of the song ‘Row, row, row your waka. “New Zealand friends Pūkeko, Kiwi and Hōiho go on a journey. Join them in their waka, perform actions and sing along while you row, row, row. “–Back cover.


 

Non Kiwi Music, (and books) you might enjoy!

Music CDs:

Hits for Kids 2017.

Hits for Kids 2017 features 20 of the hottest hits of the year from some of the biggest names in pop music.

Disney Pixar All time favourites.

Walt Disney Records presents the All Time Favorite songs and scores from favorite Disney-Pixar films in one CD. The album includes music from Toy Story 1, 2, and 3, Cars 1 & 2, Brave, Finding Nemo, and more!

Disney Icon Volume 1,2 3 and 4.

These CDs are part of a series of releases that includes some of Disney’s biggest and best titles from their top animated films.

 

Picture Books… with CDs:

image courtesy of syndeticsHappy!

“Grammy Award winner Pharrell Williams brings his beloved hit song to the youngest of readers in a blend of illustrations and photos of children celebrating what it means to be happy.”–Book jacket front flap.

image courtersy of syndeticsFootloose / music & lyrics by Kenny Loggins & Dean Pitchford.

In this version of the pop rock song “Footloose,” zookeeper Jack joins the zoo animals in an all-night dance party.

7 New Non-Fiction for the school holidays

Hey kids! Check out the latest new children’s non-fiction in the library collection for the first week of the school holidays. Featured in this blog post are books about amazing and inspiring women; music legends, minecraft and lego.

Enjoy!

image courtesy of sydnetics

Amazing women: 101 lives to inspire you.

Discover the stories of 101 extraordinary women of our time. Featuring an international selection of female figures, this carefully curated collection highlights those who have achieved significantly in their fields, ranging from science and politics to sport and the arts. Empowering and inspiring accounts of female pioneers include the likes of JK Rowling, Rosalind Franklin, Beyonce Knowles, Marie Curie, Malala Yousafzai, Angela Merkel and Serena Williams. A beautiful package that rejoices in the remarkable and crucial contributions women have made to our society.

 


image courtesy of sydneticsWomen’s suffrage.

“When people think about the women’s suffrage movement, things like voting rights and protests may come to mind. But what was the movement all about, and what social change did it bring? This engaging nonfiction book, complete with black-and-white interior illustrations, will make readers feel like they’ve traveled back in time. It covers everything from the history of women’s rights in the U.S. to women’s suffrage movements across the world, and more. Find out interesting, little-known facts such as how the suffragists were the first people to ever picket the White House and how the nineteenth amendment granting women the right to vote passed by only one vote when a legislator changed his vote to “yes” after receiving a letter from his mother telling him to “do the right thing.” The unique details, along with the clever interior illustrations, make this series stand out from the competition”– Provided by publisher.

 

image courtesy of syndetics Star Wars: Maker Lab.

Offers young Star Wars fans projects and experiments inspired by the Star Wars universe, including instructions on making Jabba slime, Kyber crystals, and an Ewok catapult.

 

 

 

image courtesy of syndeticsMusic Legends: 40 inspiring icons.

Learn how 40 famous artists and bands became the greatest and memorial legends of their generation, going on to inspire and create new generations and musical sounds. The title doesn’t mince words when it comes to “inspiring.” Hands down, the best guide to the greatest musical acts of all time.

 

 


image courtesy of sydndeticsMinecraft: Guide to PVP Minigames.

When it comes to making minigames for Minecraft, the only limit is your imagination. The official Minecraft Guide to PVP Minigames is full of inspiring minigames for you to rebuild in your own world. Whether you prefer non-PVP combat games like arrow golf and elytra ace or games that let you battle other players like spleef and sky wars, there’s something for everyone.

 

 


image courtesy of syndeticsMinecraft master builder world tour.

Thanks to this truly interactive, step-by-step guide, aspiring master builders can make amazing structures that push the limits of the imagination. From theaters to bridges, every masterpiece here is based on a real construction. Travel to five continents to erect an African palace, an Asian pagoda, a European clock tower, an Australian beach hut, an American diner-and, for a world-class difficult project, an entire mountain village. You’ll get plenty of tricks and tips from expert Minecrafters to help you improve your skills, along with enough fun facts and trivia to delight any Minecraft fan!

 

image courtesy of syndeticsThe LEGO neighborhood book : build your own town!

Check it out, lego fans! A new, fantastic guide full of ideas using lego blocks, not just to create buildings, but also unleash your interior designer skills to create furniture, light fixtures, and so much more!

Singing performance and workshop with the Manawa Ora Children Community Choir

How exciting! A children’s choir will be doing a performance and singing workshop in the central Library, and you can come along!

The Manawa Ora Children Community Choir is a group of young singers who comes together each week to learn music from around the world. In this choir, children are accepted, celebrated and empowered, as they learn to sing in parts and in different languages. They then share their love of music with others by singing at rest homes and community events, and for the first time they will be singing in the library!

Come along and join in for a free interactive performance and workshop!  Children, parents, and grandparents are all welcome. Bookings aren’t required.

 

Saturday 23rd June, 2 – 3 PM,

Wellington Central Library, Ground Floor. at the Wellington Central Library.

 

9 New Non Fiction just in time for winter.

Hey Kids!

Winter is around the corner and Wellington City Libraries is boiling hot… with some new and fantastic junior non fiction busting from the shelves! Books featured in this post are bestselling books that will blow your mind, get you thinking, unleash your creativity and hopefully change your life for the better! As always, our junior non fiction books always aim to keep you informed and entertain you all at once.

Enjoy!

 

image courtesy of syndeticsHarry Potter: A Journey through a history of magic.

Read this book and go an an icredible journey exploring the hisorty of the magic at the heart of the Harry Potter series, as well as explore a collection of magical artifacts featured in the Britisth Library.

 

 

image courtesy of syndeticsAmazing Brick Mosaics : Fantastic Projects to Build with Lego Blocks You Already Have.

Arts, crafts and Lego Bricks comes alive with this amazing book that contains fantastic mosaic projects to build and create with Lego blocks you already have. Highly recommended and a librarian’s choice all the way!

 

image courtesy of syndetics
Good night stories for rebel girls. 2.

The sequel to the sensational New York Times bestseller, Good Night Stories for Revel Girls is an entirely new collection of extraordinary women ranging from Queens, activists, ballerinas, lawyers, inventors, and so much more!

 

image courtesy of syndetics
How to think like a coder without trying.

Want to get into coding but don’t know where to start? This is the book for you! Full of puzzles and exercises that will help you think logically, as well as allow you to put into practice coding skills into everyday situations and opportunities.

 

 

image courtesy of syndeticsVietnamese childrens favorite stories.

The tales chosen for this book share the Vietnamese five great virtues: Nhan (Compassion), Le (Rituals), Nghia (Righteousness), Tri (Wisdom), and Tin (Trust). The author notes that her parents used traditional stories to teach children values and morals. Now the author, who is a story teller, uses the same tales to help Vietnamese children learn their traditional culture and values.

 

image courtesy of syndetics
50 things you should know about the Vietnam war.

“Between the late 1950s and the early 1970s, the United States was drawn into the longest war in its history. Find out how this major conflict developed, learn about the main battles, and meet the key figures on both sides”–Back cover.

 

image courtesy of syndetics
My first Orchestra Book.

Tormod the Troll loves music, but is tired of listening to the same thing repeatedly. He goes in search of more music and meets an orchestra.

 

 

image courtesy of syndeticsApes to Zebras: An A- Z of Shape Poems.

Shapes, animals, poetry and the alphabet are rolled into one with this gorgeous collection of animal poems! Featuring a full alphabet of animals, birds, and insects, with the odd extinct or imaginary creature thrown in, these beautiful shape poems are a perfect way to introduce children to poetry. Some funny, some serious, there is something here for everyone.

 

image courtesy of syndeticsJourneys : young readers’ letters to authors who changed their lives.

Read letters written by young people to authors about how books and poetry have shaped and changed their lives for the better.

5 New Non Fiction for term 2

Hi Kids!

Here’s some more new non fiction just been added to the Children’s collection. Books that will keep you entertained for the start of term 2.

Enjoy!

image courtesy of syndetics101 Dog Tricks.

Packed with step-by-step photos and training tips and techniques, 101 Dog Tricks, Kids Edition will teach you everything you need to know to involve your children in training the family dog.

 

 

 

image courtesy of syndeticsPoetry for kids: William Shakespeare.

A collection of thirty-one of playwright and poet William Shakespeare’s most famous verses, sonnets and speeches.

 

 

 

image courtesy of syndetics
Star Wars: Encyclopedia Of Starfighters and Other Vehicles.

Learn about over 200 of your favourite Star Wars vehicles, from the A-wing to the Y-wing. Want to know how the Millennium Falcon made the Kessel Run in such a short distance? Don’t know your X-wing from your Y-wing? Not sure what type of craft Slave I is? Look no further than the Star Wars Encyclopedia of Starfighters and Other Vehicles. Age 7+.

 

 

image courtesy of sydentics
If you lived here : houses of the world.

Features detailed, bas-relief collage spreads of dwellings in other world regions and historical times to explain how different people live and have lived, from a village house in South Africa to a floating green house in the Netherlands.

 

 

image courtesy of sydnetics
When Paul met Artie : the story of Simon & Garfunkel.

Long before they became one of the most beloved and successful duos of all time, Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel were just two kids growing up in Queens, New York — best friends who met in a sixth-grade production of Alice in Wonderland and bonded over girls, baseball, and rock’n’roll.

 

 

Top 10 Children’s fiction for August 2016

New releases galore on the Children’s fiction front! There is a new Tom Gates adventure, catch up with Liz Pichon’s hero at your library. And what could be on the 78th storey of Andy and Terry’s treehouse? Any one else find this series a really good way to learn their 13 times tables?

 

1. Diary of a wimpy kid series, by Jeff Kinney

2. Tom Gates series, by Liz Pichon

3. Treehouse series, by Andy Griffiths

4. Dirty Bertie series, by Alan MacDonald

5. Dork Diaries, by Rachel Renée Russell

6. Where’s Wally? by Martin Handford

7. The Secret Seven series by Enid Blyton

8. The BFG, by Roald Dahl

9. Matilda, by Roald Dahl

10. The hidden oracle, by Rick Riordan

Just arrived at your local Library: 5 new children’s fiction

Return to Groosham GrangeImage courtesy of Syndetics by Anthony Horowitz

In the wickedly funny sequel to Groosham Grange by bestselling author Anthony Horowitz, someone is trying to destroy David Eliot’s school. A year ago, he’d have been happy to see the end of Groosham Grange and its ghoulish teachers. Now, he’s on course to win the Unholy Grail, a cup of magical power presented to the star pupil. But a series of suspicious mishaps sees the gap between David and new boy Vincent King narrow alarmingly. Someone, it seems, is trying to stop David winning – and, worse, threatening Groosham Grange itself!

 

 

The Misadventures of Max Crumbly, Locker HeroImage courtesy of Syndetics by Rachel Renee Russell

Max Crumbly is about to face the scariest place he’s ever been – South Ridge Middle school! Max has been home-schooled by his grandmother until now, and he’s begged his parents to finally let him start attending middle school. He’s starting to question that choice, though, with the Thomas Silver Problem. As in, the fact that Tommy keeps stuffing Max in his locker. If only Max could be like the hero in all the comics he likes to read – or the ones he draws – and magically escape the locker and defeat Tommy. Unfortunately, Max’s uncanny, almost superhuman ability to smell pizza from miles away won’t exactly save any lives or foil bad guys. But that doesn’t mean Max won’t do his best to be the hero his school needs!

 

 

Girl vs. boy band. The Right TrackImage courtesy of Syndetics by Harmony Jones

When three noisy, mischievous rising stars of a British boy band come to Los Angeles to make their first album, they stay in the home of a record producer and her seventh-grade daughter, a talented but painfully shy singer-songwriter, urged by her best friend to step into the spotlight.

 

 

 

The Harp and the RavenvineImage courtesy of Syndetics by Ted Sanders

Horace F. Andrews and his friend Chloe are Keepers of magical objects of extraordinary power. But as the presence of a new Keeper is made known, they are drawn into a struggle to find out who she is and where her loyalties lie. As Horace and Chloe adjust to their newfound talents – Horace can see the future and Chloe can walk through walls – a girl called April is drawn toward the Keeper stronghold, the Warren. She comes with a Tan’ji of her own, though it is damaged and there is no telling what will happen if it cannot be made whole again. Accompanied by a mysterious woman with a power of her own and the young boy leading them in the right direction, April is being pursued by a pack of sinister hunters.

 

 

CounterstrikeImage courtesy of Syndetics by Peter Jay Black

The Urban Outlaws face their biggest challenge yet. They have to break into the Facility and find the ultimate weapon – Medusa – before Hector does. But there are five levels of security to crack and a mystery room that has Jack sweating whenever he thinks about it. But the clock is ticking. Hector is determined to have the weapon and release doomsday, and it is down to the Urban Outlaws to stop him. Can Jack come up with a plan in time?

 

 

Music Madness at Tawa Library

Tawa Library had a large number of budding musicians at their holiday activity this week.

There were strings galore, double bass, violin, banjo and then the ukuleles’ came out. A big thank you to Rich and Daryl who led the way teaching us musical cords so we were able to join in together to became part of the great Tawa Library Orchestra.

Our musicians started at 3 years of age and went all the way up to 93 years.

Check out the other cool free holidays activities at the Children’s Events webpage.

Tawamusic Tawamusic1 Tawamusic2

Our top 20 children’s CDs

May is new Zealand Music Month, so we though we’d share with you the top 20 most popular CDs from the children’s collection. Here they are:

  1. Frozen Soundtrack
  2. Songs for Bubbas (NZ!)
  3. Surfer Jeff
  4. Baby rock & rhyme (NZ!)
  5. Children’s favourites
  6. Nursery rhymes & children’s songs
  7. World’s best kids songs
  8. 100 sing-along-songs for kids
  9. 75 children’s favourites
  10. Dora rocks!
  11. The LEGO movie
  12. The lion king
  13. Doc McStuffins
  14. Hot potatoes!
  15. Disney’s greatest
  16. Love to sing (NZ!)
  17. Rock & roll preschool
  18. Apples & bananas
  19. Celtic dreamland
  20. Movie magic

 

 

New Non Fiction: Sing yourself Disney

Frozen : music from the motion picture soundtrack.image courtersy of syndetics

“Let it go, let it go.” Now you can sing along and compose your favourite songs from the Disney movie, Frozen with this easy piano music score. Great and ideal for anyone learning to play the piano and a fan of Frozen.

 

 

 

 

Songs from Frozen, Tangled and Enchanted.image courtesy of syndetics

Now is the time to stop sitting around thinking ‘when will my life begin?’. ‘For the first time in forever’, a book was created that contained piano music and lyrics from Walt Disney’s  Frozen, Tangled and Enchanted. This simple and easy piano book will enable you to bring out your inner musician and help you create your own ‘happy working song’ to all your favourite songs.

 

 

 

 

The Disney Collection.image courtesy of syndetics

For all your Disney and music fanatics, check out this amazing collection of over 60 great music scores and songs from all your favourite Disney movies.