New fiction for children – Get your hands on them now!

More new books! It’s like they are just flying in the doors simply so they can fly back out again in your hands. You know what to do… find them in your local library or seek them out on our catalogue.

 

Image courtesy of SyndeticsPAX by Sara Pennypacker “After being forced to give up his pet fox Pax, a young boy named Peter decides to leave home and get his best friend back”– Provided by publisher.

 

 

 

 

Image courtesy of SyndeticsWaiting for Callback by Perdita and Honor Cargill Geek Girl meets Fame meets New Girl in this brilliantly funny new series! When Elektra is discovered by an acting agent, she imagines Oscar glory can’t be far away, but instead lurches from one cringe-worthy moment to the next! Just how many times can you be rejected for the part of ‘Dead Girl Number Three’ without losing hope? And who knew that actors were actually supposed to be multi-lingual, play seven instruments and be trained in a variety of circus skills? Off-stage things aren’t going well either – she’s fallen out with her best friend, remains firmly in the friend-zone with her crush and her parents are driving her crazy. One way or another, Elektra’s life is now spent waiting for the phone to ring – waiting for callback. Can an average girl-next-door like Elektra really make it in the world of luvvies and starlets?

 

Image courtesy of SyndeticsThe nine lives of Montezuma by Michael Morpurgo This is the story of the nine lives of a very special cat, from impetuous young kitten to the king of the farmyard. Wherever Montezuma goes, adventure and excitement are sure to follow.

 

 

 

Image courtesy of SyndeticsElectrigirl by Jo Cotterill Holly Sparkes was just your average 12-year-old, that was, until she’s hit by a bolt of lightning. Now Holly is EXTRAordinary. Like a human battery Holly can generate a massive amount of electricity in seconds, which could come in handy if she’s ever going to solve the mystery of her best friend’s disappearance. Because when you’re dealing with the likes of Professor McAvity and her mysterious CyberSky corporation, you need all the help you can get!

 

Image courtesy of SyndeticsJust my Luck by Cammie McGovern Since entering fourth grade, Benny Barrows worries that he will never be good at anything, that he is responsible for an accident that sent his father to the hospital, and that his attempts at winning a school contest will never be noticed.

7 New Children’s Non Fiction

Ghoulish Get-Ups.

Whether you are planning a fancy dress party and want to get some ideas for Halloween, Fifi Colston’s book,  Ghoulish Get-Ups gives you the low down on ghoulish get ups and creative costume ideas. Be warned, you may have to raid the recycling and plunder the pantry. MUAHAHAHA!

 

 

Where on Earth.

This book Contains a collection of 80 … specially commissioned world maps that show you where everything is on our planet. The world’s most dangerous predators, ancient mummies, disastrous asteroid impacts, and towering skyscrapers–find out where they all are in this ultimate atlas that showcases the best of geography, history, nature, culture, and technology. A great book to have on hand for geography and history projects and homework.

 

 

The Comedy, History and Tragedy of William Shakespeare.

Friends, Kiwis and youths, lend me your eyes and let me tell you about the new edition to our junior non fiction collection. Read The Comedy, History and Tragedy of William Shakespeare,  who wrote many popular plays of all time, such as A Midsummer Night’s Dream, (Recently performed by the Royal New Zealand Ballet); Romeo and Juliet and Macbeth, and discover everything you need to know about him, such as his family, his society, his theatre  his queen, (Spoiler: Queen Elizabeth I) and his country. Best of all, this book will tell you all about his plays – the comedies, histories and tragedies in plain English. (Great for those who are not fluent in Shakespearian)

 

 

Top Ten: Pets.

Read this book and find out about of furry and feathered friends that have made it to the top 10  ranging in most popular pets, popular pet names and even most expensive, richest and highest-paid in Hollywood pets. As an added bonus, you will even get to see the top ten ugliest dogs! Specially for young animal lovers, a must-have book containing everything from the super-cute to the silly and slimy, and packed with lists and facts for readers to share with their friends. I consider this book the Guinness book of records for pets.

 

 

Top Ten: Gaming.

Which X-box games are the best in the business? What game are your friends all dying to try? What character will give you the best advantages? Find out the answers to all these and more in this jam packed book, full of checklists for children to try out with their friends. Easy to follow, funny and a playground essential, Top 10 for Kids: Gaming is a must-have for any kid who likes a bit of competition!

 

 

100 Things to make you happy.

Need some cheering up from the winter blues?  Check out this amazing book jam packed full of facts, jokes, quotes, advice, and exercises includes animal trivia, historical tidbits, and inspirational wisdom designed to help kids become actively involved in their own well-being. This book is guaranteed to motivate and empower you to get happy. A perfect pick me up just in time for spring.

5 new children’s non-fiction just in time for Spring

Love your dog.
Read this book and find out how to choose and look after dogs and what to do to make a new dog feel safe. Discover the secrets of dog behaviour and learn how to keep your dog happy and healthy.

 

 

 

Love your cat.

This book tells you everything you need to know about looking after cats. A great book to read if you are looking at introducing a cat as your new family pet.

 

 

 

World War I.

Provides an eyewitness account of the war that devastated Europe, from the assassination of an archduke to the killing fields of France. Also discover how it felt to go over the top, what happened to all the bodies, how people dealt with shell shock, why war led to revolution, and much, much more.

 

 

William Shakespeare : scenes from the life of the world’s greatest writer.

Follow the amazing life of William Shakespeare, vividly described in words and pictures, with graphic dramatisations of Shakespeare’s most famous plays.

 

Dirty rotten vikings : three centuries of longships, looting and bad behaviour.

if you thought  Horrible Histories was gross, then prepare to be further grossed out by reading Dirty Rotten Vinkings. Prepare to get all the dirty rotten low down on who was vicious, who was vile and who was just very, very bad – or just mad? You will also discover what the Vikings were really like and what they got up to, and learn whether they really were that rotten.

Top 10 Children’s non-fiction August 2015

The Minecraft boffins are at it again! Two of the top 10 are Minecraft books that have been updated with tips for the latest game versions and additional information. You’ll be joining over 20 million users of the game!

World building with Lego has spawned some amazing imagery check out the photography of Vesa Lehtmäki a.k.a. Avanaut on Flickr and Instagram. This guy got himself a Y-wing studio scale model! Inspired? Show us what you’ve got in the comments =)

 

1.   Minecraft by Stephanie Milton
2.   The LEGO ideas book by Daniel Lipkowitz
3.   Minecraft hacks master builder by Megan Miller
4.   Star Wars character encyclopedia by Simon Beecroft
5.   Minecraft by Nick Farwell
6.   Star Wars by David West Reynolds
7.   Dog by Juliet Clutton-Brock
8.   Lego Star Wars in 100 scenes by Daniel Lipkowitz
9.   Minecraft blockopedia by Alex Wiltshire
10. Star Wars rebels by Adam Bray

 

6 New Non Fiction to get you back into the back to school groove.

Complete Photo Guide to Bead Crafts.

This book provides information on bead crafting, including bead types, skills and techniques, and simple projects for parents and their children to practice essential skills. A great book to have on hand on a rainy day and during school holidays.

 

 

Space record Breakers.

Look inside this book and prepare to have the most mind-blowing records experience in the universe. Read this book and get information about  outer space and human space exploration, including the planet with the most moons, the first woman in space, and the closest star to the solar system. You will also get to find out which is the biggest known planet? What’s the hottest star? Who’s the most intrepid astronaut?

 

 

New from Eyewitness…

Dog.

Read this book and find out everything you need to know about caring for dogs, working dogs, from those that rescue people to those in the military and find out which dog breed is perfect for you as your family pet.

 

 

Ancient Greece.

This is an engaging and entertaining reference guide about Ancient Greece – perfect for younger readers. Discover epic tales of heroes and villains of the ancient Greek world. A great resource to use for a project on Ancient Greece and classical studies.

 

 

Gandhi.

Reading this book will allow you  to be a part of Gandhi’s extraordinary life story and relive a momentous chapter in history. See who Gandhi was as a person: from a time child to a freedom fighter and religious leader.

 

 

Cat.

Discover in this book how cats can hear the slightest noise and smell other animals in the dark, why cheetahs are the fastest land animals in the world and see the unusual and rare feline breeds, from the hairless Sphinx cat to the white tiger.

 

New Non Fiction: Prepare to go Bear Crazy, “When in Rome, do as the Romans do” and brace yourself because the Doctor is in!

The Doctor is in!

Boys and Girls, brace yourself because Wellington City Libraries two new Junior Non Fiction Books on Doctor Who and just in time… before the school holidays.

Doctor Who: Essential Guide to 50 Years of Doctor Who.
By reading this book, you learn all the  fascinating facts on all eleven incarnations of the Doctor’s adventures in space and time, as well as his helpful companions and fearsome foes. Find out all about the Doctor’s TARDIS, his regenerations, and much, much more! Overall a great book that many fans of the series would enjoy, however might be suitable for ages 10 and up. If this book interests you, you might also want to check out  Doctor Who: The Official Doctionary.

 

 

 

 

 

image courtesy of syndetics
Doctor Who: The Visual Dictionary.

This book presents an introduction to the popular science fiction television program, dsicussing its characters, plot lines, villains, gadgets, monsters, aliens, weaponry, and spaceships. Overall not a bad read. The style and presentation of this book is similar to Star Wars visual dictionaries. Another book that will be enjoyed by Doctor Who fans. If this book interests you, you might also want to check out Lego Star Wars: The Visual Dictionary.

 

 

 

 

 

RSPCA Animal Care.

The RSPCA  or the Royal Society for the prevention of Cruelty to Animals in the United Kingdom has published two new books on animal care.

image courtesy of syndeticsimage courtesy of syndeticsAll About… Cats and Kittens and All About… Rabbits and Other Small Animals

Overall I think these pet guides are fantastic. Would be ideal for children 9 years and over. Contains lots of information on how to care for rabbits/cats, helping it settle in, types of of behavior to grooming, playing, popular names for  rabbits/cats, and going to the vet.  Also contains some history of The RSPCA in the United Kingdom.
You also might want to check out Looking after Cats and Kittens and Looking after Rabbits.

FACT ABOUT CATS: While chocolate is bad for a cat, yogurt makes a tasty treat. According to Pet Smart NZ, the organisms in yogurt can be especially helpful when your pet is on antibiotics since these medications can alter the “good’ bacteria in the intestines. Most pets will enjoy the addition of a tablespoons of yogurt to their food.

FACT ABOUT RABBITS: Pet rabbits are related to the wild rabbits, hares and pikas. Hares are bigger than rabbits, with longer ears and stronger legs which enables them to run very fast, while pikas are smaller than rabbits and live in North America and Asia.

 

 

 

Bear Crazy…!

image courtesy of syndetics
Kali’s Story: An Orphaned Polar Bear Rescue.

Brace yourself for cuteness and… an orphaned polar bear. This book tells the story of orphaned polar bear Kali (pronounced Cully) as he is rescued and whisked away to the Inupiat village of Kali (Point Lay in English), then being raised and reared at the Alaska Zoo in Anchorage, with zookeepers filling in for his mother and finally finding a permanent home at the Buffalo Zoo with, Luna, a female polar bear as a companion. Overall I enjoyed this book. Absolutely loved the photographs that chronicles Kali’s infant hood. I reckon this is a book that will be thoroughly enjoyed by all age groups and a fantastic addition to the junior non fiction collection just in time for  the school holidays.

You will also like Vicks: The Polar Bear Cub and My Polar Animals Journal : In Search of Polar Bears, Penguins, Whales and Seals.

FACT ABOUT POLAR BEARS: Male polar bears pee down, while female polar bears pee straight behind them.

 

image courtesy of syndetics

Wild About Bears.

Wild about bears? You will be after reading this book. This book contains facts and pictures of eight different bear species, ranging from polar bears, sun bears and sloth bears. You will learn everything there is to know about bears, including information about their traits, characteristics and habitat.

 

 

 

 

 

“When in Rome, do as the Romans do.”

image courtesy of syndetics
Brutal Games! History’s most dangerous sports.

Forget sports like Rugby, Gymnastics and Horse riding, this book on history’s most dangerous sports takes words like ‘dangerous’, ‘extreme sports’ and ‘life and death situations’ to a whole new level. After reading this book, two words come to mind:  adrenaline rush. Facts about bull riding, cave diving, jousting and gladiator games, you will have all the information you need to release your inner daredevil.

 

 

 

 

If you like the Horrible Histories and Weird World of Wonders series, you might want to give these two new series a go.

Hard Nuts of History.image courtesy of syndetics image courtesy of syndetics

To kick things off, Check out Ancient Rome and Ancient Greece, which is part of Hard Nuts of History series. Read all about history’s hardest hard nuts. Who were the most famous (and not so famous) ruthless, brave, fearless and intrepid men and women of all time? Could you fight in the greatest battle ever, or wow the whole world with your brain power?
These awesome books are bursting with remarkable tales of triumph and bravery. You will be amazed and astounded by some of history’s hardest heroes. The books have a similar tone as Horrible Histories and Weird World of Wonders series, comes complete with the silly bits, but perhaps without the gory bits. There is a lot less pages and the text is more simplified, so I think this series will appeal to younger audiences.

 

 

 

 

image courtesy of syndetics

image courtesy of syndetics

image courtesy of syndetics

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

What They Don’t Tell You About….

In the ‘What They Don’t Tell You About….’ series by Bob Fowke, there are books on Romans in Britain, Ancient Greeks and Vikings.  If you are looking for another series to read after Horrible Histories, I would recommend the ”What They Don’t Tell You About….’ series. There is a lot of history, gory bits,  silly humor and the odd puzzle in these books, so prepare for lots of reading… and laughing! Definitely no boring bits in this series. Great for anyone who is a fan of Horrible Histories and Weird World of Wonders. Also great for anyone who likes/is interested in History, comics, puzzle books and silly humor.

Check out this new Fiction!

Pinkbeard’s Revenge;The Adventures of Joe Schmo #4   By Greg Trine

Fourth-grade superhero Jo Schmo and her sidekick Raymond face Dr. Dastardly and Numbskull, who break out of jail and join forces with Pinkbeard’s band of time-traveling pirates in an evil revenge plot.

 

 

Image courtesy of SyndeticsUndead Pets: Gasp of the Ghoulish Guinea Pig by Sam Hay

Joe is just an ordinary boy until he makes a wish on a spooky Egyptian amulet… Now he’s the Protector of Undead Pets and there’s a ghoulish guinea pig scrabbling about!

 

 

 

 

Image courtesy of SyndeticsMy New Zealand Story: Canterbury Quake by Desna Wallace

“Maddy is a typical 11-year-old girl living in Christchurch – her diary starts in early August with her desperation for a mobile phone, and talking about her best friend Laura, Glee and singing in the school choir, homework, teachers, her siblings … And then the first earthquake hits on 4 September and her world changes”–Publisher information.

 

 

 

Image courtesy of SyndeticsThe Spotted Dog Last Seen by Jessica Scott Kerrin

When a new book arrives at the library with a secret code written inside, Derek, with the help of his friends, follows the clues from one novel to the next and makes a discovery that may help him get past a terrible loss.

 

 

 

Image courtesy of SyndeticsThe Impossible Boy by Mark Griffiths

‘The X-Files meets Dr Who in this hilarious series from Mark Griffiths.
Somewhere in the small, dull town of Blue Hills, the impossible is happening. Inanimate objects are coming to life. Time travellers from the future are mingling unnoticed with the shoppers in the high street. School children are developing uncanny powers. Strange creatures are lurking within the grounds of a forgotten stately home. And with each of these mysteries comes a terrible threat that just might endanger the entire world…’ –www.Goodreads.com

New Non Fiction: Amazing Animals 2014

We are days away from 2013 coming a close. How about popping down to your local library and checking out some new non fiction on animals just in time for 2014?

The Animal Book.

This is a must have book for all animal lovers, budding scientists, teachers and librarians. Contains information and shares facts on over three hundred  fastest, fiercest, toughest, cleverest, shyest and most surprising animals and offers a brief overview of the history of life on Earth. Prepare to dance with a blue footed booby, hum along with a humpback whale or travel to the Galapagos with Charles Darwin and learn some fascinating facts along the way like the horned lizard squirts blood from its eyes and the cricket hears with ears on its legs.

 

 

 
Whales and Dolphins.

This book serves as a perfect start to a journey of exploring whales and dolphins. Read this and find out all you can about these amazing mammals, for example which is the largest animal on Earth, the mammal with the longest migration, and dolphins singing and calling to each other. This book is  designed to appeal to children aged 6 to 8 years old.

Also check out my previous post on Amazing Sea Mammals.

 

 

 
If you were a Snake.

This is probably the sort of  book Lord Voldemort was reading when he was in training talking to snakes. Not surprising as it takes you through everything you need to know about the psychology of snakes –  how they think, how they sense the world and how they communicate. You will also read and find out which snakes are the most venomous, places where you are most likely to find snakes and what it is really like for snakes to shed their skin. Finally (and most importantly) you get insight on how snakes think, feel and experience the world.

Also check out other titles: If you were a Cat and If you were a dog.

 

 

 
Weird Animals.

Do you want to see and read all about the weird and wonderful animals known to man? Well, this is the book  for you! Discover some of the strangest animals on earth through jaw-dropping facts and dramatic photos. You will learn why the duck-billed platypus is so unusual,  you will discover which primate has a seriously strange nose and find out what makes the giraffe  weevil so odd.

 

 

 

 

 

Jimmy the Joey: The true story of an amazing koala rescue.

I absolutely loved this book! Read all about the true story of Jimmy, an endangered baby koala joey who is rescued and cared for at Koala Hospital and raised by a new ‘family’ (in the form of the team at Koala Hospital) and a new ‘Mummy’ (in the form of a hospital volunteer named Barb.) This is a beautiful heartwarming story that comes complete with lots of adorable photographs from when he was first rescued to when he was released in a protected forest area for Australian wildlife. There are especially cute photographs of Jimmy in his laundry basket, cuddling  his adopted ‘mum’ and trying to ride her leg! So brace yourself for cute overload! A delightful addition to our libraries and a treat for adults and children during the summer holidays. You might also enjoy reading A little book of sloth.

DID YOU KNOW: Koalas aren’t bears, but a rather a mammal called a marsupial, like kangaroos, wombats and opossums and a mother koala carries her baby in a pouch on her body.

 

 
Vicks: The Polar Bear Cub.

Brace yourself for even more cuteness! Check out this amazing book on Vicks the polar cub, who was born in the Rotterdam Zoo on December 6th 2010 and who became a celebrity as 500,000 people watch him during the first several months of his life on a webcam feed from his maternity den until he made his first public appearance in March 2011 and captured the hearts of millions of people around the world. Overall I enjoyed this book. Absolutely loved the photographs, especially the photography of a newly born Vicks cuddling up with his Mummy. The illustrations were cute and complemented the photos and events taking place in Vick’s life well. Another  delightful addition to our libraries and a treat for adults and children during the school holidays.

DID YOU KNOW: Male polar bears pee down, while female polar bears pee straight behind them.

 

 

Gone to the dogs…

Owing a puppy or a dog can be great fun. However it is important that you know how to look after them properly. Luckily for you, Wellington City Libraries has a new book in the Junior Non Fiction called Puppy by Jinny Johnson, which goes into full detail of what a puppy eats, drinks, what toys it likes to play with and what you need to do to make sure your puppy is comfortable. This is a great book to read, especially good for young children and for families who are interested in acquring a puppy for a pet. If you’re unsure what breed of dog is suitable for your family, you can also check these books on dog breeds also by Jinny Johnson: Labrador Retriever and German Shepherd. These books are great to read because it tells about the dog breed’s main characteristics,  how to train them, how they grow and shows them in action.

Hope you all have a Happy New Year and enjoy the rest of your summer.

New Non Fiction: Pets, Animals and Farmyard Friends.

Amazing Giant Wild Animals.

Ready to take a walk on the wild side? Then read this amazing book and get ready for a thrilling adventure into the wild and meet some of the tallest, widest, longest creatures that roam the Earth! This book has fold-out pages that open to reveal the most amazing wild animals ever, the illustrations are stunning that bring animals to life and has fun and colorful pages packed with bite-size facts and figures. Kids get facts and fun all in one book!

 

 

Shimmer and Splash: The sparkling world of sea life.

Get ready to shimmer and splash with this new book on sea life. Looking for information on sea creatures and marine wildlife? Acclaimed naturalist Jim Arnosky will bring out your inner explorer with Shimmer and Splash, as he explains why a puffer swells up like a balloon, how sharks locate prey in the darkness, and why some fish like to swim in the shadow of a manatee. This book is great to read alongside Amazing Giant Wild Animals, which contains giant fold out pages to see nearly 200 sea creatures from a tiny fiddler crab to an enormous killer whale. An absolute must read!

 

 

Farmyard Friends.

Ready to make some farmyard friends? Check out this amazing new book which will tell you all you need to know about the daily life of farmyard animals. You will also learn some amazing facts like foals are born with no teeth and their teeth begin to grow when they are four weeks old.

Looking after Guinea Pigs.

New from the Usborne Pet Guides series is how to care for guinea pigs. The ideal pet guide for guinea pig owners or those dreaming about acquiring a new pet that Covers everything from choosing a guinea pig and helping it settle in, to grooming, playing and going to the vet. Thoroughly checked by experts, this book also includes internet links to specially selected websites where you can find out more about guinea pigs, including fun things to make for them and video clips of how to care for them.

FACT: Guinea pigs feel safer in a group than on their own.

Also check out Looking after Cats and KittensLooking after Dogs and Puppies and Looking after Rabbits  from the Usborne Pet Guides series.

 

Rats and Mice.

This is an ideal book offers a comprehensive look and information of how to care for pet mice and rats. This book also explores and compares the behaviour of rats and mice to that of their cousins in the wild. Complete with clear colour photography and an appealing visual layout, this book can be very appealing to young readers.

 

 

 

 If you were a Cat and If you were a dog.

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to be a cat or a dog? How would you think? How would you sense the world around you? How would you communicate? Well, here’s your chance to read books that offer fascinating insights into the different ways that cats and dogs experience the world. Also great books to read if you are interested in finding out  information on cat/dog psychology, breeds and diet.

 

 

 

 

 

 

New Non Fiction: Amazing Series.

 

Art Smart.

Two new books, Paint it! and Make it!  from the Art Smart series has made it to our library shelves. With the school holidays just around the corner, why not check out these awesome new non fiction books, each complete with 12 inspiring projects to try out and get inspired on making  a puppet, sock snake, dino doorstop, (in Make it!) and different painting techniques such as watercolor acrylic and sgraffito (in Paint it!) I thought the project ideas in the books were fantastic, especially the activities for creating your own Picasso self portrait in Paint it! and the get well card project in Make it! These projects are a great way to beat the boredom busters during the school holidays and even better during a rainy day!

 

     

Disgusting & Dreadful Science.

Prepare to be grossed out! Prepare to be shocked and amazed! Prepare to be gut wrenched! Prepare to be enlightened! Boys and girls, the newest (and greatest) resources are here to help you with your science homework (and questions) and ideas for science fair experiments! In Ear-Splitting Sounds, you will learn the awful truth about all the yucky, painful,  disgusting and dreadful aspects of sound, not mention there are some equally gross, but interesting photos contained in this book. Gut-Wrenching Gravity contains even more disgusting facts about gravity! Covers everything from blackouts caused by g-forces to toilet-troubles in space. Glaring Light covers all the most disgusting and dreadful aspects of light. Finally Electric Shocks covers everything you need to know about the most disgusting and dreadful aspects of electricity, like whizzing electrons and static shocks to flying flies and freaky frog legs.

 

    

Animal Family Albums.

You will find books about Cats, Dogs and Horses and Ponies from this series at your local library. Each title in the Animal Family Albums series feature information about all favorite pets and animals which includes descriptions of popular breeds, facinating facts about wild relatives and a quiz to help you discover which breed you would be. The book about cats was a fantastic read. I learned a lot of interesting facts, especially  about Russian Blue cats , which are considered to be good luck and the Manx cats, which are born with either no tail or a short stumpy tail. The book about dogs contained facts about how pet dogs are descended from wolves, and like their ancestors, they like living in packs, which is made up of its human family. It was very interesting to learn while reading about horses and ponies, wild horse herds are normally led by a female and how the herds include other females, foals, a stallion and a few young males.

 

      

World Cultures.

Feel like taking an amazing journey and exploring all the different cultures the world has to offer? There are four new books exploring the  Maasai, Bushmen of Southern Africa, Polynesians and Maori  culture, from the World Culture series. These books are great resources to use that takes an educational look at cultures that are struggling to maintain their traditions in an ever-changing world, so these books are great to use if you are doing an assignment or homework on exploring issues and oppression within different cultures. Each book unveils the traditions, myths and social activities of each culture. Also includes bibliographical references and index. Great for ages 4 to 12 years.