Sports

This is an amazing book that tells the true story of how two orphan baby tigers were raised and cared on the T.I.G.E.R.S. animal preserve and shared numerous hours playing, cuddling, and swimming with them. But perhaps importantly, the cubs were raised and cared for by two surrogate Mums: A human animal worker named China and her special helper, Anjana, a Chimpanzee. Yes, I kid you not! Styled as a picture book, I think children of all ages will enjoy everything about this book, from the heart warming story of Anjana and the two tiger cubs, Mitra and Shiva to the beautiful photographs. This book is especially ideal for anyone who has a weakness for wild cats, chimps and baby animals.

Knowledge Encyclopedia.

There is only one word to describe this book – Wow! This book is truly everyone’s (including Librarians) encyclopedia and knowledge handbook dream! Holds everything that you have ever wanted to know about… everything! Uses text and computer-generated artworks to provide detailed, realistic explorations of a wide range of topics in six broad categories. Also includes glossary.

The real Australia : your need-to-know guide for all things Australian.

Planning a trip to Aussie over the school holidays? The check out this all you need-to-know guide about everything and anything Australian. Includes maps, photos and information about what’s hot and all of Australia’s highlights that you really won’t want to miss. You will also get a taste for Australia’s amazing food scene, from beach barbecues to top chefs and tantalizing accounts of the best sights. Another great read that will be enjoyed by children of all ages.

Incredible animals : explore real habitats around the world.

Lonely Planet has done it again by introducing a new series for kids on human/animal geography and places around the world… with a twist! You are able to lift the flap and see what’s inside! Complete with fun illustrations, you will have fun and learn heaps about incredible animals and their real (and amazing) habitats around the world. This is a great book for kids who enjoy life-the-flap and puzzle books.

New Non Fiction: Sports, Inspirational Lives and objects… and bringing out your inner artist.

Katie26 May, 2014

Netball.

A great book to read that tells you everything you want to know about Netball, one of the greatest and most popular sports played in Australia and New Zealand. In reading this book, you will learn everything there is to know about Netball including the history of the sport, the rules, training, clothing and equipment. Great for anyone who is a fan, plays netball and/or wanting to play.

For more information about Netball, you visit the website, Netball New Zealand.

The Story of Buildings.

Anyone who is doing a project on the history of buildings and architecture will love this book! This book explains how and why famous buildings in history came to be built. The book also goes into further detail about how did people start making buildings, how did they learn to make them bigger, stronger and more comfortable? And why they decorated them in so many different ways. Great for ages 10 years and over.

Pastels.

As a child of the 80’s and 90’s, pastels were the norm of bringing out children’s inner artist. Thirty/twenty years later using pastels still hasn’t gone out of fashion. So what are you waiting for? Now is the Time to bring out your own inner artist! Have a big art project coming up? Bored with water colors and acrylic paints, Why not give pastels a go? This book will provide you with step-by-step guides show how to create a variety of projects using pastels.

Dare the Wind.

Girls, this is one book you need to read on inspirational women. This book tells the true story of one of the first female navigators, Eleanor Prentiss and her ship, the Flying Cloud who, despite battling raging storms, broken masts, and dangerously slow winds managed to complete its maiden voyage from New York to San Francisco in a period (and world breaking record) of eighty nine days. Also will be thoroughly enjoyed by anyone who is interested in sailing and ships.

Florence Nightingale.

Children of all ages will enjoy this beautifully illustrated picture book written by celebrated author and artist Demi. This new picture book biography of Florence Nightingale beautifully portrays the story of Florence’s life and explores the long-lasting effects of her career, including her innovative and revolutionary ideas on medicine, emphasising the need of cleanliness in hospitals, nutritional values of hot food and organization of hospitals. Children will not only learn about Florence Nightingale’s inspirational life, but also the history of hospital and nursing practices that are still used today.

How the Beatles changed the world.

The Beatles are one of the most innovative and revolutionary bands that broke many world records and changed the face of music forever. Fifty years after the British invasion began, Martin Sandler explores The Beatles’ long-lasting impact on the world in this wonderful book. Overall I think you will be overly impressed and astonished by the amount of information held in this book about everything you thought you knew (and didn’t know) about The Beatles and their musical history. A great book for anyone who is a fan of The Beatles’ music and history.

FACT: “Hey Jude” was released in August 1968 as the first single from the Beatles’ record label Apple Records. More than seven minutes in length, it was at the time the longest single ever to top the British charts.

Winter Olympics

debbie12 February, 2014

Have you been able to watch any of the Winter Olympics yet?

The athletes are so amazing – the figure skaters are so graceful – the ski jumpers can fly sky-high – the bobsleigh goes crazy fast and the ice hockey players crash a lot.

This morning I watched Julia Lipnitskaia a Russian figure skater perform. She is incredible and is only 15 years old.

You might like to check out this website for lots of information about the Winter Olympics or take a look here if you are looking for fun activities with a Winter Olympic theme.

Football Fever

admin20 November, 2013

Everyone’s talking about it – tonight the All Whites play Mexico at Westpac Stadium in the World Cup qualifier playoffs.

Here’s some links for everything you need to know:

FIFA: fifa.com

NZ Football: nzfootball.co.nz

All Whites Facebook: facebook.com/AllWhites

Westpac Stadium: westpacstadium.co.nz/fifa-world-cup-qualifier-match-all-whites-v-mexico

The waterfront Fan Trail: wellington.govt.nz/your-council/news/2013/11/all-whites-vs-mexico-festivities

Live scoring and updates: fifa.com/worldcup/preliminaries/matchcast

News updates: stuff.co.nz/sport/football

And here’s some cool books we have in the library:

Team NZ win the Louis Vuitton Cup

admin28 August, 2013

Don’t follow sailing? Well now it’s time to take an interest.

Team New Zealand have won the Louis Vuitton Cup in San Francisco, beating team Luna Rossa. This means that we get the chance to sail against Oracle Team USA to win The America’s Cup – the oldest trophy in international sport.

The America’s Cup was originally awarded in 1851 by the Royal Yacht Squadron for a race around the Isle of Wight in England, which was won by the schooner America. The trophy was renamed the America’s Cup after the winning yacht.

The America’s Cup challenge is now normally held every 4 years, and is hosted by the country who won the cup during the last challenge. Those competing for the cup must first race each other -the best team wins the Louis Vuitton Cup, and this means they get to challenge the last winner for the America’s Cup.

Here’s a bit of recent history about New Zealand’s involvement:

Team New Zealand have won the America’s Cup twice before. In 1995 they beat team Young America and brought the cup to New Zealand. In 1999 they managed to successfully defend the cup in Auckland’s Waitemata Harbour and keep it in New Zealand. But in 2003 they lost to team Alinghi, and the cup left New Zealand.

Alinghi, from Switzerland, was the first European team to win in 152 years! In 2007 Team New Zealand won the Louis Vuitton Cup and the chance to challenge Alhingi for the America’s Cup. The event was held in Spain, and was the first time since the original event in 1851 that is had been raced in Europe. Unfortunately, Team New Zealand wasn’t successful and Alhingi managed to hold on to the cup.

It gets a little complicated here… There were some yacht clubs that fought with Alinghi about the Cup. To keep it simple – in 2010 a trimaran boat named USA-17 challenged Alhingi for the cup and won it – returning the cup back to America, where it is now being fought over again in San Francisco this year.

So Team New Zealand have won the Louis Vuitton cup, which means we now get to challenge the current cup holders – Oracle Team USA for the America’s Cup. If we win, the cup will come to New Zealand and, in 4 years’ time, top sailing teams from around the world will come to New Zealand to challenge us for the cup.

You can follow the America’s Cup event on the official website and Team New Zealand on their official site.

The New Zealand Herald will have all the latest news.

The first race of the America’s Cup challenge will be on Saturday 7th September.

Odd stuff – England Crowned World Egg Throwing Champs

admin8 July, 2013

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.

New Non-Fiction: Music, Myths and Fashion

Katie11 December, 2012

The History of Modern Music.

Interested in having a career in the music industry, then this is the book for you! Part of the series: The Music Scene, this book explores the changes in modern music though the post-war decades from rock n roll (Elvis Presley) and folk music (Bob Dylan and Simon and Garfunkel) through to punk (The Sex Pistols), Indie pop (Green Day)and the enormous changes in technology today that have transformed the music world today. Also check out other book in the series: The Music Industry, Music, Fashion and Style and Performing Live.

Also check out

King Arthur.

King Arthur is the ultimate English hero. King of Camelot, Head of the Knights of the Round Table and wielder of the magic sword, Excalibur! Richard Brassey explores the history, the mystery and the legendary figures that populate the myths about King Arthur, including Morgan La Fay, Merlin and the evil Mordred. Richard Brassey’s unique gift for extracting truth from myth in a concise and insightful way makes this book the perfect introduction to King Arthur for young readers – and confused tourists!

Learn to Speak Fashion.

Learn to Speak Fashion is about the ideas, skills and the fun behind thinking creatively about what you and others choose to wear. This book is the perfect guide to find tips on creating fashion from top designers, models and stylists. Also if you think you got what it takes to be a fashion designer? Then have a read of The Young Entrepreneurs Club: Fashion. All the information you need to becoming the next big thing in the fashion industry is in this exciting new read from the series: Young Entrepreneurs’ Club.

Basketball: From tip-off to slam dunk – the essential guide.

A comprehensive guide on how to play basketball. You find in this exciting new read everything you need to know about how to get started, improve your playing style and hints and tips to help you master the sport.

Fairy Things to Stitch and Sew.

Love fairies? Love sewing? Love arts and crafts? Then this is the book for you!, especially if you’re looking for ideas this year for Christmas gifts. This enchanting book from the Usborne series is teeming with delightful projects which includes making fairy collages, bags, cards and pillows.

Diary of a Cricket God

debbie7 November, 2012

My name is Marcus Atkinson, and I am nine years old.

Dad wants me to play cricket.

Isn’t a cricket some sort of insect?

I’m stumped why anyone would want to play this stupid game!

Today is the worst day of my life ever.

Poor Marcus – his dad thinks he has a future in sport and wants him to play cricket, but Marcus thinks that playing cricket would be even worse than the day the school bully hid his clothes after swimming and he had to go to class in his speedos.

Oh no what is Marcus going to do? Check out Diary of a Cricket God to find out!

Roller Disco

admin6 September, 2012

Get your skate on at the Roller Disco!

Details:

When: Saturday 22nd September

Children (12 and under) and their parents: 5-7pm

Teens and adults (13 and over): 8-11pm

Where: Kilbirnie Recreation Centre

Cost: $15 if you need to hire skates or $10 if you bring your own skates. Buy your ticket at the door on the night.

There will be DJs, games and competitions, and costumes are a must. Sounds like fun!

There’s a facebook page you could check out for info about this and other events at the Kilbirnie Recreation Centre.

Boxing at the Olympics

admin7 August, 2012

Did you know that New Zealand’s first gold medal was won by a boxer called Ted Morgan in 1928?

Boxing is one of the oldest sports at the Olympics; it’s been around for around 5,000 years and was practiced in China, Greece and Rome. It was first introduced as an Olympic sport in 1902. It’s been in every Olympic Games since then except the 1912 Games, as Sweden, the host country, had a law against boxing.

Boxing was traditionally fought with bare hands until 1867, when the Queensbury rules were introduced. It was these rules that also introduced weight limits to the sport. These rules were extremely influential on boxing, and changed it from bare-knuckle brawls to a real sport.

New Zealand is sending two boxers, Siona Fernandez and Alexis Pritchard to the London; this year is the first time women’s boxing is appearing at the Olympic games.

New Non Fiction: Animal, Geography and Knowledge Winter-fest.