Month: August 2012

Book Launch: The Queen and the Nobody Boy by Barbara Else

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New Zealand Author Barbara Else, who wrote the popular and award winning book The travelling restaurant: Jasper’s voyage in three parts is launching her newest book very soon.

The Queen and the Nobody Boy: A tale of fontania will be launched at the Kilbirnie Children’s Bookshop (26 Kilbirnie Plaza) on Wednesday 19th of September at 6pm. Everyone’s welcome to attend. RSVP by 14 September to jane@geckopress.com

We don’t have The Queen and the Nobody Boy in the library yet – it’s that new! But we will soon and then you’ll be able to take it out and read it.

 

In the meantime, you might like to read The travelling restaurant. It really is an excellent story; there’s a reason why it has won so many awards. Here’s the blurb from our catalogue:

In the city of Fontania, during the reign of the Lady Gall, magic is forbidden. When twelve-year-old Jasper Ludlow’s parents flee the city, leaving him behind, Jasper finds refuge on The Travelling Restaurant, a sailing ship. Jasper embarks on a journey to find his baby sister and his parents and to find the true monarch of Fontania. Suggested level: primary, intermediate.

Poop Scoop Alert!

wcl staff

If it goes in it must come out, that’s the life of the poop. It is a fascinating topic because it is constantly a part of our life, like it or not. Would you like to discover more cool stuff about it? Well I have got the book for you! Get the Scoop on Animal Poop  by Dawn Cusick. It has awesome, funny and cool stuff about poop. Poop can be used to mark territories, send messages,decoration and even be eaten as food! Yikes! Did you know that sloths can “hold it” for a week and bees for months!? Which one are you, sloth or bees? Ewww don’t tell me just read the book.

New Non Fiction for August – Outdoors and Creativity.

Katie

Check out the new books on extreme sports from the series: eXtreme Games.

 

Extreme Winter Sports and Extreme Summer Sports by Jim Brush (eXtreme Games series)

These books highlight the sports and stars of ESPNs X-Games extreme sports tournament. Read all you need to know about the world of extreme games, including current competition events and the people who make it happen. Also learn interesting facts about the games, for example who came first in the 2011 x-Games. This series catapults readers into the facts, stats and action – head first!

 

 

 

 

 

From the Adrenalin Rush series:

Mountain Biking by Anne-Marie Laval

Find out all you need to know about mountain biking (MTB) including pioneers of MTB, different types of mountain bikes (and which bike is best for all-round use); equipment and clothing and to keep safe in this extreme (and dangerous) sport. Check out Windsurfing and Kite Surfing also by Anne-Marie Laval for information on spectacular tricks and techniques of wind surfing and kite surfing.

 

 

 

 

Skateboarding by Jackson Teller

A fan of skateboarding? Want to learn the art of skateboarding? This is the book for you. Discover the mind-blowing moves and tricks you can pull on a skateboard.  You also find out information about equipment, clothing and the best place to go. You will also pick up tips on the skills you’ll need, whether you’re ramp riding or street riding.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other new non fiction to check out:

My Art Book Animals.

My Art Book This is the perfect book to read on the history of art for young children who love animals.  You will find heaps of cool projects (a Tin Tortoise, a Tiger Model and a Monkey on a Wire) that have been inspired by various artists (Albrecht Durer, Peter Paul Rubens and even Andy Warhol himself) Wild, educational and prowling with creativity, ‘My Art Book Animals’ introduces young children to art through the appealing subject of animals. Projects include a furry lion mask inspired by Rubens and a fishy collage in the cubist style of Picasso.

 

So you want to be a writer? by Vicki Hambleton and Cathleen Greenwood.

So you want to be a writer and follow in the footsteps of great authors like Margaret Mahy and Joy Cowley? Then this is the book for you. This book is packed full with resources and priceless tips from successful authors like Michael Crichton, Amanda Hocking and Chris Crutcher. This book will also revel the mysteries and glamour of best a best selling author.

 

 

 

 

Go Out and Play!  by KaBoom!

Spring is nearly around the corner, time for some outdoor fun! Written by KaBoom, a non-profit organization that is passionate and dedicated to creating a more fitter and creative generation through outdoor play. A fantastic guide to more than seventy well-loved outdoor and playground games, like kick the can, hopscotch, Four square, Red light/Green Light, flashtag and so many more.

Don’t just sit there, Grab this book and… go out and play!

 

 

 

The Beetle Book by Steve Jenkins.

Want to learn about the many  species of beetles around the world? This is the book to read. An illustrated introduction to beetles that provides information on a  variety of  species  and how these insects have adapted to survive.

A useful  guide to use if you want to explore insects around your home and the great outdoors.

Russian Dragons

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Russian dragons are hydras, which means that they have many heads. The number of heads they have is always in multiples of three, six, nine, or twelve. To kill a Russian dragon a slayer must cut off all of the dragon’s heads.

They have four legs with bird-like clawed feet, and bat-like wings. They breathe fire and have arrow-shaped tongues. They have horny, hooked noses with sharp beaks which they use to rip their prey apart!

They live in mountain caves and their favourite food is human flesh. Russian dragons are sneaky and deceitful, but not very smart despite having more than one brain!

If you enjoyed this post and want to read more, you can find out more about dragons in The Dragon Companion: An Encyclopedia by Carole Wilkinson. All the facts in this post were taken from this book.

Some new books about dragons that you might like to read are:

George and the Dragon: and a World of Other Stories by Geraldine McCaughrean

Day of the Dreader by Cressida Cowell

The Fire Ascending by Chris D’Lacey

Flying the Dragon by Natalie Dias Lorenzi

Beast Child by Ben Chandler

Dragon Castle by Joseph Bruchac

Dragon’s Revenge by Amy Tree

Flight to Dragon Isle by Lucinda Hare

Author Visit: John Boyne

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John Boyne was born in Ireland in 1971. The winner of two Irish Book Awards, he is the author of nine novels, including the amazing book The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas, which was made into a movie and has sold more than five million copies worldwide! His novels are published in over forty languages.

His new children’s book, The Terrible Thing That Happened To Barnaby Brocket, will be in your local library soon. It is a fantasy about a baby who is born to fly.

This is a very rare and great opportunity to see John Boyne. The Children’s Bookshop will be selling his books at the event (which means you might be able to get John Boyne to sign them!).

 

The details:

Venue: Whitireia Theatre, 25 Vivian St, Wellington

Cost: $10 (members of the Book Council – $5)

Date: Monday 3 September, 6.00 – 7.30pm

You can purchase tickets for this event here.

 

Kids’ Review by Tashi

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The BFG by Roald Dahl

This Book is very interesting. I don’t read books too often, but this book got my attention and I really enjoyed it! The best bit was when the Queen met Sophie and the B.F.G. I don’t think there was a bad part because it was a really AWESOME book. This book can be read and enjoyed by everyone, young and old. Even if you do not like reading books, give this one a try and I promise you that you will really enjoy it! 4 Stars.

Review by Tashi of Normandale

The World In Your Lunch Box

debbie

Have you ever wondered about the everyday foods that you eat? Well believe it or not there are some extraordinary stories behind those very foods that might be sitting in your lunch box right now.

The world in your lunch box has all the wacky history and weird science of everyday foods that you are going to love reading about.

I found out that Pliny the Elder a Roman writer and naturalist who lived almost 2000 years ago wrote that onions are good for your eyes because the tears caused by the smell of the onion will cure poor vision. He even said that you should squeeze the juice from an onion and apply it directly to the eyes. Ouch – no thanks.

Also the sandwich was named after the fourth Earl of Sandwich who once gambled for 24 hours straight, eating slices of beef stuck between two pieces of bread to keep himself going. He is not the only one in history who used bread as a wrapper for other food, but his is the one whose name stuck.

This is a great book with lots of fun facts and stories about what you eat everyday.

 

Don’t wipe your BUM with a Hedgehog

debbie

Here we go again with another great book of curiosities, wonders and other wacky words of wisdom by Mitchel Symons.

If you have to be told “Don’t wipe your bum with a hedgehog” then you better get this book and quick! With lots of tips and advice this book has plenty of stories that will make you laugh out loud.

Tip No 1 – When your mum’s just had a row with the your dad (it happens), don’t let her brush your hair.

Tip No 2 -Never ask your three year old brother to hold a tomato.

Tip No 3 – Don’t trust a dog to watch your food.

Have a think about these:

Why is the word abbreviation so long?

What’s the speed of dark?

Why is it called rush hour when nothing moves?

And remember never put both feet in your mouth as you won’t have a leg to stand on.

Johnsonville Bookseekers

debbie

It was the last session for the Johnsonville Bookseekers this month but we had a great time looking at our new Kids On-line Book Club.  If you write and submit your reviews on our On-line Review page you can earn points towards winning prizes.  We have had lots of kid’s submit reviews already and as well as writing your own reviews you can comment on what other kids have been reading.

Thanks for all the reviews that you shared with us today and it will be great to see you write them up and to start earning prizes – so what are you waiting for – get writing!