Odd Stuff

Games Night at Johnsonville Library!

debbie

Join us for a Games Night at Johnsonville Library this Friday 30 August at 5pm.

We have a range of board games to choose from including popular classics like Settler of Catan, Risk or Trivial Pursuit and less common games like Starfluxx, Munchkin or King of Tokyo.

Most games are for ages 8+ though we have a few games for younger children too. You could also bring a game of your own to play with new people.

Games Night starts at 5pm but you are welcome to arrive late, you might just need to wait a little before you can join in the next round.

We’re looking forward to seeing you there

Games Night at Johnsonville Library!

debbie

Join us for a Games Night at Johnsonville Library this Friday 26 July at 5pm.

We have a range of board games to choose from including popular classics like Settler of Catan, Risk or Trivial Pursuit and less common games like Starfluxx, Munchkin or King of Tokyo.

Most games are for ages 8+ though we have a few games for younger children too. You could also bring a game of your own to play with new people.

Games Night starts at 5pm but you are welcome to arrive late, you might just need to wait a little before you can join in the next round.

We’re looking forward to seeing you there

Games Night at Johnsonville Library!

debbie

Join us for a Games Night at Johnsonville Library this Friday 28 June at 5pm.

We have a range of board games to choose from including popular classics like Settler of Catan, Risk or Trivial Pursuit and less common games like Starfluxx, Munchkin or King of Tokyo.

Most games are for ages 8+ though we have a few games for younger children too. You could also bring a game of your own to play with new people.

Games Night starts at 5pm but you are welcome to arrive late, you might just need to wait a little before you can join in the next round.

We’re looking forward to seeing you there.

Top 10 Children’s non-fiction February 2017

Dusty

Lego has always been a favourite in the Children’s non-fiction collection, but have you ever considered using your own lego collection to make history?  Not only is the 2017 Guinness World records in the Top 10 but, they are also accepting bids for the largest Lego pyramid ever… with teams of unlimited size! So round up your mates, and their mates and their… so on and so on and who knows, Guiness World record 2018 could contain your name!

  1. Minecraft : the survivors’ book of secrets, by Stephanie Milton.
  2. Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, by Jack Thorne, John Tiffany and J. K. Rowling
  3. Minecraft : Redstone handbook, by Nick Farwell
  4. The LEGO ideas book, by Daniel Lipkowitz
  5. Star Wars Character Encyclopedia, by Simon Beecroft and Pablo Hidalgo
  6. Master builder : Hack for Minecrafters, by Megan Miller
  7. Minecraft : Construction Handbook, by Matthew Needler
  8. Small scenes from a big galaxy, by Vesa Lehtimäki
  9. Lego DC comics Super heroes character encyclopedia, by Simon Hugo and Cavan Scott
  10. Guinness World Records 2017, Craig Glenday editor in chief

Dear Alien, let me tell you about Earth!

debbie

A UFO has just landed outside your bedroom window.  Out steps an Alien.  He’s green with a bright red ball glowing on the top of his cone shaped head.

He walks towards your window.!

He can see you.!

You’re scared!

You can’t move!

What does he want?

He speaks and blue bubbles come out of his mouth – but you can hear his question inside your head.

“Tell me about Earth?”

WOW, what are you going to do? Jump out of your bedroom window and talk to it or turn tail and run away as fast as you can.

What do you think about Aliens. Do you think there are other beings living out in space? It’s a really interesting question and lots of people have different thoughts about it.

If you would like to learn more about Aliens you might like to check out some of these non-fiction books at the library.


 

 

 

 

 

Or maybe you like reading fiction stories about Aliens so why not take a look at these really spacey reads.


 

 

 

 

 

Is something out there!!!!!!!!!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Become an inventor!

debbie

If you could design and make something, what would it be? Something so amazing and fantastic that your friends are going to be sooooo jealous.

What about a robot that cleans your room or hover shoes that you could zoom around on. Maybe  a small pill that has all your vegetables hidden inside (even broccoli) and when you swallow it, it tastes like chocolate or strawberries and cream.

This website has some  great inventions that kids have designed and they have been turned into real products.  I really like the scooter.

So get your thinking caps on and start creating. You might like to check out some of these great books to get you started.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

What’s your favourite children’s toy?

debbie

Everyone loves toys – yes even adults love them. I bet a lot of mums and dads out there have a special toy from their childhood tucked away in the cupboard somewhere.

If you had to pick a favourite toy, what would it be? Do you love lego, or Star Wars toys. Maybe you are a Barbie or a My Little Pony fan. Perhaps you have a drone that you fly around or do you prefer to ride on your bike or scooter.

Whatever it is you might like to learn some funny and interesting facts about toys.

Did you know that:

  • The word “toy” comes from an Old English word meaning “tool”.
  • Dolls are considered to be the oldest toys in history.
  • The Yo-yo is believed to be the second-oldest toy in the world. It was used in 500BC in Ancient Greece.
  • Barbie was introduced in 1959 and cost $3. Every second, two Barbie dolls are sold in the world.
  • The first toy advertised on television was Mr. Potato Head.
  • Play-Doh was originally used to clean wallpaper.
  • Kermit the Frog is left-handed.

And last but not least did you know that LEGO is the world’s No. 1 tyre manufacturer. It produces 318 million tyres every year. That is 870,000 tiny tyres in a day. Wow that’s amazing!

There are heaps of cool books in the library about the history of toys as well as books that teach how to build and construct them.

So have some toy fun!

 

 

 

                    

 

Bamboozle your mind with optical illusion books!

debbie

I love optical illusions – I love the way they trick your eyes and amaze your brain.

There are images that seem to jump right out of the page or patterns that seem to move by themselves.

How can colours appear different when they are actually the same or objects that appear to be different sizes but are really equal in size.

There are some great optical illusions on this website. I love the rotating pink dots that change to green and then disappear and see how fast it takes you to find the man in the coffee beans.

Don’t forget there are heaps of great books on illusions in the library so make sure you check them out and get ready to be bamboozled.

Top 10 Children’s non-fiction September 2015

Dusty

Minecraft and Star Wars have been the most popular of the children’s non-fiction. But! an entry that I’m sure will rise through the ranks is the new Ripley’s believe it or not! These books were spawned by the manic genius of Robert L. Ripley who traveled the world in search of the strange and unusual.  Before the books there were exhibition spaces or Odditoriums, still going strong with locations worldwide.  Don’t have one near you? they also have travelling shows!  Any ideas for your own oddity collection? Let us know in the comments.

1. Minecraft by Stephanie Milton

2. Minecraft by Nick Farwell

3. Star Wars by David West Reynolds

4. Minecraft hacks master builder by Megan Miller

5. The LEGO ideas book by Daniel Lipkowitz

6. Cat by Juliet Clutton-Brock

7. Minecraft blockopedia by Alex Wiltshire

8. Star Wars by Ryder Windham

9. Ripley’s believe it or not! edited by Rosie Alexander

10. Dog by Juliet Clutton-Brock

Maker Kits at Johnsonville Library

debbie

Alec1Make sure you come along to your local Library and start creating with one of our Maker Kits. We have Lego and Mecanno plus rocket ships and wooden blocks.

Alec from Tawa was one of the first to make up one of our Lego Star Wars Kits which took him just under an hour to make.

You can play with the Maker Kits in the library for free. Ask about the Kits at the Library counter and have some creative fun.