adventure – Kids' Blog

10 New Junior Comics and Graphic Novels.

Katie31 August, 2019

Hey Kids!

Wellington City Libraries has some new comics and graphic novels in the children’s collection. Why not spring on down to your local library, during the last couple of weeks of August, and borrow them before they’re all gone!

Enjoy!

Ms. Marvel : metamorphosis.

“Love is in the air in Jersey City as Valentine’s Day arrives! Kamala may not be allowed to go to the school dance — but Ms. Marvel is! Which is bad news for… Loki? Then, when a mysterious stranger arrives in Jersey City, Ms. Marvel must deal with — a crush! Prepare for drama! Intrigue! Romance! Suspense! Punching things! Plus: see what happens when S.H.I.E.L.D. agent Jemma Simmons goes undercover at Kamala’s school! And Ms. Marvel shares her first amazing, spectacular team-up with Spider-Man! But when the Marvel Universe enters its last days, can Kamala summon the will to keep on fighting the good fight? Maybe with a pep talk from her idol, Captain Marvel!” — Back cover.

I am Neil Armstrong.

“A biography of Neil Armstrong, the first man to walk on the moon.”– Provided by publisher.

Teen Titans Go! Falling Stars.

The latest adventures of the Teen Titans include Robin hoping that his dental routine saves him from making a dreaded trip to the dentist and Raven and Cyborg creating a pair of spooky-looking leggings from a pattern in one of Raven’s arcane books.

Snoopy Party Animal.

A collection of Peanuts comic strips featuring Snoopy and the rest of the Peanuts gang.

Nathan Hale’s hazardous tales [2] : big bad ironclad! : a Civil War steamship showdown.

“Big Bad Ironclad! covers the history of the amazing ironclad steam warships used in the Civil War. From the ship’s inventor, who had a history of blowing things up and only 100 days to complete his project, to the mischievous William Cushing, who pranked his way through the whole war, this book is filled with surprisingly true facts and funny, brave characters that modern readers will easily relate to”–Publisher’s web site.

Be Prepared.

A misfit girl and her brother attend summer camp, where they struggle with primitive plumbing, snobby tentmates, and boys-versus-girls competitions.

The Smurfs 3 in 1: The Purple Smurfs, The Smurfs and the Magic Flute and the Smurf King.

Collects the first three Smurf graphic novels in one volume.

The Smurfs 3 in 1: The Smurfette, The Smurfs and the Egg and the Smurfs and the Howlibird.

The beautiful and enigmatic (not to mention blue) Smurfette makes her debut in this collection of the original Smurfs comics by Peyo. Known in America primarily for the hit 80s animated TV series and the hit movies, many Smurfs fans don’t realize that the Smurfs originally appeared in comics. Now the Smurfs are back in SMURF-TASTIC comic adventures. Featuring the classic stories “The Smurfette”, “The Smurfs and the Egg”, and “The Smurfs and the Howlibird” and many more!

Big Nate A Good Old Fashioned Wedgie.

Nate endures a series of middle school hijinks and adventures while dealing with his crush on his baseball team’s new pitcher.

Magic Jack and the Goblin King.

“Like a bolt from the blue, Jack’s little sister Maddy is gone – carried into another realm by an ogre. When Jack and Lilly follow Maddy’s captor through the portal, they are ready for anything… except what they find waiting for them in the floating crossroads between worlds. Even the power of their magic plants may not be enough to get them back to earth alive. Alone and injured, Jack and Lilly must each face their own monsters – as well as giants who grind the bones of human children to feed their “beast” and a fearsome goblin king in the sewers down below. But when Jack finds himself in a tough spot, help comes from the most unlikely person: the goblin king!” –page [4] of cover.

Some great new kids fiction to help get us through winter!

admin30 July, 2019

We are over halfway through winter now – yahoo! This is the perfect time of the year to snuggle up with a good book and hot chocolate. Try one of these new ones that the library has just bought.

A Twist of Tales by Julia Donaldson

A king hides a terrible secret under his crown … A marvellous dream inspires an epic journey … A clever girl outwits the king. Told in hyper-readable language and with full-colour illustrations.

Kensy and Max: Undercover by Jacqueline Harvey

Kensy and Max are back in London for no time at all before things begin to heat up – quite literally. As a result, Granny Cordelia ships them off to Australia on an undercover mission. The twins find themselves planted in a posh Sydney school where first appearances prove to be deceiving. What seems like a straightforward assignment turns into something so much bigger. Kensy and Max must employ all their spy skills – the fate of their parents, and who they’ve been searching for, depends on it.

We’ll bite your tail, Geronimo by Geronimo Stilton

Professor Greenfur, the onboard scientist on spaceship MouseStar 1, has changed color from green to–orange! What’s going on? To find out, the spacemice travel to his home planet of Photosyntheson. There, they learn that all of Professor Greenfur’s relatives are being threatened by the nibblix, tiny aliens with very sharp teeth! Can the spacemice help in time?

Maximillian Fly by Angie Sage

Maximillian Fly, a roach-human hybrid, helps two young humans escape from the Bartizan’s eye, only to find himself a key player in a deadly war between roaches and humans

Meet Yasmin! by Saadia Faruqi

In this compilation of four separately published books, Pakistani American second grader Yasmin learns to cope with the small problems of school and home, while gaining confidence in her own skills and creative abilities.

Childrens DVDs: July New Releases

Katie16 July, 2019

Hey kids! The next lot of school holidays are around the corner and Wellington City Libraries has some new DVDs to keep you amused during the wintery-est of days. So what are you waiting for? Go down to your local branch and borrow the following DVDs:

A Dog’s Way Home.

A female dog travels four hundred miles in search of her owner throughout a Colorado wilderness. It chronicles the heart-warming adventure of Bella, a dog who embarks on an epic 400-mile journey home after she is separated from her beloved human.

Dino King: Journey To Fire Mountain.

An action-packed family adventure that combines the realism of Walking With Dinosaurs with the heart of Finding Nemo. Speckles, a ferocious tarbosaurus and his young son junior, mourning the loss of their family in an epic battle, roam the lands in search of food, adventure and peace.

Due to be released in August 2019.

Boonie Bears: The Big Shrink.

One day Logger Vick receives a mysterious machine from an old friend. A shrink ray! While Vick is tussling with his old pals, The Boonie Bears Briar and Bramble, they are shrunk when the device malfunctions! The three now go on a wild chase through a magnificent world just underneath our feet to not only restore their size, but to restore family.

Barbie Dreamtopia, Vol 2.

Chelsea and big sister Barbie travel through the whimsical world of Chelsea’s vivid imagination. Whether they are repairing a supersonic sparkling lemonator or flying kites, Barbie and Chelsea’s journey in the Sparkle Princess is sure to captivate and engage!

Barbie: Welcome To The Dreamhouse!, Vol 2.

Barbie along with her friends and family embark on thrilling escapades including puppy fun, beach adventures and journeys of self discover. Join Barbie with Ken, Skipper and all of Barbies best friends for fun, laughter and friendship.

PAW patrol. Ultimate rescue.

Get ready for an Ultimate Ruff-Ruff Rescue! Gear up with Marshall and his team as they roll out in the Ultimate Fire Truck to cool off a fire-breathing robot. Then, join Skye, Chase, Rocky, and Zuma for more Ultimate Rescue missions.

Blaze And The Monster Machines: Robot Riders.

Blaze, AJ and their monster truck friends Zeg, Starla, Darington and stripes go on adventures and solve everyday problems while using math, science and physics. Crusher most of the time makes bad choices and is followed by his friend pickle.
Manou The Swift.

The little swift Manou grows up believing he’s a seagull. Learning to fly he finds out he never will be. Shocked, he runs away from home. He meets birds of his own species and finds out who he really is. When both seagulls and swifts face a dangerous threat, Manou becomes the hero of the day.

Tea Pets.

A group of tea pets-cute clay figurines that are good-luck charms for tea drinkers-embark on a magical animated adventure to find a fabled mystic.

image courtesy of amazon.com Adventure time. The complete tenth season.

The end is finally upon us. Can Finn protect the banana guard? Can The Ice King cut it in the harsh world of door-to-door sales? Can Flame Princess defeat Son Of Rap bear? Will the Candy Kingdom descend into full scale war?? Find out in the epic tenth and final season of Adventure Time!

Find me in Paris. Face the music.

The story of Russian Princess and Ballerina Lena Gretsky, who suddenly finds herself transported to modern day from 1905. Having missed joining Henri, a time traveller from 1905 and Lena’s boyfriend, Lena has to come back to the school and face the music after embarrassing herself in the mid-year performance. Whilst Henri fights to burst the time bubble, the Bloc crew have problems of their own. Overcoming injuries, heart breaks, the Time Chasers all whilst learning new choreography won’t come easy.

Disney Pixar Revolution at Wellington City Libraries!

Katie28 June, 2019

The Pixar revolution has arrived at Wellington City Libraries and just in time for the wintery-est of school holidays. It is an exciting time with the release of Toy Story 4, produced by Pixar Animation Studios and released by Walt Disney Pictures,

Check out the teaser trailer reaction below! …. Even the toys can’t wait for the movie to be released!

So to celebrate the release of the forth instalment of the lovable classic where toys come to life, why not go down to your local library and check out some other DVDs released by the same companies, such as:

image courtesy of amazon.com Brave.

Be brave and grab life by the horns with Merida, the feisty, Scottish princess and skilled archer who dreams of following her own path living her own life, even if it mean defying the traditions and expectations of her family and people. However when her pride gets in the way and a spell is cast upon her mother, Merida must use her wits and skills to “mend the bond caused by pride” and save the day “highlander” style.

Cars Trilogy.

Take a ride on the wild side with Lightening McQueen and the gang in Cars 1, 2 and 3, that chronicles the secret life of race car driving, from the race car’s point of view. This is a movies that boys will enjoy, especially boys into cars and formula one racing.

Finding Nemo.

Go back to where it all began where Marlin goes on an epic quest from the great barrier reef to Sydney in order to find and save his son, Nemo, while meeting and encountering new friends on the way such as surfer turtles that live to 150 years old, vegetarian sharks who have regular meetings and of course, Dory herself!, a good-hearted and optimistic regal blue tang with short-term memory loss.

Finding Dory reunites the friendly but forgetful blue tang fish, Dory, along with her friends, Marlin and Nemo on an epic quest to find Dory’s family. The questions that hangs on everyone’s lips are what does she remember? Who are her parents? And where did she learn to speak whale? Favourite moments in the film include Dory as a baby – Boy, she’s adorable!, Marlin and Nemo’s encounter with the seals, Still can’t get the ‘OFFOFFOFFOFF’ aka the seal talk out of my head, Dory making new friends with Hank, an octopus with seven tentacles and who, for a guy with three hearts is very bad tempered, Dory reuniting with her childhood friend, Destiny and the odd cameo of previous characters from Finding Nemo.

The Incredibles 1 and 2.

The secret life of superheroes comes to life with the Parrs aka The Incredibles, where you watch them balance secret identities, families and saving the day. Overall, both films are funny, action packed and will keep you entertained for hours on end.

Inside Out.

What happens when your emotions go into overdrive? They manifest in the form of Joy, Sadness, Fear, Anger and Disgust. This film is set in the mind of a young girl, Riley Andersen, where the five personified emotions try to lead her through life as her parents move the family to a new city. Some very funny moments in the film, especially when Anger loses his temper, Disgust’s sarcastic and cynical behaviour and finding what role Sadness plays in our lives (Spoiler: Very important role).

Also check out the amazing books, ranging from official movie/character guides, stories and comics adapted from the Pixar movies such as:

Disney Pixar storybook collection.

This audiobook features retellings of all seventeen Disney-Pixar feature films such as Toy Story, Finding Nemo and much more!

Disney Pixar Character Encyclopedia.

Dive into the wonderful world of Disney.Pixar with this colourful, fact-filled guide to your favourite Pixar characters. Find out more about the greatest and funniest heroes, villains, sidekicks and oddballs from across all 21 movies- including the newest characters from Toy Story 4. For ages 7- 9.

Cars 3 : the essential guide.

Describes the memorable and ever-popular characters, including race car Lightning McQueen, plus key locations, themes, and iconic moments from the movie.

Incredibles 2 : heroes at home.

“Trying to help… Violet and Dash are part of a Super family, and they try to help out at home in two adventures! Can they pick up groceries and secretly stop some bad guys? And can they clean up the house while Jack-Jack is ‘sleeping?’ Find out in these Super stories! Also included in this volume are a variety of activities, and a special feature on how comic books come to life!” — From publisher’s description.

Incredibles 2 : the official guide.

“Discover everything you wanted to know about brave superheroes, dastardly villains and cool vehicles from Incredibles 2, the awesome new sequel to Disney-Pixar’s smash hit movie, The Incredibles. When a new villain hatches a brilliant and dangerous plot, the Parr family and their old friend Frozone must find a way to work together again – which is easier said than done, even when they’re all Incredible. This book covers all the memorable and ever-popular characters, plus key locations, themes and iconic moments from the movie.” — Amazon.com.

Coco : the essential guide.

Explore the art of the Disney movie Coco! Despite his family’s baffling generations-old ban on music, Miguel dreams of becoming an accomplished musician like his idol, Ernesto de la Cruz. Desperate to prove his talent, Miguel finds himself in the stunning and colorful Land of the Dead following a mysterious chain of events. Along the way, he meets charming trickster Hector. Follow along with word-for-word narration as, together, they set off on an extraordinary journey to unlock the real story behind Miguel’s family history.

Toy Story: Woody‘s Augmented Reality Adventures.

Bring the world of Toy Story, one of the most beloved animated films of all time, off the pages of the book and into your room with Augmented Reality! Since it was first released, Disney/Pixar’s Toy Story has been a global phenomenon. For ages 6+

Keep warm this winter with Disney movies.

Katie8 June, 2019

Hey Kids! Winter is around the corner and there will be more days spending indoors. To curb the winter’s blues… and boredom, why not head on down to your local library and rent some Disney movies to keep you entertained. Featured in this post are recommendations on classic and some what recent Disney movies, with some movie trailers of latest Disney releases coming to theaters later this year!

Enjoy!

Fr… Fr… Frrr…. Frozen

Frozen

You can never go wrong with Frozen. Relive the magic and musical renditions of “Let it go” in this amazing classic about family, friendship and diversity.

Brace yourself, kids! The gang – Elsa, Anna, Olaf, Kristoff and Sven are back for a chilly instalment of Frozen 2. Judging from this trailer, looks like the sequel is going to be better than the first movie!

Childrens DVDs: New Releases.

Katie9 May, 2019

Hey kids! The school holidays may be over, but Wellington City Libraries has some new DVDs to keep you amused in between school hours and at the weekend! So what are you waiting for? Go down to your local branch and borrow the following DVDs:

Spider-Man : into the Spider-Verse.

Miles Morales is the new Spider-Man but must also walk the balance between his personal high school & family life and his life as a superhero. While being Spider-Man, he becomes familiar with the Spider-Verse, where there are endless variations on Spider-Man. One of the Spider-Man variations living inside the Spider-Verse is Spider-Man, Peter B. Parker, who guides Miles in his journey as the new Spider-Man and introduces him to the multitude of other Spider-Men, including Spider-Man Noir and Spider-Ham. All of the various Spider-Men will have to band together when villains threaten the safety of the Spider-Verse and of the world itself.

image courtesy of syndetics Dragons. : race to the edge. Season three.

Hiccup and Toothless are back along with the favorite dragon riders in these two action-packed seasons. The high stakes continue as the riders advance in their hunt for Viggo, Ryker, and their expanded Dragon Hunter army. Tune in as the riders discover that Viggo has a Dragon Eye, a dragon fortress, and sinister plans which include putting a pricey bounty on Hiccup’s head.

image courtesy of syndetics How to train your dragon. The hidden world.

Now chief and ruler of Berk alongside Astrid, Hiccup has created a gloriously chaotic dragon utopia. When the sudden appearance of female Light Fury coincides with the darkest threat their village has ever faced, Hiccup and Toothless must leave the only home they’ve known, and journey to a hidden world thought only to exist in myth. As their true destines are revealed, dragon and rider will fight together-to the very ends of the Earth-to protect everything they’ve grown to treasure.

Also check out the trailer to How to train your dragon. The hidden world.

Sgt. Stubby.

The true story of a stray dog who joins his new master on the battlefields of the First World War. For his valorous actions, Sgt. Stubby is still recognized as the most decorated dog in American history.

The kid who would be king.

Arthur’s legendary weapon, Excalibur. Unfortunately for Alex, the sword also comes with an enemy — the sinister Morgana, who has plans to conquer Britain. Alex’s only chance is to assemble a new Round Table to fight Morgana and save the world.

Avengers Assemble:

Captain America.

It’s time to celebrate the best of the best, the Avengers Heroes that have saved the Earth from mortal danger (more times than we can count). Known as the Super Soldier, Captain America lives up to his name. From infiltrating the enemy in disguise to being the last one standing in a fight, Steve Rogers is the epitome of a hero.

Hulk.

It’s time to celebrate the best of the best, the Avengers Heroes that have saved the Earth from mortal danger (more times than we can count). Known as the Strongest Avenger, the Hulk undertakes missions deemed impossible for the other Avengers. But what is the Hulk without his gamma radiation? Can Bruce Banner be as useful to the team as his big, green, smashing partner?

Iron Man.

It’s time to celebrate the best of the best, the Avengers Heroes that have consistently save the Earth from mortal danger (more times than we can count). Clad in his high-tech exosuit and his wealth of knowledge Iron Man is as much of the heart of the Avengers as the Arc-reactor is to his own body.

Thor.

It’s time to celebrate the best of the best, the Avengers Heroes that have saved the Earth from mortal danger (more times than we can count). The Most Worthy of all of the Avengers, Thor encompasses the most honourable traits of a hero and a god. But balancing the responsibilites of the Asgard throne and that of an Avenger is no easy task.

Also check out the trailer to the latest movie in the Avengers series: Avengers Endgame, showing now in local theatres.

Star Wars Day back at the library… and May the forth be with you 2019!

Katie4 May, 2019

Attention all Jedis, Bounty Hunters and Rebels! Star Wars Day is happening again on May the Forth, which is observed and celebrated by fans of the Star Wars franchise. While you’re at it, why not relive and check out the latest non fiction, (as well as Fiction, Audio CDs and movies,) all related to anything and everything from the Star Wars universe!

Enjoy!… and may the forth be with you!

Star Wars : aliens, creatures & beasts.

This book is packed with information, illustrations and stories featuring all the amazing aliens, creatures and beasts from the Star Wars saga!

Star Wars : 5-minute stories strike back.

Blast off into hyperspace with … twelve action-packed retellings that span the entire Star Wars saga–including two tales from Star Wars: The Last Jedi! Each of these exciting stories can be read in just five minutes.

Star Wars : the complete visual dictionary.

This comprehensive visual dictionary is the perfect Star Wars book for getting to know the galaxy far, far away. Packed with more than 1,500 stunning images, it showcases major and minor characters including Princess Leia and Luke Skywalker, creatures, vehicles, weapons, props, and items of tech in unparalleled detail. The definitive companion to the Star Wars movies, Star Wars The Complete Visual Dictionary is a must-buy for the beginner and the die-hard Star Wars fan alike.

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.

Lego Star Wars ideas book.

Recreate: Relive your favourite Star Wars moments — Expand: enlarge the Star Wars galaxy! — Challenge: Compete for fun with friends and family — Use it! Build treasures to keep or gifts to give.

Star Wars encyclopedia of starfighters and other vehicles.

This Star Wars encyclopedia profiles over 200 space ships and other vehicles. Find out about deadly starfighters, vast battleships, speeders, bounty-hunter craft, and many more iconic vehicles.

Solo, a Star Wars story : the official guide.

A visual guide to the movie offers a behind-the-scenes look into the lives of Han Solo, his allies and enemies, along with information on the planets, vehicles, and aliens he encounters.
Also check out the teaser trailer to Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker, produced, co-written and directed by J. J. Abrams. It will be the third installment of the Star Wars sequel trilogy, following The Force Awakens (2015) and The Last Jedi (2017), and the ninth and final episode of the main Star Wars film franchise.

“The saga comes to an end”… on December 19th 2019, and from the looks of this trailer, they definitely saved the best for last.

Children’s DVD Reviews and Recommendations.

Katie26 April, 2019

The school holidays have begun! There will be days during the Easter break where the library will be closed. So if are looking for some entertainments, why not have a read of my latest reviews of new DVDs: Mary Poppins Returns and The Nutcracker and the four realms.

And some oldies but goodies, Maleficent, (which aired on TV 2 last weekend), and Despicable Me 3, (which aired on TV 3 last weekend).

But you better get your hands on these DVDs quick … before someone else does!

Enjoy!

image courtesy of syndetics Despicable me. 3.

They saved the best for last! Gru, the reluctant antihero of the previous films has come a long way from being a supervillian. He is married to his Anti-Villain league partner, Lucy, an involved father to Margo, Edith and Agnes and is working for the good guys bringing in the bad of the bad. However things go pear-shaped when Gru is fired from the Anti-Villain League for failing to take down the latest bad guy, Balthazar Bratt, a character completely stuck in the 80s with his music and his dance moves and armed with expanding bubble gum as his weapon of choice. But when a mysterious stranger shows up to inform Gru that he has a long-lost twin brother-a brother who desperately wishes to follow in his twin’s despicable footsteps-one former super-villain will rediscover just how good it feels to be bad. Will Gru complete his path back to the dark side?, you have to watch the film to find out.

Overall, a hilarious film! The minions are funnier than before! Agnes’ obsession with unicorns intensifies where she embarks on a quest to find a long lost legendary unicorn… only to end up with a one horned goat, (spoiler) and the showdown or “dance fight” between Gru and Balthazar Bratt, is funny and cheesy.

I rate this movie: 7/10!

The Nutcracker and the four realms.

This it The Nutcracker as you have never seen it before!

Based on the original story and ballet of The Nutcracker, Clara finds her way into a mysterious parallel world. She teams up with a soldier named Philip aka The Nutcracker in search of a key to unlock a box from her late mother. However things take a turn when it is up to Clara to brave the Fourth Realm to find the key and return harmony to the unstable world. Throughout this film, things aren’t always what they seem. You will find yourself wondering what lies is the mystery box, at times second guessing who the true heroes and villains are throughout this film and whether Clara will find what she is truly looking for.

This film is very entertaining and a fresh retelling of the original story and ballet of The Nutcracker.

I rate this movie: 7/10!

Maleficent.

This is Sleeping Beauty as you have never seen it! The bad fairy was once a good fairy.

Once upon a time, in a land far, far away, there lived a beautiful, pure-hearted young woman called Maleficent, who had anidyllic life growing up in a peaceable forest kingdom, until one day when an invading army threatens the harmony of the land and she is betrayed by her childhood friend, King Stefan. Bent on revenge, Maleficent places a curse upon Stefan’s newborn infant Aurora. However things take a turn while acting as an unofficial fairy godmother, Maleficent becomes fond of Aurora.

Poor Maleficent experiences conflict, similar to iconic Star Wars villain, Darth Vader, whether being trapped in the dark side is permanent or whether there is still good in her… and she will save the day.

Overall a great (alternative) retelling of the classic fairy tale Sleeping Beauty.

I rate this movie: 7/10.

Have a look at the trailer to the upcoming sequel: Maleficent: Mistress of Evil, which is scheduled to be released late October 2019.

Mary Poppins Returns.

After Mary Poppins departed London, Jane and Michael Banks grew up into loving and responsible adults. When Michael becomes a single father of three children: John, Annabel and George, (named after and is a polar opposite of George Banks), after the death of his wife, Mary Poppins revisits the Cherry Tree Lane home again to try to help Michael and his family cope and move beyond their grief. Time passes quickly for most normal mortals. Mary Poppins has never been normal. Although it’s now the 1930s, she looks exactly the same. Her message to Michael, Annabel, John, George and Ellen, the family’s housekeeper, about enjoying life and loved ones is also still the same, even during hard and uncertain times..

This film is Mary Poppins at its best! With a fresh cast, new songs and additional characters, Mary Poppins Returns is fresh story and promising sequel that also stays true to the original film.

I rate this movie: 7/10.

Here’s some great new kids fiction to read as Autumn starts to settle in

admin7 March, 2019

The warm summer days will be coming to an end, so what a great chance to read these great new fiction choices available through your library!

Unexpected twist; An Oliver Twisted tale by Michael Rosen

Shona and her dad are moving house, and at Shona’s new school, the rules are pretty confusing; she keeps getting into trouble without realizing! It’s a lot like how it is for Oliver Twist, that boy she’s reading about in English class. After Shona is unexpectedly given a mobile phone, she begins to suspect there’s something fishy about the new boys she’s met. Where did the phone come from? And some gifts, she soon learns, aren’t exactly free…

Into the Jungle by Matt Forbeck

The Harpers have lost one of their own, a legendary adventurer named Artus Cimber, keeper of the artifact known as the Ring of Winter. They’ve hired you to travel to the jungle-clad land of Chult and find him. If only you can manage it before the frost giants hunting for him do — and before the zombies that infest the lands get you…

Pearl the Proper Unicorn by Sally Odgers

Pearl, Olive and Tweet meet another unicorn! His name is Prince Percy and he is positively perfect in every way! But when mean, smelly gobble-uns take over the pond, can Prince Percy’s perfect magic help them? Or will Pearl’s magic be just what they need?

The Bridge Home by Padma Venkatraman

Four determined homeless children make a life for themselves in Padma Venkatraman’s stirring middle-grade debut. Life is harsh in Chennai’s teeming streets, so when runaway sisters Viji and Ruku arrive, their prospects look grim. Very quickly, eleven-year-old Viji discovers how vulnerable they are in this uncaring, dangerous world. Fortunately, the girls find shelter-and friendship-on an abandoned bridge. With two homeless boys, Muthi and Arul, the group forms a family of sorts. And while making a living scavenging the city’s trash heaps is the pits, the kids find plenty to laugh about and take pride in too. After all, they are now the bosses of themselves and no longer dependent on untrustworthy adults. But when illness strikes, Viji must decide whether to risk seeking help from strangers or to keep holding on to their fragile, hard-fought freedom.

The train to impossible places by P.G Bell

Join the journey to Impossible Places, where there’s magic at every stop… Suzy is surprised to find a grumpy troll building a railway through her house – especially when a gigantic steam train crashes into her hallway! This is the Impossible Postal Express, the trusty delivery service of the Union of Impossible Places, and Suzy becomes its newest recruit. And with her cursed first package, an Impossible adventure begins.–Provided by publisher.

Reward yourself with these fantastic new kids fiction books

admin26 December, 2018

Not so normal Norbert by James Patterson

Normal Riddle lives in the United State of Earth, where normal means following the rules, never standing out and being exactly the same as everyone else. He’s been normal his whole life – until a moment of temporary hilarity when he does a funny impression of the country’s dictator and gets caught. Now Norbert’s been banished to the Astronuts Camp on planet Zorquat 3, where kids who defy the rules are exiled forever. He’s been taught his whole life that different is wrong, but everyone at Astronuts seems crazy creative, or are they just plain crazy?

War is Over by David Almond

It’s 1918, and war is everywhere. John’s dad is fighting in the trenches far away in France. His mum works in the munitions factory just along the road. His teacher says that John is fighting, too, that he is at war with enemy children in Germany. One day, in the wild woods outside town, John has an impossible moment: a meeting with a German boy named Jan. John catches a glimpse of a better world, in which children like Jan and himself can come together, and scatter the seeds of peace. Gorgeously illustrated by David Litchfield, this is a book to treasure.

Sea; Huntress Trilogy #1 by Sarah Driver

‘In the sky, the fire spirits dance and ripple. Grandma says they showed our Tribe that I’d be a captain, before I was even born. Ever since Ma died, Mouse has looked after her little brother, Sparrow, dreaming of her destiny as captain of the Huntress. But now Da’s missing, Sparrow is in danger, and a deathly cold is creeping across Trianukka. Sea-churning, beast-chattering, dream-dancing, whale-riding, terrodyl-flying, world-saving adventure”–Publisher’s description.

The case of the left handed Lady by Nancy Springer

Pursued by her much older brother, famed detective Sherlock Holmes, fourteen-year-old Enola, disguised and using false names, attempts to solve the kidnapping of a baronet’s sixteen-year-old daughter in nineteenth-century London.

The Slightly alarming tale of the Whispering Wars by Jaclyn Moriarty

I was taken by Whisperers at 2pm, so I never pulled the lever for the laundry chute. That’s what bothered me most. This is way ahead in the story, though. A lot happened before that. The town of Spindrift is frequented by pirates, Shadow Mages and charlatans. It’s also home to the Orphanage School, where Finlay lives with Glim, Taya and Eli. Just outside town is the painfully posh Brathelthwaite Boarding School, home to Honey Bee, Hamish and Victor, Duke of Ainsley. When the two schools compete at the Spindrift Tournament, stakes are high, tensions are higher, and some people are out to win at any cost. Before long, the orphans and the boarding school are in an all-out war. And then Whispering Wars break out, and Spindrift is thrust onto the front lines. Children are being stolen, Witches, Sirens and a deadly magical flu invade the town, and all attempts to fight back are met with defeat. Finlay, Honey Bee and their friends must join forces to outwit the encroaching forces of darkness, rescue the stolen children, and turn the tide of the war. But how can one bickering troupe outwit the insidious power of the Whisperers? And who are the two mysterious figures watching them from the shadows?

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