aliens

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!!!!!!!!!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dreamworks movies and… countdown to the release of Trolls!

Katie

As the year almost draws to a close, as well as concluding my blog posts on Walt Disney movies – for now at least, I have put together a list of must see Children’s DVDs produced by the animation company, DreamWorks, who released movies such as Shrek, Madagascar and Kung Fu Panda, which will be featured in future blog posts.

This is to celebrate the impending release and countdown to the release of the latest DreamWorks Animation picture: Trolls – featured previously in the upcoming movie release blog post. So why not check out this post and see what movies tickle your fancy and that you want to watch during the drizzly spring weather and upcoming Christmas/Summer break! Stay tuned for more movies still come in future posts!

 

bee movie5_Bee Movie.

Having just graduated from college, Barry B. Benson finds himself disillusioned with the prospect of having only one career choice – honey. As he ventures outside of the hive for the first time, he breaks one of the cardinal rules of the bee world and talks to a human, a New York City florist named Vanessa. He is shocked to discover that the humans have been stealing and eating the bee’s honey for centuries. He ultimately realizes that his true calling in life is to set the world right by suing the human race. That is until the ensuing chaos upsets the very balance of nature. It is up to Barry to prove that even a little bee can spell big changes in the world.

 

croodsjpgThe Croods.

The Croods is a prehistoric comedy adventure that follows the world’s first family aka Cave People as they embark on a journey of a lifetime when the cave that has always shielded them from danger is destroyed. Traveling across a spectacular landscape, the Croods discover an incredible new world filled with fantastic creatures, and their outlook is changed forever. Probably one of the funniest films I have ver seen! Love the inventions that The Croods come up which ranges from a hug, a pet, a joke and shoes. I especially love the reaction from Eep, the teenage daughter she tries on a pair of shoes. Check out the clip here.

FACT: The cave people lived on a diet of meat, fish, vegetables, and fruit and excluding dairy or cereal products and processed food, which is commonly known today as the paleo diet.

 

flushed awayFlushed Away.

Pampered pet mouse, Roddy thinks he’s got it made– until he’s literally flushed away, (down the toilet!) to a bustling underground world of ninja frogs, hench-rats and singing slugs. Funniest film I have ever seen! The slugs are definitely my favourite of this movie, especially when they shriek and sing. Check out the trailer for this movie here. Also I have added some preview clips that will hopefully entice you to watch this movie. Featured are scenes where the slugs sing Mr Lonely, and the chase scene where rats are using 1980 style kitchen mixers as speedboats, not to mention a malfunction with a toaster and go-go purple custard with Bohemian like you by The Dandy Warhols playing the background.

 

IMAGE COURTESY OF AMAZON.COMHome.

A lovable misfit from another planet meets a girl named Tip. The two unlikely friends embark on the greatest journey of all time.

Movie Review: Lilo and Stitch.

Katie

I think the tag line for this movie was “There’s one in every family.”

image courtesy of amazon.comThey certainly didn’t get that wrong in the wonderful world of Disney with regard to Stitch, a genetic experiment who has escaped from an alien planet and journeys to the lush and tropical Hawaiian Islands. There he is adopted by a lonely tittle girl named Lilo, who thinks he is an innocent puppy.

Stitch’s only interest in Lilo is using her as a human shield to evade the alien bounty hunters who are bent on recapturing him. In the end, it is Lilo’s unwavering faith in “ohana”, the Hawaiian tradition of family, that unlocks Stitch’s heart and gives him the one thing he was never designed to have – the ability to care for someone else.

This movie is awesome! Awesome story! Awesome music!, (Lots of Elvis Presley tracks as well. Kids, if you don’t know by now who Elvis is, ask your grandparents! HAHA!), Awesome scenes (the one with Stitch ‘playing a record’ and the action alien battle scene with Hound Dog by Elvis Presley playing in the background are favourites of mine!) Awesome dialogue! (I always crack up at the phrases “Abomination”, “Stupid Head” and “Aloha!”) This is definitely a movie that the whole family will enjoy. 7/10 all the way!

As a extra special treat I have included some Walt Disney movies trailers where Stitch gate crashes classic Disney movies such as Aladdin, Beauty and the Beast, The Lion King and The Little Mermaid! Man oh man, are they funny! A repetitive line throughout the trailers are “Get your own movie!” Hmmm irony?

Also check out songs featured in the movie soundtrack: Hawaiian Roller Coaster ride performed by Mark Keali’i Ho’omalu and New Zealand’s own North Shore Children’s Choir and a cover of Elvis Presley’s hit song, Can’t help falling in love by A-teens.

5 Shiny, sparkly, new-to-your-library Kids Fiction!

admin

Looking for some good reads for when the weather turns bad? Here’s some great new fiction for you to try. Grab it from your local library before someone else does.

 

Warning CryImage courtesy of Syndetics by Kris Humphrey

When a raven drops a white feather at the doorstep on the day of your birth, it is a symbol of your destiny. You are a Whisperer – a guardian of the wild. The kingdom of Meridina is under threat. When Nara and her leopard companion, Flame, receive the call to attend a Whisperers’ council of war, they begin the long journey north. But signs of the shape-shifting Narlaw are everywhere. Can Nara and Flame make it to the palace or will the demons reach them first? The future of the natural world is resting on their shoulders.

 

Star Wars; Tales from a Galaxy Far, Far AwayImage courtesy of Syndetics by Landry Walker

A collection of six tales tells the other stories of some of the aliens that are seen in “Star Wars: The Force Awakens.”

 

 

From the Cutting Room of Barney KettleImage courtesy of Syndetics by Kate De Goldi

An unnamed man in a hospital bed tells the story of thirteen-year-old film director Barney Kettle and his sister Ren, who are on a mission to film the story of their local street.

 

 

Adventures of the Steampunk Pirates; The Leaky Battery Sets SailImage courtesy of Syndetics by Gareth P. Jones

Causing chaos wherever they sail, the robotic Steampunk Pirates are roaming the high seas, hunting for gold! But the evil Iron Duke has other ideas…He’s determined to capture the pirates in return for a handsome reward from the King.

 

 

Bloodlust and BlundersImage courtesy of Syndetics by Poppy Inkwell

Alana Oakley suspects her new neighbours are vampires. All the signs are there: they are deathly pale, too good at everything, and laugh derisively at vampire-lore with a knowing mwah-ha-ha. Khalilah, Maddie and Sofia hope Alana is right – everything they’ve read about vampires sounds so very cool and the new neighbours are so very hot… Despite her friends’ warped sensibilities, Alana is determined to reveal the neighbours’ bloody secret. If only her mum would stay out of trouble, Alana would have this mystery in the bag, but Emma is tangled up with Katriona and Ling Ling’s mission to Never Grow Old, avoid Chinatown’s resident loan shark- Fok Wee Mung, and meet Kylie Minogue.

5 New kids fiction books to warm your heart on these freezing winter days

admin

The Adventures of Alfie OnionImage courtesy of Syndetics by Vivian French

Alfie Onion has just set off on a great adventure …but only to carry his brother’s luggage. It’s his elder brother, Magnifico Onion, who’s destined to win their family a Happily Ever After. But when it turns out Magnifico isn’t half the hero he’s cracked up to be, it falls to Alfie to save the day – with a little help from his loyal dog, a talking horse and a couple of meddling magpies.

 

 

Perijee & MeImage courtesy of Syndetics by Ross Montgomery

When 11-year-old Caitlin discovers a shrimp-like alien creature on the shores of her island home, she takes responsibility for teaching it about the world. Mostly, this just involved stopping little Perijee from eating everything. Caitlin becomes increasingly close to her alien friend, treating him like a brother. There’s only one problem – Perijee won’t stop growing. Then the authorities try to hunt him down and through his fear, Perijee disappears and starts causing trouble. Caitlin must leave home and travel across the country to try and convince Perijee to stop destroying everything before it’s too late.

 

 

Binny Bewitched by Hilary McKayImage courtesy of Syndetics

Binny Cornwallis has lost some money.  Money that wasn’t really hers in the first place. With her best enemy Gareth and her beloved dog Max she turns detective to track it down, but the Cornwallis family are anything but helpful. Little brother James and his friend Dill are having an adventure of their own and big sister Clem is acting very strangely. And on top of all this, Binny suspects their next-door neighbour may be a witch …

 

 

The Girl of Ink and StarsImage courtesy of Syndetics by Kiran Millwood Hargrave

Forbidden to leave her island, Isabella dreams of the faraway lands her cartographer father once mapped. When her friend disappears, she volunteers to guide the search. The world beyond the walls is a monster-filled wasteland and beneath the dry rivers and smoking mountains, a fire demon is stirring from its sleep. Soon, following her map, her heart and an ancient myth, Isabella discovers the true end of her journey: to save the island itself.

 

 

Emily Sparkes and the Backstage Blunder by Ruth FitzgeraldImage courtesy of Syndetics

‘It’s school play season, and Emily Sparkes has landed herself a starring role… not.  In fact it’s the most HUMILIATING role in the history of all time – even worse than the time she was cast as a duck. (Quack, quack.)  Emily’s friends Chloe (pretty much a Hollywood-star-to-be, daahling) and Zuzanna are very excited.  Partly because, for the first time ever, they’ll be performing in a gala at the local theatre like proper actors!  But things take a turn for the worse when they meet the other school who’ll be performing.  The girls from Mag Hall have a history with Chloe that seems a bit mysterious.  It’s going to take some real Emily Sparkes creativityness to get to the bottom of things!’ – taken from book cover.

 

Top 10 Childrens DVD’s May 2016

Dusty

Monsters and dragons and minions, oh my! There are some great favourite movies amongst the DVD listings for May.

Adventures abound for Geronimo, the popular mouse hero of middle fiction continues on his world wide escapades.  Fancy writing your own article for The Rodent Gazette?  What adventure would you report to the editor? Let us know your ideas in the comments.

Here’s your Top 10 for last month:

1. My little pony, friendship is magic

2. Inside out

3. Strawberry Shortcake

4. Minions

5. Hotel Transylvania

6. Dragons

7. Geronimo Stilton

8. Legends of Chima

9. Home

10. The new adventures of Peter Pan

New school year means new children’s fiction to try

admin

We know you’re excited about the new school year school starting, and we reckon you should get excited about these new titles too! Give them a go; try something new!

Sammael’s Wings by Hilton Pashley

“Everything Jonathan loves is threatened. His angel father is wounded and lost, and his demon mother is missing in Hell. When his great-aunt Sammael, an archangel, returns from exile, Jonathan finally has a chance to bring his family back together. But a terrible new enemy wants to create chaos and fear throughout the universe, and he needs Jonathan’s wings to do it. Jonathan must go through Heaven and Hell to save them all…”–Back cover.

 

A Galaxy Too Far Away by Jamie ThomsonImage courtesy of Syndetics

Harry was just an ordinary teenage boy from Croydon when he was abducted by aliens and accidentally became the captain of their starship. His quest to get back home to Earth continues – but now he’s acquired an alien ‘son’ and a new spacecraft, and he’s being pursued by an eight-foot robot bounty hunter.

 

The Swish of the Curtain by Pamela BrownImage courtesy of Syndetics

When seven bored children discover an abandoned chapel in their home town, they decide to renovate it and to form the Blue Door Theatre Company. The talented and resourceful group soon discover that they are serious about their theatrical ambitions, but will their parents stand in their way?

 

The Power of Poppy Pendle by Natasha LoweImage courtesy of Syndetics

Ten-year-old Poppy will do anything to realize her dream of becoming a baker, although her parents insist she attend Ruthersfield, the exclusive girls school for witchcraft, where she excels despite her dislike of magic. Includes baking tips and recipes.

 

 

Pieces of Why by K.L. GoingImage courtesy of Syndetics

Twelve-year-old Tia lives in a white slum in New Orleans with her mother, and her whole world revolves around singing in the gospel choir with her best friend, Keisha–but when practice is interrupted by a shooting outside the church, and a baby is killed, Tia finds that she cannot sing, and she is forced to confront her feelings about her incarcerated father who killed a girl in a failed robbery years before.

Top 10 Childrens DVDs for January 2016

Dusty

Road trips with DVDs? Turns out that it’s now a thing! There are some great DVDs in the Childrens collection to while away the easy summer hours. Our collection has classic series like Scooby-Doo and newer cartoon series following the Lego heroes of Chima, the ponies from the world of Equestria or the Strawberry shortcake gang.  Inside out from Pixar has had some great reviews, from the writer of Monsters, Inc., Wall-E and Up, Pete Docter, the little voices in Riley’s head are brought to life as she struggles with the move to a new city. The animation deserves a mention as Pixar uses a more cartoonish style this time round.  Heading to Tokyo in the next few months? you can catch the Pixar exhibition at The Museum of Contemporary Art

1.  My little pony, friendship is magic

2.  Minions

3.  Inside out

4.  Home

5.  Dragons

6 . Cinderella

7.  Scooby-Doo! 13 spooky tales

8.  Strawberry Shortcake

9.  Legends of Chima

10. Paper planes

Top 10 Children’s DVDs December 2015

Dusty

There are some great new movies in December’s popular DVDs. Paper Planes is an Australian production that shows the joys of invention and team work (and how to make a cool paper aeroplane). Minions – the movie – shows the great and terrible journey the Minions had to follow to find their evil master mind Gru. Want to find your own Minion? Take a look at the seek and find book based on the movie

  1. My little pony, friendship is magic series
  2. Minions
  3. Strawberry Shortcake series
  4. Home
  5. Legends of Chima series
  6. Dragons 
  7. Inside out
  8. Cinderella
  9. Paper planes
  10. Scooby-Doo! 13 spooky tales series