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Art Attack – Learn to draw everything with new non-fiction books

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Learn to draw enchanted Princesses

Anyone who who wants to draw Disney princesses  (and other Disney heroines!) can’t go past this awesome book. It takes you step by step through how to draw all them all, from Snow White and Sleeping Beauty to Tiana and Rapunzel.  It’s pretty detailed: first it teaches you how to draw their basic figure, then their face and after you’ve mastered those you can work on action poses and facial expressions. It also teaches you how to draw them at different stages, as well, like Tiana as a frog and Mulan as a soldier.  This is a great book for more advanced artists.

 

 

 

Draw Animals

This is a great general art book on how to draw realistic pictures of your favourite animals.  But this book doesn’t just stick to your boring cows and cats and dogs; it also features pre-historic creatures,  such as the Indricotherium (try saying that three times fast!) and the creatures of legend, such as the Gryphon and the Hydra. Another book for the more advanced artist, but don’t let that scare you off! Practice makes perfect, after all.

 

 

 

 

13 Art Illusions Children should know

Do you know what tromp l’oeil is? Or atmospheric perspective? From the very earliest paintings, clever artists have used all sorts of tricks to fool the viewer into seeing the painting in a different way. This book will reveal all these tricks and how they were created. It takes you on a journey through time, showing you how artists got cleverer and cleverer at fooling the eye. It will teach you something new and perhaps you can introduce some of these concepts to your own art work.

 

 

 

Xtreme Illusions

This book is on the same subject but focuses more on the modern types of optical illusions. It doesn’t focus on the history or the more technical aspects of how these illusions are created, but it’s a fun book to read.

 

 

 

How to draw series

If you’d like to take your art skills to the next level, these are the books for you! Their motto is “An art school in a book” and that is true.  We’ve featured the “how to draw” series before, but these two new books( How to draw perspective and How to draw still life) are worth featuring on their own.  These books will take you through the more technical aspects of drawing without being too difficult to understand.  It will explain clearly everything from vanishing points to negative space.

New Non Fiction rated G …for Girls!

Katie

Check the latest and newest non fiction for girls!  Escape into a world of fairy tales (and fairies), ballet, inspiring women, cheer-leading and…where dreams come true.

Becoming a Ballerina: A Nutcracker Story staring the Dancers of Boston Ballet.

Ever wanted to be a ballerina? This book is a beautiful and inspiring portrait of a real life girl pursuing her dream to becoming a ballerina and scoring the lead role in The Nutcracker. Complete with dozens of full color photographs that bring to life the hard work and artistry that go into creating the magical world of the ballet.

 

 

 

 

Gymnastics.

Are you interested in becoming a gymnast? Performing back flips, leaps and somersaults sounds exciting, but its not that easy to do. This book will help you master those techniques, along with with step by step photographs and also tell what you need to do in order to condition your body, diet, clothing and kit.

 

 

 

 

 

Ready, Set, Cheer! by Lisa Mullarkey.

If you ever wanted to become a cheerleader? Don’t be fooled by the stereotype,  cheerleading is hard work. Luckily Ready, Set, Cheer! is a new series that tells you everything you have ever wanted to know about cheerleading. Cheerleading Basics explains how to get started in cheerleading and introduces some basic motions, chants and cheers. Cheerleading Spirit will tell great ways to spread spirit around at games, pep rallies and community events. Cheerleading Stunts and Tumbling introduces a number of gymnastics moves with hints on how to be successful. Cheerleading Tryouts and Competitions shares tips on how to become the best cheerleader you can be and how to help you squad become a winner.

 

The Oxford Treasury of Fairy Tales.

The perfect book that allows you to escape into a world of brave knights, sleeping princesses, wicked witches and talking frogs. Sleeping Beauty, Rapunzel, Cinderella and Snow White.  Oxford University Press has taken all the fairy tales that you love and know so well and published them into this beautiful, bound collection of stories with colorful illustrations.

 

 

 

 

 

Maya and the Turtle.

This Korean folk tale tells the story of Maya. She and her father are poor, but live a comfortable life. Her mother is dead, but foresaw Maya’s destiny of becoming a princess. One day Maya finds a little turtle. She takes him home, raising, caring for him and never knowing that he will play a part in her destiny. Beautifully illustrated and filled with fascinating nuggets of information about Korean culture, this book offers a poignant tale of the rewards of kindness, patience, courage, a loving heart and a lesson in how true glory, even if foretold must be earned.

 

 

Disney Fairies: The ultimate guide to the magical world.

With a sprinkle of pixie dust (and this exciting new read), take a journey to Neverland and meet all your favorite Disney fairies including Tinkerbell, Rosetta, Silvermist and Vidia. This book is crammed with fun information about your favorite fairies, finding your fairy talent and even what fairies like to eat. With eye catching pictures of the fairies, stills from the movies and fairy themes of magic, friendship, fairy fashion and nature, this is one book no fairies fan should be without.

If you this tickles you fancy, you might want to check out the DVDs Tinkerbell, Tinkerbell and the great fairy rescue  and Tinker Bell and the secret of the wings.

 

 

Helen’s big world : the life of Helen Keller 

Read about the inspiring life of Helen Keller in this picture book biography. Born deaf and blind, she was determined to expereince every part of life and with the help of an unrivaled teacher, Annie Sullivan, Helen found that knowledge would soon lead to freedom. This book is an excellent and unforgettable portrait of one of the world’s most influential women whose vision for progress changed America and the world forever.

 

 

 

 

The stories of the Mona Lisa : an imaginary museum tale about the history of modern art.

In this book, a father tells his daughter a story of the fascinating history of modern painting through what many consider the most famous work in the history of art: the Mona Lisa by Leonardo De Vinci. This book takes you on a through an imaginary museum where you learn about famous art movements, for example  impressionism, cubism, expressionism, minimalism and surrealism. You also learn about artists like Monet, Manet, Cezanne, Picasso and Pollock. All of the most famous painters of the modern and contemporary art movements are explained with their own Mona Lisa portraits, in their signature styles. The Stories of the Mona Lisa is the perfect book for anyone who loves art, history, and a good story.

 

Girls (and boys) will also like:

I have a dream / Martin Luther King, Jr.

“I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of it’s creed: We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal.” – Dr. Martin Luther King, 28th August 1963.

Do you have a dream? Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr did.  He was an American clergyman, activist, and leader in the African-American Civil Rights Movement. He had a dream for freedom and equality of all people, no matter the colour of their skin. On August 28th 1963, he stood before the nation and agave one of the most powerful and memorable speeches in our history. In the only picture book version of Dr King’s speech, with magnificent illustrations his iconic words and dream comes alive again and again for many generations to come. This book also includes a CD of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr’s original speech. A fantastic book to use if you are doing a project on Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr and African-American Civil Rights Movement.

Have you ever had a dream? Now is the time to make it come true.

 

 

 

 


The Inside world of Animals, Reptiles and Teen Superstars!… and some Arts and Crafts for good measure.

Katie

Head on down to the library and check out the latest Junior non fiction that will keep you amused and entertained. Animals! Reptiles! Teen superstars! You couldn’t ask for more!

Amazing new non fiction on animals:

Animal Encyclopedia : 2,500 animals with photos, maps and more!

Love animals? Then this is the book for you. This book has been rated the best children’s animal encyclopedia. Newly published from National Geographic, this amazing encyclopedia, complete with facts, maps and photographs will tell you everything you have ever wanted to know about mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, invertebrates and fish.

 

 

 

 

Animals Are Amazing:

Animals are amazing and don’t we know it. Read up and learn all you ever wanted to know about the world’s  amazing animals which includes Monkeys, Sharks, Tigers, Lions and Polar Bears. These books also come complete with pictures and amazing facts like mother monkeys teach their babies what is good to eat and tigers can grow to be over three metres long.

 

Animals Are Amazing: Snakes

Learn all you ever wanted to know about snakes – snakes that bite, snakes that squeeze, snakes that swim and snakes that climb trees. You will also learn interesting facts like the green anaconda can weigh as much as four grown people and some snakes can live to be 40 years old. Also check out: Amazing Giant Dinosaurs.

 

 

 

 

The inside world of Teen Superstars:

Selena Gomez.

New from the series, Teen Stars is the biography of Selena Gomez, who is an American actress, singer, and fashion designer. She is known for portraying Alex Russo in the Emmy Award winning television series Wizards of Waverly Place and starring in movies such as Another Cinderella Story and Ramona and Beezus. Whether you’re already a fan, or just want to find out more, this series has something for everyone who’s into the teen celebrity scene.

 

 

 

 

If this doesn’t tickle your fancy, how about throwing in some Arts and Crafts activities for good measure? Check out these brand new non fiction series…

 

Arts and Crafts:

Get creative with these fun activities. Whether your are making a knight’s helmet and sword or a fairy tea party, These books will give you lots of ideas of arts and crafts you can create using knights, castles an fairies themes. Interested in more from this series, check out: Pirates, Tractors and Trucks, Dinosaurs and Animals.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

New from this series is Fun with Paint, Fun with Paper, Fun with Fabric and Fun with Nature.

Whether you are having fun with paint, paper, fabric or nature, these clever craft books are full of fun ideas and fantastic activities for little fingers to make. From gifts to party decorations or just for fun, these craft activities will keep little fingers busy.

 

 

 

 

 

Exploring new borders: New non-fiction

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What is contemporary art?

Read this book and parents dragging you along to an art gallery will never be boring again. In fact, if you read this book, you might end up knowing more than your olds! This book takes you through different types of contemporary artist and what they use, which is everything from crushed cars to rocks to eggshells. Of course, painting is also featured but not in any way you might have seen before. It goes without saying that this book has great pictures of all the art works, and next time you go to an art gallery, you’ll look at things in a whole new way.

 

 

 

Great Britain: everything you ever wanted to know

Despite it’s title, this book doesn’t cover the great battles, powerful monarchs or mighty castles of British history. Instead it covers all the ‘cool’ bits of British culture; tea, James Bond and Nessie. It’s also got great information on mainstays of life and history in Britain, such as the ‘great’ schools such as Eton and Harrow, eccentric aristocrats and the Beatles.  This is not your average history book, but a fun read if you happen to be  interested in what makes Old Blighty so unique. There library also has two other books in this series, on China and on Australia.

 

 

The Kingfisher History Encyclopedia

This book is an excellent reference for those interested in history. It covers human history from 4000 BCE to the present, and at almost 500 pages, you wouldn’t want to read it all at once! Instead, use it as a ‘jumping off’ point for when you’ve got a homework assignment on the Thirty Years War or The Boxer Rebellion. You’ll learn who, what, where, why and how…and then use these references to find more information! Despite being crammed full of facts, this book is hardly dry reading. There are plenty of interesting photographs and illustrations to go along with the text.

 

 

 

My cookbook of Cakes

Want to bake delicious cakes but too scared? This book is perfect. Its recipes are simple but delicious, and there are plenty of cakes to choose from. Whether you prefer rose petal cupcakes, a zesty orange drizzle cake or berry and vanilla cheesecake, you’ll find all your tastes catered for. And don’t worry, chocoholics, there’s plenty of recipes for you, too. Every step is illustrated with cool pictures, so this is a great book for beginner bakers.

 

 

 

 

Ninjago masters of Spinjitzu : character encyclopedia

Lego fan? Check out this cool new character encyclopedia about the heroes and villains of the Lego series Ninjago, which features four young ninjas training hard to defeat various monsters. It will tell you all about each character and the changes they go through as the series progresses. It also goes into great detail about the figures themselves; how they change from series to series, in both appearance and personality. This is a must read for any Ninjago or Lego Fan!

 

 

 

Five minute faces and Wild faces

If you’ve got a Christmas party coming up, and are looking for costume ideas, these books are a great resource. They’ll teach you all the basic skills of face painting, how to run a stall and how to create basic accessories to improve your costume.  The first book, Five Minute Faces, has a whole range of different faces; Miss Muppet, pirate, joker, skull and jester to name a few. The faces in the second book, Wild Faces, focuses more on animal faces and the make up’s more complex.  But if you want to win first place with your tiger costume, this is the book for you!

 

 

 

Make an animation

If you want to be the next Walt Disney, this is the book for you! It talks about the different types of animation, such as traditional hand-drawn animation to stop-motion animation made from ‘found’ objects. It will also show you how to make storyboards and shoot your own masterpieces.

Wake up the Artist in You!

wcl staff

Have you ever felt that there is an artist in you that’s waiting to come out? Maybe you just need the right book  to let it out. I think the book Art Lab for Kids by Susan Schwake  is just the art adventure you need!

It is full of creative ideas and projects to draw,paint and print. There is also some projects in paper and mixed media that are really cool. Actually there are 52 art projects that you can do by yourself or with someone. Each of the  projects is similar to the work of an artist in that artistic field and you get to know a little information about them. It is very easy to follow because it has a clear list of things you need and a step by step instruction on what to do.

I’m sure you’ll have fun in no time and maybe perhaps you’d create lots of artistic works enough for a one man show! So get creative and connect with the artistic side in you! Happy creating!

 

School holidays and time to be creative again!

wcl staff

Bedroom Makeover

This book shows you how to make your bedroom brighter, cosier and comfier. I love bunting and cushions and this book shows you how to make funky cushion covers and bright bunting easily. A very fun book with lots of ideas. Other books in this series to look out for are, Customise Your Clothes, Accessories for All, Cards, and Wrap and Tags.

 

 

 

 

How To Make a Planet

Obviously get your parents’ permission before you start build ing a planet in your bedroom. But once you have their go ahead read this fascinating book to learn all the things you need to know about forming a planet and taking care of it. PS, You may not be finished your project by the end of the school holidays.

 

 

 

 

Space!

If you don’t have time to make your own planet then check this book out and enjoy doing some simple space experiments. Great for all ages for learning the basics of how space works.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fun To Draw Funny Characters

With time on your hands you can get this book out and improve your drawing and cartooning skills no matter what your skill level. 16 fun characters, 20 faces and endless funny situations are all awaiting your pen and paper.

 

 

 

 

 

Describing Words  

Try your hand at writing these holidays. Need some coaching with your grammar? Then this new series will be fantastic for you. Other books in this series cover Punctuation, Doing Words and Grouping Words.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Stay

If the circus is in town these holidays head along there. You may see dogs performing like the ones in this lovely book. If you are a dog lover then you will really enjoy reading about the ten stray dogs that were given a home in a circus and trained up to be ultimate performers.

 

 

 

 

 

Children’s Chocolate Cookbook

Not only crammed full of scrumptious recipes but containing the history of chocolate and how it is made. YUM!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Oh Boy!

Kick back and enjoy this unofficial biography of Justin Bieber. Crammed full of photos, of course, read and find out all those little things you always wanted to know about this successful idol.

 

 

 

 

 

Lego Star Wars Character Encyclopedia

Time to get our the lego again these holidays. This encyclopedia will tell you about all the characters you may want to add to your collection.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Click! Click! Click!

Time to get those cameras out these holidays. Have fun fist reading this book and get some great ideas for your magical shots. Also learn how to edit and playaround with your photos.

 

 

 

 

 

The Art Treasure Hunt

Fill in a few spare hours browsing through this inspiring book. Wander through famous artworks from around the world. Full of puzzles, games and large pictures. Learning about art was never so much fun. If you aren’t already an art lover, you will be after reading through this book.

Fusion with the Masters of Modernism

wcl staff

Do you know Alexander Calder, Alvin Lustig or Isamu Noguchi? They were artists who were into a style of  art and design called modernism. They believed that good and exciting designs and ideas are for everyone. These modern artists experimented with new ways of seeing and with fresh ideas about the nature of materials and uses of art. So open up yourself to this form of art and create craft projects patterned after their works. Check out Kid Made Modern by Todd Oldham. You’ll surely be inspired with its easy to follow steps and awesome pictures. Happy creating!

The Most Amazing Houses in the World

wcl staff

A pear house, a UFO house, a house of stairs and a nut house are just a few of the very original houses you will see illustrated in this new book. H.O.U.S.E stands for Habitable Objects Unique Spatial Extraordinary. Translated from Polish there are 35 fascinating houses drawn here plus plans and details.

My favourite is the house for the homeless which is a cart. Although the shrinking turtle house or inflatable House are pretty cool too!

ILLUSIONS

wcl staff

courtesy of syndeticsFind out the insider’s scoop on how artistic illusions are created with this book. It’s called Trick of the Eye: Art and Illusion by Silke Vry. It was really fascinating how the artists can create depth and dimension by just using their brushes. What’s cool about it is you can have a go at recreating some of the illusions yourself. There are also some fun activities for you to do like eye tests which tests your ability to spot the hidden images in a picture. I had fun reading this I hope you will too!