Books

What Comes Next? A Series of Unfortunate Events

Grace Hancox

Finding new pukapuka for your tamariki can be a challenge, especially when they can get through a big series in just a couple of weeks. Well, the library is here to help! In our series “What Comes Next?” we try and tackle the tricky challenge of helping you find the next book after a great series. If you haven’t seen our blog from last month on Ranger’s Apprentice, then be sure to check it out if your tamaiti loves fantasy or archery! This month we are focusing on the delightfully dreary Series of Unfortunate Events by Lemony Snicket, with humorous recommendations for those who enjoyed the series.

A Series of Unfortunate Events has delighted children with the Baudelaires woeful escapades for well over two decades now and the series has only grown in popularity following the Netflix adaptation. While no one is quite like Lemony Snicket, we’ve put together our best picks for tamariki who loved this series.

Younger Kids:

Luckily for tamariki there are heaps of excellent books which lean into the darker side while remaining humorous and fun. The Spiderwick Chronicles are a great fit for tamariki who like fantasy with just a little bit of scary, and so is the hilarious Floods series by Colin Thompson. Chris Riddell brings us a gothic mystery complete with a ghostly mouse in Goth Girl, and if you found yourself rooting for the villain, then check out The Crims by Kate Davies which features a whole family of criminals.

The field guide / DiTerlizzi, Tony
“When the Grace children go to stay at their Great Aunt Lucinda’s worn Victorian house, they discover a field guide to fairies and other creatures and begin to have some unusual experiences. Suggested level: primary, intermediate.” (Catalogue)
Neighbours / Thompson, Colin
“Nerlin and Mordonna Flood have seven children, most of whom were made in a cellar, using incredible mystical powers. Betty is a normal little girl – but she’s a useless witch. Her attempts at magic often go wrong, with unexpected yet welcome results. When the next-door neighbours rob the Floods, they find out what the Floods do to bad neighbours” (Adapted from catalogue)
Goth Girl and the ghost of a mouse / Riddell, Chris
“A deliciously dark offering from the award-winning author-illustrator of the Ottoline books” (Catalogue)
The Crims / Davies, Kate
“When her notoriously inept family of criminals is wrongly accused, Imogen, the only truly skilled criminal, uses her skills to clear their names.” (Catalogue)

Older Kids:

For the older ones who want that dark-humor vibe after reading or rereading A Series of Unfortunate Events we have got you covered. Skullduggery Pleasant by Derek Landy is another fantasy with darker vibes that older kids are sure to love, and Ms Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs is perfect for older kids who love a bit of mystery. Good Omens by Terry Pratchett & Neil Gaiman has been on my TBR for ages, and if you ever need to laugh about doomsday then look no further than this excellent book. And if you want even more Neil Gaiman then check out The Graveyard Book which features another child in unfortunate circumstances, raised by ghosts in a graveyard after the murder of his parents.

Skulduggery Pleasant / Landy, Derek
“When twelve-year-old Stephanie inherits her weird uncle’s estate, she must join forces with Skulduggery Pleasant, a skeleton mage, to save the world from the Faceless Ones.” (Catalogue)
Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children / Riggs, Ransom
“After a family tragedy, Jacob feels compelled to explore an abandoned orphanage on an island off the coast of Wales, discovering disturbing facts about the children who were kept there.” (Catalogue)

 

 


Good omens : the nice and accurate prophecies of Agnes Nutter, witch / Pratchett, Terry
“According to the Nice and Accurate Prophecies of Agnes Nutter, Witch – the world will end on a Saturday. Next Saturday, in fact. People have been predicting the end of the world almost from its very beginning, so it’s only natural to be sceptical when a new date is set for Judgement Day. But one fast-living demon and a somewhat fussy angel would quite like the Rapture not to happen.” (Adapted from catalogue)


The graveyard book / Gaiman, Neil
“After the grisly murder of his entire family, a toddler wanders into a graveyard where the ghosts and other supernatural residents agree to raise him as one of their own.” (Catalogue)

We hope you’ve enjoyed these recommendations, we certainly had fun diving into the dark and twisty humour that Lemony Snicket does so well! Catch you again next time for recommendations on a classic children’s series which centres cuddly creatures that you might just have at home.

Te ʻEpetoma ō Te Reo Māori Kūki ʻĀirani 2023

Stephen Clothier

Kia orāna young readers, and welcome to Te ʻEpetoma ō Te Reo Māori Kūki ʻĀirani | Cook Islands Language Week 2023!

We hope you’re excited to share and celebrate some of Aotearoa’s closest whānau with us.

Like Aotearoa, Kūki ʻĀirani is a single country made up of multiple islands – 15 in total. They have their own government but are in “free association” with New Zealand. This means that Cook Islanders are New Zealand citizens, free to live and work here as they choose.

The theme of Te ʻEpetoma ō Te Reo Māori Kūki ʻĀirani this year is:

‘Ātuitui’ia au ki te au peu o tōku kāinga ipukarea | Connect me to the traditions and culture of my homeland

And there’s a lot of culture to connect with!

A photo of a woman sitting on a woven harakeke mat, weaving a colourful mat.

Image: Woman sewing Tivaevae in Rarotonga by John Colles Burland. Alexander Turnbull Library Archive, Ref No. PA12-0503-20.

Te Reo Māori Kūki ‘Āirani (the Cook Islands Māori language) and traditional arts are still proudly shared throughout the islands. Cook Islanders are known for their woodworking skill and textiles, like the patterned Tivaevae quilt.

The Cook Islands are also known for an interesting musical history which has changed over time, mixing traditional music, church music, ukulele and electronic ukulele. Traditional Cook Islands music has a unique and powerful sound, using both wooden drums (lali/pātē) and skin drums (pahu/pa’u), wind instruments, and singing.

A collection of wooden and skin drums arranged on a woven mat.

Image: Pa’u mangō (skin drum) from Te Papa Tongarewa, Ref No. FE010085. Licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 4.0.

In the recent Kia Mau Festival — a Māori, Pasifika, and Indigenous arts festival in Wellington — there was a show called ‘Avaiki Nui Social which featured some of the best musicians from across the 15 Cook Islands.

In the video below, Cook Islands artist Tu Aratini talks about ‘Avaiki Nui, and explains some of the history of the group and of music in the Cook Islands. Some other great musicians to check out are father/daughter pair Will and Annie Crummer. Will was quite famous back in the 1960s, and Annie has been rocking it since the ’80s. You can find some of their music, and music by other Cook Islands musicians, on our catalogue!

A chef holds a small bowl with a mixture of fish, green herbs, lemon, coconut, and other aromatics.

Image: Still from How to make IKA MATA by TheCoconetTV.

As well as music, our Cook Islands whānau are also well known for their food, or kai. Kai from Kūki ‘Āirani often draws on the use of local sea life, with their most popular dish being Ika Mata. Ika mata means ‘raw fish,’ but it actually involves ‘cooking’ the fish by allowing it to soak in lemon juice and coconut.

Sound yum? Check out this “how to” video from TheCoconetTV to learn how to make it for yourself, or check out Sonja’s Kitchen: Sustainable Cuisine from the Cook Islands, a cookbook by Dee Pigneguy and Sonja Raela full of delicious recipes from across the Cook Islands!

Celebrating Te Reo Māori Kūki ‘Āirani in Aotearoa

With such a proud culture back home, it’s not surprising that Cook Islanders in Aotearoa can often feel disconnected, both from their whānau (family) and from their hanua (homeland).

One of the reasons we celebrate Te ‘Epetoma ō Te Reo Māori Kūki ‘Āirani this week is to make sure our Kūki ‘Āirani whānau know that the culture of their homeland is loved and appreciated no matter where they are.

By learning to use more Te Reo Māori Kūki ‘Āirani throughout Aotearoa, we also strengthen our own connection with the world that we all share.

Here are some simple phrases that you can practice with (visit the Ministry of Pacific Peoples’ website for more!):

Hello! — Kia orāna!

Thank you — Meitaki

Goodbye (when you are leaving) — ‘Ē no’o rā

Goodbye (when someone else is leaving) — ‘Aere rā

Yes — Āe

No — Kare

My name is… — Ko … tōku ingoa

Te Reo Māori Kūki ‘Āirani at the Library

Browse our selection of some of our favourite books in Cook Islands Māori, or about the Cook Islands, below. Don’t forget you can find more books in Te Reo Māori Kūki ‘Āirani on our catalogue!

Cook Islands / Kingstone, Taria
“Introduces the history, climate, population, social structure and unique ceremonies of the Cook Islands, and the importance of religion to its people. Suggested level: intermediate, junior secondary.” (Catalogue)

Kua kitea ‘a māmā = Finding mum / Long, Don
“In the supermarket, a little boy retraces his footsteps in order to find his mum.” (Catalogue)

Legends of the Cook Islands / Hopkins, Shona
“Collection of eight illustrated legends from the Cook Islands. Set in a mythological time known as Avaiki, these stories tell of brave men and women, mystical mountains, powerful gods and majestic sea creatures. Suggested level: primary, intermediate.” (Catalogue)

Cook Islands heroes / Riley, David
“Cook Islands Heroes tells the inspirational stories of achievers who have Cook Islands ancestry. It includes legends like Ina, Māui, Ngaru and Ru; historical figures such as Pa Tuterangi Ariki/Sir Thomas Davis, Alistair Te Ariki Campbell, Mautara and Margharet Matenga; and contemporary heroes like Lima Sopoaga, Mīria George, Dr Kiki Maoate, Kevin Iro, and Teremoana Raply.” (Publisher description)

‘Ei for the day / MacGregor, Jill
“Yvette and Kiikii wear an ‘ei and an ‘ei katu when their dance group performs at the Saturday Morning Market in Rarotonga​​.” (Catalogue)

 

Wikin te Taetae ni Kiribati 2023

Stephen Clothier

Kam na bane ni mauri! Welcome to Wikin te Taetae ni Kiribati | Kiribati Language Week 2023. Tungaru, the main language of the i-Kiribati people, is spoken by over 100,000 people across the 33 islands and atolls of Kiribati — and by around 1500 people here in Aotearoa. i-Kiribati people are an important part of our community in Aotearoa, with over 3,000 people of Kiribati heritage calling our islands home, about 310 of whom live in Wellington. (Source: 2018 Census)

This year, the theme for Wikin te Taetae ni Kiribati is:

“Ribinan, karikirakean ao kateimatoan ara katei ma ara taetae ni Tungaru.” | “Nurture, enhance and sustain the Tungaru language and culture.”

Help us celebrate this special time for the community by learning more about the unique culture, language and history of Kiribati through the books and other resources below!

Books

Check out some of these books from our children’s section from and about Kiribati, and in te taetae ni Kiribati:

I want to read and speak Kiribati / Ewels, Kinaua
“Kiribati-English primer. Kiribati is a Pacific nation which straddles the equator. […] Most of the children in New Zealand use English as their language. Some children are encouraged to use Kiribati at home but still do not write the language because they do not have a written text. This book will assist children in New Zealand and Kiribati to become bi-lingual.” (Adapted from Catalogue)

Nui’s unique heritage = Nui iloga e kakateke / Sioni, Alamai
“Describes how the people of two different Pacific cultures, I-Kiribati and Samoan, came together on Nui, Tuvalu.” (Catalogue)

Tareima’s string / MacGregor, Jill
“Tareima, who lives in Kiribati, shows how she makes string from the fibres of coconut husks, and describes what the string is used for. Contains some Kiribati words and glossary. Suggested level: primary.” (Catalogue)

Te ano / MacGregor, Jill
“Describes the traditional game of Te Kabwe, as played in Kiribati, and how two young girls weave a new ball (ano) out of pandanus leaves when the old one is worn out.” (Catalogue)

Micronesia / Guile, Melanie
“Discover what life is like in Micronesia as you read about its history, language, customs and traditions. Find out about Micronesia’s best known landmarks and its unique plants and animals. Learn about life in the towns and the country, and environmental problems, such as rising seas. Ages 8+.”(Catalogue)

Beginnings and endings with lifetimes in between / Mellonie, Bryan
“Have you ever wondered why a butterfly lives for only a few weeks? Or why a tree lives for hundreds of years? You may have been sad when someone in your family, or a favourite pet became sick and died. There is a beginning and an ending to everything that is alive. In between is a lifetime.” (Adapted from Catalogue)


Rising seas : flooding, climate change and our new world / Thomas, Keltie
“The Earth’s oceans are on the rise. Since 1900, global sea levels have risen steadily each year to a global average of about 8 inches (20cm) today, and they’re still rising. By 2100, the sea could climb as much as 14 feet (4.3m) to 32 feet (9.75m). Rising Seas: Flooding, Climate Change and Our New World gives youth an eye-popping view of what the Earth might look like under the rising and falling water levels of climate change. Photographs juxtapose the present-day with that same area’s projected future. The shocking images will help them understand the urgency for action. Key issues in today’s news will be better understood, such as the 2015 Paris Protocol in which the world agreed to limit temperature increases to 2 degrees Celsius (ideally 1.5 degree).” (Catalogue)


Also, visit this link to find even more books about Kiribati at your local library.

More Resources

Check out the following websites to find out more about the atolls and islands of Kiribati and this beautiful country’s culture, language and history:

What comes next? Percy Jackson and the Olympians

Grace Hancox

One of the most difficult things for parents is finding a good pukapuka for their child who has just finished an incredible series that kept them hooked for weeks (or perhaps more realistically, a few hours!) Well the library has got you covered! Starting with Percy Jackson “What comes next?” will provide suggestions for books tamariki might like if they enjoyed popular children’s fiction series.

Rick Riordan’s Percy Jackson series is one of the most popular children’s fiction series out there, and for good reason. Who doesn’t love monsters, gods, and a bunch of really cool kids saving the world? Finding something to read after such a great series is hard, but here are our top picks for what to read next. We haven’t included Rick Riordan’s other books, all of which are set in the same world as Percy Jackson, but if you haven’t read them yet then check out Heroes of Olympus (The continuation of Percy Jackson with Roman mythology), Magnus Chase (Norse mythology), The Kane Chronicles (Egyptian Mythology) and Trials of Apollo (A new adventure in the Percy Jackson world).

Younger Kids:

If you’re after more books with the same flavour as Percy Jackson but with mythology from a wide variety of cultures, then check out Rick Riordan Presents titles, we’ve picked two of our favourites which feature Hindu and West African mythology respectively. We’ve also included other children’s fantasy books, so there should be something for everyone.

Aru Shah and the end of time / Chokshi, Roshani
“When twelve-year-old Aru Shah’s schoolmates dare her to prove that the museum’s Lamp of Bharata is cursed, she doesn’t think there’s any harm in lighting it. Little does Aru know that lighting the lamp has dire consequences. She unwittingly frees an ancient demon who freezes her mother in time – and it’s up to Aru to save her.” (Catalogue)

Tristan Strong punches a hole in the sky / Mbalia, Kwame
“Seventh-grader Tristan Strong feels anything but strong ever since he failed to save his best friend Eddie. While trying to rescue Eddie’s notebook from an unexpected foe Tristan punches the Bottle Tree, accidentally ripping open a chasm into the MidPass, a volatile place with a burning sea, haunted bone ships, and iron monsters. Can Tristan save this world before he loses more of the things he loves?” (Adapted from Catalogue)

The forests of silence / Rodda, Emily
“Deltora is invaded by the evil Shadow Lord when the magical gems from the Belt of Deltora are stolen. Two unlikely companions set out to find them and to save their land from the tyrant.” (Catalogue)


The hound of Rowan / Neff, Henry H
“After glimpsing a hint of his destiny in a mysterious Celtic tapestry, twelve-year-old Max McDaniels becomes a student at Rowan Academy, where he trains in “mystics and combat” in preparation for war with an ancient enemy that has been kidnapping children like him.” (Catalogue)

The fairy-tale detectives / Buckley, Michael
“Orphans Sabrina and Daphne Grimm are sent to live with an eccentric grandmother that they have always believed to be dead.” (Catalogue)

Older Kids:

If you’ve come back to Percy Jackson or discovered it later in life and are looking for similar flavour in your Young Adult reads, then here are our suggestions for you. We’ve got some mythology inspired and other excellent fantasy books sure to appease older readers who loved Percy Jackson.

Lore / Bracken, Alexandra
“Every seven years there is a hunt offering mortal descendants of gods the opportunity to claim their divinity by killing any of nine immortals made mortal for one night. Lore Perseous has no desire to participate in the Agon, embittered because her family was killed by a rival who then ascended to godhood. When a childhood friend asks her to help, and a wounded god offers an alliance, Lore overlooks the steep cost of this decision in exchange for vengeance.” (Catalogue)

Season of the bruja / Duran, Aaron
“From a young age, Althalia knew she would someday be the last of her kind – a bruja, tasked with keeping the power and stories of the ancient ways from fading fully into history. But the prejudice her people have always faced continues, and after a seemingly random encounter with a priest, Althalia feels the weight of hundreds of years of religious oppression coming down upon her and her abuela. She must realize her destiny and prevent the church from achieving its ultimate goal – destroying the last bruja.” (Adapted from Catalogue)

The gilded ones / Forna, Namina
“The blood ceremony determines whether Deka will become a member of her village. Already different because of her unnatural intuition, Deka prays for red blood so she can finally feel like she belongs. But on the day of the ceremony her blood runs gold.  Then a mysterious woman comes to her with a choice: stay in the village and submit to her fate, or leave to fight for the emperor in an army of girls just like her. Nothing and no one are quite what they seem to be– not even Deka herself.” (Adapted from Catalogue)

The Raven Boys / Stiefvater, Maggie
“Though she is from a family of clairvoyants, Blue Sargent’s only gift seems to be that she makes other people’s talents stronger, and when she meets Gansey, one of the Raven Boys from the expensive Aglionby Academy, she discovers that he has talents of his own–and that together their talents are a dangerous mix.”
(Catalogue)

The warrior heir / Chima, Cinda Williams
“After learning about his magical ancestry and his own warrior powers, sixteen-year-old Jack embarks on a training program to fight enemy wizards.” (Catalogue)

Read with Pride for Kids!

Grace Hancox

Now that Wellington Pride is over you may be wondering how to introduce tamariki to LGBTQIA+ stories. Why teach children about the LGBT community, you may ask? Firstly, it helps teach children about the diverse people they will meet during their lifetimes, and it also helps them understand family structures different to their own and learn about the rainbow community.

Also, many tamariki have family members who are part of the LGBTQIA+ community, or may be a part of the community themselves, and we think all of our readers should be able to find books on our shelves that reflect their experiences of the world.

Our libraries have many excellent books for tamariki of all ages to learn about the LGBT community, so we’ve made a list to get you started. You can also ask our friendly librarians to point you in the right direction if you’d like additional suggestions, or if you know of a great LGBT book for kids that we don’t have, you can recommend it to our selectors here!

Picture Books:

Julián is a mermaid / Love, Jessica

“One day, Julian notices three women spectacularly dressed up. Their hair billows in brilliant hues, their dresses end in fishtails, and their joy fills the train car. When Julian gets home, daydreaming of the magic he’s seen, all he can think about is dressing up just like the ladies in his own fabulous mermaid costume. But what will Abuela think about how Julian sees himself?” (Adapted from Catalogue)

My shadow is pink / Stuart, Scott

“Inspired by the author’s own little boy, ‘Shadow’s’ main character likes princesses, fairies and things ‘not for boys’ and he soon learns (through the support of his dad) that everyone has a shadow that they sometimes feel they need to hide. This is an important book for a new generation of children (and adults alike) which exemplifies the concepts of unconditional love, respect and positive parenting.” (Catalogue)

Heather has two mummies / Newman, Lesléa

“When Heather goes to school for the first time, someone asks her about her daddy, but Heather doesn’t have a daddy. Then something interesting happens. When Heather and her classmates all draw pictures of their families, not one drawing is the same. It doesn’t matter who makes up a family, the teacher says, because “the most important thing about a family is that all the people in it love one another.” (Adapted from Catalogue)

The name I call myself / Namir, Hasan

“This sophisticated picture book depicts Ari’s gender journey from childhood to adolescence as they discover who they really are. Throughout this beautiful and engaging picture book, we watch Ari grow up before our very eyes as they navigate the ins and outs of their gender identity. Who will Ari become?” (Adapted from Catalogue)

Children’s Fiction:

Proud of me / Hagger-Holt, Sarah

“Becky and Josh are almost-twins, with two mums and the same anonymous donor dad. Josh can’t wait until he’s eighteen, the legal age when he can finally contact his father, and he’ll do anything to find out more, even if it involves lying. Becky can’t stop thinking about her new friend, Carli. Could her feelings for Carli be a sign of something more? Becky and Josh both want their parents to be proud of them, but right now, they’re struggling to even accept themselves.” (Catalogue)

Unicorn power / Tamaki, Mariko

“Welcome to Miss Qiunzella Thiskwin Penniquiqul Thistle Crumpet’s Camp for Hardcore Lady Types. The five scouts of Roanoke cabin–Jo, April, Molly, Mal, and Ripley–love their summers at camp. They get to hang out with their best friends, earn Lumberjane scout badges, annoy their no-nonsense counselor Jen. and go on supernatural adventures.  This adaption of the graphic novels features same-sex parents, and trans and lesbian characters.”  (Adapted from Catalogue)

Better Nate than ever / Federle, Tim

“An eighth-grader who dreams of performing in a Broadway musical concocts a plan to run away to New York and audition for the role of Elliot in the musical version of “E.T.”” (Catalogue)

Answers in the pages / Levithan, David

“When Donovan leaves a school book on the kitchen counter he doesn’t think anything of it. But soon the entire town is freaking out about whether the book’s main characters are gay, Donovan’s mom is trying to get the book removed from the school curriculum, and Donovan is caught in the middle. Donovan doesn’t really know if the two boys fall in love at the end or not–but he does know this: even if they do, it shouldn’t matter. The book should not be banned from school. (Adapted from Catalogue)

Eid Mubarak! Happy Eid!

Zoe Miller

As Salaamu Alaykum & Eid Mubarak to our Muslim whānau!

What is Islam?

Ramadan and Eid are important events in the religion called Islam. People who follow Islam are called Muslims. Did you know there are about 1.9 billion Muslims worldwide? Islam is the second biggest religion in the world, after Christianity!

Why is it good to learn about Islam?

A local Muslim family celebrating Eid al-Fitr at Newtown Library

As the world comes together and people mix more and more, it’s good to learn about religions and cultures that maybe different to your own. You may be Muslim yourself, have a Muslim friend, or classmate, or you may not know any Muslims. But we can all learn more about Islam. Like many religions, Islam has lots of ancient wisdom and practices that help its followers to be peaceful and kind people.

Libraries are great places to learn the basic facts about religions, cultures, important celebrations and special days.

Ramadan and Eid-al-Fitr

Ramadan is one of the most sacred times of the year for Muslims. During this month Muslims are expected to fast from dawn until sunset, pray, give charity and spend time with family. Generally, it is a time spent being quiet and reflecting on Allah (God). Ramadan ends with Eid al-Fitr, a celebration that marks the end of the fasting. In Arabic it means ‘Holiday of Breaking the Fast’. It is also a holiday where sharing food is very important. Yum!

Did you know there are two Eid celebrations? Eid al-Fitr is always the first one in the year and it is usually around May or June. The other Eid is called Eid al-Adha and happens around July or August.

Eid in Aotearoa New Zealand

In Aotearoa New Zealand 2023, Eid Day will fall on either Saturday 22nd or Sunday 23rd of April – it all depends on the sighting of the moon.  Traditionally, Eid al-Fitr begins at sunset on the night of the first sighting of the crescent moon. Everyone needs to give money to charity (meaning to people who are poor or needy) which is called Zakat-ul-Fitr. After that there is a special ‘Eid prayer’.

This year there is a big celebration happening in Wellington on the 22nd of April, organised by the Eid Day Trust. Everyone can go and join in the fun. You can find out more on their Facebook page.

Celebration Collection

In the Library we have a new Celebration Collection for Ramadan and Eid. This means we have a lot of beautiful new books about Ramadan and Eid-al-Fitr that are available at this time of the year.

During Ramadan some of the books have even been staying at mosques around Wellington City!

As part of this special collection, we have over 60 books about Ramadan and Eid written by Muslim authors, as well as many books with Muslim characters. These books are for kids of all ages, from babies all the way up to intermediate-aged readers.

Please do come into our libraries and see our beautiful new books. Eid Mubarak!

Children’s books about Ramadan and Eid al-Fitr

The proudest blue : a story of hijab and family / Muhammad, Ibtihaj
“Faizah relates how she feels on the first day her sister, sixth-grader Asiya, wears a hijab to school.” (Catalogue)
In my mosque / Yuksel, M. O.
“A picture book featuring culturally rich artwork celebrates the joys, rituals, and traditions that are practiced in mosques throughout the world, and includes a glossary and information about many historical and significant mosques.” (Catalogue)
Aya and the butterfly / Salama, Maysoon
“Aya and her grandad grow swan plants in their garden. Dedicated to the children and whānau of the Aotearoa New Zealand Muslim community, whose lives were changed forever on 15 March 2019.” (Catalogue)
Once upon an Eid : stories of hope and joy by 15 Muslim voices
“Eid: The short, single-syllable word conjures up a variety of feelings and memories for Muslims. Maybe it’s waking up to the sound of frying samosas and simmering pistachio kheer, maybe it’s the pleasure of putting on a new outfit for Eid prayers, or maybe it’s the gift giving and holiday parties to come that day. Whatever it may be, for those who cherish this day of celebration, the emotional responses may be summed up in another short and sweet word: joy.” (Adapted from Catalogue)
Like the moon loves the sky / Khan, Hena
“Illustrations and prose inspired by the Quran celebrate a mother’s love and hopes for her child.” (Catalogue)
Sadiq / Nuurali, Siman (series)
“When Sadiq’s father leaves on a business trip, he worries he’ll miss his baba too much. But Baba has a story for Sadiq: the story of the Desert Star. Learning about Baba’s passion for the stars sparks Sadiq’s interest in outer space. But can Sadiq find others who are willing to help him start the space club of his dreams?” (Catalogue entry for Sadiq and the Desert Star)
Planet Omar / Mian, Zanib (series)
“Welcome, readers, to the imaginative brain of Omar! You might not know me yet, but once you open the pages of this book you’ll laugh so hard that snot will come out of your nose (plus you might meet a dragon and a zombie – what more could you want?). My parents decided it would be a good idea to move house AND move me to a new school at the same time. As if I didn’t have a hard enough time staying out of trouble at home, now I’ve also got to try and make new friends. […] The only good thing is that Eid’s just around the corner which means a feast of all my favourite food (YAY) and presents (DOUBLE YAY).” (Adapted from Catalogue)

Community languages

Please note: We also have books in different community languages about Islam, Ramadan and Eid, including Arabic, Farsi, Somali and Bahasa Malaysia.

Please do come into our libraries and see our beautiful new books. Eid Mubarak!

Read Books, Earn Pizza!

Stephen Clothier

Love pizza? Love reading? Then boy, do we have the deal for you!

The famous (or infamous) HELL Reading Challenge has returned for another year, and from now until the end of January 2024, Hell Pizza will give you one free kids’ pizza from their 333 menu for every seven books you borrow and read from the library.

Sounds too good to true? We understand your scepticism, but just trust us. We’d never lie to you about books. Or pizza!

So how does it work?

The next time you go to your local library, ask the friendly librarian for a pizza wheel. They look a bit like this:

A circular card divided into seven segments, each of which has a space to be stamped by a librarian. once seven segments are stamped, the card can be redeemed for one free 333 kids' pizza at any Hell Pizza store.

All those books just waiting to be read; all those pizzas just waiting to be eaten!


Whenever you issue a book from the library, ask the librarian to stamp and sign one segment of your pizza wheel. You can have one segment of your wheel signed for each book you read from the library! Our librarians absolutely love talking to you about the books you’ve been reading, so make sure you come to the desk prepared to talk about bookish things.

Once you have all seven segments of your pizza wheel stamped and signed, the librarian will finish it off with the Master Stamp (One Stamp to rule them all, etc.), and then take the completed wheel to any Hell Pizza store and exchange it for one free 333 kids’ pizza. It really is that simple!

The Fine Print

There are some important rules we all need to follow in order for you to participate in the Hell Pizza Reading Challenge:

  • You must be in Years 1-8 at school to participate in the Challenge
  • Pizza wheels will be valid to redeem at any Hell Pizza store until 31 January 2024
  • Pizza wheels must be redeemed in person — you can’t do it over the phone or online!
  • There’s no limit to how many pizza wheels you can earn across the year, but Hell Pizza will only redeem one wheel per child per visit. So you can’t stockpile 10 pizza wheels and get 10 free pizza wheels all at once

We know many of you will have started your 2023 HELL Reading Challenge journey already — but for those of you who haven’t, it’s never too late to start! You can pick up and sign off pizza wheels at any of our 14 branches across the city. Last year, Wellington City Libraries kids racked up over 15,000 free pizzas as part of the HELL Reading Challenge — that’s well over 100,000 books read! Can we beat that number this year?

A special thank you to Hell Pizza and the New Zealand Book Awards Trust for their generous support of this initiative.

Happy reading, everyone! 🙂

Kilbirnie Library Kids’ Club Kete are here!

Sasha

Kia ora koutou, kids and parents! We have a super exciting announcement for you this week!

Kids Club Kete have landed at Kilbirnie Library!

Kids’ Club Kete are bags of books, specially selected by our librarians, that you can grab and borrow from Te Whare Pukapuka o Te Awa-a-Taia (Ruth Gotlieb) Kilbirnie Library!

Each kete contains a treasure trove of books around a theme, such as comics, easy to read, picture books or non-fiction.

Kete are perfect for a deep dive into your favourite topics!

 


Kids' Club Kete image of a Friendly Monster

A friendly monster decorates some of our kete!

Do you like to dance? We’ve got a kete on dancing.

Do you like to learn about Dinosaurs? We’ve got a kete all about dinosaurs!

Want to read some books about Aotearoa or books by Aotearoa authors? We’ve definitely got the kete for that!

Do you like ghost stories? We’ve got a whole kete full of spooky stories just for you!

Or, are you more into adventure stories? Don’t worry – we’ve got a kete just for that.


Image of a Kids' Club Kete

Kids’ kete bags come in several cute designs!

These awesome Kids’ Club Kete are also available at other branch libraries around Wellington!

Currently, kete are avalaible at Karori Library, Johnsonville Library, and at Tawa Library, so pop over to your favourite branch to pick up some new favourite books!


 

 

 

 

2022 Round-Up: Picture Books

Merritt

We’ve already highlighted some of the wonderful Children’s Fiction titles that have been published this year, and now it’s time for the Picture Books to shine!

Picture Books are wonderful things to read with your tamariki. While they’re written for a younger audience they can still cover some pretty serious topics. With themes from grief and loss to friendship and fun, these books are a wonderful tool to use to help build our children’s understanding of the world around them.

While this list is quite a short one, if you would like to browse through a longer selection we have a list of the Best Picture Books of 2022 available over on the Libby App. Or you can scroll through the latest titles we’ve added to our collection on our New Material page – you can browse back through each month of the year, and filter books by age and genre too.

The cream of the 2022 Picture Book crop has got to be Ruth Paul’s Lion Guards the Cake, which won the Picture Book Award at this year’s New Zealand Book Awards for Children and Young Adults (NZCYA Book Awards).

Lion guards the cake / Paul, Ruth
We’re big fans of Ruth Paul here at Wellington City Libraries (she is a local author, after all!) and are really thrilled that this book has been recognised by the Awards. We predict this book will be a favourite bed-time read for ages to come, as it’s already a favourite for storytime in our libraries — it’s impossible not to feel some kinship with this cheeky lion as he fabricates more and more reasons why perhaps just a little bit more of the cake needs to be nibbled away… it’s a sacrifice, but someone’s got to do it!

To read more about this year’s NZCYA award winners you can read our blog post about the winners, or head over to the NZCYA Book Awards website itself!

Is this your class pet / Cummings, Troy
Arfy is a wonder of a dog – he can write! And when he accidentally fetches a turtle and can’t figure out which classroom the turtle belongs to, he writes letters to all the classes to try to find its home.

Also available as an ebook.
Two dogs / Falconer, Ian
From the author of the Olivia picture books comes the story of these two very noble looking, but very mischievous dachshunds. One is cautious, one is reckless. What happens when they escape out their back door?
Words about birds of Aotearoa New Zealand / Fuller, G. F.
This book combines our native birds, poetry, and the art of Geoffrey Fuller. Each double page spread highlights a different bird in their habitat, alongside a charming poem about them.

This is a New Zealand picture book.


Goat on a trampoline / Harrop, Amy
Lily Goat discovers a new skill, which should be pretty easy to guess from the title! But when her prideful boasting lands her in trouble she needs her friends to come to her rescue and teach her (and us) something about kindness.

This is a New Zealand picture book.
Kororā and the Sushi Shop / Keegan, Linda, Jane
This picture book tells the true (and local!) story of a penguin who kept coming back to a sushi shop, right by the Wellington Railway Station. The shop was so enticing that the little kororā even took a friend along! And now we can read the story in this delightful book.

This is a New Zealand picture book.
Mama and mummy and me in the middle / LaCour, Nina
This is a lovely story about a little girl with two wonderful parents, but when her Mummy goes away on a work trip things aren’t quite the same at home with only Mama around. This book explores what it’s like to miss someone, and then the awkwardness when they return.
The Grizzled Grist does not exist / MacIver, Juliette
A class goes on a trip through the Dismal Hills, with their teacher reminding them that “The Grizzled Grist does not exist!” But when she’s proven wrong it’s lucky that one student is very skilled at hiding. This is a fun rhyming story, with lots of details to look for in the illustrations.

This is a New Zealand picture book.
Cat’s first baby / Nelson, Natalie
When there’s a new baby around, it’s not only the human members of the family who have to get used to the changes! After all, there’s this new creature in the house that Cat is pretty sure isn’t also a cat. This board book is a companion to Dog’s First Baby.
Daddy’s rainbow / Rowland, Lucy
This picture book explores what it is like for a child to lose a parent. Erin’s daddy shows her all the different ways to find colour in the world, even when the day is dismal and wet. But when he’s not there anymore and the world goes grey, will Erin be able to find those colours again?
No home for a wētā / Thatcher, Stephanie
Wētā is sick of living with her rowdy and rambunctious family, so she decides to move out. But when she finally finds her perfect, quiet, and peaceful new home she realises there’s something missing. This is a fun rhyming story about family and the things you can find outside in Aotearoa.

This is a New Zealand picture book.

2022 Round-Up: Children’s Fiction

Merritt

Now that we have reached the end of 2022, it’s time to take a look back through some of the books that have been published over the last twelve months. This is in no way an exhaustive list, merely a selection of titles that caught our eyes and stuck in our memories over the past year.

We have a longer list of the top 2022 eaudiobook and ebook titles that are available over on the Libby App for you to check out! Did your top read of 2022 make the list?

If you’d rather browse through the newest books we have added to our shelves, head on over to the New Material page on our website. Here you can browse month by month through our new titles, and to make it easier you can filter by audience and genre so you’re only looking through what you’re interested in.

If you are interested in knowing more about the top New Zealand children’s books of this year, have a read of our previous post about the 2022 NZCYA Book Award winners (that stands for New Zealand Book Awards for Children and Young Adults). If you haven’t already, these books are definitely worth checking out!

Now read on for a selection of 2022 Children’s Fiction… And feel free to let us know what your favourite books of 2022 have been!

Bruno and Frida / Bradman, Tony
Orphaned Bruno, struggling through war-torn eastern Germany in 1945, finds an unlikely friend in Frida, a Russian dog sent into Germany with a bomb strapped to her. If you’re a fan of Michael Morpurgo, this book is for you.

This is a dyslexia-friendly book.

The lords of night : a shadow bruja novel / Cervantes, Jennifer
This is the latest book we have in the Rick Riordan Presents publishing series. Percy Jackson fans will enjoy the story of Renata, shadow bruja, as she finds herself on a quest to stop the nine Aztec Lords of Night from being awakened.

Also available as an eaudiobook and an ebook.


Fire horse / Chapman, Linda
Fire Horse is the first in Moonlight Riders, a new series by Linda Chapman, who is also the author of many other series including Star Friends and My Secret Unicorn. In Fire Horse, Amara joins the Moonlight Stables and immediately feels a special connection with a pony called Ember. When she discovers that Ember is a magical Fire Pony, will she be able to keep him safe from the rival Night Riders?
Echo / Kelly, Arlo
Arlo Kelly, author of Echo, is a Kāpiti teenager who was only fifteen when Echo was published! Inspired by holidays spent in Gisborne, Echo is about Eric, a boy with low vision, and his struggle for independence and his friendship with a whale.
Answers in the pages / Levithan, David
A book for younger readers by well-known YA author David Levithan. Donovan’s class is reading The Adventurers, but when his mum reads it she tries to get it banned from the school because two characters might be gay. The story is told from Donovan and his classmate Gideon’s points of view, with chapters from The Adventurers scattered throughout.
Sadiq series / Nuurali, Siman
2022 brought with it four new books in the Sadiq series by Siman Nuurali. Sadiq and his family are (like the author) Somali American. Throughout the series Sadiq explores friendship, his community, and trying new things.
Emma Every Day series / Reid, C. L
Emma is Deaf, uses a cochlear implant to help her hear, and uses sign language as well. In this series of short chapter books, Emma and her best friend Izzie go apple picking, learn to tap dance, and play soccer – and often things don’t always go exactly to plan!
The best liars in Riverview / Thompson, Lin
When Joel goes missing, Aubrey feels responsible and also that they’re the only person who can find him and bring him home. Joining Aubrey on the day-long search through the woods and along the river, we learn about their friendship and the events that led to Joel disappearing, and the journey turns inward as Aubrey makes some discoveries about gender identity, friendship, and family.
Showtym Viking / Wilson, Kelly
An autobiographical story by sisters Kelly and Amanda Wilson about Amanda’s decision to make horses her future. Kelly, Amanda, and their sister Vicki are all showjumpers and prominent equestrians, and have worked with New Zealand’s Kaimanawa horses.
Elisabeth and the box of colours / Woodfine, Katherine
Away at boarding school, Elisabeth loves to paint and draw and fill the world with colour. But when her father dies and her world goes grey, will she be able to find her colours again? This short book is based on the childhood of French painter Élisabeth Louise Vigée Le Brun.

This is a dyslexia-friendly book.