celebrations

Hinamatsuri: Japanese Doll Festival or Girls’ Day 2016.

Katie

image courtesy of Katie

Brace yourselves, girls! The Japanese Doll Festival (Hinamatsuri), or Girls’ Day, is being held on March 3rd in  Japan. This festival is a time to pray for the health and well being of young girls. Most homes with daughters will set up a display of hina dolls. The main dolls used are Odairi-sama (a prince) and Ohina-sama. (a princess)  Around the display dedications of peach blossoms, rice cakes and white sake are made. The festival is celebrated not only within the family but in communities, which each have their unique ways of celebrating the occasion. Check out some of the great stories about dolls that Wellington City Libraries has on offer:

Picture Books:

image courtesy oif syndeticsThe Paper Dolls.

A string of paper dolls go on a fantastical adventure through the house and out into the garden. They soon escape the clutches of the toy dinosaur and the snapping jaws of the oven-glove crocodile, but then a very real pair of scissors threatens.

 

 

image courtesy of syndeticsPatti Cake and her new doll.

Patti Cake is a little girl with a brand new big girl room and a new, but slightly smudged, doll to keep her company–if her dog Tootsie does not run away with it.

 

 

 

image courtesy of syndeticsYoko’s Show and Tell.

When Yoko’s grandparents send her a beautiful antique doll all the way from Japan, Yoko couldn’t be happier. Even though Mama says no, Yoko sneaks Miki to school for show-and-tell. How could she have guessed Miki would be in an accident along the way?

 

 

Junior Fiction:

image courtesy of syndeticsPenny and her doll.

Penny instantly loves the doll her grandmother sends her, but finding the perfect name for her is a challenge.

 

 

 

image courtesy of syndeticsThe little girl and the tiny doll.

Living in a supermarket deep freeze wasn’t very nice for the tiny doll until one day a very special little girl came along, and thought of ways to make her happier.

 

 

 

image courtesy of syndeticsThe Fairy Doll.

Elizabeth is the smallest in the family. She is always getting into trouble and her brothers and sisters are forever leaving her out and ordering her around. She’s convinced she’s useless. Then Great Grandma gives Fairy Doll to Elizabeth – and it isn’t even Christmas! From then on Elizabeth keeps hearing a little ‘Ting!’ which seems to tell her what to do. Suddenly everything starts going right instead of wrong. Could Fairy Doll be magical?

Books with Fireworks!

admin

The 5th of November is tonight! All week long your cats and dogs will be ducking for cover as they hear fireworks exploding left, right and centre! If you’re lucky you might be allowed to stay up late and watch the Sky Show Fireworks this Saturday night! If not then maybe you can read a book with fireworks in them. Yes, it’s pretty hard to put fireworks into books. Maybe as you read about the fireworks in these books below you can make loud exploding sounds? Just tell anyone who asks that you’re trying to make the story you’re reading seem as real as possible!

 

Remember That November! by Jennifer Beck

This is a special book in our collection that was a finalist in the 2013 NZ Post Children’s Best Picture Book Award. What’s even cooler is that we have a version of the story in our collection that is in entirely in Te Reo: Maumahara ki tērā Nōema nā Jennifer Beck. We really encourage you to check them both out!

“It’s almost Guy Fawkes Night, and at the school speech competition, Andy talks about Guy Fawkes and the Gunpowder Plot. The children cheer, thinking Andy will win the contest. But then, Aroha tells the story of another fifth of November – in 1881, at Parihaka. This is a beautifully illustrated picture book about the passive resistance led by Te Whiti o Rongomai and Tohu Kakahi in Taranaki. This is a piece of history that was forgotten for a long time!” (Goodreads)

 

Secret Seven Fireworks by Enid Blyton

For those avid Secret Seven readers you may want to check out book 11 in the series! It is all about fireworks and adventure.

“Jack’s little sister, Susie, is very annoying and the Secret Seven are furious when she forms a rival club. But is Susie wicked enough to have stolen some money?” (Goodreads)

 

Olivia forms a Band by Ian Falconer

Olivia is one of the coolest characters I’ve ever meet in a book. This picture book is of course ideal for younger siblings in your family! But sometimes us older kids (adults) like to read a picture book too. Fireworks in this story are guaranteed!

“Olivia has decided to form a band: a one-pig band, to be exact. And as we soon find out, Olivia is certainly capable of making enough noise to sound like an entire orchestra.” (Goodreads)

 

Guy Fawkes and the gunpowder plot by Sarah Ridley.

Because knowledge is power here is a non-fiction book from our collection that gives you a good introduction to the sneaky history of Guy Fawkes. This book is full of gun powder! (Not actually, as that would be unsafe and uncool!)

 

 

Find out about Ramadan with these 5 children’s books

admin

It’s Ramadan!

Have you heard of Ramadan? Ramadan is a special time for more than one billion (!) Muslim people all over the world, including those who live in New Zealand.

During Ramadan they remember the prophet Muhammed who received the first verses of the holy book the Qur’an. It lasts for 4 weeks and it is a time when people fast, they do not drink or eat from sunrise until sunset!  They break the fast with a special meal called the Iftar, then they go out and visit family and friends.

Why? Not eating anything gives Muslims time to focus on other things, such as family, kindness and helping others. But most importantly it makes them feel closer to God and their beliefs.

At the end of Ramadan the fast will be broken. This is a special celebration called Eid. Eid is an Arabic word meaning “festivity”.

We have many books about Muslims and their religion Islam. Some are fact books and some are picture and storybooks. Grab some of these and find out about this important celebrations that many people around the world are currently taking part in. Here are some you may like to read:

 

Nabeel’s new pants : an Eid tale Retold by Fawzia Gilani-Williams

While buying gifts for his family to wear to the mosque on Eid a shoemaker is persuaded to get new pants for himself, but the only pair available is too long and no one seems to have time to shorten them.

 

 

Islamic Culture by Charlotte Guillain

An introduction to some of the world’s most fascinating and ancient cultures. Discover different approaches to visual arts and performance and find out about important beliefs, traditions, and customs. Also covers the role of family and community and how cultures are changing and developing in the 21st century.

 

 

The garden of my Imaan by Farhana Zia

The arrival of new student Marwa, a fellow sixth-grader who is a strict Muslim, helps Aliya come to terms with her own lukewarm practice of the faith and her embarrassment over others’ reactions to their beliefs.

 

 

 

Golden domes and silver lanterns: a Muslim book of colours by by Hena Khan (eBook)

In simple rhyming text a young Muslim girl and her family guide the reader through the traditions and colours of Islam.

 

 

1001 inventions & awesome facts from Muslim civilization

This book traces centuries of invention and technological innovation in the Muslim world, revealing how Muslim intellectuals built elephant water clocks, drew detailed world maps, and built colossal architectural structures.

Halloween stories and crafts at the Library

admin

They’re creepy and they’re kooky,  mysterious and spooky; they’re all together ooky…  Karori and Khandallah Library customers?!!  The branches were taken over by an assortment of witches, ghosts and monsters this Halloween.  After their trick or treating, our fiendish friends gathered in the library for some scary stories and creepy crafts.  We hope they didn’t cast any horrible spells on us while they were here!!

 

Happy Halloween!

admin

Ooooohhhhh! It’s the spookiest day of the year today – It’s Halloween!

I wanted to find out a little bit about the history of Halloween, so I quickly visited Wikipedia and found out…

  • It’s also known as All Hallows’ Eve
  • The word ‘Halloween’ is a christian work and dates back to 1745 and means ‘hallowed evening’ or ‘holy evening’
  • Typical activities to celebrate Halloween are tick-or-treating, going to costume parties, decorating your house and carving pumpkins, lighting bonfires, going to haunted attractions, playing pranks, watching scary movies and telling ghost stories.
  • Lots more info about the history of Halloween around the world and how it’s celebrated today (go to the wikipedia article for more, there’s also a short article in simple english)

Check out the Halloween entry on our KidsCat for more info too – lost of weblinks and library books you can check out. Did you know that there’s a haunted house in Miramar that you can visit? Check out this article on the Dominion Post Website about it.

To celebrate Halloween, we have two evening dress-up storytimes (great for 5-10 year olds) happening at Karori and Khandallah Libraries tonight, starting at 6.30pm. Come along in your scariest costume and make us scream!

 

Here are some cool books and DVDs about Halloween stuff that you can take home:

How to create spectacular Halloween costumes by Louann Brown and Jason Nemeth

 

 

 

 

 

How to make frightening Halloween decorations by Catherine Ipcizade

 

 

 

 

 

Frightfully fun Halloween handbook by Carole Nicksin

 

 

 

 

 

The Halloween handbook : 447 costumes by Bridie Clark and Ashley Dodd

 

 

 

 

 

The best Halloween ever by Barbara Robinson

 

 

 

 

 

It’s Halloween, you ‘fraidy mouse! by Geronimo Stilton

 

 

 

 

 

Trixie the Halloween fairy by Daisy Meadows

 

 

 

 

 

Spooky and Scary DVDs:
Tom and Jerry: Tricks & treats
Shrek’s thrilling tales
Monster High: Ghouls rule
Trick or treat tales
Eloise’s rawther unusual Halloween
The dog who saved Halloween

 

Get ready for some creepy Halloween Fiction!

wcl staff

Is your Halloween costume ready yet? Have you prepared revolting and scary decorations for your house? Do you have the recipes prepared for a horrendous and disgusting diner with your eerie friends? Did you read the latest Fiction about Monsters, ghosts and ghouls that we have at the Library?

I can’t do anything about the outfit, the decoration and the food but… I can help you with the books!!! So choose one of these stories if you already feel the tension of Halloween growing inside you!

The heart of glass, by Vivian French

Prince Marcus’s adventure is going horribly wrong : gracie Gillypot has disappeared, the dwarves have struck a dangerous bargain with the King of the Trolls and Princess Marigold is in peril- if only she’d stop complaining long enough to realize it. Throw in a scheming goblin, meddling bats and a mysterious heart of glass and you have all the ingredients for another wickedly funny story from the Five Kingdoms.

9 and +

 

Rise of the Zombie rabbit, by Sam Hay

Joe is just an ordinary boy until he makes a wish on a spooky Egyptian amulet… Now he is the protector of Undead Pets… and there’s a rampaging rabbit hopping about!

Fluffy the rabbit was snapped up by a hungry fox. Can Joe help her owner stay out of trouble, so Fluffy will hop off to the big rabbit hutch in the sky?

7 and +

 

Monster and chips, by David O’Connell

Have you ever eaten a plateful of parp tarts, got stuck into a stinky coughy pudding or filled your belly with chewy worm spaghetti?

No?

Well you’ve probably never been to a monster-diner. So come on in… We have the best chips ANYWHERE. Just be careful that the customers don’t think YOU’RE the menu!

7 and +

 

Home sweet horror, by James Preller

Welcome. Have a seat. Let us tell you a story. But be warned. Home sweet Horror isn’t just any tale. This is a SCARY TALE.

Meet Liam Finn, who’s just moved into a new home with his father and sister. But this old house that seems empty, isn’t. Bloody Mary is here- she’s been called back from the dead and she’s just DYING to talk.

MWAH-HA-HA-HA-HA!

8 and + (but only for very brave children!)

 

Gustav Gloom and the nightmare vault, by Adam-Troy Castro

Gustav Gloom’s neighbors think he is the unhappiest little boy in the world. But what they don’t know is that the strange, dark house Gustav lives in is filled with more wonders and mysteries than could ever be explained. But explain is exactly what Gustav needs to do when Fernie What moves in across the street. And that’s when the adventure really begins…

9 and +

 

Mother’s Day

admin

Hey kids – have you been practicing making breakfast in bed?

Mother’s Day is this Sunday – May 12th, and I’m pretty sure Mum would love to be surprised with a yummy breakfast to start the day -this is a tradition for Mother’s Day in New Zealand along with giving cards and gifts.

Modern-day Mother’s day started in 1908 in West Virginia (USA) by a woman called Anna Jarvis. Previous attempts at getting a formal Mother’s Day celebration recognised in the 1800s had failed, but Anna was successful in having it recognised as an official holiday in the USA in 1914.

As this American holiday was adopted by other countries and cultures around the world, the date was changed to fit other celebrations that honor motherhood. That’s why different countries celebrate Mother’s Day on different dates. The second Sunday in May is when New Zealand celebrates Mother’s day, along with 81 other countries. Other popular days that countries celebrate Mother’s Day are March 8th, March 21st and the last Sunday in May.

Wikipedia has a great article about Mother’s day. Check it out for more info.

We also have some great books about Mother’s Day:

Want to make mum a present? Try these crafty books for some ideas:

Don’t forget the breakfast in bed! Here are some favourite cooking books for you to get some inspiration and recipes from:

Happy Easter!

admin

Happy Easter from Wellington City Libraries!  We hope you enjoyed the long weekend with your friends and family – and didn’t get a sore tummy from all those yummy Easter eggs and hot cross buns!!

We are open usual hours today after our Easter break.  We have a neat range of Easter activity and craft books so hop on in!

 

(We have lots of other Easter craft books and websites to check out in our Kids Catalogue too)

Hinamatsuri: Japanese Doll Festival or Girls’ Day.

Katie

hinamatsuri dolls festival

The Japanese Doll Festival (Hinamatsuri), or Girls’ Day, is held on March 3rd in  Japan. This festival is a time to pray for the health and well being of young girls. Most homes with daughters will set up a display of hina dolls. The main dolls used are Odairi-sama (a prince) and Ohina-sama. (a princess)  Around the display dedications of peach blossoms, rice cakes and white sake are made.

A picture book about Hinamatsuri – Girls Day.

 

Junior Fiction about dolls.