“Sugar, Spice, Everything Nice”: New Children’s Fiction

“Sugar, spice, everything nice, that’s what little girls are made of.” This new collection of children’s fiction, consisting of female characters are filled with magic, unicorns and all things nice which will be enjoyed by young readers of all stripes. Why not spring on down to your local library and borrow the following books:

image courtesy of syndeticsThe amazing Edie Eckhart / Jones, Rosie

“Hello! My name is Edie Eckhart and I’m eleven years old. I’m a little bit different. I have a disability called cerebral palsy, so I talk slowly and fall over a lot. It’s never really bothered me because I’ve never known anything else. Edie Eckhart is Excited with a capital E to start secondary school with her best friend Oscar – the fish to her chips, the bananas to her custard. But when she and Oscar are put into different tutor groups on their first day, Edie is devastated. Who will play secret hangman with her in class? Who will she eat sausage rolls with? But while she’s plotting her reunion with Oscar, she accidentally gets cast as the lead in the school play. As Edie discovers a passion for performance, she also finds new friendships, talents, and dreams. After all, it’s easy to shine on and off the stage when you’re Amazing with a capital A.” (Catalogue)

image courtesy of syndeticsPizazz vs Perfecto / Henn, Sophie

“HELLO! My name is PIZAZZ and I’m a superhero… You probably think that’s really AWESOME, and while it can be, it’s also REEEEEEEAAALLLLY annoying. Even though I’m saving the world ALL THE TIME, there are still LOADS of bad guys about. Like super baddie PERFECTO! She’s younger than me, and just… well, PERFECT! But I have a plan. Maybe I just need to be perfect too – even more perfect than Perfecto. Easy-peasy, right?!” (Catalogue) Also available as an eBook.

The forest of stars / Kassner, Heather

“Left all alone after her mother passes away, twelve-year-old Louisa watches the sky for her father. Long ago, a powerful gust of wind stole him away on the wings of his untamed magic – the same magic that stirs within Louisa. As if she is made of hollow bones and too much air, her feet never quite touch the ground. But for all her sky gazing, Louisa finds her fortune on the ground when she spots a ticket to the Carnival Beneath the Stars…” (Adapted from Catalogue)

Maddy Yip’s guide to life / Cheung, Sue

“Maddy Yip is perfectly happy in life, until she realises that everyone she knows has a talent – except for her! Maddy is determined to change that, with the help of her brothers, bewildered grandad and her best friend Dev. There are disastrous attempts at breakdancing and playing the recorder, revolting cakes, and a magic disappearing trick that ends up with a hunt for the school guinea pig. Will Maddy ever find her true calling? A madcap new series filled with belly-laughs and packed with drawings, perfect for fans of Tom Gates and Sam Wu.” (Catalogue).

iage courtesy of syndeticsFirebright and the magic medicine / Meadows, Daisy

“In the mountains of Enchanted Valley, a family of guinea hoglets collects the magical crystals that keep all the creatures healthy. But there’s a problem – Firebright’s magical medicine crystal has been stolen! Can Emily, Aisha and the guinea hoglets find the crystal and cure an outbreak of the sneezles?” (Catalogue).

image courtesy of syndeticsDaisy and the trouble with unicorns / Gray, Kes

“Here comes trouble! It’s Gabby’s birthday and Daisy is the GUEST OF HONOUR at her party!!! What’s even more exciting is that Gabby has been given TWO TOY UNICORNS for her birthday. They’re so sparkly and soft and fluffy and cuddly!!! Trouble is, these unicorns are also MAGIC – and very chatty. And they’re giving Daisy all sorts of troublesome ideas…” (Catalogue).

Step into Spring with this great selection of new kids fiction from your Library!

Image courtesy of SyndeticsRubies and Runaways by Janine Beacham

“During a service at Yorke’s Cathedral, a young boy bursts in, declaring that his sister has been kidnapped. Soon Rose finds herself tangled up in a mystery involving fake antiques, a maodorous factory and a secret society of chimney sweeps. Tea is brewing and so is murder…” – back cover.

 

Image courtesy of SyndeticsArchie Greene and the Raven’s Spell by D.D Everest

Archie Green and his friends have been rewritng the magic spells contained within books, but someone is using their power for evil.

 

 

 

Image courtesy of SyndeticsRowan Oakwing by E.J Clarke

“There’s a strange magic to London parks. When the sun sets and the gates are closed, tiny winged creatures come to life. The only way to meet them is to become one. And if you become one, there’s no way back. Rowan cries herself to sleep in Hyde Park and wakes up ten centimetres tall, with tiny oak-leaf wings. She’s about to go on an adventure in the hidden world of fairies and foxes. But Rowan’s quest will be perilous, with fearsome enemies at her heels. If she wants to get home, she’ll need to find the courage she never knew she had, and discover powers she’d never even imagined …” — Back cover. 

 

Image courtesy of SyndeticsLet’s Pretend We Never Met by Melissa Walker

If it were up to Mattie Markham, there would be a law that said your family wasn’t allowed to move in the middle of the school year. After all, sixth grade is hard enough without wondering if you’ll be able to make new friends or worrying that the kids in Pennsylvania won’t like your North Carolina accent. But when Mattie meets her next-door neighbor and classmate, she begins to think maybe she was silly to fear being the “new girl.” Agnes is like no one Mattie has ever met — she’s curious, hilarious, smart, and makes up the best games. If winter break is anything to go by, the rest of the school year should be a breeze. Only it isn’t, because when vacation ends and school starts, Mattie realizes something: At school Agnes is known as the weird girl who no one likes. All Mattie wants is to fit in (okay, and maybe be a little popular too), but is that worth ending her friendship with Agnes?

Talk Like a Pirate!

Well “Shiver me timbers” and “Hoist the mainsail” it’s International Talk Like a Pirate day on Tuesday the 19th of September! So how good is your pirate language? Ever wanted to learn how to speak pirate? Well now you can through Mango Languages! If you go to My Gateway on the Library website: www.wcl.govt.nz/mygateway then select Mango Languages on the database, put in your library card number and surname, then select Pirate you’ll come up with the “Booty”! Soon you’ll be confounding your teachers and classmates by asking them to “Belay yer carsouin’ and haul wind smartly”. So try introducing yourself on Tuesday as “A fine gentleman of fortune, I may tell ye plainly” and see how many people turn tail and run before they have to walk the plank!

Want to find out more about the real pirates who sailed the seven seas? We have loads of books with information about what really happened on the high seas. There were many famous pirates such as Captain Kid and Blackbeard who I most definitely would not want to have met! But did you know that there were female pirates as well? Anne Bonny was one of the most famous and could handle a cutlass as well as any man. Lots of interesting facts to find out about pirates in this book, “The Everything Pirate book: A swashbuckling history of adventure on the high seas” by Barb Karg and Arjean Spaite.

Have you ever read “Treasure Island” by Robert Louis Stevenson? “When young Jim Hawkins is left a treasure map by the dying buccaneer Billy Bones, he sets sail on the Hispaniola in search of the island. Among the crew, the one-legged Long John Silver becomes his greatest friend, but Silver has a shocking secret in store, and when they reach their destination, Jim faces danger and adventure greater than he could ever have imagined.” A truly great read! Continue reading

7 New Non Fiction to read during the last days of spring.

It’s less than three weeks till the end of spring and the beginning of summer. Pop on down to your local library and check out the latest new junior non fiction that will take you on a journey into the wonderful world of animals, fairies, Star Wars and Harry Potter. Enjoy!

 

image courtesy of syndeticsA first book of animals

From blue whales to bumblebee bats and everything in between, A First Book of Animals takes you all over the planet to visit all kinds of different creatures.

 

 

 

image courtesy of syndeticsStar Wars: complete locations

Check out this updated, expanded guide to a galaxy far, far away and discover a universe of information of the Star Wars galaxy, which includes brand-new material from Star Wars: The Force Awakens. With eight brand new artworks, and an incredible range of location cross-sections, illustrations, and photographs, Star Wars: Complete Locations is the essential guide for anyone wanting to find their way around the galaxy far, far away.

 

image courtesy of syndeticsHarry Potter Cinematic Guide

Prepare to enter the world of Harry Potter by reading this cinematic guide which holds an outstanding collection of photographs and quotes, featuring Harry Potter, describing his life at Hogwarts, his relationships with friends and family, and his battles with Voldemort.

 

 

image courtesy of syndeticsHermione Granger : cinematic guide

Girl power is rolled into one with The Essential Film Companion for Hermione Granger! Throughout all eight HARRY POTTER films, Hermione shows her wisdom and daring on her adventures with best friends Harry and Ron, secretly brewing Polyjuice Potion, rescuing Sirius Black with a Time-Turner, and creating Dumbledore’s Army. Revisit these moments and more from the girl who proved that Muggle-borns can be the most skilled witches and wizards of all.

 

image courtesy of syndeticsRon Weasley : cinematic guide

Harry Potter’s sidekick, Ron Weasley finally gets his own starring role in his own Essential Film Companion! This collection of photographs and quotes from all eight HARRY POTTER films takes a closer look at Ron’s life, including his time at Hogwarts, family and friends, and dangerous battles against the Dark Lord, Voldemort.

 

 

image courtesy of sydneticsFairy World

Read this book and step inside a world of magic, enchantment and mystery as you enter the realm of the fairies. A great book for girls to enjoy.

 

 

 

image courtesy of syndeticsMy first Dog Book

This essential guide covers everything you need to know about caring for your dog and basic training techniques, with easy step-by-step instructions, from sit, down, and stay to walking to heel on the lead.

7 books for adventurous readers

I love reading stories that take me to exciting places and ask me to solve a mystery or two! Often my go-tos are the  Famous Five and the Secret Seven. No doubt those books are full of fun, but it’s always cool to be adventurous with your reading and try something new. Here’s a list of adventure stories we reckon you’ll enjoy:

From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler by E.L. Konigsburg

This cool kid detective story is available in Central library! You could reserve it on your library card and get it sent to your branch library for free! Here’s what the story is about:

“When suburban Claudia Kincaid decides to run away, she knows she doesn’t just want to run from somewhere, she wants to run to somewhere — to a place that is comfortable, beautiful, and, preferably, elegant. She chooses the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City. Knowing her younger brother Jamie has money and thus can help her with a serious cash-flow problem, she invites him along. Once settled into the museum, Claudia and Jamie find themselves caught up in the mystery of an angel statue that the museum purchased at auction for a bargain price of $225. The statue is possibly an early work of the Renaissance master, Michelangelo, and therefore worth millions. Is it? Or isn’t it? Claudia is determined to find out. Her quest leads her to Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler, the remarkable old woman who sold the statue, and to some equally remarkable discoveries about herself.” Goodreads.

 

 

Fortunately, the Milk by Neil Gaiman

This funny story is available in pretty much all our libraries! You can also get a copy from our eLibrary collection.

“ “I bought the milk,” said my father. “I walked out of the corner shop, and heard a noise like this: T h u m m t h u m m. I looked up and saw a huge silver disc hovering in the air above Marshall Road.”

“Hullo,” I said to myself. That’s not something you see every day.” And then something odd happened.

Find out just how odd things get in this hilarious story of time travel and breakfast cereal.” Goodreads.

 

 

The search for WondLa by Tony DiTerlizzi

Wondla is a seriously cool series about a brave girl in a strange world! You can find a copy in our eLibrary, or get one from our many branch libraries!

“Eva Nine is a curious and sensitive twelve-year-old who has existed only in a subterranean home called Sanctuary, cared for by a robot named Muthr. Eva’s great desire is to go aboveground, and her wish comes true, though not as she had imagined. On the surface, Eva goes in search of other humans–she has never met one–and soon meets both friend and foe.” Goodreads.

 

 

39 Clues, Maze of Bones by Rick Riordan

I’m sure you’ve heard the epic series 39 Clues! But maybe you didn’t know that we have copies of it on our eLibrary. You can start from the beginning with book one in the series: The Maze of Bones. It’s available to borrow in most of our libraries as well!

“Minutes before she died Grace Cahill changed her will, leaving her descendants an impossible decision: You have a choice – one million dollars or a clue.

Grace is the last matriarch of the Cahills, the world’s most powerful family. Everyone from Napoleon to Houdini is related to the Cahills, yet the source of the family power is lost. 39 clues hidden around the world will reveal the family’s secret, but no one has been able to assemble them. Now the clues race is on, and young Amy and Dan must decide what’s important: hunting clues or uncovering what REALLY happened to their parents.” Goodreads.

 

 

Reckelss by Cornelia Funke

Cornelia Funke has to be one of my all-time favourite authors! I loved her as a kid, her characters are so courageous and cool. Check out book one from one of her newest series: Mirrorworld. We have copies available in our libraries and eLibrary!

“Ever since Jacob Reckless was a child, he has been escaping to a hidden world through a portal in his father’s abandoned study … But life in this other world is about to change. Tragedy strikes when Jacob’s younger brother, Will, follows him through the portal. Brutally attacked, Will is infected with a curse that is quickly transforming him into a Goyl–a ruthless killing machine, with skin made of stone.

Jacob is prepared to fight to save his brother, but in a land built on trickery and lies, Jacob will need all the wit, courage, and reckless spirit he can summon to reverse the dark spell–before it’s too late.” Goodreads

 

 

Wildwood by Colin Meloy

I’m all about these kinds of stories where amazing kids face impossible obstacles to save their family! This is a well-loved book from our collection, I seriously recommend checking it out if you haven’t already!

“When her baby brother is kidnapped by crows, seventh-grader Prue McKeel ventures into the forbidden Impassable Wilderness–a dangerous and magical forest in the middle of Portland, Oregon–and soon finds herself involved in a war among the various inhabitants.” Goodreads.

 

 

Artermis Fowl by Eoin Colfer

And of course I had to mention the awesome adventure series that is Artemis Fowl. I know you guys are probably very familiar with this series but you may not know that it is actually available in our eLibrary collection! So if you can’t get a hold of the next one in the series from one of our libraries have a search for it on Overdrive. I know I’ve done just that when I can’t wait for my reserve to come into the library!

Twelve-year-old Artemis Fowl is a millionaire, a genius—and, above all, a criminal mastermind. But even Artemis doesn’t know what he’s taken on when he kidnaps a fairy, Captain Holly Short of the LEPrecon Unit. These aren’t the fairies of bedtime stories—they’re dangerous! Full of unexpected twists and turns, Artemis Fowl is a riveting, magical adventure.” Goodreads.

 

Ever wondered who the most popular children’s authors are?

Wonder no more! Here’s a list of the 25 most popular authors for the last month or so, based on how many times their books have been borrowed from Wellington City Libraries.

1. Daisy Meadows – author of the Rainbow Magic series

2. Geronimo Stilton – funny comics about a mouse detective

3. Enid Blyton – classic stories of school mischief, adventure, and magical fantasy

4. Jacqueline Wilson – loads of popular books, you’ll never run out

5. H. I. Larry – author of the action series ‘Zac Power’ that’s perfect for younger readers

6. Erin Hunter – author of the Warriors series

7. Susannah Leigh – writes those amazing puzzle adventure books

8. Adam Blade – author of the Beast Quest series

9. Roald Dahl – classic laugh-out-loud funny fantasy stories, many have been made into movies too!

10. Andy Griffiths – writes very funny short stories

11. Jeff Kinney – author of the Diary of a Wimpy Kid series.

12. Megan McDonald – author of the Judy Moody series

13. Stephen Cole – author of the Astrosaurs series

14. Sally Rippin – author of the Billie B. Brown series, great for younger readers

15. Rick Riordan – author of the Heroes of Olympus series and others, great fantasy adventure based on Greek, Roman, and Egyptian myths

16. Alan MacDonald – author of the Dirty Bertie series

17. Francesca Simon – author of the Horrid Henry series

18. Dav Pilkey – author of the captain Underpants series, great for those who like disgusting humour

19. J. K. Rowling – author of the classic series Harry Potter

20. Thea Stilton – similar to Geronimo Stilton, comic-style mouse mysteries

21. Cressida Cowell – author of the How to train your Dragon series, which has been made into a popular movie too.

22. Emily Rodda – an author who has written many fantasy adventure series, including Rowan of Rin, Raven Hill Mysteries, and Deltora Quest.

23. R. L. Stine – author of many spooky horror stories

24. John Flanagan – author of the Ranger’s Apprentice series

25. Lemony Snicket – author of the zany series A Series of Unfortunate Events

 

You can search for these authors in the library catalogue. Which one’s your favourite?

 

 

Top 10 Fiction for October

Here are the most popular children’s fiction for the month of October:

1 Diary of a wimpy kid series by Jeff Kinney

2 Dirty Bertie series by Alan MacDonald

3 Where’s Wally? series by Martin Handford

4 Conspiracy 365 series by Gabrielle Lord

5 Hang on to your whiskers! by Geronimo Stilton

6 Puzzle pirates by Susannah Leigh

7 Attack of the bandit cats by Geronimo Stilton

8 A hidden enemy by Erin Hunter

9 Nicki the Holiday Camp Fairy by Daisy Meadows

10 Harry Potter and the philosopher’s stone by J. K. Rowling

 

New Fiction for early readers ONLY!

If you are between 6 and 8, these new books are going to be perfect for you!

(but hey… if you are older and you want to read your brother or sister’s books, read these ones, they are really cool! But shhhhhh, don’t tell anybody!)

Be careful what you sniff for, by Nancy Krulik

When Sparky takes a bite of a delicious-smelling bone he dug up in his backyard, he’s in for a big surprise. Chomp, chomp, kaboom! Sparky is magically transported to London. What’s a puppy to do? Eat, of course. Sniff, sniff, sniff- Sparky’s nose leads him to a sausage, cheese, and… the dogcatcher?!

His only hope for escape is to take another bite of his bone. His only problem:He’s nowhere near it! Will Sparky ever be able to make it home?

 

 

The playground problem, by Sally Rippin

Jack’s friend Billie is away, so he hangs out with Alex instead. They have heaps of fun together! But what will happen when Billie comes back?

If you like this book then start collecting the books from the series “Hey Jack!”!

 

 

Stink and the Freaky Frog Freakout, by Megan McDonald

CROAK! SQUEENK! RIBBET!

Stink has been going to swimming lessons frog-ever and he still won’t put his face  in the water. But that’s before he meets King Otto the Third, radioactive mutant ninja frog. Now Stink’s feeling more than a little froggy…

Could he be turning into… the amazing frog-Boy?

 

 

Alice and the Airy Fairy, by Margaret Clark

 

Mary the Airy Fairy is coming to stay with Alice and her family. Is she a real fairy? Or is she just a free spirit who needs Alice’s help?

And if you have always wanted to be a Fairy, check out the instructions in the book to make your own magic wand!

 

 

So blast off on a great adventure with all these very cool books! They are designed especially for you if you want to start reading independently…

Get Stuck into Some Fab New Fiction!

Rump: The True Story of Rumpelstiltskin by Leisl Shurtliff

Relates the tale of Rumpelstiltskin’s childhood and youth, explaining why his name is so important, how he is able to spin straw into gold, and why a first-born child is his reward for helping the miller’s daughter-turned-queen

 

 

 

Hold Fast by Ble Balliett

On a cold winter day in Chicago, Early’s father disappeared, and now she, her mother and her brother have been forced to flee their apartment and join the ranks of the homeless–and it is up to Early to hold her family together and solve the mystery surrounding her father.

 

 

Finding Fortune by Pippa Goodhart

Ida’s mother has died, and now Grandmama has plans for Ida that don’t include her beloved Fa. But Ida is not going to let Fa travel to the Klondike in search of gold on his own. She must find a way to go with him, whatever it takes…The long, tough journey will push the two of them to the limit, but it also helps them to decide what kind of life they really want back home.

 

 

Super Sister and the Birthday Party by Gwyneth Rees

“Emma and Saffie are off to Granny’s house for the summer to practise their superpowers. Soon the gnomes are doing the gardening, the dolls are coming to life and the washing-up is doing itself! It’s Grandpa’s birthday soon, and Saffie decides to use her powers to throw him the best party ever – whether he likes it or not. What could possibly go wrong?”–Back cover.

 

 

The Cats of Tanglewood Forest by Charles de Lint

Twelve-year-old Lillian, an orphan who loves roaming the woods looking for fairies when her chores are done, is bitten by a deadly snake and saved through the magical forest creatures in this expansion on the author’s and illustrator’s previous work, A circle of cats.

Gruesome Fiction

Monster Mountains by Marcus Sedgwick

Eep! Those mountains are scary! Saving the world is not going very well for Elf Girl and Raven Boy. It’s not the strange wailing noises they hear in the dark, or the gigantic yeti who wants to eat them for breakfast that they find alarming, so much as the crazy wizard, who wants to add them, and Rat, to his collection of all too life-like stone statues.

Perfect for you if you like scary, creepy stories!!

Age 8+

 

The great Weta Robbery by Peter Friend and Alicia Ponder

When your after-school job is looking after weta the size of cats, it’d be understandable if you thought that your life couldn’t get any more exciting or dangerous. But there is a darker secret lurking in the laboratories of Krell Research and it’s down to one boy to get to the bottom of it.

Do you love big creepy-crawlies ? If so you’ll enjoy this book!

Age 6 +


In a glass Grimmly
, by Adam Gidwitz 

If you dare, join Jack and Jill on a harrowing quest through a new set of tales from the Brothers Grimm, Hans Christian Andersen, and others. This book will lead you into creepy forests, gruesome deeds, terrible monsters, and – far worse- the dark places of the human heart…

A fantastic eerie, subversive, and hair-raising companion novel to A Tale Dark and Grimm

Age 10+

 

When fairies go bad, by Ursula Vernon

Danny’s mother has disappeared into a fairy ring growing in her backyard vegetable garden, and Danny and his friends, Wendell and Christiana, must go to Faerie to try to save her.

And if you like this story, don’t miss the other books in the smoking hot Dragonbreath series !

Age 8+