friendship – Kids' Blog

Movie recomendations and reviews : Walt Disney from A to D

Katie15 September, 2016

Since the 1920’s. Walt Disney has brought some fantastic movies to for families’ enjoyment and entertainment, whether it is in a busy movie theatre or in the quiet comfort of your own home. I have put together a list of must see Walt Disney DVDs, in alphabetical order from A to D. Check out the list and see what movies tickle your fancy and that you want to watch during the drizzly spring weather and during the next round of school holidays.

A is for Aladdin

This movie will take you on a journey of wonders, non stop laughs, thrills and magic carpet rides. In the heart of an enchanted city, a commoner named Aladdin battle to save (and win the heart of) the free-spirited Princess Jasmine from the schemes of the evil sorcerer Jafar. Aladdin’s whole life changes with one rub of a magic lamp as a fun-loving, shape shifting Genie, voiced by the late Robin Williams, appears and grants him three wishes, setting him on an incredible journey of discovery, love and true meaning of friendship. This movie is 100% recommended! Robin Williams owns the role of Genie and brings a comical and warm hearted presence to the story and absolutely love Princess Jasmine, who is the embodiment of a tough, no nonsense free spirit feminist who refuses to settle for less and abide by the traditions and expectations set out for her, I still recall when my best friend and I went to saw this in the movie theatre, then watched it home on video (Yes, in my day it was video cassettes instead of DVDs), singing along to the songs and wishing we too could soar away on a magical carpet ride.

B is for Brave

Another movie about another tough no nonsense Scottish heroine, named Merida, who determined to be in control of her own destiny sets off a catastrophic chain events that could affect her destiny, as well as the destiny family forever. Now this brave beauty must keep her wits and rely on her bravery and her archery skills to undo a beastly curse. Seriously, I don’t words can stress enough how much I love this film. As I have mentioned in previous posts, this is one of my favourite Pixar/Walt Disney films and a tribute to my Scottish ancestry. Have a read of my review and my post of Pixar films to be furthered sold on why this is a great movie.

C is for Cinderella and… Cinderella

There’s a saying I am very fond of, courtesy of a wise Chinese philosopher, which is “A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.” In Walt Disney’s animated adaptation, originally released as a motion picture in 1950, the story of Cinderella is told in that context, where she undertakes a magical journey to the palace ball, taking her first step in glass slippers, to escape the life of servitude, the clutches of her abusive step-family and win the heart of the prince that begins all before the clock strikes midnight. Also you might want to check out the live-action reboot of the animated version, have a read of my review to get an idea on why this is a great DVD to watch.

D is for Dumbo

A favourite childhood classic of mine, not to mention one that I cried buckets over! A baby elephant named Dumbo is ridiculed because of his enormous ears, despite his mother’s best efforts to protect him. However a guardian angel arrives in the form of Timothy the mouse, who puts Dumbo’s tormentors in their place and helps Dumbo achieve his full potential and soar to fame as the world’s only flying elephant. A great family movie about the true meaning of friendship and celebrating individuality!

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

admin7 September, 2016

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

Warning Cry by Kris Humphrey

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

Star Wars; Tales from a Galaxy Far, Far Away by Landry Walker

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

From the Cutting Room of Barney Kettle by Kate De Goldi

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

Adventures of the Steampunk Pirates; The Leaky Battery Sets Sail by Gareth P. Jones

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

Bloodlust and Blunders by Poppy Inkwell

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

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

admin11 August, 2016

The Adventures of Alfie Onion by Vivian French

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

Perijee & Me by Ross Montgomery

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

Binny Bewitched by Hilary McKay

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

The Girl of Ink and Stars by Kiran Millwood Hargrave

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

Emily Sparkes and the Backstage Blunder by Ruth Fitzgerald

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

4 new children’s non fiction to read during August

Katie4 August, 2016

Impress your friends and teachers by surprising them with some new facts. Where are you going to learn these facts? From these amazing 4 new books the library has just purchased. Get your hands on them before someone else does.

image courtesy of syndetics Spectacular Friendship Bracelets.

Girls, this is your chance to show your friends how much you care. This book will give you step by step instructions and ideas on how to make friendship bracelets for your gal pals and add instant fashion to any outfit. This is one book that girls must get their hands on.

Fresh in from National Geographic:

Celebrate Christmas.

This book discusses the meaning of and traditions surrounding the celebration of Christmas. Yes, I know it’s a little early for Christmas. But best to grab it while it’s still early so you can get up to date with anything and everything you want and need to know about Christmas, especially if you want to plan your Christmas get-together and/or party ASAP.

Celebrate Rosh Hashanah & Yom Kippur.

If you are of and/or interested in the Jewish faith, then you might be interested in this book. Celebrate Rosh Hashanah & Yom Kippur describes how the Jewish holidays of Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur are celebrated around the world.

Awfully Ancient.

Gory Gladiators, Savage Centurions and Caesar’s sticky end.

This book outlines the interesting and the odd – the historical and the humorous – from the beginnings of the Roman Republic to the fall of the Roman Empire

Children’s DVD Review: When Marnie was there

Katie2 August, 2016

This movie, When Marnie was there, was screened at last week at the Thursday Night Film screening at the Central Library. If you missed out on the movie night, then have no fear, we have this DVD in the Children’s DVD collection, which you can watch for your own viewing pleasure, in the comfort of your own home, especially as we may be in for a few cold nights during this mid-winter season.

This film tells the story of Anna, an introverted orphaned girl and a bit of a lost soul, who feels abandoned, unwanted and unlovable.

However, while on holiday, a chance encounter with a mysterious blonde girl, Marnie, who in many ways is a reflection of Anna, changes Anna’s life forever.

As the summer progresses, Anna spends more time with Marnie, and eventually Anna learns the truth about her family and foster care, which allows her to open up to possibilities all around her, mainly meaningful relationships with friends and her surrogate family.

This film is hauntingly beautiful and truly captures the essence and beauty, you would in find in most Japanese animated films produced by the Company, Studio Ghibli, who also brought such Japanese animated films to life, such as Spirited Away and My Neighbour Totoro.

Overall a great film that young girls will enjoy, that explores the true meaning of friendship and finding yourself.

Rating: 7/10.

Top 10 Children’s eBooks for June 2016

Dusty15 July, 2016

The Jungle book has reached the Top 10 for eBooks! Looks like heaps of people might have watched the movie and wanted to find out about the book.

The characters in the Jungle Book have great names from the Hindi language. The name of Mowgli’s wolf mother Raksha means protection and Shere Khan means Tiger leader.

Can you find out what some of the other names mean? Let us know in the comments.

1. Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, by J. K. Rowling

2. Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, by J. K. Rowling

3. The Hobbit, by J. R. R. Tolkein

4. The Jungle Book, by Rudyard Kipling

5. The Lost Hero: The Heroes of Olympus Series, Book 1, by Rick Riordan

6. Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, by J. K. Rowling

7. The Son of Neptune: The Heroes of Olympus Series, Book 2, by Rick Riordan

8. Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, by J. K. Rowling

9. Cabin Fever: Diary of a Wimpy Kid Series, Book 6, by Jeff Kinney

10.Dog Days: Diary of a Wimpy Kid Series, Book 4, by Jeff Kinney

Top 10 Children’s Fiction for June 2016

Dusty13 July, 2016

Mid winter favourites reveal fans of some classic children’s authors. Enid Blyton and Roald Dahl are two very different authors creating very different worlds for their imaginary children and their readers.

The secret seven adventures were so popular that the translations inspired writers from other countries to develop the characters in their own stories. Some of these were translated back into English some outlandish titles like… “The famous Five and the Z-Rays”

1. Diary of a wimpy kid, by Jeff Kinney

2. Tom Gates series, by Liz Pichon

3. Storey Treehouse series, by Andy Griffiths

4. Where’s Wally? by Martin Handford

5. Dirty Bertie series, by Alan MacDonald

6. The Secret Seven, by Enid Blyton

7. Big Nate series, Lincoln Peirce

8. The hidden oracle, by Rick Riordan

9. Gangsta granny, by David Walliams

10. Matilda, by Roald Dahl

Children’s DVD Review: Oliver and Company

Katie11 July, 2016

Looking for a Walt Disney classic of all time? Check out the latest DVD that has been added to the Children’s movie collection: Oliver and Company.

I loved this movie when I was a kid, which was released in 1988/89. Nearly thirty years later and on DVD, I love it more as an adult, and especially as a proud fur parent of two cats.

Based on the novel Oliver Twist, by Charles Dickens, Oliver, the orphaned kitten, is befriended by Dodger, the cool mutt from a New York pack of pickpocked pooches.

Soon, Oliver is lovingly adopted by Jenny, a lonely little rich girl, until tough-guy Sykes and his Doberman sidekicks try to keep Jenny and Oliver apart. Now it’s up to Oliver, Dodger, and all his colourful, street-smart canine pals to outwit the villains and rescue the girl.

Overall , Disney’s wonderfully charming classic “Oliver and Company” is one of the most best animated films you’ll ever see.

It has a fantastic cast, not to mention musical numbers from music icons such as Billy Joel, Bette Midler and Huey Lewis – very popular artists in the 1980s and 1990s – and from your parents’/grandparents’ generation.

This is a film for all the Walt Disney and feline lovers out there.

A well deserved 8/10.

Top 10 Children’s Comics June 2016

Dusty30 June, 2016

These are the all time favourite comics (well, for the last couple of months) from children choosing their reading material from Wellington Libraries! The listing hasn’t changed since last month, so here is a peek into the almost Top 10!

These two blue hued creatures almost made it into this month’s Top 10…

The Smurfs are June’s number 11 and Sonic, a sometime Top 10 listee is in at number 12. The cover for volume 8 Sonic Saga series is up on the Archie comics website. Did you know that Sonic the Hedgehog holds a world record? Awarded with the accolade of longest running comic book series based on a video game by the Guinness book of World records 2008. Our Sega blue hero was turned blue after breaking the sound barrier. Want to know more? Find 12 Sonic facts over here.

Do you have some favourite comic facts you want to share with other keen comic fans? You can let us know in the comments below.

1. The Garfield show, by Cedric Michiels

2. Tintin by Herge

3. Big Nate, by Lincoln Peirce

4. Peanuts, by Chalres M. Schulz

5. Pokemon by Hidenori Kusaka

6. Garfield, by Mark Evanier

7. Amulet series, by Kazu Kibuishi

8. Adventure time, by Ryan North

9. Chi’s sweet home, by Kanata Konami

10.Asterix omnibus, by Goscinny and Udzero

Top 10 Children’s Fiction May 2016

Dusty29 June, 2016

There are some terrific series in the lists for May. Adventure, laughs and brave heroes of a young age taking on the extraordinary and the very ordinary – both can be pretty daunting!

There’s lots of reading going on with the long winter evenings, some of it will be the finalists in the New Zealand Post Book awards. I wonder if any of these will make it into the Libraries’ Top 10?? Remember Hell Pizza are really keen to tempt you into expanding your world of imagination, wonder and delight by rewarding you with pizza! Every seven books entitles a lucky reader (5-12 years old) to a free pizza. Yum!

Here’s your Top 10 novels for May 2016:

1.Diary of a wimpy kid, by Jeff Kinney