6 New Non Fiction to read before Christmas.

Hey Kids!

Check out the latest junior non fiction at Wellington City Libraries!

Featured in this post are 6 books to read before Christmas about classic fairy tales, Harry Potter, Lego, Unicorns and so much more!

Enjoy!

The atlas of classic tales.

Experience the world of eight classic fairy tales through gorgeously illustrated maps of the stories’ magical lands! In every fairy tale, the main characters set off on a journey or a quest. Now, stunningly designed and detailed maps invite readers to join their adventures in an exciting new way. Thanks to the imaginative pen of Claudia Bordin, this follow-up to Atlas of Fairy Tales brings eight enchanting kingdoms brilliantly to life. In a single glance, you can view the castles, villages, forests, and oceans where such beloved figures as Sinbad, Puss in Boots, Little Red Riding Hood, and Thumbelina wander. From Sleeping Beauty and The Snow Queen to The Jungle Book and Aladdin, these stories are sure to delight as never before.


The atlas of fairy tales.

Whether it’s Little Red Riding Hood wandering through the woods or Alice falling down the rabbit hole, almost every children’s classic tells the tale of a protagonist’s journey. This atlas depicts those incredible adventures as never before, in stunningly illustrated maps. Enjoy a breathtaking aerial view of Dorothy and her friends following the Yellow Brick Road, or of Pinocchio’s travels as he tries to become real.


The magical guide to the wizarding world.

Get Potty with Harry Potter and Lego with The magical guide to the wizarding world. A must have read for all the Harry Potter and Lego fanatics!

A world of wizards, witches, and magic awaits! Meet all your favorite LEGO Harry Potter minifigures and discover the secrets hidden within Hogwarts Castle. Relive memorable movie moments, including exciting Quidditch matches and spooky adventures in the Forbidden Forest.


The Ultimate Builder’s Guide in Minecraft.

Build up your Minecraft skills with the Ultimate Builder’s Guide in Minecraft.

Creation is arguably the most important aspect of Minecraft, from mining resources to crafting buildings, vehicles, and even entire worlds … [This book is meant] for players of all ages who want to improve their building skills. [It] will take you all the way from crafting your first shelter to putting the finishing touches to your very own mega-build master classes


Minecraft maps : an explorer’s guide to Minecraft.

Are you ready for an adventure? Minecraft Maps is a visual guide to the Minecraft landscape, created by an explorer on a quest to find the most valuable loot whilst avoiding danger. Explore each of the fifteen major biomes through highly detailed, illustrated maps, then read the explorer’s notes about the unique features and discover an inspirational themed build idea for each. A beautifully illustrated visual guide in its own right, Minecraft Maps is also a survival tool. You’ll learn which biomes are home to the most dangerous mobs, where to look for to exclusive blocks, how to find naturally generated structures and the best places to search for loot. Once you’ve discovered each biome you can get building – construct an ice palace in the ice plains biome and an entire village suspended in the tree canopy above the jungle floor.


The secret lives of unicorns.

Unicorns, we need more of them in our lives. Why not read all about their secret lives in this amazing book! From anatomy to evolution. discover just how much you didn’t know about unicorns in this stunning guide.

13 New Non Fiction that will leave you spellbound!

Hey Kids!

There are only a couple of weeks left of spring. Why not spring on down to your local library and check out the latest new junior non fiction!

Read books where you can learn languages with Sesame Street, get spellbound with Harry Potter, read how Maui slowed the sun in English and Te Reo, get your STEAM on and so much more!

Enjoy!


Amazing Inventions.

Odd Science: Inventions is filled with weird and wacky facts that you’ve never heard before. Read about the trainers made of spider silk, wonder at the first record played in space and tell your friends about the robot built in 1937. There are facts about electricity being used as glue, facts about glow-in-the-dark cats and facts about nano-robots that can ‘swim’ inside the body during biopsies!

 


Video Game Creators.

With full-color illustrations and lively text, and chock-full of interesting facts, Awesome Minds: Video Game Creators tells the stories of these amazing men and women who turned a small hobby into a multimillion-dollar industry that changed the way we play and interact, from our living rooms to the arcades, on our computers to our hand-held devices. Awesome Minds: Video Game Creators is the perfect read for those with creative spirits, curious minds, and a love of technology and video games– Provided by publisher.

 


Learn a language with Sesame Street!

Welcome to Mandarin Chinese.

Sesame characters help readers learn Mandarin so they can connect with friends who speak the language. Welcoming words relating to everyday life and friendship give readers new language tools to become smarter, kinder friends.

 


Welcome to French.

Sesame Street characters help readers connect to new friends who speak French. Simple words and phrases relating to everyday life and a colorful approach help readers learn a new language to become smarter, kinder friends.

 


Welcome to German.

Sesame Street characters help readers learn German so they can connect with friends who speak the language. Welcoming words relating to everyday life and friendship give readers new language tools to become smarter, kinder friends.

 


Tales of Aotearoa: How Maui Slowed the Sun in English and Te Reo!

Re-tells the story of how Maui slowed the journey of the sun through the sky each day.

 

 

 

 


Wilma Rudolph.

Read all about Wilma Rudolph, the remarkable sprinter and Olympic champion. This moving book features stylish and quirky illustrations and extra facts at the back, including a biographical timeline with historical photos and a detailed profile of the athlete’s life.

 


Brilliant Bodies.

Prepare to laugh, marvel and learn with Brilliant Bodies. Jam packed full of facts about elements, organs, hair, feet and so much more!

 

 


Game logic : level up and create your own games with science activities for kids.

This book takes kids on a journey to discover the history of games, and then leads them from their initial idea for a new game through several iterations of a game all the way to playing the final version of a game they created. Explore the processes of both playing and creating games while developing critical and creative thinking skills that apply to tasks and concepts across academic fields. — adapted from back cover.

 


The Unofficial Harry Potter Spell book.

The Unofficial Ultimate Harry Potter Spellbook is a beautiful, elegantly designed reference that details all of the known spells cast in the Harry Potter films, books, video games and card games, as well as official Harry Potter spinoffs, such as Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them. Each spell is given its own entry including spell name, pronunciation details, a description of the spell effect, spell casting methods, wand movements, hand movements and vocalizations, plus primary sources in which the spell was used. Readers will also find trivia related to each spell, such as who it was used against, what the outcome was, or what a spell’s unusual history might be. There are more than 200 spells in all, plus suggestions for strategic spell use and methods for creating original spells.

 


Never too young! : 50 unstoppable kids who made a difference.

“Meet 50 super-inspiring kids! It’s never too early–and you’re never too young– to make a difference in the world! The amazing musicians, writers, scientists, athletes, activists, and other fascinating kids in this book accomplished great feats by the age of eighteen. They impacted people’s lives by coming up with new inventions, making art and music, competing in sports, and speaking out about important issues. Let their incredible stories inspire you to follow your dreams, achieve your goals, and strive for greatness now!”–Back cover.

 

 


Harry Potter. Spells & charms : a movie scrapbook.

Packed with inserts, concept illustrations, and behind-the-scenes photography, Harry Potter: Spells and Charms: A Movie Scrapbook is a guide to the spells and incantations of the Harry Potter films. A must-have collectible for all Harry Potter fans.


The Wonderful World of Roblox!

Welcome to the wonderful world of Roblox! Move over, Minecraft! Roblox has been taking the world by storm as a multiplayer online and game creation system platform that allows users to design their own games and play a wide variety of different types of games created by other users. As of August 2019, Roblox has over 100 million monthly active users.

So if you’re looking to improve your robloxing skills or new to the game, come on down to your local library and check out the latest release of Roblox books, such as:

image courtesy of syndeticsInside the world of Roblox.

Presents an inside look at the Roblox world, introducing talented members of the community and providing insider information on the games.
image couresty of syndetics

Roblox character encyclopedia.

Offers an official character reference to Roblox, including biographical information and listings of avatar items.
image courtesy of syndeticsRoblox top adventure games.

From the Bloxy Award-winning Jailbreak and Lumber Tycoon 2 to the massively popular Heroes of Robloxia and Apocalypse Rising, this action-packed book gives you the official scoop on some of the most popular and critically-acclaimed adventure games on Roblox. Each profile tells you everything you need to know, including a guide to gameplay, interviews with the creators, and tips and tricks to take your skills to the next level.
image courtesy of syndeticsRoblox top role-playing games.

Offers an introduction to the many role-playing games in the Roblox universe and includes tips, tricks, and interviews with the creators.
image courtesy of syndeticsReady, set, play! : all the funnest, coolest games for kids.

Provides guidance, tips, and tricks for such video games as Minecraft, Angry Birds, Animal Crossing, Crossy Road, Roblox, and Super Mario Run. These games will improve reaction speed, build problem-solving skills, develop imagination and creativity, and encourage teamwork. Many of them are even educational, too!

A mixture of new and current non fiction.

Hey kids!

Check out what’s new… and current in the junior non fiction collection at your local library. This post features books that will enhance your knowledge of history, games, the universe and so much more!

Enjoy!

image courtesy of syndeticsSee inside the Second World War.

With vivid illustrations and flaps to lift, this book takes you into the action of the Second World War.

image courtesy of syndeticsEngineering.

Showcases engineering feats throughout history from the pyramids of Ancient Egypt to the building of the Golden Gate Bridge. The book also features famous engineers, including the Wright brothers to Gustave Eiffel. Steam engines, rocket technology, bridges, and buildings are all covered here in this exciting book.

image courtesy of syndeticsForgotten beasts : amazing creatures that once roamed the Earth.

Matt Sewell’s follow-up to the mega-hit Dinosaurs is a beautifully-illustrated large format look at the amazing beasts that time forgot – from the relatively well known, such as the sabre-toothed tiger and woolly mammoth, to the obscure monsters that walked the earth millions of years ago – many now forgotten. New findings are being made every year, and research is showing us exactly how these beasts looked and how they lived.

image courtesy of syndeticsHistory of the world in 100 pictures.

This history of the world covers 100 fascinating historical subjects, including Ancient Egypt, Alexander the Great, the start of Islam, the Aztecs, the French Revolution, the first computer, Albert Einstein and the Space Race. Each topic is brought to life by photographs, easy-to-read text and colourful, modern illustrations.

image courtesy of syndeticsThe world of Vikings.

Set sail in your longboat and explore the mysterious lands of runes, raids and sagas. The Vikings combines breathtakingly vivid images with fascinating facts to unlock the world of these legendary warriors, traders and explorers.

image courtesy of sydneticsI am here, where are you?

In I Am Here, Where Are You? Ollie tells the reader where he is. This book provides a springboard for discussion of the reader’s location and explores concepts of cultural diversity, extended family, time zones and conservation of the planet we all share. Finally, it invites the reader to practise writing their own address, finishing at The Universe.

image courtesy of syndeticsHow to play chess.

Follow the easy steps to grandmaster greatness with How To Play Chess. From the opening move to checkmate, How To Play Chess will help your child play chess like a champion. With plenty of master tips and cool 3D images, How To Play Chess is the perfect introduction to chess for beginners as well as kids.

image courtesy of syndeticsThe Great big book of life.

“Aren’t humans amazing? It’s incredible to think that all of us started out life as a tiny dot. Find out how we change as we grow from babies to children to teenagers to adults, and what happens when people get old.”–From page 4 of cover.

image courtesy of syndeticsRainforest.

Prepare to take a chronological journey, from the first roots grown by newly evolved plants and trees, through blazing fires and climatic changes, to an explosion of flora and fauna as the rainforest blossoms with life. Travel right up to the modern-day, as humans arrive in the lush habitat, changing the rainforest and its inhabitants forever.

image courtesy of syndeticsFantastically Great Women Who Worked Wonders.

Kate Pankhurst, descendent of Emmeline Pankhurst, is back with a brand new wildly brilliant and accessible book about incredible women in the world of work. Discover eye- opening facts about a collection of go-getting women who have pioneered careers in a kaleidoscope of different industries.

Games Night at Johnsonville Library!

Join us for a Games Night at Johnsonville Library this Friday 28th September at 5pm.

We have a range of board games to choose from including popular classics like Settler of Catan, Risk or Trivial Pursuit and less common games like Starfluxx, Munchkin or King of Tokyo.

Most games are for ages 8+ though we have a few games for younger children too. You could also bring a game of your own to play with new people.

Games Night starts at 5pm but you are welcome to arrive late, you might just need to wait a little before you can join in the next round.

We’re looking forward to seeing you there

Dance your socks off in the school holidays!

Looking forward to the holidays? So are we! There are heaps of great activities planned for you. Here’s the low down…

 

Royal New Zealand Ballet Dance Workshops

Inspired by The Nutcracker these 45 minute sessions give participants a chance to dance! RNZB dance workshops for children aged 5-8 years. Places are limited, register early for these popular workshops at the RNZB website.

Tawa Community Centre: 2nd October 10 – 10.45am

Newlands Community Centre: 2nd October 2 – 2.45pm

Wellington Central Library: 3 October 10 – 10.45am (This Workshop Is Full)

Island Bay Community Centre: 4 October 10 – 10.45am

 


 

Diorama Workshop and Competition

Be in to win a family pass to the RNZB’s The Nutcracker Season! Work together with your friends and family on the fun and creative challenge. Recreate your favourite scene from The Nutcracker in a shoebox diorama. Bring your own shoebox and use our craft supplies. These workshops are open to families with children of all ages. Bookings are required for these workshops, please contact the host library to register.

Ruth Gotlieb (Kilbirnie) Library: 2nd October 10.30 – 11.30am

Wadestown Library: 2nd October 11am – 12pm

Cummings Park (Ngaio) Library: 2nd October 2.30 – 3.30pm

Karori Library: 3rd October 2.30 – 3.30pm

Wellington Central Library: 10th October 11am – 12pm (Bookings not required)

Mervyn Kemp (Tawa) Library: 10th October 2 – 3pm (Bookings not required)

Brooklyn Library: 11th October 11am – 12pm

Khandallah Library: 11th October 11am – 12pm

Johnsonville Library: 11th October 2 – 3pm (Bookings not required)

 


 

Family Movies

Bring a blanket and pillow, and relax at our fun family movies. A different G or PG rated movie from the library collection will be showing each time, and are suitable for the whole family.  Ideal for children aged 4+ years accompanied by their caregivers. Bookings required for the evening movies at Johnsonville, Newtown, and Karori Libraries.

Wellington Central Library: 1st – 12th October, at 2pm in the children’s section (no movie showing on 7th October)

Johnsonville Library: 5th October 5.30 – 7pm (Reserve your place by contacting the event library)

Newtown Library: 5th October 6 – 7.30pm (Reserve your place by contacting the event library)

Karori Library: 11th October 6 – 7.30pm (Reserve your place by contacting the event library)

 


 

Let’s Go lego

At Let’s Go Lego, your creative skills will be put to the test as you use our Lego collections to design and build your masterpieces. Each session will have a different theme that will inspire you to hone your skills and become your very own Lego Legend. Bookings not required. Suitable for children aged 5+ years accompanied by their caregivers.

Wadestown Library: 2nd October 11am – 12pm

Cummings Park (Ngaio) Library: 4th October 3.30 – 4.30pm

Khandallah Library: 5th October 3.30 – 4.30pm

Karori Library: 6th October 2 – 3pm

Tawa Community Centre: 8th October 10am – 12pm

Miramar Library: 10th October 10.30 – 11.30am

Tawa Library: 11th October 3.30 – 4.30pm

Island Bay Community Centre: 12th October 10.30 – 11.30am

Johnsonville Library: 12th October 3.30 – 4.30pm

Newtown Library: 13th October 10.30 – 11.30am

 


 

Storytelling and Puppet Making

Come and listen to the story of The Nutcracker and be transported into the enchanting world of the Sugar Plum Fairy and the Mouse King. Followed by a fantastical puppet making workshop where you will create your own magical puppets to tell a story! Suitable for children aged 4+ years accompanied by their caregivers.

Newlands Community Centre: 9th October 2 – 3.30pm

 


 

Gamesfest

Get your game face on! Bring your own, or use the board games supplied, and challenge yourself and your friends to victory. Aim for a Scrabble high score, show your hand or perhaps perfect your poker face in your favourite card game! Suitable for children aged 6+ years accompanied by their caregivers.

Central Library: 3rd and 10th October 5.30 – 8pm

 


 

Stories @ Six

Come along for a fun family story evening run by the community for the community. Bring the family and enter into a magical time of stories and fantasy. Stories @ Six is ideal for families with children aged 4+ years.

Mervyn Kemp (Tawa) Library: 4th October 6 – 6.30pm

 


 

Bey Blade Tournament

Let the battle of the Bey Blades begin! Bring your own Bey Blades or use the library ones, and challenge your friends to a battle. Who will emerge victorious? Suitable for children aged 6+ years accompanied by their caregivers.

Newtown Library: 4th October 3 – 4pm

 


 

Lego Stop-Motion Movie WorkshopLego model image

Work as a team and learn how to create a stop motion film using ‘Stop Motion Studio’ and LEGO. BYOD tablet, or borrow one of the library ones (limited supply available). Numbers are limited, bookings required. Reserve your place by contacting Tawa Library. Suitable for children aged 7+ years accompanied by their caregivers.

Mervyn Kemp (Tawa) Library: 5th October 10.30 – 11.30am (Bookings required, please contact the library)

 


 

All events are free. Parents/caregivers are expected to accompany and supervise children at all activities. Contact the host library for more information about each event.

Games Night at Johnsonville Library

Join us for a Games Night at Johnsonville Library this Friday 31st August at 5pm.

We have a range of board games to choose from including popular classics like Settler of Catan, Risk or Trivial Pursuit and less common games like Starfluxx, Munchkin or King of Tokyo.

Most games are for ages 8+ though we have a few games for younger children too. You could also bring a game of your own to play with new people.

Games Night starts at 5pm but you are welcome to arrive late, you might just need to wait a little before you can join in the next round.

We’re looking forward to seeing you there

6 New Non Fiction

Hey kids!

Check more and amazing new junior non fiction books added to the children’s collection at Wellington City Libraries! Check out great books on history, exploring, outdoor adventures and a classic fairy tale retold.

Enjoy!

 

image courtesy of syndeticsMeet the Ancient Egyptians.

With vibrant artwork and snappy text, learning about Ancient Egypt has never been cooler! Get to know the basics on from gods and worship to mummification, with easy, humorous text that is reminiscent of the best-selling Horrible Histories series. James Davies’ stunning artwork and infographics provide a fresh non-fiction approach. Age 6+.

 

image courtesy of syndetics

Also check out Meet the Ancient Romans and get to know the ancient Romans and history in this bright and snappy series. A great way to learn and have a laugh at the same time.

 

 

 

 

image courtesy of syndeticsUltimate explorer guide : explore, discover, and create your own adventures with real National Geographic explorers as your guides.

Filled with in depth information and inspiration, this book will take you on a daring adventure through the land, sea and ski. A great handbook for budding explorers looking for an adventure.

 

 

image courtesy of syndeticsThe New Zealand Wars.

“The story of the 19th century New Zealand Wars, a part of New Zealand’s history that many people wish they knew more about. The book describes how the wars came about, where and when they were fought, who was involved, and how they affected women and children. It explains the emergence of Kīngitanga or Māori King movement, the land confiscations and the story of Parihaka. Other chapters look at war memorials, graves and monuments, the work of the Waitangi Tribunal, how the wars have featured in New Zealand art, music and literature, and how they are being remembered today, including new ways of working towards understanding and reconciliation. The story is told in an accessible way full of fascinating detail, eye-witness accounts, illustrations and little known facts, with lists of websites, resources and books for those who want to discover more.”–Publisher description.

 

image courtesy of syndeticsSnowWhite and the seven dwarfs : a tale from the Brothers Grimm.

This book retells the classic fairy tale of Snow White and the seven dwarfs. Overall a beautifully retold tale with stunning and captivating illustrations. A librarian’s choice all the way!

 

 

 

image courtesy of syndetics101 fun outdoor activities for children : have fun outside!

The pillars of play, explore, learn and arts and crafts come together in 101 outdoor activities for children. Take a journey in the great outdoors with this amazing book filled with 101 activities that will keep you busy from dawn until dusk.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Games night at Johnsonville Library!

Join us for a Games Night at Johnsonville Library this Friday 27 April at 5pm.

We have a range of board games to choose from including popular classics like Settler of Catan, Risk or Trivial Pursuit and less common games like Starfluxx, Munchkin or King of Tokyo.

Most games are for ages 8+ though we have a few games for younger children too. You could also bring a game of your own to play with new people.

Games Night starts at 5pm but you are welcome to arrive late, you might just need to wait a little before you can join in the next round.

We’re looking forward to seeing you there.

Games Night at Johnsonville Library

 

Join us for a Games Night at Johnsonville Library this Friday the 25th August at 5pm.

We have a range of board games to choose from including popular classics like Settlers of Catan, Risk or Trivial Pursuit and less common games like Starfluxx, Munchkin or King of Tokyo.

Most games are for ages 8+ though we have a few games for younger children too. You could also bring a game of your own to play with new people.

Games Night starts at 5pm but you are welcome to arrive late, you might just need to wait a little before you can join in the next round.

We’re looking forward to seeing you there.