juvenile non-fiction

Cheese, Cryptids, Crime and Cooking – New Kids Books in the Collection

Kath Read 0 Comments

It’s a new year, and we have some amazing and exciting new books in our collection for kids. Among many other new titles available this month, get your teeth into a cheesy picture book, explore the world of cryptids in a new comic, or delve into crime or learn to cook! Take a look at some of our suggestions below.

Picture Books

The Big Cheese / John, Jory
“The Big Cheese is the best at everything, and brags about it, too. When the annual Cheese-cathlon comes around, the Big Cheese is prepared to win, as always. But what happens when the quiet new kid, Wedge Wedgeman, comes out on top? Is a slice of humility all the Big Cheese needs to discover that some things are better than being the best?” (Catalogue)

Look / Woodcock, Fiona
“A brother and sister spend an exciting day at the zoo where they find balloons, baboons, kangaroos, and more. Told entirely through illustrations and single words containing a double “O”.” (Catalogue)

Geoffrey gets the jitters / Shireen, Nadia
“Geoffrey’s got the jitters! It started last night when he was thinking about school – a funny, wiggly feeling in his tummy that grew and grew. But when Geoffrey’s tummy jitters started talking to him – that’s when he knew they were out of control. Geoffrey had to do something.” (Catalogue)

When grandpa wore a tutu / McMillan, Dawn
“Back in the day, Grandpa was a dairy farmer who milked cows while dreaming of dancing ballet. His dream comes true when the local farmers put on a performance of Swan Lake at the country hall and Grandma sews him a tutu ready for his starring role. Together with his farmer friends, they dance up a storm, wearing a variety of unusual footwear, including Grandpa in his gumboots!” (Adapted from Catalogue)

Comics

Cryptid kids [1] : the Bawk-ness Monster / Goetter, Sara
“Before she moves away to a new city, Penny wants to prove that she was truly saved from drowning by the Bawk-ness Monster but instead must rescue kidnapped cryptids from an evil collector along with Luc and K.” (Catalogue)

Duel / Bagley, Jessixa
“Sixth grader Lucy loves fantasy novels and is brand-new to middle school. GiGi is the undisputed queen bee of eighth grade (as well as everything else she does). They’ve only got one thing in common: fencing. Oh, and they’re sisters. They never got along super well, but ever since their dad died, it seems like they’re always at each other’s throats. When GiGi humiliates Lucy in the cafeteria on the first day of school, Lucy snaps and challenges GiGi to a duel with high sisterly stakes. But after their scene in the cafeteria, both girls are on thin ice with the principal and their mom…” (Adapted from Catalogue)

Things in the basement / Hatke, Ben
“It was supposed to just be a normal basement – some storage boxes, dust, you know, the usual basement stuff. But when Milo is sent by his mother to fetch a sock from the basement of the historic home they’ve moved into, Milo finds a door in the back that he’s never seen before. Turns out that the basement of his house is enormous. In fact, there is a whole world down there. As Milo travels ever deeper into the Basement World, he meets the many Things that live in the shadows and gloom… and he learns that to face his fears he must approach even the strangest creatures with kindness.” (Catalogue)

Mabuhay / Sterling, Zack
“First-generation Filipino siblings, JJ and Althea, struggle to belong at school. JJ wants to fit in with the crowd, while Althea wants to be accepted as she is. But between the leftover Filipino food their mom packs for their lunches to having a last name that nobody can pronounce, any sense of belonging seems like a long shot. But when witches, ogres, and other creatures from those same stories appear in their town and threaten their family, JJ and Althea realize that the myths their parents have always told them may be more real than they’d suspected. Can JJ and Althea embrace who they really are and save their family?” (Adapted from Catalogue)

Chapter Books

The after school crime club / Webster, Hayley
“Willow has always felt like an outsider at school, but she and her Nanna were so alike that she never felt alone. Now Nanna is gone and Willow is adrift. So when a group of girls offer her friendship in exchange for “fun” stealing dares, Willow can’t say no. But as the dares escalate, she has to ask herself: How far will she go to fit in?” (Catalogue)

Stuntboy, in-between time / Reynolds, Jason
“Portico Reeves is the greatest superhero a lot of people have never heard of. He likes it that way–then no one can get in the way of him from keeping other people safe. Super safe. He’s Stuntboy. There’s been one major fail. He couldn’t save his parents from becoming Xs. Which is a word that sounds like coughing up a hairball. But don’t talk to him about the divorce, because of the hairball thing, and also, it gives Portico the frets. What’s also giving him frets is his parents living on two separate floors in their apartment building. So when Portico and new friend, Herbert, and best best friend, Zola, discover an empty apartment, unlocked, they are psyched. It’s a perfect hideout, and hangout, and it’s not half anyone’s…it’s all theirs. Problem is, that gives some Grown Up People the frets, which leads to double frets for Portico. And he’s not sure his arsenal of stunts can combat that.” (Adapted from Catalogue)

Tiny the secret adventurer / Bushby, Aisha
“Tiny is a small creature with a big heart living in a school garden. Her animal neighbours don’t like her because she looks like a human. They think humans are big, noisy and messy and they’re scared. But when Frog is in danger Tiny comes to the rescue and makes friends!” (Catalogue)

Alebrijes / Higuera, Donna Barba
“For 400 years, Earth has been a barren wasteland. The few humans that survive scrape together an existence in the cruel city of Pocatel — or go it alone in the wilderness beyond, filled with wandering spirits and wyrms. 13 year-old pickpocket Leandro and his sister Gabi do what they can to forge a life in Pocatel. When Gabi is caught stealing precious fruit from the Pocatelan elite, Leando takes the fall. But his exile proves more than he ever could have imagined — far from a simple banishment, his consciousness is placed inside an ancient drone and left to fend on its own. But beyond the walls of Pocatel lie other alebrijes like Leandro who seek for a better world — as well as mutant monsters, wasteland pirates, a hidden oasis, and the truth.” (Adapted from Catalogue)

Non Fiction

David Atherton’s baking book for kids / Atherton, David
“Preheat the oven and get cracking–there are bakes to make! From snacky samosas to hot cross hedgehogs, from loaves baked in flowerpots to an ombre cake (your friends will think it came from a fancy bakery), these recipes are so delicious and easy to follow, they’ll have the reader named star baker in no time! Featuring oven-hot tips, a review of a baker’s cupboard, an equipment list, step-by-step instructions, and delightful illustrations by award-winning illustrator Harry Woodgate, this collection of mouthwatering recipes from David Atherton will bring little bakers and their loved ones together in the kitchen again and again.” (Adapted from Catalogue)

Welcome to the mysteryverse / Gifford, Clive
“Science is pretty amazing, but even though we know more about our universe than ever before, there still remain lots of unanswered questions that fascinate and perplex even the greatest scientific minds. This book is a compendium of these riveting unsolved mysteries, that still have us wondering… How? What? Why? From the personal (Why do we have fingerprints? Why do we yawn?) to the fundamental (How did life begin? Is anybody out there?) to the downright funny (Why do cats sit in circles?) The colourful and arresting artwork draws readers in further to ask How? What? And Why? This riveting book will capture the imagination of curious minds young and old. Maybe they can solve some of these riddles. Or maybe, some things will remain in the Mysteryverse …” (Adapted from Catalogue)

Invisible things / Miller, Andy J
“This creatively wacky and interactive exploration of the abstract concepts of the human experience, such as feelings and thoughts, encourages readers to look past the visible and connect with the things that are not seen.” (Catalogue)

For more new items in the collection, go to: What’s new / January 2024 (wcl.govt.nz)

Pūngāwerewere: Spider!

Sue Jane

If you’re taking part in the Summer Reading Adventure this year you’ll have come across a few different challenges that ask you to go outside and take a close look at what’s around you. There’s The Upward Looking Urban Photographer which asks you to look upwards in a place familiar to you and spot something new, there’s On the Mountain – Matairangi Quest which challenges you to visit the Matairangi Nature Trail on Mount Victoria and tell us about something you learned or spotted there, there’s Nature’s Perfect Challenge where we ask you to use your senses to investigate the natural world around you, and of course there’s He Rapa Ngāngara te Mahi | The Great Bug Hunt where we challenge you to search out some creepy-crawlies outside.

One creature you might come across while you’re completing these activities is the pūngāwerewere (or spider), and we thought we’d share some of the really interesting things about spiders with you.

Have you heard of the strange phenomenon where spiders’ webs can blanket an entire area of plants including trees? The phenomenon is a survival tactic called ballooning and it is where spiders spin large webs which catch onto grass, shrubs and trees to escape threats like flooding. This happened a couple of years ago in the state of Victoria, Australia, after a storm caused flooding and left the ground covered in a ballooning blanket of webs.

Spiders are amazing creatures that have adapted to find all sorts of ways to survive. Sadly, they get a really bad rap as their scary appearance makes many people frightened of them. Did you know that the irrational fear of spiders is called Arachnophobia? This word comes from Greek mythology, where Arachne, a skilled weaver, was turned into a spider by the goddess Athena after winning a weaving competition with the goddess (Athena was not happy!).

20 fun facts about spiders

1)Black spider in web clip art, cute style 12cm | This clipart… | Flickr Spiders are not insects. Instead, spiders are known as arachnids because they only have two body segments instead of three. Other arachnids are scorpions, mites, and ticks.
2) Spiders spin webs to catch other bugs to eat, but not all spiders make webs! Some actively hunt their prey and pounce.
3) Most spiders are not dangerous to humans.
4) The wolf spider carries her babies on her back with her.
5) Most spiders live on land, but a few, like the raft spiders, live in and on water. These spiders can “run” across the water’s surface.
6) On average, it takes a spider about 60 minutes to spin a web.
7) Spiders are just as valuable to the world as larger animals, but most people don’t realize it. Many spiders are becoming endangered and are disappearing due to loss of habitat (home).
8) The average house has 30 spiders.
9) You are always three feet away from a spider.
10) Grass spiders build a web on top of the grass. Their webs form a funnel shape, which is not sticky.
11) The silk strands in a web are 5x stronger than a piece of steel the same size.
12) Spiders have short hairs on their feet that allow them to walk upside down on ceilings and over glass.
13) Spiders are found everywhere in the world except for the cold polar regions of the Arctic and Antarctic.
14) The average life of a spider is one to two years. Although the female tarantula may live up to 20 years!

15) The silk is a liquid inside the spider’s abdomen. When the spider releases it, it becomes solid and forms a thread.
16) Some spiders eat their old web before starting a new one. Others roll the old web up and throw it away. Web spiders rebuild their web each day!
17) Spiders don’t usually eat their prey because they have small mouths. Instead, they put chemicals into and on the prey to turn the body into a liquid. Then the spider sucks it up.
18) The hair on a spider’s first pair of legs are sensitive to taste. The spider “tastes” its prey by touching it.
19) Spiders use muscles to move their legs inward toward their body. But they don’t have muscles to pull their legs out. So to move legs out, a spider has to pump body water into each leg. This is why you can sometimes see a spider curled up – he has lost too much water to push his legs out again.
20) Some spiders, such as the tarantula, are considered a low-maintenance pet.

Want to know more facts about spiders?

I’m trying to love spiders : (it isn’t easy) / Barton, Bethany
“This fresh and very funny non-fiction picture book shares lots of fascinating facts about spiders in an entirely captivating way. If I’m Trying to Love Spiders doesn’t cure your spider phobia, it’ll at least make you appreciate how amazing they are…and laugh a lot as you learn about them.”– Provided by publisher.” (Catalogue)

Bug lab for kids : family-friendly activities for exploring the amazing world of beetles, butterflies, spiders, and other arthropods / Guyton, John W.
“Prepare to cozy up with spiders, centipedes, butterflies, and bees, to name just a few! In Bug Lab for Kids, Mississippi State University associate professor, extension entomologist (bug expert), and educator John W. Guyton shares his knowledge and excitement about all things beautiful, creepy, and crawly.” (Catalogue)

Australia’s most dangerous spiders– and their relatives / Riley, Kathy
“Dangerous to people or not? Learn how to recognise the most deadly spiders – and how to help someone who has been bitten. Discover the amazing tricks spiders use to catch plenty of insects for their dinner. Find out how to tell thich sipder made the huge web that appeared in your garden overnight. Inspect some astonishing close-up photos of spiders on the hunt for food or hiding from their enemies.” (Catalogue)

Insects and spiders / Parker, Steve
“A first nature book about insects and spiders for children, this is the perfect companion for young minds eager to learn about the world of bugs. Children are encouraged to investigate and record all the creepy crawlies they find, and get hands on with the fun activities, from making your own bug hotel to collect insects in to building an ant farm.With a mix of fantastic photographs and beautiful illustrations Insects and Spiders takes you through everything you need to know about these minibeasts. Learn what termites build their nests from, how an earwig looks after her eggs, and why wasps have black and yellow stripes.” (Catalogue)

Want to read some fiction books that feature spiders?

Sam Wu is NOT afraid of spiders! / Tsang, Katie
“The brilliantly funny fourth book in the SAM WU series, starring the bravest scaredy-cat in the world! Perfect for reluctant readers and fans of Tom Fletcher, Pamela Butchart and Humza Arshad’s Badman. Sam Wu is NOT afraid of anything. Well, maybe some things. Like ghosts, sharks … the dark’s pretty worrying too. And not to mention SPIDERS! But Sam’s not going to let anyone know. And so when Tulip, the school tarantula, disappears from her cage, Sam decides it’s up to him and his friends to save the school from the eight-legged escapee … Common childhood fears dealt with in a hilarious, sensitive and accessible way. ding charity, and also writes YA fiction as Katherine Webber.” (Catalogue)

Charlotte’s web / White, E. B.
“One spring morning a little girl called Fern rescues a runt and names him Wilbur. But then Wilbur is sent to live on a farm where he meets Charlotte, a beautiful large grey spider. They become best friends and, when Wilbur is faced with the usual fate of nice fat little pigs, Charlotte must find a clever way to save him.” (Catalogue)

The spider’s song / Longstaff, Simon
“The Spider’s Song is a remarkable debut children’s book, written by Simon Longstaff and illustrated by Dutch artist Marc Van de Griendt. Lose yourself in the enchanted world of The Boffin, who as a young science prodigy dared to compete with Mother Nature and create his very own perfect world. Years go by and the Boffin enjoys his solitude, inventing creatures most bizarre: ovelwoozers, worralots, midbits and phtphts, each more weird and wonderful then the next. That is until a clever spider and a curious girl venture into his world to teach him the most important lesson of all, one he won’t find in any textbook or lab. With subtle messages woven throughout, The Spider’s Song teaches adults and children alike the value of nature, acceptance, humanity and friendship.” (Catalogue)

The very busy spider / Carle, Eric
“The farm animals try to divert a busy little spider from spinning her web, but she persists and produces a thing of both beauty and usefulness. The pictures may be felt as well as seen.” (Catalogue)

Sophie’s masterpiece : a spider’s tale / Spinelli, Eileen
“Sophie the spider makes wondrous webs, but the residents of Beekman’s Boarding House do not appreciate her until at last, old and tired, she weaves her final masterpiece.” (Catalogue)

Stink and the hairy scary spider / McDonald, Megan
“Creepy! Crawly! Criminy! Stink is bonkers about most scientific things. But dangle a spider in front of him and he goes berserk! Stink is so freaked out by spiders that he can’t read about them. He can’t look at them. He can’t think about them. And he for sure can’t touch them! Stink has arachnophobia (a fear of spiders), and he has it bad. But when a hairy backyard emergency arises, Stink is forced to face his fear–and eight beady eyes–head-on. Will he manage to tame the heebie-jeebies, or will he remain stuck in his web of tarantulan terror? ” (Catalogue)

Lo & Behold! New Kids Items in the Collection

Kath Read

If you’re looking for something new to read, we’ve got you covered!  From exciting adventures to books to give you something to think about, we’ve got new titles across all of our kid’s collections.  Check out these to start with!

Picture Books

A bed of stars / Love, Jessica
Going to bed each night can be dark and scary. The night sky stretches out endlessly, making one sensitive child feel small in comparison. So Dad comes up with a plan: a night of camping out in the desert. After sunset, when the young thinker feels tiny against the vast sky, Dad knows just what to ask-and just what to say-to soothe away fears. From acclaimed author-illustrator Jessica Love comes a story of small moments between father and child that affirms the comfort of finding one’s place in the world.” (Adapted from Catalogue)

The blue-footed booby / Biddulph, Rob
“Let’s follow the footprints! Let’s hunt for some clues! Left footprint! Right footprint! No time to lose! As everybody knows, Red-Footed Boobies are fabulous bakers. But when Desmond’s frangipane tart goes missing amidst a flurry of footprints, the Blue-Footed Booby becomes the chief suspect. But all is not as it seems…” (Adapted from Catalogue)

Nooo! Not the dentist / Blake, Stephanie
“Simon gets a sore tooth so needs to take his first trip to the dentist. The night before the appointment, Simon’s friend Ferdinand makes the most of the chance to show he knows more. Ferdinand uses his full imagination to describe the graphic horrors of the dentist’s chair. “I will NEVER go to the dentist!” yells Simon. But his mother takes no notice. When Simon is eventually persuaded onto the dentist chair, insisting his name is “Poo Bum”, he finds a remarkably patient dentist and an experience he wasn’t expecting… ” (Adapted from Catalogue)

Comic Books

Lo & behold / Mass, Wendy
“Can a virtual reality headset help change the way twelve-year-old Addie looks at things? With her life recently turned upside down, 12-year-old Addie is uncomfortable in her own skin until the world of virtual reality sparks her imagination and leads to an exciting new project, a new friend, and to reconnecting with who she’s always been.” (Adapted from Catalogue)

 

Adventuregame comics. 1, Leviathan / Shiga, Jason
“A “choose your own story” graphic novel. Leviathan is set in a medieval coastal village, where residents live in fear of a giant sea creature. Your goal as a reader is simple: defeat the Leviathan! As you wander through the open world, the town’s backstory is revealed. You can attempt to visit the library to try and learn why the Leviathan destroyed it years ago. You can stop by the castle to discover the town was once riddled with crime and theft–and how that’s stopped as the Leviathan will wreak havoc on the town for the smallest misdeeds. If you’re lucky, you may find your way to the old wizard who may possess the one thing that could keep the Leviathan at bay. But not everything is as it appears in this village. Can you discover the secrets and stop the Leviathan before it’s too late?” (Catalogue)

Four eyes / Ogle, Rex
“When Rex finds out he needs glasses, he’s beyond miserable. Dealing with the bullies at school, his family being broke, and an embarrassing lack of friends, he has way too much on his plate already.  A humorous and heartwarming middle-grade graphic memoir about fitting in, facing bullies and finding the right pair of glasses.” (Adapted from Catalogue)

Chapter Books

The sideways orbit of Evie Hart / Kamaleddine, Samera
“Evie Hart likes rules. A lot. But as she embarks on her very last year of primary school, it feels like all the rules around her are being broken. When Evie’s class starts learning about the Earth’s place in the universe, it makes Evie think about her own place in the world and where she belongs. Which has her more worried than ever. When your mum writes a horoscope page for a living, it’s hard not to think about what the future holds. Especially when she and the only dad Evie has ever known are acting like they’re on different planets. But the more Evie learns about the sky and the stars, the more she learns that changes in the world can’t always be controlled. And maybe that’s not a bad thing.” (Catalogue)

A child like you / Robert, Na’íma bint
“Somewhere, out there, In the wide, wide world, a child like you is Watching…” Four brave children watch, listen, search, and feel, as they experience the inequalities, dangers and injustices of life in our world. Inspired by real-life activists and campaigners Greta Thunberg, Yusra Mardini, Marley Dias and Iqbal Masih, each of these children is filled with courage, determination and hope. They campaign to help save the planet, show that refugees can contribute and show leadership in sport in their new land, they build a library of 1000 books depicting black girls, they speak out against the outrage of child slavery. Lyrical and powerful, this book is a passionate call to children everywhere to speak their truth and stand up for a better world.” (Catalogue)

The circle breakers / Agbabi, Patience
“Elle and her friends are back! This time, they’ll be leaping to the past, the present and the future to safeguard the secret of The Gift and destroy The Vicious Circle. Fourteen-year-old Elle and her friends are going to a not-to-be-missed funfair. But a ride on the Ghost Train takes them further than they ever imagined. They end up in 1880, face-to-face with criminal mastermind, The Grandfather! To Elle’s surprise, he needs her help. Someone has threatened to reveal The Gift to the media. If that happens, everyone will know that Leaplings can leap through time; no Leapling will be safe. Meanwhile, Millennia’s power at the head of The Vicious Circle grows. Will Elle work for a villain to save her secret community? Can she and The Infinites crush The Vicious Circle for good?” (Catalogue)

Junior Non Fiction

Timelines of everything : from woolly mammoths to world wars
“From dinosaurs and Vikings to the history of robots and espionage, discover incredible world history in this lavish collection of timelines. Jam-packed with surprising facts and amazing details, such as the most bloodthirsty pirate of all time and the first crime to be solved by studying fingerprints, Timelines of Everything will take you on a whirlwind journey through an illustrated history of time, from the Big Bang to the modern world. More than 120 timelines give you all the general knowledge you need – and even some surprising trivia you don’t!” (Adapted from Catalogue)

What machines do / Allan, John
“Digging, ploughing, baking, flying. Explore the exciting World of Machines! Learn what different machines do and how they work. Discover which machines build houses, and which ones are blasted into space. Bright illustrations and informative text show a wide variety of machines. Perfect for little engineers who like to see what machines do and how they work. A colourful children’s book depicting various types of everyday machinery and what they do.” (Adapted from Catalogue)

Any body : a comic compendium of important facts & feelings about our bodies / Gathen, Katharine von der
“We live in our bodies for life, so it’s a good idea to understand them. Any Body looks from the outside and the inside, answering questions about our bodies and how we feel about them. It looks at how our bodies change and how we can change our bodies. It includes interesting facts about skin, hair, and body functions alongside the questions that may affect us from puberty and beyond – gender identity, beauty, self-confidence, how other people react and relate to us, and how they make us feel. This compendium allows us to get to know and feel at home in our bodies – and have a giggle about them too.” (Catalogue)

Wonderfully wired brains / Gooding, Louise
“We all have a brain. It carries our opinions, personalities, likes and dislikes, and tells us what to do, and what not to. There isn’t one brain in the world that is exactly the same as another! The differences in our brains should be understood and celebrated. This inclusive book will introduce children to the world of neurodiversity and encourages them to embrace their differences. (Adapted from Catalogue)

For more new books in the collection, go to:

What’s new & Popular / July 2023 (wcl.govt.nz)

What’s New in the Collection for Kids – June 2023

Kath Read

What a bumper crop of new books we have for kids this month!  It doesn’t matter how old you are or what kind of books you like, we’ve got something for everyone this month.  From cheeky picture books to attention grabbing chapter books, entertaining comics and non-fiction full of facts.  Check out this sample of new books in the collection below…

Picture books

Starwhal / Rose, Matilda
“Everyone in Fairyland knows that Mrs. Paws is the perfect pet matchmaker! She has flying piglets, baby griffins, and even pugicorns. She has a knack of knowing what pets are right for each princess, prince, or mermaid! Millie the Mermaid loves her new pet, Starwhal, who is an adorable narwhal with the power to turn anything sparkly and shimmery! But is there enough Starwhal magic for everyone?” (Catalogue)

Nanas with no manners / Christopher, Justin
“Three nanas, who lived in the City of Seas, never said ‘thank you’ and never said ‘please’ … And when these nanas go away on holiday and find that the resort doesn’t serve their favourite chocolate nachos with cheese … uh-oh! You’d better look out, as rude nanas become hangry nanas! But will they find their manners when they find themselves in trouble …?” (Catalogue)

Who took the toilet paper / Harrop, Amy
“Pa Bear is on the toilet in the woods and – oh no! – he discovers there’s no toilet paper. The question is put out there … who is responsible for this sad state of affairs? Numerous culprits and scenarios are proposed, but in the end, Ma hands him his long shopping list to use instead … where it is plain to see that ‘toilet paper’ was at the top of the list … and it was Pa who did the shopping!” (Catalogue)

Chapter Books

The mystery of Raspberry Hill / Frantz, Eva
“The grown-ups all think she’s going to die soon — she can see it in their eyes. Still, when poor twelve-year-old Stina is sent to remote Raspberry Hill Sanatorium she can’t believe her luck. She gets to ride in a real motor car to the hospital, which looks like a magnificent castle hidden deep in the forest. But as Stina explores the long, echoey corridors of her eerie new home, she begins to suspect that the building is concealing a dark secret. Stina is determined to solve the mystery of Raspberry Hill but as she edges closer to the truth, she finds herself in terrible danger.” (Adapted from Catalogue)

The naughtiest unicorn and the firework festival / Bird, Pip
“It’s time for some firework festival fun at Unicorn School! But there’s only one problem… the fireworks are missing! But – this being Unicorn School – the fireworks are very special and magical, created by mysterious creatures who live behind the Fearsome Forest. It’s time for Mira, Dave and the gang to go on an adventure, find out what is going on and make sure that the sparkling, colourful, fizzing firework fun is returned to the festival with a BANG!” (Catalogue)

Free kid to good home / Itō, Hiroshi
“In this comical twist on sibling rivalry, a girl decides she needs a new family, so she writes “free kid” on a box and waits in the street for some better parents to choose her.” (Catalogue)

Non-Fiction

Questions and answers about germs / Daynes, Katie
“What are germs? Where do they live? Why do they make us ill? And how can we get better? Get the lowdown on these sneaky, microscopic intruders, from how they infect us to how our bodies fight them off. Meet the germ detectives who have managed to track them down. And spare a thought for the zillions of other microbes who are perfectly harmless – or may even be super helpful. Using authentic kids’ questions, carefully considered answers and quirky, characterful illustrations, this book provides an excellent introduction to our invisible enemies.” (Adapted from Catalogue)

Children’s encyclopedia of sharks / Martin, Claudia
“Dive into the extraordinary underwater domain of sharks with this comprehensive visual encyclopedia, packed with fascinating facts and eye-catching underwater photography. This definitive guide to the world’s most ferocious underwater predators delves into every aspect of their lives-their wide-ranging habitats, fascinating behaviors, powerful senses, and interactions with other species. Based on the latest research by marine biologists, it’s the ultimate book of facts and statistics about these amazing apex predators.” (Catalogue)

Thirty trillion cells : how your body really works / Thomas, Isabel
“Do you know what you’re made of? The answer is CELLS- about thirty TRILLION of them- all working together to form one awesome human being: YOU. The tiniest building blocks of life are crammed amongst the pages of this book, waiting to be discovered. From individual cells to complex systems, discover how your body moves, grows, breathes, senses, thinks and feels. Find out why you get butterflies in your stomach, how your brain is more complex than the most powerful computer, and that you are home to more bacteria cells than there are stars in the Milky Way.” (Adapted from Catalogue)

Comics

The Green Girls / Nicoloff, Loïc
“Emma, Lily, and Fadila want to save the planet… and no one around them seems to care. Frustrated, they name themselves the Green Girls, take to social media, and launch a series of bold protests. Alongside their classmate and aspiring Green Girl Silas, the crew risks getting in trouble (and stirs some up) to raise awareness about container ship pollution, palm oil overproduction, and more environmental hazards. With a mix of livestreams, spray paint, and bungee cords, they’re out to make a difference–and get their followers to do the same.” (Catalogue)

Serafina and the black cloak : the graphic novel / Beatty, Robert
“Serafina has never had a reason to disobey her pa and venture beyond the grounds of Biltmore Estate. There’s plenty to explore in her grand home, although she must take care to never be seen. None of the rich folk upstairs know that Serafina exists; she and her pa, the estate’s maintenance man, have secretly lived in the basement for as long as Serafina can remember.

But when children at the estate start disappearing, only Serafina knows who the culprit is: a terrifying man in a black cloak who stalks Biltmore’s corridors at night. Following her own harrowing escape, Serafina risks everything by joining forces with Braeden Vanderbilt, the young nephew of Biltmore’s owners. Braeden and Serafina must uncover the Man in the Black Cloak’s true identity…before all of the children vanish one by one.” (Catalogue)

The mighty bite / Hale, Nathan
“What happens when a couple of prehistoric creatures want to become internet stars? Trilobite and Amber (a walking whale) dream of fame and fortune. They don’t realize that most of the world thinks that they’re extinct. When a wandering paleo-newscaster introduces them to the world of internet videos, they hop at the chance to get behind the camera. The competition for internet fame will be fierce–Trilobite and Amber will face off against ancient sea creatures, talking cacti, floating cat heads, and more! Friendships will be tested, allies will be made, and cameras will be smashed! Our heroes will have to use all of their newfound skills when they find themselves competing in an all out video-making battle royale! With laugh-out-loud gags and outrageous, elaborate artwork, fans of Dog Man and InvestiGators have never seen anything like Nathan Hale’s The Mighty Bite!” (Catalogue)

To discover more new books for kids, go to: What’s new & Popular / June 2023 (wcl.govt.nz)

2022 Round-Up: Children’s Non-Fiction

Joseph Robinson

Following up our twin blogs rounding up some of the best picture books of 2022 and some of the best children’s fiction of 2022, now it is time for non-fiction to shine!

This isn’t an exhaustive list, but we are taking the opportunity to highlight some of our favourite books published in 2022!

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.

 

Tāwhaki : the deeds of a demigod / Mead, Sidney M

We might be cheating with this one, as it is a republication of a classic work by Hirini Moko Mead, first published in 1996. But this edition has beautiful illustrations by Scott Pearson.

Like Māui, Tāwhaki was a powerful demigod. This wonderful book shares three of the adventures of Tāwhaki.

Squawk! : Donovan Bixley’s forest birds of Aotearoa / Bixley, Donovan

After his 2021 book, Donovan Bixley’s draw some awesome : drawing tips & ideas for budding artists, was shortlisted in New Zealand Book Awards for Children and Young Adults, Bixley is right back at it with another amazing pukapuka!

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. If you haven’t already, these books are definitely worth checking out!

You don’t know what war is : the diary of a young girl from Ukraine / Skalietska, Yeva

At the front of our minds this year, has been the international conflict between Russia and Ukraine. Wellington is home to thousands of people of Ukrainian and Russian descent, some of whom have moved here this year to escape the conflict.

You might still have a lot of questions about what is happening and why. Earlier this year, we prepared a blog called understanding Ukraine and Russia: a guide for kids and their adults. We hope this will be useful for your whānau.

Another way that you can learn more is through this pukapuka, a diary by a 12-year-old girl who is experiencing the conflict directly.

Roar squeak purr : a New Zealand treasury of animal poems

Here’s a fun compendium of over 200 animal themed poems from Aotearoa New Zealand! If you’re in the mood for more local poetry, don’t forget to check out Tūhono. a journal of poetry by Wellington children / 2021 (wcl.govt.nz), the 2021 edition that Wellington City Libraries published this year!
LGBTQ+ icons : a celebration of historical LGBTQ+ icons in the arts / Keehnen, Owen
“From music to movies, literature to dance – the arts have always been influenced by the work of LGBTQ people. LGBTQ+ Icons spotlights the history and contributions of 50 pioneering artists who lived and worked around the world….” (Abridged from Amazon catalogue)

Before music : where instruments come from / Pimentel, Annette Bay
“Music doesn’t come out of nothing. It always starts somewhere… with something… with someone. Discover how music is made in this survey of musical instruments from around the world. Organized by material-from wood to gourds to found objects and more-Before Music marries a lyrical core text with tons of informational material for curious readers. In the narrative text, readers will encounter makers as they source their materials and craft instruments by hand, drawing the line from the natural world to the finished product and its sound. The sidebars offer much more to discover, including extensive instrument lists, short bios of musical innovators, and more”– Provided by publisher.” (Catalogue)
Egg carton crafts / Rathburn, Betsy
“How can you reuse a leftover egg carton? This colorful title offers eight fun ideas! An introduction explains the importance of reusing items, and a materials and tools list puts everything you need in one place. Step-by-step instructions combine with bright, easy-to-understand photos to guide readers through the process of making each craft. Along the way, tips provide hints to make crafting easier or remix crafts into new creations!” (Catalogue)
breath with me coverBreathe with me : using breath to look after my tinana, hinengaro and wairua / Tutagalevao, Abel Junior
“Your breath is a taonga that you can use anytime to calm you. Breathing is easy to do and can help relax your tinana,hinengaro, and wairua. We can be on our way to a happy day!” (Catalogue)
The very hungry caterpillar’s very first encyclopedia
“This first encyclopedia covers all the big topics for little learners, including science, history, space, and the natural world. Explore deep underground and high in the sky, travel the globe on ships and trains, and find out about dinosaurs, plants and animals, the human body, and much, muche more. The Very Hungry Caterpillar’s Very First Encyclopedia features vibrant photography alongside more than 250 timeless illustrations from the World of Eric Carle, giving young children a charming overview of everything they need to know”– Page 4 of cover.” (Catalogue)

playing with fire book cover imagePlaying with fire = Ta’alo i le afi / Riley, David

David Riley is a gem, writing some more phenomenal retellings of Pasifika stories in 2022! You might have seen some of his wonderful books in our Pacific Language Week posts during 2022!

“Fire is one of the most precious elements we know. You can cook with it. You can dry things with it. You can even sit around it and tell stories like this one. But how did fire get to Samoa?”–Back cover.” (Catalogue)

 

 

How DO Things Work?

Kath Read

Kia ora!  Have you ever looked at a machine and wondered how it works?  Or wondered how things in space work?  What about inside your body?  There are so many questions about the world!

Well, the good news is we have lots of kids books that explain and describe the inner workings of all sorts of interesting topics.  You name it, we’ve got a book to tell you how it works.  To get you started, we’ve selected a few interesting books for you to choose from.  But there are plenty more available to satisfy your curiosity.

Motorbikes / Oxlade, Chris

Find out all of the workings of some of the most amazing motorcycles.  This easy to read book breaks down many of the parts and what they do, with bright, clear illustrations.

What’s inside a black hole? : deep space objects and mysteries / Solway, Andrew

“This astronomy series looks at different aspects of the universe we live in.” (Catalogue)

Inside the bees’ hive / Ang, Karen

“Hundreds of buzzing worker honeybees build a yellow structure called a comb inside a tree trunk. The comb is made up of many small, six-sided rooms that the bees make out of wax. These rooms, called cells, will be used to hold baby bees and sweet, gooey honey. Welcome to the bees’ hive! ” (Adapted from Catalogue)

Spacecraft / West, David

“Learn all about spacecraft, from the first space capsules to space planes and space shuttles.  Find out something amazing about each vehicle and then turn the page to see it sliced in two where its innermost secrets will be revealed.” (Adapted from Catalogue)

What’s eating you? : parasites – the inside story / Davies, Nicola

“There is one group of creatures who live on or in the bodies of other animals – in skin, hair, fur, feathers, blood, guts, livers, hearts and lungs. They are parasites. Uncover the secrets of their amazing life-cycles and dare yourself not to scratch or groan as you read.” (Catalogue)

Aircraft / Graham, Ian

Find out how all kinds of aircraft work and how they are laid out inside.  Lots of clear illustrations and information on different types of aircraft.

See inside weather and climate / Daynes, Katie

Filled with facts from how hurricanes and floods happen to how global warming is affecting the Earth’s climates. This is a lift-the-flap book that introduces readers to the science of weather. The work is filled with facts from how hurricanes and floods happen to how global warming is affecting the Earth’s climates.” (Catalogue)

How cities work : explore the city inside, outside and underground / Hancock, James Gulliver

“From the sewers to the skyscrapers, this book takes young readers to the heart of the city.  Get ready to explore the city in a whole new way. This innovative book for younger readers is packed with city facts, loads of flaps to lift, and unfolding pages to see inside buildings and under the streets.  Discover where people live and peek behind closed doors to see what’s going on in houses and apartments, or why not find out about what goes on underneath the streets you walk on every day? (Adapted from Catalogue)

Running the country : a look inside New Zealand’s government / Gill, Maria

“What does the government do to keep New Zealand running smoothly? How does parliament work and what is the job of the MPs? From the Bill of Rights to the way we vote, from parliamentary headquarters to the local council — and everything in between — Maria Gill explains our system of government. You will discover facts about laws, our currency, voting at the elections and the role of the media. There are fascinating profiles of New Zealand leaders, illustrated by cartoonist Malcolm Evans, along with photographs, amazing statistics and useful ‘google this’ Internet links to find out more.” (Catalogue)

The fantastic body : what makes you tick & how you get sick / Bennett, Howard J

“Jam-packed with fun facts, cool diagrams, and gross stories, and written by a successful, practicing pediatrician, this fun and comprehensive reference book with DIY projects is ideal for kids who want to know more about the mysterious stuff going on inside their bodies.” (Catalogue)

How computers work / Hubbard, Ben

“Ever wonder what goes on inside your computer? Take a look into how processors, networks and more are all connected.” (Catalogue)

Inside of a dog : what dogs see, smell, and know / Horowitz, Alexandra

“From an animal behaviorist and dog enthusiast comes an adorable guide to understanding how our canine friends see the world. Want to know what dogs are thinking? What they feel, and what they can spell with that great big nose of theirs? Here’s your chance to experience the world nose first, from two feet off the ground. What do dogs know, and how do they think? The answers will surprise and delight you as dog owner and scientist Alexandra Horowitz explains how our four-legged friends perceive their daily worlds, each other, and us. This book is as close as you can get to knowing about dogs without being a dog yourself.” (Adapted from Catalogue)