The Loud Librarian: New Kid’s Books in the Library Collection

We have so many new books for kids in the collection this month!  All age groups have lots of new books to choose from and there are exciting new books about every subject you can dream of.  We have selected a few here to get you started:

Picture Books

The loud librarian / Beatrice, Jenna
“A little librarian with a larger-than-life voice finds her niche in this sweet, and uproarious story about being true to yourself–no SHHH required! When loud-voiced Penelope becomes student-librarian, she is determined to prove she is perfect for the job while staying true to herself.” (Adapted from Catalogue)

The red jacket / Holt, Bob
“Bob loves his red jacket. The red jacket makes other seagulls notice him and even speak to him. But when a wave washes it away, will Bob lose his cool and his newfound friends, too? Bob Holt’s spare text and humorous artwork come together perfectly in this charmingly humorous tale about “fitting in,” and confidence.” (Adapted from catalogue)

Blue Bison needs a haircut / Rothman, Scott
“Blue Bison prides himself on always looking clean and neat, so when he goes for a haircut and discovers every place is closed, he is very upset, but his little sister Bubble Gum Bison and her utterly ridiculous idea saves the day.” (Catalogue)

Chapter Books

Amber Brown is not a crayon / Danziger, Paula
“Amber Brown and Justin Daniels are a great team until disaster strikes and Justin has to move away. Will be they be able to work out their recent fight before it’s too late?” (Catalogue)

The house that whispers / Thompson, Lin
“Eleven-year-old Simon and his siblings, Talia and Rose, are staying the week at Nanaleen’s century-old house. This time, though, it’s not their usual summer vacation trip. In fact, everything’s different. It’s fall, not summer. Mom and Dad are staying behind to have a “talk.” And Nanaleen’s house smells weird, plus she keeps forgetting things. And these aren’t the only things getting under Simon’s skin: He’s the only one who knows that his name is Simon, and that he and him pronouns are starting to feel right. But he’s not ready to add to the changes that are already in motion in his family.” (Adapted from Catalogue)

In the shadow of the wolf queen / Hargrave, Kiran Millwood
“Ysolda has lived her life in the shadow of the wolf queen’s tyrannical rule but, safe in her forest haven, she has never truly felt its threat. Until one day when a mysterious earthquake shakes the land and her older sister Hari vanishes in its wake. Accompanied by her loyal sea hawk, Nara, Ysolda embarks on a desperate rescue mission… she soon finds herself embroiled in a quest for a magic more powerful than she could ever have imagined.” (Abridged from catalogue)

Comics

Global / Colfer, Eoin
“Told in alternating voices, twelve-year-old Sami, from a village along the Bay of Bengal, and fourteen-year-old Yuki, from Northern Canada, strive to protect their homes from the encroaching damage brought on by climate change.” (Catalogue)

SandyPants / McGrath, Raymond
“Big and Little Blue are two lovable and lively little penguins. There are three, simply illustrated stories in the book, each one featuring two friends, Big Blue and Little Blue, nicknames Bigsies and Littles. Each story is connected by a wellbeing theme, and is designed to offer children coping strategies for navigating friendships, understanding emotional responses, and the importance of mindfulness and being yourself.” (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… 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.” (Abridged from Catalogue)

Non-fiction

Universal guide to the night sky / Harvey-Smith, Lisa
“Wherever you are in this world, whether that be in the Northern or Southern Hemisphere, in the city or a remote region, this book guides you through the remarkable features of planet Earth’s starry sky. Receive a personal tour through the wonders of the universe from astrophysicist Lisa Harvey-Smith. Explore comets and meteors, stars, planets and moons. Find galaxies and glowing gas clouds. Spot supernovae and enjoy eclipses. Learn everything you need to know about binoculars, telescopes and photographing the stars. You will never look up at the stars in the same way again.” (Catalogue)

Born reading : 20 stories of women reading their way into history / Krull, Kathleen
“Once books change their brains, girls change history. Discover the foundation of reading that empowered some of the world’s most influential women in this collection of 20 biographies.” (Catalogue)

Destination : Mars / Spray, Sally
“Learn all about planet Mars with the Space Station Academy students and their robot teacher in these fun and vibrant story-based science books for children aged 7+.” (Catalogue)

For more new kids books in the collection, go to: What’s new / October 2023 (wcl.govt.nz)

Real Time, Real Person, Real Help with your Schoolwork

Note: this Kids’ Blog post is targeted at adults! Kids read on with caution.

In these strange new times, teachers, parents and other educators are looking to the Internet for homework help and educational resources to keep their kids’ brains active while schools are closed. Good news! The library can be an invaluable resource for anybody who is trying online education at this time, above and beyond eBooks and online databases. How? Enter AnyQuestions.

Have any questions? Why not try AnyQuestions!

AnyQuestions is a service run by the National Library and staffed by public librarians from around New Zealand, including Wellington City Libraries. On it, children are able to chat in real-time with a real librarian fully trained in web-based research about any question they might have. The librarian working with your child won’t just give them the answer directly — instead, they guide the student through the process of doing online research, checking their understanding every step of the way.

For the duration of the COVID-19 pandemic, the service’s opening hours are at the normal settings, with librarians on hand to help every weekday from 1pm – 6pm.

If you prefer to work outside those hours, or just want a place to find great resources, try AnyQuestions’ sister site, ManyAnswers. This is a service also provided by the National Library and public librarians, and it’s a fully searchable, always-available database of reliable information and vetted resources for the most commonly-asked questions we receive. You can even search by year level to make sure you’re getting information that’s curated for the right level.

Both services are available year-round, so why not start making use of them today?

6 New Non Fiction: Coding, dance and world wonders.

Hey Kids!

Check out the latest junior non fiction at Wellington City Libraries. This post features new books in the wonderful world of robotics, coding and dance!

Enjoy!

Robots.

Get an up-close look at all kinds of cool robots, from cyborgs and humanoids to robots in movies, with amazing images and mind-blowing facts. Also check out Coding, which ties in with the Robotics theme, and is packed with fascinating facts and amazing pictures from the world of coding.

image courtesy of syndeticsimage courtesy of syndetics

 

 

 

 

 

 

image courtesy of syndetics

Washington, DC. (City Trails)

Lonely Planet Kids has done it again with the latest release from the City Trails series all about Washington DC – Capital city of USA! Read this book and uncover of the best kept secrets, tourist attractions and more exciting information about Washington DC! Coolest attraction in this book is the house that looks like a watermelon.

 

 

image courtesy of syndeticsNational Theatre : all about theatre.

Read this book and go backstage at the National Theatre and hear from experts on every aspect of stagecraft, from acting and directing to set building, costume design and prop-making. A definitive theatre book for anyone interested in theatre and acting.

 

 

image courtesy of syndetics

Top Dance Tips.

Jazz, ballet, tap, and hip hop-there are so many different sides to dance. Learn the ins and outs of dancing all sorts of styles like a pro!

 

 

 

image courtesy of syndeticsBallerina : a stepbystep guide to ballet.

Leap into the world of ballet with this beautiful guide and accompanying DVD!

 

 

 

 

image courtesy of syndeticsWrite to me : letters from Japanese American children to the librarian they left behind.

A touching story about Japanese American children who corresponded with their beloved librarian while they were imprisoned in World War II internment camps. Prepare to have tissues on hand. A librarian’s choice all the way!

 

6 New Non Fiction on Lego, Pokémon, heroes and some good old movie trailers thrown in for good measure.

The Easter break and school holidays are here. Time for some Wellington City Libraries kids blog entertainment!

This post is dedicated to the world of lego, Pokémon, heroes and some good old movie trailers to feed and curb your big screen entertainment.

Enjoy!

image courtesy of syndeticsThe Batman Movie: The Making of the Movie.

Calling all Lego and Batman fanatics!  Brace yourself… there’s another hot new non fiction book where the world of Lego, DC Universe and Da da da da da da da…Batman colides! The LEGO Batman Movie: The Making of the Movie tells the inside story of how Warner Bros. and the LEGO Group joined creative forces to bring Batman’s brick world to life. Also features exclusive insights from the filmmakers, animators, and LEGO designers. This book is in a word – COOL!

Also check out The Batman movie : the essential guide, where you can go behind the scenes and discover everything there is to know about The LEGO Batman Movie with this ultimate guide. Featuring the latest LEGO Batman set and minifigures. image courtesy of syndetics

Also feel free to check out the latest movie trailer to The Lego Batman Movie, man oh man, after watching it multiple times, I still think it’s hilarious, especially when the Joker experiences a case of rejection and heartbreak from Batman, hmmm do I detect of hint of would-be bromance on the Joker’s part?

image courtesy of syndeticsAwesome Lego Creations with bricks you already have.

Turn your pile of lego bricks into a day of fun!… especially when it’s a cold and miserable day. This book holds 50 new robots, dragons, race cars, planes, wild animals and other exciting projects to build imaginative worlds

 

 

image courtesy of syndeticsPokémon: Classic Collector’s Handbook.

Pokémon: Classic Collector’s Handbook describes the concept of the Pokémon battle, and presents descriptions of the original 151 Pokémon available to catch in the game.

 

 

 

image courtesy of syndeticsThe librarian who measured the earth.

This book describes the life and work of Eratosthenes, the Greek geographer and astronomer who accurately measured the circumference of the Earth. This story is a celebration of curiosity and a tribute to the questing mind.

 

 

imgae courtesy of syndeticsA childs introduction to Greek mythology : the stories of the gods, goddesses, heroes, monsters, and other mythical creatures.

This book presents an introduction to Greek mythology, discussing the roles of gods and goddesses, as well as the adventures of heroes and mythical beings.

 

Also check out the trailer for The Boss Baby. It is in a number words, funny, hilarious, innovative and where the lines of sibling rivalry are crossed and taken to the extreme. However instant sibling rivalry must soon be put aside when Tim, the older brother discovers that Boss Baby is actually a spy on a secret mission, and only he can help thwart a dastardly plot that involves an epic battle between puppies and babies.