Top 10 Childrens Non-Fiction March 2016

Lego enthusiasts have used their special library powers to scale the dizzying heights of March’s Top 10.

Did you know we have all sorts of lego in the library? You can borrow one of our Maker kits while visiting your library or use the blocks that we have in the library!  Have you built a Lego model that you’re particularly proud of? Let us know in the comments.

1. LEGO books, by Daniel Lipkowitz

2. Minecraft, by Stephanie Milton and Paul Soares

3. Minecraft books, by Megan Miller

4. Star Wars books, by Adam Bray

5. Lego Star Wars in 100 scenes, by Daniel lipkowitz

6. Minecraft, by Nick Farwell

7. Minecraft, by Matthew Needler and Phil Southam

8. Small scenes from a big galaxy, by Vesa Lehtimaki

9. Minecraft blockopedia, by Alex Wiltshire

10. Star Wars character encyclopedia by Simon Beecroft

Top 10 children’s non-fiction February 2016

Want to make your own book in your very own library? In the world of Minecraft you can! Sugarcane, ink sack and feather/quill, and… tah dah! Minecraft is still 50% of the top ten! Block fans are clearly skilling up! What are your favourite constructions so far? How about a library?   Minecraft is a great entrance to the world of 3D modelling.  The library  some great titles that introduce children to SketchUp freeware, with functions similar to photoshop it builds familiarity with tools for digital imaging.

1. Minecraft : beginner’s handbook, by Stephanie Milton

2. Star Wars : complete vehicles, by David West Reynolds

3. The LEGO ideas book, by Daniel Lipkowitz

4. Minecraft : Redstone handbook, by Nick Farwell

5. Minecraft. Construction handbook, by Matthew Needler

6. Minecraft hacks master builder, by Megan Miller

7. Ripley’s believe it or not! edited by Rosie Alexander

8. Cat, by Juliet Clutton-Brock

9. Star Wars character encyclopedia, by Simon Beecroft

10. The ultimate unofficial encyclopedia for Minecrafters, by Megan Miller

Top 10 Children’s non-fiction December 2015

Minecraft dominates the non-fiction top picks this month!

Want to know what Minecraft authors do in their spare time? Author Megan Miller has some of her builds online. Matthew Needler and Phil Southam founders of  FyreUK has helped bring real life and gaming together by working with the United Nations’ block by block project. Public spaces in places such as Undugu playground in Kibera, Nairobi are added as a template in Minecraft for people to add their ideas as to how the space can be transformed.  These ideas are then used by local people to build in their community.  Cool huh? Built any playground replicas of your own? Let us know in the comments below.

1. Minecraft, by Stephanie Milton

2. The LEGO ideas book, by Daniel Lipkowitz

3. Minecraft, by Nick Farwell

4. Minecraft hacks master builder, by Megan Miller

5. Star Wars character encyclopedia, by Simon Beecroft

6. Star Wars, by David West Reynolds

7. Supershark and other creatures of the deep, by Derek Harvey

8. Minecraft blockopedia, by Alex Wiltshire

9. Minecraft, by Matthew Needler

10. Cat, by Juliet Clutton-Brock

Top 10 Children’s non-fiction November 2015

Star Wars is causing a bit of sizzle in the air at the moment.  Always popular in Children’s non-fiction there is a special anticipatory feeling around the new movie.  The summer reading challenge has joined the buzz with the Central Library activity featuring make a light saber, visit the children’s desk for materials and instructions.  Visit all the libraries and complete the other activities to go in for a prize.

 

Other movie characters are explored in the Minions seek and find book, full of great illustrations.  November Rugby World Cup fever reached the top ten with rugby related material whisking out the door. Minecraft and rugby? How does that work you might ask?  Well Rotorua Intermediate gave it a go.

Have any of your own block work you want to show off? Let us know in the comments

  1. The ultimate unofficial encyclopedia for Minecrafters by Megan Miller
  2. Minecraft by Stephanie Milton
  3. The LEGO ideas book by Daniel Lipkowitz
  4. Star Wars by David West Reynolds
  5. Star Wars by Adam Bray
  6. Minecraft by Nick Farwell
  7. Minecraft by Matthew Needler
  8. Minions by Trey King
  9. The story of the All Blacks by Kevin Boon
  10. Star Wars character encyclopedia by Simon Beecroft

6 New children’s non fiction just in time for Summer

Summer is coming (we promise!), which means long warm days to relax with a great read, or two! These have just hit the shelves, grab them while they’re hot!

 

Why Should I bother to keep fit?

This book offers children an approachable source of information on key subjects such as why keeping fit is good for you, how to choose the appropriate exercise regime and a how to stay healthy in day-to-day life.

 

 

Why shouldn’t I eat junk food?

This book describes food that is nutritious and healthy and food that does not have many nutrients.

 

 

 

Redstone : the unofficial guide to tips and tricks that other guides won’t teach you.

Packed with expert tips, cheats, and hacks on redstone. With over one hundred screenshots, Hacks for Minecrafters: Redstone shows exactly how the experts wield redstone power, and how you can construct some classic and crazy contraptions and machines. Detailed step-by-step illustrated guides will let every player use redstone to defend their buildings in inventive ways. A must read fro Minecraft fans.

 

Command blocks : the unofficial guide to tips and tricks that other guides won’t teach you.

By reading this book, kids will learn everything they need to know about manipulating and programming command blocks within Minecraft. This book also has tons of fun tricks and projects for making your own custom maps and mini-games. Another must read fro Minecraft fans.

 

Adventure Time: The making of awesomeness.

filled with quirky, vibrant, irreverent and eccentric images and information, Adventure Time’s weird and wonderful post-apocalyptic world has captured the hearts of fans young and old, worldwide. Great for ages 7 years and over.

 

The Tudors : kings, queens, scribes and ferrets.

This is a simple books that details the life and times of all the Tudor Monarchs, including Henry VIII and his six wives, Queen Elizabeth I’s victorious win against the Spanish Armada and special appearances from Christopher Columbus, William Shakespeare and a scribe’s pet ferret.

Top 10 Children’s non-fiction October 2015

The magnetic allure of Minecraft has infected the Top 10 this month, it’s claimed half of the leader board! The gaming and computer and technology resources in the children’s areas are being matched with maker kits.  The Lego and mechano can take a while to build so treat yourself to some project time at the library.  Coming in at number 10, Ninjago fans are using their ninja skills to scale to popularity heights, where will they be next month?

1.   Minecraft by Stephanie Milton
2.   Minecraft  by Nick Farwell
3.   Minecraft hacks master builder by Megan Miller
4.   Minecraft by Matthew Needler
5.   The LEGO ideas book by Daniel Lipkowitz
6.   Minecraft blockopedia by Alex Wiltshire
7.   Star Wars character encyclopedia by Simon Beecroft
8.   Star Wars by David West Reynolds
9.   Frozen by Julie Ferris
10. Secret world of the Ninja by Beth Landis Hester

Top 10 Children’s non-fiction September 2015

Minecraft and Star Wars have been the most popular of the children’s non-fiction. But! an entry that I’m sure will rise through the ranks is the new Ripley’s believe it or not! These books were spawned by the manic genius of Robert L. Ripley who traveled the world in search of the strange and unusual.  Before the books there were exhibition spaces or Odditoriums, still going strong with locations worldwide.  Don’t have one near you? they also have travelling shows!  Any ideas for your own oddity collection? Let us know in the comments.

1. Minecraft by Stephanie Milton

2. Minecraft by Nick Farwell

3. Star Wars by David West Reynolds

4. Minecraft hacks master builder by Megan Miller

5. The LEGO ideas book by Daniel Lipkowitz

6. Cat by Juliet Clutton-Brock

7. Minecraft blockopedia by Alex Wiltshire

8. Star Wars by Ryder Windham

9. Ripley’s believe it or not! edited by Rosie Alexander

10. Dog by Juliet Clutton-Brock

Top 10 Children’s non-fiction August 2015

The Minecraft boffins are at it again! Two of the top 10 are Minecraft books that have been updated with tips for the latest game versions and additional information. You’ll be joining over 20 million users of the game!

World building with Lego has spawned some amazing imagery check out the photography of Vesa Lehtmäki a.k.a. Avanaut on Flickr and Instagram. This guy got himself a Y-wing studio scale model! Inspired? Show us what you’ve got in the comments =)

 

1.   Minecraft by Stephanie Milton
2.   The LEGO ideas book by Daniel Lipkowitz
3.   Minecraft hacks master builder by Megan Miller
4.   Star Wars character encyclopedia by Simon Beecroft
5.   Minecraft by Nick Farwell
6.   Star Wars by David West Reynolds
7.   Dog by Juliet Clutton-Brock
8.   Lego Star Wars in 100 scenes by Daniel Lipkowitz
9.   Minecraft blockopedia by Alex Wiltshire
10. Star Wars rebels by Adam Bray

 

Top 10 Children’s non-fiction titles in July 2015

The creative types are storming their way through the LEGO and Minecraft books in the children’s collection. Those curious about the animal kingdom and the Marvel Avengers universe have also racked up some heavy borrowing from the non-fiction areas.  The Marvel Avengers has a great character list, 207 heroes and villains listed in alphabetical order for any queries you have from the comics or movies.  If these popular titles are out in your library you can request a copy or maybe we can lend you an eBook copy.

1. Minecraft hacks master builder, Megan Miller

2. The LEGO ideas book, by Daniel Lipkowitz

3. Star Wars, by David West Reynolds

4. Minecraft, by Nick Farwell

5. Star Wars character encyclopedia, by Simon Beecroft

6. Lego Star Wars by Simon Beecroft

7. Minecraft, by Matthew Needler

8. First big book of animals, Catherine D. Hughes

9. Marvel Avengers, by Alan Cowsill

10. Minecraft, by Stephanie Milton

Top 10 children’s non-fiction June 2015

Create and build. Online or IRL (in real life) children are loving blocks made of lego/bedrock/sandstone. Excellent resources to find and share at the library!

1. The LEGO ideas book by Daniel Lipkowitz

2. Minecraft hacks master builder by Megan Miller

3. Star Wars character encyclopedia by Simon Beecroft

4. Star Wars by David West Reynolds

5. The LEGO movie by Hannah Dolan

6. Lego Star Wars by Simon Beecroft

7. Maps by Aleksandra Mizielinska

8. Minecraft by Nick Farwell

9. Minecraft by Stephanie Milton

10. Lego official annual 2015