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Get your hands on these 6 new kids fiction books

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Image courtesy of SyndeticsA Funny thing Happened on the Way to School by Benjamin Chaud

A humorous story about imaginative excuses for being late to school. Sophisticated picture book.

 

 

 

 

Murder Most Unladylike Image courtesy of Syndeticsby Robin Stevens

Daisy Wells and Hazel Wong set up a secret detective agency at Deepdean School for Girls to solve the murder of their Science Mistress, Miss Bell.

 

 

 

 

 

Jim’s LettersImage courtesy of Syndetics by Glyn Harper

A moving story of two brothers separated by the First World War, based on the thousands of letters sent by and to Anzac soldiers fighting at Gallipoli.

 

 

 

 

White Horse of Zennor and other storiesImage courtesy of Syndetics by Michael Morpurgo

“At the furthest edge of Britain where the sea gently washes over the land and myths brush against reality, lies Zennor. Set in a churchtown where men become beasts and ghosts roam freely, are haunting and unforgettable tales where magic lies around every corner.” -back cover.

 

 

 

 

The Leaky Battery Sets Sail Image courtesy of Syndetics Adventures of the Steampunk Pirates ; 1  by Gareth. P. Jones

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

 

 

 

 

Image courtesy of SyndeticsThe Bad Book by Andy Griffiths

‘WARNING! This book contains nothing but bad stories,

bad drawings,

bad poems,

bad cartoons,

and bad riddles about bad characters doing bad things. It is a BAD book’- (inside cover).

 

 

January’s Top 10 Children’s fiction

Dusty

Some of these great books were in the Summer Reading Challenge.  Are any of them your favourites? Let us know what you think of the books you read on the reviews page and help someone find a new favourite.

1.   Diary of a wimpy kid series, by Jeff Kinney

2.   Where’s Wally?, by Martin Handford

3.   Dirty Bertie, series, by Alan MacDonald

4.   Dork diaries, by Rachel Renée Russel

5.   Ruby Redfort, series, by Lauren Child

6.   Big Nate series, by Lincoln Pierce

7.  Conspiracy 365 series, by Gabrielle Lord

8.   The 52-storey treehouse, by Andy Griffiths

9.  Awful Auntie, by David Walliams

10.Matilda, by Roald Dahl

New Books From the Fiction Trolley!

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Stone GoblinsImage courtesy of Syndetics By David Melling

“Saggypant and Seepage are Stone Goblins – but they’re not much good at collecting stones! So imagine how they cope with a dragon’s tail”–Back cover

 

 

 

 

Rain ReignImage courtesy of Syndetics by Ann .M. Martin

Struggling with Asperger’s, Rose shares a bond with her beloved dog, but when the dog goes missing during a storm, Rose is forced to confront the limits of her comfort levels, even if it means leaving her routines in order to search for her pet.

 

 

 

 

My Palomino Pony Wins Through Image courtesy of Syndeticsby Olivia Tuffin

Can Georgia come to terms with Secret, the new foal, moving away from the stables?

 

 

 

 

Sleuth on SkatesImage courtesy of Syndetics by Clementine Beauvais

Precocious eleven-year-old self-made-supersleuth Sophie “Sesame” Seade investigates the disappearance of Jenna Jenkins, a student at Cambridge University, where Sophie’s father is chaplain and her mother is Head of Christ’s College.

 

 

 

The Ice Dragon Image courtesy of Syndeticsby George R. R. Martin

Leaving in its wake desolate cold and frozen land, the legendary ice dragon has never been tamed until it meets Adara, a winter child who looks to the creature to help save her world from destruction.

 

 

 

 

Chitty Chitty Bang Bang: the Magical CarImage courtesy of Syndetics by Ian Fleming

Two children persuade their inventor father to purchase and restore an old car which turns out to have magical powers.

 

 

Top 10 children’s comics for October

Dusty

These comics have been borrowed from the library many times in 2014 -they’re so popular! Any of your favourites in here?

 

1.  Big Nate by Lincoln Peirce

2.  Pokémon by Hidenori Kusaka

3.  The complete Peanuts by Charles Schulz

4.  Amulet by Kazu Kibuishi

5.  Asterix omnibus by Goscinny and Udzero

6.  Chi’s sweet home by Kanata Konami

7.  Babymouse by Jennifer L. Holm

8.  Adventure time by Ryan North, Ryan

9.  Who stole the Mona Lisa? by Geronimo Stilton

10. Walt Disney’s Mickey Mouse color Sundays by Floyd Gottfredson

 

Top 10 Non Fiction for May

Dusty

Favoured fashionable facts

1.  Star Wars character encyclopedia by Simon Beecroft

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

3.  Guinness world records 2014 edited by Craig Glenday

4.  The LEGO book by Daniel Lipkowitz

5.  Treasury of Egyptian mythology  by Donna Jo Napoli

6.  Moshi Monsters by Steve Cleverley

7.  The LEGO movie by Hannah Dolan

8.  See inside the First World War by Rob Lloyd Jones

9.  Art detective by Doris Kutschbach

10. Big book of papercraft by Fiona Watt

 

Ever wondered who the most popular children’s authors are?

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Wonder no more! Here’s a list of the 25 most popular authors for the last month or so, based on how many times their books have been borrowed from Wellington City Libraries.

1. Daisy Meadows – author of the Rainbow Magic series

2. Geronimo Stilton – funny comics about a mouse detective

3. Enid Blyton – classic stories of school mischief, adventure, and magical fantasy

4. Jacqueline Wilson – loads of popular books, you’ll never run out

5. H. I. Larry – author of the action series ‘Zac Power’ that’s perfect for younger readers

6. Erin Hunter – author of the Warriors series

7. Susannah Leigh – writes those amazing puzzle adventure books

8. Adam Blade – author of the Beast Quest series

9. Roald Dahl – classic laugh-out-loud funny fantasy stories, many have been made into movies too!

10. Andy Griffiths – writes very funny short stories

11. Jeff Kinney – author of the Diary of a Wimpy Kid series.

12. Megan McDonald – author of the Judy Moody series

13. Stephen Cole – author of the Astrosaurs series

14. Sally Rippin – author of the Billie B. Brown series, great for younger readers

15. Rick Riordan – author of the Heroes of Olympus series and others, great fantasy adventure based on Greek, Roman, and Egyptian myths

16. Alan MacDonald – author of the Dirty Bertie series

17. Francesca Simon – author of the Horrid Henry series

18. Dav Pilkey – author of the captain Underpants series, great for those who like disgusting humour

19. J. K. Rowling – author of the classic series Harry Potter

20. Thea Stilton – similar to Geronimo Stilton, comic-style mouse mysteries

21. Cressida Cowell – author of the How to train your Dragon series, which has been made into a popular movie too.

22. Emily Rodda – an author who has written many fantasy adventure series, including Rowan of Rin, Raven Hill Mysteries, and Deltora Quest.

23. R. L. Stine – author of many spooky horror stories

24. John Flanagan – author of the Ranger’s Apprentice series

25. Lemony Snicket – author of the zany series A Series of Unfortunate Events

 

You can search for these authors in the library catalogue. Which one’s your favourite?

 

 

Robot, clone, dragon and alien’s stories! New Children’s Fiction to grab.

wcl staff

The great escape, by Judy Brolin

Meet Archie the cat, Sparky the mouse and Flo the bird – three pets built by a brainy professor to be the perfect robo-friends!

But without him, their quiet life is turned upside down. The mechanical marvels are forced to leave their house and use all of their special robot powers to survive the dangers of the outside world!

The right base for a robot is hard to find, but could a school full of children be the new home they are looking for?

Age 8 and +

 

 

Game of clones, by M.E. Castle

Fisher Bas was able to track down his gone-Hollywood clone – two- but only with the help of Amanda Cantrell. Now “Three” and Dr. X remain on the loose. If Fisher is going to stop his secret from getting out, he’ll have to figure out a cover for his brother clone and keep Three from helping Dr. X take over the world.

Easier said than done, though. Two’s true identity can no longer be concealed after a disastrous school dance, and then crazy things start happening at Wompalog Middle School. Turns out Three has come to Palo Alto bent on eliminating Fisher and Two. The boys will have to join forces with their friends and an unlikely ally- with hilarious consequences – to stop Three and his clone army. The future of Fisher and Two’s hometown depends on it.

Age 9 and +

 

Opal Moonbaby forever, by Maudie Smith

Martha’s best friend is an alien. Opal Moonbaby can move things with her eyes, make popcorn fountains, and travel all over the world in her very own spaceship. Martha can’t imagine life without her.

But Opal’s time on Earth is almost at an end. They have one final summer together. So why is Opal acting so strangely all of a sudden?

A madcap story of friendship, fun- and aliens!

Age 8 and +

 

 

The story of Owen, dragon slayer of Trondheim, by E.K.Johnston

Valiant at heart, hopeless at algebra, last in a long line of legendary dragon slayers. Though he had few years and was not built for football, he stoof between the town of Trondheim and creatures that threatened its survival.

There have always been dragons. As far back as history is told, men and women have fought them, loyally defending their villages. Dragon slaying was a proud tradition.

But dragons and humans have one thing in common: an insatiable appetite for fossil fuels. From the moment Henry Ford hired his first dragon slayer, no small town was safe. Dragon slayers flocked to cities, leaving more remote areas unprotected.

Such was trondheim’s fate until Owen Thorskard. At sixteen, with dragons advancing and his grades plummeting, Owen faced impossible odds – armed only with a sword, his legacy, and the classmate who agreed to be his bard.

Age 10 and +

Fantastic new fiction

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Perry Angel’s Suitcase by Glenda Millard

It has taken Perry Angel almost seven years to find the place where he belongs. Perry arrives at the Kingdom of Silk one day on the 10.30 express, carrying only a small and shabby suitcase embossed with five golden letters. What do those letters mean? And why won’t Perry let go of his case?

 

 

 

Image courtesy of SyndeticsThe Great Expanding Guinea Pig & Beware of the Snowblobs (2 books in 1!)  by Karen McCombie

Join Ruby, Jackson and Thing on not one but two great adventures in this brilliant bumper book. See what havoc Thing causes when Ruby and Jackson sneak it along on a trip to the petting zoo in The Great Expanding Guinea Pig. And in a seasonal spectacular, Thing helps Ruby and Jackson defeat some nasty bullies in Beware of the Snowblobs.

 

 

 

Image courtesy of SyndeticsOdd Weird & Little by Patrick Jennings

Befriending a very strange new student, Toulouse, helps outsider Woodrow stand up to the class bullies who have been picking on them both.

 

 

 

Image courtesy of SyndeticsBlue Sea Burning (Chronicles of Egg; #3) by Geoff Rodkey

Egg, Guts and Kira are trapped on board the sinking Grift. And the brutal Ripper Jones will stop at nothing to get revenge. Luckily Egg has a plan; all they’ve got to do is find the Fire King’s treasure, free the Okalu slaves and rescue Millicent from the annoyingly handsome Cyril. But first they have to make it to land – alive…

 

 

 

Image courtesy of SyndeticsThe Giver by Lois Lowry

Given his lifetime assignment at the Ceremony of Twelve, Jonas becomes the receiver of memories shared by only one other in his community and discovers the terrible truth about the society in which he lives.

 

Top 10 Fiction for April

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The weather is getting colder and wetter, which is perfect for curling up at home (or in the library) with a good book. Here are the most popular for April:

1. Diary of a wimpy kid series by Jeff Kinney (Have you read the latest one –Hard Luck?)

2. Dirty Bertie series by Alan MacDonald (Check out NEW title! It’s not in our libraries yet, but make sure you reserve it!)

3. Where’s Wally? series by Martin Handford

4. Conspiracy 365 series by Gabrielle Lord

5. Harry Potter and the philosopher’s stone by J. K. Rowling

6. The BFG by Roald Dahl

7. Breakaway by Jeff Hirsch (book two in the new 39Clues series!)

8. Doctor Proctor’s fart powder series by Jo Nesbo

9. James and the giant peach by Roald Dahl

10. Judy Moody & Stink series by Megan McDonald (another new book in the series! It’s so new that you’ll have to reserve this one too!)

 

Some great new Fiction books worth checking out!

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Paws and Whiskers by Jacqueline Wilson

Animal tales from Jacqueline Wilson, Michael Morpugo, Enid Blyton and more! (book cover)

Contains many (many!) short and funny stories about our favourite pets – cats and dogs! Snuggle up and read them all at once, or just a few at a time.

 

 

 

Hippomobile! by Jeff Tapia

Ten-year-old twins Jimmy and Stella start a campaign to save their dying small town (population 49) by restoring the amazing hippomobile, an old-fashioned vehicle made out of a horse wagon.

 

 

 

 

 Fizzlebert Stump #3: The boy who cried fish by A.F Harrold”Fizzlebert

Stump lives in a circus. His mum’s a clown, his best friend is a bearded boy, and he sticks his head in a lion’s mouth every night. Other than that, he’s pretty normal. When Fish the sea lion goes missing Fizzlebert tracks down the runaway beast to the Aquarium, with its piratical owner Admiral Spratt-Haddock, invisible octopus, and colour-coded fish. But the Aquarium has problems of its own. Fish (not Fish the sea lion, “fish.” Keep up.) are going missing, and the Admiral blames the circus. Can Fizzlebert solve the mystery, avoid an over-enthusiastic crocodile, and find his friend? (from –– www.goodreads.com)

 

Bird by Crystal Chan

A girl, who was born on the day her brother Bird died, has grown up in a house of silence and secrets; when she meets John, a mysterious new boy in her rural Iowan town, and those secrets start to come out. (From www.goodreads.com)

 

 

 

 

Racing the Moon by Michelle Morgan

Joe Riley is growing up in a tough neighbourhood of Sydney, Australia during the Great Depression.