non-fiction – Kids' Blog

The WOW series are books unlike any you have ever seen before. Loads of topics, hundreds of pictures, thousands of words, squillions of amazing things to discover and explore…

Find it. See it. Know it…in..

Wow! Dinosaurs.

This book contains information about all the dinosaurs you know and heard of. True to it’s word, Wow! Dinosaurs is crammed full of information that is presented in a way I have never encountered in any other book. It’s a science lab, a museam, a board games and a search engine all rolled into one. You will also a skeleton of a Stegosaurus, giant ocean reptiles as they might have looked in their natural habitat and how they might have died. I hope you will enjoy this book as much as I have. Great for ages 8 to 11 years.

Wow! Ancient History.

This book is even better than the dinosaur book. Forget the internet, everything you have ever wanted to know about the ancient world is in one resource. Wow! Ancient History! Crammed full of incredible information about Babylonian architecture, Egyptian Pharoahs, the Roman army, Buddhist monasteries of the Mauryan Empire and South American temples. It’s like a time machine, a search engine and an archaeological dig all rolled into one. There are loads of history-related topics, hundreds of pictures, thousands of words and loads of amazing things for you to discover and explore.

Wow! Science.

Have a science project about the living world?, The earth? Matter and materials? Energy and forces? Space? Look no further, Wow! Science has everything you need and all the answers to ensure you get that well deserved A++! Included in this book are simple explanations and photographs that introduce basic science concepts. Great for primary and intermediate level.

Wow! Animal.

Last and certainly not least. Wow! Animal contains facts about every bird, animal, reptile, fish, insect and believe it or nor worm known to man. This book is your one stop world zoo, natural history museam and search engine all rolled into one. So what are you waiting for? Find it. See it. Know it.

Fairtrade and Fashion.

The True Cost of Fashion: How to shop to change the world.

Strictly speaking this is not a book about wearable arts, but it’s a real eye opener to the possible reality of where the clotes we buy may come from. By reading this book, you will find out all you need to know about the supply chain, the conditions workers endure and who really makes the profit on the final purchase of the garments you buy. Also discover what enviromental impacts your fashion purchases will have on this planet and find out the answers to the following questions: What does fairtrade mean?, How can retailers make and sell clothes so cheaply and how much do you sepnd on clothes?

Eco Chic.

Hmm, echo chic indeed. If you are an eco girl looking for fabulous ideas to revamp your room or who loves to set fashion trends and showcase your style? Wellington City Libraries has two new books from this series: Crafts for styling your wardrobe and Crafts for revamping your room. Crafts for styling your wardrobe contains step by step instructions on how you can customize, upcycle and re-vamp your clothes the eco friendly way. Crafts for revamping your room. contains step by step projects to upcycle, customise and add sparkle to your bedroom. You will also learn all about fairtrade, sustainable shopping, ethical fashion and how to achieve your fashion and bedroom design goals without compromising the enviroment.

The World of Wearable Arts!

To celebrate WOW, a two hour show held annually in September in Wellington, New Zealand to an audience of 50000 over a twelve show season. Wellington City Libraries has some new and amazing non fiction that can gurentee you creating your own wearable arts award event!

Wearable wonders.

“An introduction to the World of Wearable Art Awards with history and examples, interviews, photographs etc., in a workbook which details how to make your own Wearable Art creation using various art and craft techniques”–Publisher information. Suggested level: intermediate, junior secondary.

Renowned author-illustrator Fifi Colston shares her years of expereince in the visual and wearable arts in this new book where you will learn how to WOW the world with your very own wearable wonder using simple objects such as petals, shells, cardboard, old cans and drink bottles that can be showcased in the world of wearable arts awards or used as a costume, prop, landscape, weapon and even a creature on stage and in the film industry. A great resource to use and read if you are doing a school/drama production and/or consideirng a career in fashion, set and costume design. Perhaps local schools will find inspiration and ideas for next year’s Smokefree Stage Challenge.

New non fiction : a miscellaneous collection

admin14 August, 2013

Definition of miscellaneous, from the Merriam-Webster dictionary: adjective, consisting of many things of different sorts.

500 fantastic facts

This book is definitely a miscellany (that’s a collection of various facts). It doesn’t go into much detail about each fact, but what it lacks in depth it makes up in the sheer number of topics covered. It starts out with the big picture: the solar system is the first thing to be covered. And then it gets smaller and smaller, ending up with ‘miscellaneous’ facts. It’s a quick and fun read and a great way to learn information for quizzes! You might also find that you get interested in a particular fact, and want to do some more research…

Do you know Dewey? Exploring the Dewey Decimal System

If you’ve ever looked at our non-fiction collection (which I hope you have!) You’ll have noticed that all the books have a number on their spines. This is because all the books are grouped together by subject, so everything is much easier to find! Melvil Dewey invented the system in 1876, and it revolutionised the way libraries are organised. This is great book for younger readers explaining what the different numbers mean and how to use the system to find the book you want.

You can fill a swimming pool with your spit! : the fact or fiction behind human bodies

Rather than just a collection of “gross out” facts, this book takes a hard look at all the urban legends and old wives’ tales about the human body. In fact, after reading this, you might be able to disprove stuff you’ve found out in other books! Of course, the book can get pretty gross, so don’t read it if you have a sensitive stomach, but it’s really interesting book and well worth a read. If only to work out whether eating your crusts makes your hair grow curly. (Spoiler: it doesn’t.)

Let’s Get Art: children look at contemporary New Zealand Art

If you’ve ever been to an art gallery, you might have been surprised that not all the art consisted of paintings or statues. Some of it might look strange or not like ‘real’ art at all. This book looks at the different kinds of “contemporary” art (art that’s made by living artists) and tries to work out what these weird and wonderful pieces are all about. It’s a good book that will show you the different sorts of art that New Zealand artists are making today and will perhaps make you think about what the artworks might mean. It’s also a cool looking book; it’s a mixture of painting illustrations and photographs, so the book’s almost a work of art in itself.

Explore! The most dangerous journeys of all time

The price of glory is often danger; this is what this book will teach you. This is especially true if you were an explorer in the days before modern equipment. Marco Polo, Roald Amundsen, and Yuri Gagarin are just some of the big names you’ll learn about. Of course, it wasn’t always men who were willing to risk their lives to make great discoveries; Mary Kingsley and Gertrude Bell also undertook dangerous voyages. This book also has survival tips, although whether you’ll want to venture out into the jungle or to Antarctica after reading this book is entirely up to you!

A closer look at history: New non fiction

admin5 August, 2013

Usborne encyclopedia of ancient Egypt

Many books about ancient Egypt focus on Mummies and pyramids, which is a pity because, obviously, the history of an empire that lasted from 1096BCE to 30BCE is much richer than that. This book encompasses over 1000 years of history, not only focusing on the great Pharaohs, but what everyday life was like for the poorer members of Egyptian society. There are sections on everything from the Egyptian army to medicine to beauty care. There are plenty of links to useful websites, as well as a few timelines; one lists the pharaohs in chronological order, the other gives a chronological look at Egyptology and how its changed over the centuries. This is certainly one of the most through books on ancient Egypt we have in our collection, and a great book for school projects.

Stephen Biesty’s Cross-Sections: Castle

This book is a classic and for good reason. As a close look at castle life during the medieval period it’s yet to be bettered. The cross sections of the various parts of the castle are intricately detailed, with explanations of what’s happening in different parts of the drawing. They’re also quite funny; try to spot the sneaky spy and the castle inhabitants getting up to all sorts of things, many of them not exactly appropriate to the situation! The book manages to be both very informative and extremely fun. As well as the cross sections there are plenty of things like the feudal system, clothing and warfare. This is THE book to read if you’re at all interested in Medieval castles.

Deadly days in History

Terry Deary has been writing the Horrible History books for twenty years, and to his credit, they’re still as interesting and funny as they’ve ever been. Rather than focusing on one specific country, this is a look at the days in world history that have been particularly bloody. True to his established pattern, he doesn’t just stick to Western History; he also looks at the Sepoy and Boxer rebellions, as well as the Battle of Isandlwana. He also isn’t biased towards any particular group; everyone involved has their savagery discussed. It’s a great book, even by Terry Deary’s high standards, and well worth reading if you like your history both balanced and gory.

Bones never lie: How Forensic science helps solve history’s mysteries

One of the strangest parts of learning about history is how evolving scientific techniques of the present help us better understand the mysteries of the past. Forensic science is used to solve modern day murders, but it also has its uses in working out just what happened. For example, did Napoleon die of natural causes or was he murdered? Did the Grand Duchess Anastasia survive the massacre of her family by Communists? This book works hard to debunk various theories and explains the science behind each of the conclusions. But it also takes the time to look at each of the other theories in turn, and treats each one with equal weight.

New Non-Fiction to inspire you

admin15 July, 2013

The Hugo movie Companion

Hugo was an amazing film that came out in 2011 that won five Oscars. It was based on a book called The Invention of Hugo Cabret, by Brian Selznick. This brilliant book shows how you take an incredible book and make it into award winning film. This book is more in depth than your average movie guide. It includes not only interviews with the director and main cast members but also the costume, hair and set designers, as well as the cinematographer and the camera operators. So not only is it a great guide to a brilliant film, it’s also an excellent insight into the film making process.

Toy Story: the art and making of the animated film

This is another great book that takes a close look at the making of a movie, Toy Story. It was groundbreaking back when it was released (1995!) and this book takes you through how a CGI movie is conceived and then animated. There’s lots of cool concept art to look through, and you can see how the story and the character designs changed over time. It’s a must-read for Pixar fans.

Star Wars Clone Wars: the visual guide to the ultimate battles

If you loved the Star Wars animated series, you’ll love this book. It discusses all the major battles in the series so far, as well as having some extra information on the characters themselves. It doesn’t go into the making of the series, but for information about the story it can’t be beaten.

Knights and Castles

Although this book is aimed at young readers, it contains some useful information about what life is like for a medieval knight and how he tried to live his life. It’s interesting, but takes a bit of an optimistic view of knights. If you’re a bit older you might want to look at Terry Deary’s Horrible History book.

Rescuing Gus

Melissa Wareham always wanted a dog. So when she grew up she started working at Battersea Dogs Home, the oldest and most famous dog shelter in England. There she meets “Gus” a part husky mongrel who’s had a bit of a rough start in life. So she adopts him, and tries to make sure he has the best life possible. Hard when he gets into a lot of trouble! This is a great book for those who are thinking about adopting pets.

Martha Stewart’s Favourite crafts for kids

This is a great little book that will teach you how to make 175 cool projects; everything from Terrariums to gingerbread houses. The instructions are clear, and there’s a picture of everything you need to make the project, so everything’s easy to make. We’ve recently gotten a whole heap of craft books: Art Lab is a cute book for preschoolers, Crafts for accessorising that look for the fashionistas, and another ‘bumper’ book of crafty activities, 100 fantastic things to make, do, and play.

Top 10 Non-Fiction for June

admin3 July, 2013

These books were the most popular children’s non-fiction during the month of June.

1. The Kingfisher space encyclopedia by Mike Goldsmith

2. Star Wars character encyclopedia by Simon Beecroft

3. The horrible history of the world by Terry Deary

4. Amazing giant dinosaurs by Marie Greenwood

5. The Usborne big book of big ships by Minna Lacey

6. Big book of papercraft by Fiona Watt

7. The LEGO book by Daniel Lipkowitz

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

9. Beastly best bits by Terry Deary

10. Guinness world records 2013

Winners announced!

admin25 June, 2013

The New Zealand Post Children’s Book Awards winners were announced in a lavish ceremony in Christchurch last night.

We blogged about the finalist books here, and now we can tell you which ones won!

Best Non-Fiction:

100 Amazing Tales from Aotearoa by Simon Morton & Riria Hotere

Go behind the scenes at Te Papa Tongarewa Museum of New Zealand and discover more than 100 treasured items from the Museum’s collection. 100 Amazing Tales From Aotearoa gives readers a special look at some of the surprising, wonderful, and significant items that Te Papa stores in trust for the nation. Learn the secrets of one of the first dinosaur fossil ever discovered, see new spider species, be inspired by famous paintings and quirky jewellery, encounter fearsome weapons from the Pacific, and uncover deep and personal stories of Māori taonga (treasures).

The book is based on the popular TV mini-documentaries Tales from Te Papa, and includes a DVD of the complete series – with a bonus 20 episodes

Best Junior Fiction:

My Brother’s War by David Hill

It’s New Zealand, 1914, and the biggest war the world has known has just broken out in Europe. William eagerly enlists for the army but his younger brother, Edmund, is a conscientious objector and refuses to fight. While William trains to be a soldier, Edmund is arrested. Both brothers will end up on the bloody battlefields of France, but their journeys there are very different. And what they experience at the front line will challenge the beliefs that led them there

Honour award, Junior Fiction:

The Queen and the Nobody Boy: A Tale of Fontania series by Barbara Else

Hodie is the unpaid odd-job boy at the Grand Palace in the Kingdom of Fontania. Fed-up, he decides to leave and better himself. The young Queen, 12-year-old Sibilla, is fed-up too. Sick of gossip about her lack of magical ability, she decides to run away with Hodie, whether he likes it or not.

Sequel to The Travelling Restaurant

Best Picture Book:

Mister Whistler by Margaret Mahy & Gavin Bishop

Absentminded Mister Whistler always has a song in his head and a dance in his feet. In a rush to catch the train, he is so distracted he loses his ticket. Is it in the bottom pockets of his big coat or the top pockets of his jacket? Perhaps he slipped it into his waistcoat. Where is Mister Whistler’s ticket?

Best First Book:

Reach by Hugh Brown

Young Adult Fiction.

Will Clark thinks he’s a socially inept bookworm who just happens to enjoy cross-country running and taekwondo. But then his mother returns after a five year absence overseas, and he has his first full contact taekwondo fight, and the gorgeous comic-reading Conway Jones asks if she can be his maths tutor… Will must reassess himself, and his past, as he reaches towards a new future and lets his dreams take flight.

Best Young Adult Fiction and New Zealand Post Margaret Mahy Book of the Year:

Into the River by Ted Dawe

When Te Arepa Santos is dragged into the river by a giant eel, something happens that will change the course of his whole life. The boy who struggles to the bank is not the same one who plunged in, moments earlier. He has brushed against the spirit world, and there is a price to be paid; an utu to be exacted. Years later, far from the protection of whanau and ancestral land he finds new enemies. This time, with no-one to save him, there is a decision to be made.. he can wait on the bank, or leap forward into the river

Children’s Choice Award:

Melu by Kyle Mewburn, Ali Teo & John O’Reilly,

Melu has always been different. While the other mules stubbornly clip-clop around the sun-baked hills, Melu dreams of swimming in the glittering green sea below. But it will take more than stubborness for Melu to reach the glittering green sea.

This is the award that you got to vote for. Did you vote for Melu?

World Refugee Day

admin20 June, 2013

June 20th is World Refugee Day.

Refugees are people who have been forced to flee their home country because of war, conflict or violence. Many have been treated unjustly because of their race, religion or beliefs. Most refugees cannot return to their country because it is unsafe, so they find freedom and a new home in another country – like New Zealand. World Refugee Day is a special day set aside every year to commemorate the courage and resilience of the millions of refugees throughout the world.

For more info and events, visit the World Refugee Day website; and check out some of the great books about refugees that we have in our collection:

Top 10 non-fiction for May

admin6 June, 2013

Looking for some cool non-fiction to get your hands on? Here are the top 10 most favourite non-fiction books for May 2013:

1. Star Wars series by david Reynolds West

2. Star Wars character encyclopedia by Simon Beecroft

3. The horrible history of the world by Terry Deary

4. Ripley’s believe it or not by Rosie Alexander

5. Pokemon Ultimate Handbook by Cris Silvestri

6. The wimpy kid movie diary by Jef Kinney

7. Guinness world records 2013 by Craig Glenday

8. Beastly Best Bits by Terry Deary

9. Big book of paper craft by Fiona Watt

10. World War 1 by Simon Adams

New non-fiction: books for younger readers

admin5 June, 2013

First illustrated Science dictionary

This is a great little book for younger readers who are curious about how the world works. It’s beautifully illustrated, and the information is presented in a clear, simple way. It talks about everything from cells to the stars, and is a great introduction to scientific concepts.

Black Holes

If the Illustrated Science dictionary has sparked your interest in black holes, this is the book you want to read next. It’s simple, clear and if you get stuck, there’s a glossary of words at the back. Plus there are some great pictures that take you through how Black Holes work.

African Myths and Legends

All cultures tell amazing stories about the past. This is a great little collection of myths and legends from all African cultures. Gods, heroes and trickster spirits all have their own special stories, depending on where they come from. If you liked this book, you could check out other myths in our collection.

Make it!

If you like crafts and want to save the planet, this book is filled with awesome projects that will help you do just that. All of these are pretty easy, but very fun, so you probably won’t need Mum or Dad looking over your shoulder when you make toys out of odd socks or rocket ships from milk bottles.

Welcome to your awesome Robot

This book is a lot like Make it! except you’ve got one project to focus on; making a robot costume out of an old cardboard box. Sounds boring? Well, it isn’t. There’s plenty of ideas here about how to customise your ‘robot’ as well as a cool comic strip showing how a kid (with a bit of help from Mum) made theirs. It’s not your average craft book.

Shipwrecks

What exciting things can be found beneath the sea? Mankind has been sailing the seas for centuries; but occasionally, things go wrong, and all sorts of ships end up on the ocean floor. It’s not just about the treasure; shipwrecks

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