Percy Jackson is back on screen!

In case you’ve missed it, the new adaptation of the beloved Percy Jackson series just released and our librarians are understandably excited. Earlier this year, the “What Comes Next?” series started by looking at Percy Jackson since it’s a favourite of many who work here. In that post, we focused on fiction books, but for this one we wanted to highlight that the library has excellent non-fiction choices for myth-mad kids as well.

If you loved the gods, goddesses, heroes and monsters mentioned in Percy Jackson then these pukapuka will help you learn even more about where they came from and what they did. There’s also some books on other ancient stories because the Greeks weren’t the only ones with cool gods and goddesses to learn about!

Complete Greek myths / Brook, Henry
“Comprehensive and beautiful volume of Greek Myths, including maps, glossary and every story you can think of! This comprehensive volume of Greek Myths contains all of the best known myths, told in a detailed and fresh way to alight the interest of any child or adult with an interest in the gods and heroes of Ancient Greece. Beautifully illustrated plates introduce all the characters, story by story, from the most famous to the more obscure.” (Adapted from Catalogue)

Treasury of Greek mythology : classic stories of gods, goddesses, heroes & monsters / Napoli, Donna Jo
“Presents illustrated retellings of classic Greek myths, sharing the stories of Zeus, Aphrodite, Apollo, Athena, Helen of Troy, Perseus, and Medusa, with sidebars for each god, goddess, hero, and monster that link the tales to constellations, history, geography, and culture, and including profiles, a family tree, and other resources.” (Catalogue)

Greek myths / Braun, Eric
“Make the mythology of Ancient Greece come to life for young readers through engaging stories and dramatic photos and illustrations. Discover the gods and goddesses behind the myths and the powers they used to control and change the world. There’s Zeus, the king of the gods who ruled the sky, and Poseidon, the god and ruler of the seas, plus many more.” (Adapted from Catalogue)

Poseidon : earth shaker / O’Connor, George
“Graphically adapts the adventures of the Greek god of the seas, presenting the myth of how Poseidon became the king of the oceans and such stories as Theseus and the Minotaur, Odysseus and Polyphemos, and the founding of Athens.” (Catalogue) While this comic is about Percy’s dad Poseidon there are also comics about lots of the other Olympians, including Zeus, Hades and Athena!

Myths & legends of Aotearoa : 15 timeless tales of New Zealand / Te Ake Ake, Annie Rae
“Fifteen timeless and essential Maori myths and legends are retold by gifted storyteller Annie Rae Te Ake Ake in this stunning, one-of-a-kind treasury.” (Catalogue)

Norse myths / Ralphs, Matt
“Exciting stories, extraordinary creatures, and compelling gods, goddesses, and heroes come together in this compendium of Norse myths – first told long ago by the Vikings. Read about Thor, the god of thunder and how he once disguised himself as a bride to seek revenge on a giant and retrieve his powerful hammer; Mjoelnir, and how Sif, the goddess of fertility had her long golden hair cut off by Loki, the trickster god. (Adapted from Catalogue)

Egyptian myths / Menzies, Jean
“Delve into a world of strange creatures, magical powers, and warring gods in this thrilling compendium of ancient Egyptian stories. With over 30 exciting tales alongside fascinating historical information, this is a must-have introduction for young readers interested in one of the world’s great early civilizations”–Publisher’s description.” (Catalogue)

Roman myths / Braun, Eric
“Make the mythology of Ancient Rome come to life for young readers through engaging stories and dramatic photos and illustrations. Discover the gods and goddesses behind the myths and the powers they used to control and change the world. There’s Jupiter, who ruled from the Roman pantheon and defended the state, and Neptune, the powerful god of the sea, plus many more.” (Adapted from Catalogue)

Cool mythology : filled with fantastic facts for kids of all ages / Croft, Malcolm
“This fun book is a fascinating introduction to world mythology, broken up into handy bite-sized chunks. It covers all the main world mythologies, including Sumerian, Incan, African, Native American, African, Egyptian, Persian, Hindu, Norse and, of course, Greek and Roman. It explores mythological places like Atlantis and various versions of the afterlife, from the idyllic Arthurian Avalon to the rather less pleasant Yomi, the dark and gloomy underworld of Japanese mythology.” (Adapted from Catalogue)

A year full of stories / McAllister, Angela
“This treasury of 52 stories collects a re-telling of myths, fairy tales and legends from around the world, with a story for every week of the year. The book is broken into 12 chapters, for each of the 12 months of the year, and throughout, stories are matched to internationally celebrated dates, including Valentines Day and the International Day of Friendship, as well as seasonal events and festivals.–Publisher.” (Catalogue)

What comes next? Percy Jackson and the Olympians

One of the most difficult things for parents is finding a good pukapuka for their child who has just finished an incredible series that kept them hooked for weeks (or perhaps more realistically, a few hours!) Well the library has got you covered! Starting with Percy Jackson “What comes next?” will provide suggestions for books tamariki might like if they enjoyed popular children’s fiction series.

Rick Riordan’s Percy Jackson series is one of the most popular children’s fiction series out there, and for good reason. Who doesn’t love monsters, gods, and a bunch of really cool kids saving the world? Finding something to read after such a great series is hard, but here are our top picks for what to read next. We haven’t included Rick Riordan’s other books, all of which are set in the same world as Percy Jackson, but if you haven’t read them yet then check out Heroes of Olympus (The continuation of Percy Jackson with Roman mythology), Magnus Chase (Norse mythology), The Kane Chronicles (Egyptian Mythology) and Trials of Apollo (A new adventure in the Percy Jackson world).

Younger Kids:

If you’re after more books with the same flavour as Percy Jackson but with mythology from a wide variety of cultures, then check out Rick Riordan Presents titles, we’ve picked two of our favourites which feature Hindu and West African mythology respectively. We’ve also included other children’s fantasy books, so there should be something for everyone.

Aru Shah and the end of time / Chokshi, Roshani
“When twelve-year-old Aru Shah’s schoolmates dare her to prove that the museum’s Lamp of Bharata is cursed, she doesn’t think there’s any harm in lighting it. Little does Aru know that lighting the lamp has dire consequences. She unwittingly frees an ancient demon who freezes her mother in time – and it’s up to Aru to save her.” (Catalogue)

Tristan Strong punches a hole in the sky / Mbalia, Kwame
“Seventh-grader Tristan Strong feels anything but strong ever since he failed to save his best friend Eddie. While trying to rescue Eddie’s notebook from an unexpected foe Tristan punches the Bottle Tree, accidentally ripping open a chasm into the MidPass, a volatile place with a burning sea, haunted bone ships, and iron monsters. Can Tristan save this world before he loses more of the things he loves?” (Adapted from Catalogue)

The forests of silence / Rodda, Emily
“Deltora is invaded by the evil Shadow Lord when the magical gems from the Belt of Deltora are stolen. Two unlikely companions set out to find them and to save their land from the tyrant.” (Catalogue)


The hound of Rowan / Neff, Henry H
“After glimpsing a hint of his destiny in a mysterious Celtic tapestry, twelve-year-old Max McDaniels becomes a student at Rowan Academy, where he trains in “mystics and combat” in preparation for war with an ancient enemy that has been kidnapping children like him.” (Catalogue)

The fairy-tale detectives / Buckley, Michael
“Orphans Sabrina and Daphne Grimm are sent to live with an eccentric grandmother that they have always believed to be dead.” (Catalogue)

Older Kids:

If you’ve come back to Percy Jackson or discovered it later in life and are looking for similar flavour in your Young Adult reads, then here are our suggestions for you. We’ve got some mythology inspired and other excellent fantasy books sure to appease older readers who loved Percy Jackson.

Lore / Bracken, Alexandra
“Every seven years there is a hunt offering mortal descendants of gods the opportunity to claim their divinity by killing any of nine immortals made mortal for one night. Lore Perseous has no desire to participate in the Agon, embittered because her family was killed by a rival who then ascended to godhood. When a childhood friend asks her to help, and a wounded god offers an alliance, Lore overlooks the steep cost of this decision in exchange for vengeance.” (Catalogue)

Season of the bruja / Duran, Aaron
“From a young age, Althalia knew she would someday be the last of her kind – a bruja, tasked with keeping the power and stories of the ancient ways from fading fully into history. But the prejudice her people have always faced continues, and after a seemingly random encounter with a priest, Althalia feels the weight of hundreds of years of religious oppression coming down upon her and her abuela. She must realize her destiny and prevent the church from achieving its ultimate goal – destroying the last bruja.” (Adapted from Catalogue)

The gilded ones / Forna, Namina
“The blood ceremony determines whether Deka will become a member of her village. Already different because of her unnatural intuition, Deka prays for red blood so she can finally feel like she belongs. But on the day of the ceremony her blood runs gold.  Then a mysterious woman comes to her with a choice: stay in the village and submit to her fate, or leave to fight for the emperor in an army of girls just like her. Nothing and no one are quite what they seem to be– not even Deka herself.” (Adapted from Catalogue)

The Raven Boys / Stiefvater, Maggie
“Though she is from a family of clairvoyants, Blue Sargent’s only gift seems to be that she makes other people’s talents stronger, and when she meets Gansey, one of the Raven Boys from the expensive Aglionby Academy, she discovers that he has talents of his own–and that together their talents are a dangerous mix.”
(Catalogue)

The warrior heir / Chima, Cinda Williams
“After learning about his magical ancestry and his own warrior powers, sixteen-year-old Jack embarks on a training program to fight enemy wizards.” (Catalogue)

Top 10 Children’s e-Books January 2016

The new year’s e-books have some really popular titles.  It’s great to know that if you really want o read something you can get hold of a copy through your library, or your library’s online portal. Harry Potter is as strong as ever in this medium (pretty popular since we started the e-book Top 10).  J.K. Rowling has written a play with Jack Thorn and John Tiffany, Harry Potter and the cursed child, opening in London in July this year.  It’s great to have an evolving story unfold since the last book came out.

Have you ever written a story or play with some of your favourite characters? Let us know in the comments.

1. Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, by J.K.Rowling

2. Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone, by J.K.Rowling

3. Mr. Popper’s Penguins, by Richard Atwater

4. Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, by J.K.Rowling

5. Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, by J.K.Rowling

6. The Crown of Ptolemy: Percy Jackson & The Kane Chronicles Crossover Series, Book 3, by Rick Riordan

7. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, by J.K.Rowling

8. Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, by J.K.Rowling

9. Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, by J.K.Rowling

10. The Hobbit, by J. R. R. Tolkien

Top 10 for December

Here are the ten most wanted and reserved books for December.

1. Diary of a wimpy kid: the third wheel by Jeff Kinney

4th month in a row this book is on the Top 10 list.

2. The Mark of Athena by Rick Riordan

6 months on the Top 10 list – the most popular book this year maybe?

3. LEGO Ninjago: masters of Spinjitzu: character encyclopedia by Claire Sipi

1st time on the Top 10 and straight to number 3 on the list – wow!

4. Captain Underpants and the revolting revenge of the radioactive robo-boxers by Dav. Pilkey

2nd month on the Top 10 list for the latest book in the popular Capatin Underpants series.

5. Big Nate flips out by Lincoln Peirce

Big Nate has gone up 2 places on the last this month; it was in 7th place last time.

6. Trust no one by Linda Sue Park

The latest book in the 39 Clues series. This was 9th on last month’s list, and 6th this month. Where will it be on the January list…?

7. The Hobbit by J. R. R. Tolkien

Read the book before seeing the movie- it’s much better that way!

8. Olympic games and world records book by Keir Radnedge

This was on the Top 10 list in October, and now it’s back in December.

9. Vigrash the clawed eagle by Adam Blade

Beast Quest lovers – one of the newest books in the series (the 70th book in the Beast Quest series), and new to the Top 10 list.

10. Mirka the ice horse by Adam Blade

Another Beast Quest book (number 71 in the series) and also new to the Top 10 list.

 

 

Johnsonville Bookbusters September Reviews

Duncan read the book There’s a Worm on My Eyeball by Adam Taor. It tells you where the best place to live is plus lots of details of stuff living inside you as well. He likes it for because it has lots of information about insects. He gives it a 100% rating.

Benjamin read the book Percy Jackson and the Sea of Monsters. He really liked the action filled book specially when they get attacked by fire breathing metal bulls. It is truly an exciting book with lots of adventure. He gives it 10 out of 10.

Georgia read another Percy Jackson series, which is Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief. She found the book really good and truly awesome because it has lots of fighting and real adventure. She gave it a 9 out of 10.

Nathaniel liked The Complete Peanuts comic book because it was very funny. He gave it a 9.75 out of 10.

Most Wanted

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1 ) Artemis Fowl and the Atlantis Complex  Eoin Colfer (up 9)

2 ) Percy Jackson and The Lightning Thief   Rick Riordan (down 1)

3 ) Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Greg Heffley’s Journal  Jeff Kinney (up 6)

4 )  Storm Warning  Linda Sue Park (NEW)

5= )Percy Jackson and the Titan’s Curse  Rick Riordan (no change)

5= )Percy Jackson and the Last Olympian  Rick Riordan (down 2)

5= )The Karate Mouse   Geronimo Stilton (up 3)

8 ) Field Trip to Niagara Falls  Geronimo Stilton (back again)

9= )Now  Morris Gleitzman (down 2)

9=)Percy Jackson Battle of the Labyrinth by Rick Riordan (down 4)

9= )Warriors: Omen of the Stars: Night Whispers by Erin Hunter (NEW)

The books you most want to read

Only CHERUB can push out the Greek/American demigod from hogging all this month’s top spots. In other news the original Wimpy Kid makes it back on the Most Wanted list, and many of  you are patiently waiting for the latest (and penultimate*) Artemis Fowl.

*Penultimate = second to last.

 

 

 

 

 

1 ) The Lightning Thief Rick Riordan (up 1)

2 ) Divine Madness Robert Muchamore (down 1)

3 ) The Last Olympian Rick Riordan (back again)

4 ) The Sea of Monsters Rick Riordan (back again)

5= ) The Titan’s Curse Rick Riordan (back again)

5= ) The Battle of the Labyrinth Rick Riordan(back again)

7 )  Now Morris Glietzman.(up 3)

8 ) The Karate Mouse Geronimo Stilton (down 2)

9) Diary of a wimpy kid: Greg Heffley’s Journal Jeff Kinney (back again)

10= ) Artemis Fowl and the Atlantis Complex Eoin Colfer (NEW)

10= ) Christmas Catastrophe Geronimo Stilton (down 2)

Most Wanted!

Our big bro and sis on the Teen Blog do a monthly round up of the most wanted teen books. We thought that was pretty cool, so we’re going to do it too. You know what little brothers and sisters are like – always nicking your stuff.

So here are the most wanted kid’s books. They are too hot to sit on the shelf, but if you follow the title links you can reserve your copy through the top left button where it says click to order.

It’s free to reserve kid’s books if you have a Children’s or Young Adult’s library card.

 

1 ) Divine Madness Robert Muchamore

2 ) The Lightning Thief Rick Riordan

3 )Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Last Straw Jeff Kinney

4 )The Karate Mouse Geronimo Stilton

5 )Christmas Catastrophe Geronimo Stilton

6 )Little Darlings Jacqueline Wilson

7 )Field Trip to Niagara Falls Geronimo Stilton

8 )Warriors : Ravenpaw’s path. 2, A Clan in Need Erin Hunter.

9 )Now Morris Glietzman.

10=) Singing Sensation Geronimo Stilton

10=)A Fabumouse School Adventure Geronimo Stilton

10=)The Race Across America Geronimo Stilton