space

Read this book and discover the amazing ways 101 animals hide in plain sight and defends themselves from predators. Overall this book is a very enjoyable read. There are some fantastic images and amazing facts about how animals hide themselves. For example, bullfrogs rest in shallow water to look just like rocks and zebras’ stripes confuse predators.

Ballet Spectacular.

Ballet, spectacular? You bet! Hands down, this is one of the most amazing, beautiful and captivating books I have ever come across in the junior non fiction collection! Grab this book today and get a full and unique insight into the magical world of ballet seen through the eyes of The Royal Ballet!

Discovering Dinosaurs.

Check this ultimate, most up to date guide to the age of dinosaurs and discover over 165 fascinating prehistoric creatures from the Triassic, Jurassic and Cretaceous periods, including every major dino discovery made to date.

How to be a space explorer.

Ever wanted to go into space? This book gives you the lowdown on everything young explorers needs to know to travel in space, covering what life in zero gravity is like, how to find your way around the solar system, and the all-important question of how to pee in a spacesuit! (Hee, hee, still tickled pink over that one!) Overall a fantastic read, complete with unique illustrations take kids to the heart of the action and amazing photos show what the universe is really like. Not to mention, incredible stories of real-life space exploration for kids aged 8 and up, by author and astrobiologist Professor Mark Brake.

How to handle low self-esteem.

If you feel under pressure or having trouble dealing with what ever life is throwing at you, then this book can help. How to Handle Low Self Esteem is an essential guide that can help you understand how and why you might hold a low opinion of yourself and what you can do to improve things for yourself. The book highlights areas that may trigger these feelings, such as bullying or peer-pressure. Perhaps you are under pressure because of your sexual orientation, your race or religion or because you simply don’t fit the mould. This book will help you confront your issues and offers solid advice based on the experiences of real people. A great book to read to calm those ‘

How to handle bullying and gangs.

No one should ever have to cope with bullying. Inside this book you will find: Practical advice for dealing with bullies, suggestions as to where you can find support, advice on how to feel positive about yourself.

How Maui found his father and the magic jawbone.

An oldie but a goodie. Check out this this new addition Peter Gossage’s classic tale about how Maui found his father and the magic jawbone. Perfect timing with Waitangi day around the corner.

Late night storytime at Johnsonville Library

debbie3 December, 2014

We are launching ourselves off into outer space at our next late night storytime at Johnsonville Library.

So prepare your rocket and blast off for stories on alien planets, sings songs on shooting stars and hang out on comets for some spacey fun.

See you there on:

Friday 5th December at 6.30pm.

New Kids Fiction! Check out these awesome new books from our kids fiction trolleys

admin16 July, 2014

Conrad Cooper’s Last Stand by Leonie Agnew

“Conrad Cooper needs a favour. He’s just found out about Tāne, the god of the forest, and he’s decided that Tāne is the perfect guy to solve Conrad’s family problems. After all, the more high-profile gods probably have huge waiting lists, right? In return, Conrad will do anything, no matter how much trouble it causes. But will a Māori god listen to the prayers of a ten-year-old Pākehā boy? And does Tāne really exist? Set in 1978 against the Bastion Point occupation”–Back cover.

You Choose….Mayhem at Magic School by George Ivanoff

You are an ordinary kid – or so you think. Strange things start to happen. You make a rabbit appear from underneath your Teacher’s hat. Then you dream about a mystical diamond and a mysterious old woman with long white hair. It turns out you have magical powers… Do you try to keep your talents hidden, or do you go off to magic school? You choose…

George and the Unbreakable Code by Lucy and Stephen Hawking

George and his best friend Annie haven’t had any space adventures for a while and they’re missing the excitement. But not for long . . .
Seriously strange things start happening. Banks are handing out free money; supermarkets can’t charge for their produce so people are getting free food; and aircraft are refusing to fly. It looks like the world’s biggest and best computers have all been hacked.
George and Annie will travel further into space than ever before in order to find out who is behind it. – (www.Goodreads.Com)

There Will Be Bears by Ryan Gebhart

Thirteen-year-old Tyson sneaks off with his roughneck, but ill, grandpa to go on his first elk hunt, amid reports of a stalking man-eating grizzly.

Chicken Mission: Danger in the Deep Dark Woods by Jennifer Gray

Professor Rooster needs a new elite chicken squad. But the three feather-brained young chickens he is sent are hopeless. The youngest, Agent Cluckbucket, is the worst of the lot! Unfortunately, it’s too late to recruit any-birdy else, and danger lurks in the deep dark woods. Will Agent Cluckbucket and the squad be able to work to defeat the greatest enemies of birdkind?

Watch the International Space Station live

admin28 May, 2014

Above us the International Space Station (ISS), with 6 crew on board, obits the earth every 90 minutes. Recently they fitted a camera to the space station so you can watch live what’s going on. It’s really addictive to watch… we warned you!

When the crew are on duty the camera shows what’s going on inside the space station and you can listen to the audio of conversations between the crew and mission control. When the crew are off duty, the camera is pointing towards earth showing the view the crew have from their windows. Often the ISS goes into a black spot where there’s no transmission and it’s out of contact with Earth. So, if the screen shows nothing, just wait a bit and the video feed will return when the ISS is out of the black spot.

Because the ISS orbits Earth once every 90 minutes the crew experience a sunrise and sunset every 45 minutes – they have 45 minutes of night time and 45minutes of daytime. So if the screen looks dark it may be because it’s night time on the ISS. Look closely and you may see the lights of cities on Earth below.

Have fun watching! Here’s the link to the feed

Top 10 non-fiction for February

Dusty5 March, 2014

Favourite facts children borrowed in February:

1. Star Wars by David West Reynolds

2. The LEGO book by Daniel Lipkowitz

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

4. Guinness world records 2013 by Craig Glenday

5. Ara pūretaby Frances Goulton

6. Pokemon black version & Pokemon white version handbook by Michael G. Ryan

7. The horrible history of the world by Terry Deary

8. Guinness world records 2014 by Craig Glenday

9. Wow! dinosaur by Douglas Palmer

10. The age of the dinosaurs (12 volumes) by Steve Parker

New Year! New Fiction!

admin7 January, 2014

The River Singers by Tom Moonhouse

“Something was approaching the burrow. Something deadly. Something that made Sylvan’s fur bristle with fear . . . Knowing their lives are under threat, Sylvan and his brother and sisters have no choice but to abandon their burrow for ever. Together they set out on an epic journey along the Great River; but with dangers lurking at every turn, will they ever find a safe place to call home?”–Publisher description.

Image Courtesy of Syndetics Chitty Chitty Bang Bang Over the Moon by Frank Cottrell Boyce

“The Tootings are stuck in 1966! Somebody’s stolen Chitty Chitty Bang Bang and left them behind. But that’s not their biggest problem. Their biggest problem is that Little Harry’s been kidnapped by whoever stole their magical car. There’s only one solution: the Tootings must find the Potts — the family that originally built Chitty. Sharing their combined knowledge of how Chitty works, the families may stand a chance of rescuing Little Harry and finding the most brilliant car in the world. But a fiendish criminal has different plans, ones that involve flying Chitty Chitty Bang Bang to the moon and putting an explosive scheme into action.” (Review from Good Reads)

The Boy on the Porch by Sharon Creech

“One day a young couple wakes to find a boy asleep on their porch. Unable to speak, the boy cannot explain his history. What kind of people would leave their child with strangers? All John and Marta know is that they have been chosen to care for this boy. As their connection to him grows, they embrace his exuberant spirit and talents. The three of them blossom into an unlikely family, but how long can their happiness last?”– From inside book cover.

Image Courtesy of Syndetics Runt by Nora Raleigh Baskin

From different perspectives, explores middle school bullying as Maggie, tired of Elizabeth Moon’s superior attitude, creates a fake profile on a popular social networking site to teach Elizabeth a lesson.

The Truth of Me by Patricia MacLachlan

Robbie and his dog, Ellie, spend the summer at his grandmother Maddy’s house, where Robbie learns many things about his emotionally distant parents and himself.

Odd Stuff: NASA will pay you to stay in bed

admin8 October, 2013

Hate getting out of bed and just want to stay under the duvet? Then NASA could have the perfect job for you!

The American space agency- NASA- has put out an ad looking for people to stay in bed continuously for 10 weeks. You’ll have to do everything while staying in bed – reading, watching TV, eating, washing and even going to the toilet! They’ll even pay you to do it!

The space scientists’ aim was to study the effects of weightlessness on the human body, and the easiest way to do this was to get people to stay in bed for a long time. Volunteers will have to lie in bed with their feet raised slightly, and at the end of the 10 weeks the scientists will ask them to do a series of exercises to see how lying down for so long as affected them. The scientists reckon that lying down for so long will cause you to lose bone strength.

What do you think? Would you do it?