Top 10 Childrens DVDs July 2016

Long winter evenings are a great time to catch up with the latest movies.

It’s not just the one off movies people love to borrow from the library, there are the DVD series where you can follow characters through their many adventures. Building adventures with lego is great for your imagination and construction skills.  These building blocks have inspired quite a few series – do you know them all?

There’s: Legends of Chima,  Justice League, Ninjago Masters of SpinjitsuLEGO friends, Star Wars, Nexo KnightsBionicle and there’s a LEGO Scooby-Doo! Try saying all that in one breath!  Have I missed any? Let us know in the comments.

Here’s your Top 10 for July 2016: 

1. My little pony, friendship is magic

2. Inside out

3. Legends of Chima

4. Minions

5. Snoopy and Charlie Brown 

6. The good dinosaur

7. Strawberry Shortcake

8. Goosebumps

9. Geronimo Stilton

10. Rabbids invasion

4 more awesome new kids fiction

Freddy Tangles, Legend or Loser Image courtesy of Syndeticsby Tom Jellett

‘Noone is scarier than the bully Sid Malone, and now he’s coming to get Freddy.  Luckily Freddy’s got a plan.  LASER BEAM EYES!  If he stares at a white wall for long enough and wants it bad enough, his eyes will start to shoot laser beams…. On second thoughts, he might need a backup plan! – taken from book cover.

 

The Haunted Book Image courtesy of Syndetics (Scream #3) by Jack Heath

Dale lives in Axe Falls – a town of mysterious disappearances, terrifying visions and unusual events.

A family trip turns spooky when Dale finds an old, handwritten book, starting with the words: DO NOT STOP READING; MY LIFE DEPENDS ON IT.  Soon, strange things begin to happen.  When a ghost appears in the lake and a cursed giant stalks him through the woods, Dale starts to wonder…. –taken from book cover.

 

Image courtesy of SyndeticsWitchMyth by Emma Fische

Flo loves her book of Witch myths.  Her favourite story is about the haggfiend, with her dark enchantments, missing witchgirls and evil cackle… But the Flo becomes sure the Haggfiend is real, and that she’s back in Haggspit. What can Flo do?  No one believes her, and no one will help.  This time she’s on her own…-taken from book cover.

 

 

Image courtesy of SyndeticsSecret of the Forbidden City by James Patterson

‘Bick and Beck Kidd are desperately trying to track down the ancient Chinese artefact that will buy their mother’s freedom from vicious pirates.  But when the kidnappers force them to find an even greater treasure – priceless paintings stolen by Nazis – the Kidds must rely on their own cunning to outwit the criminals, all while their mom’s life is on the line.’ – taken from book cover.

 

 

 

 

 

Six EPIC Books

In case you guys were looking for suggestions of what to read during Summer here’s a list of books about epic girls! These girls do epic things like hanging out with REAL wolves, ACTUAL trolls, totally LEGIT villains and WEIRD circus folk. They would be ideal for kids reading at a 12 year old level and older. All are available in our libraries and on our eLibrary as well.

The Wolf Wilder by Katherine Rundell

Hey I’m serious: this book is a-mazz-ing. Katherine Rundell has written a few other children’s novels and all of them are highly cool! This book is available in most of our libraries and also on Overdrive.

Feodora and her mother live in the snowbound woods of Russia, in a house full of food and fireplaces. Ten minutes away, in a ruined chapel, lives a pack of wolves. Feodora’s mother is a wolf wilder, and Feo is a wolf wilder in training. A wolf wilder is the opposite of an animal tamer: it is a person who teaches tamed animals to fend for themselves, and to fight and to run, and to be wary of humans. What follows is a story of revolution and adventure, about standing up for the things you love and fighting back. And, of course, wolves.” Goodreads.

 

The Girl who Walked on Air by Emma Carroll

Who doesn’t love a good circus story! This is a really popular book in our collection guaranteed to entertain and thrill you. Copies available in our libraries and also on Overdrive!

“Abandoned as a baby at Chipchase’s Travelling Circus, Louie dreams of becoming a ‘Showstopper’. Yet Mr Chipchase only ever lets her sell tickets. No Death-Defying Stunts for her. So in secret, Louie practises her act- the tightrope- and dreams of being the Girl Who Walked on Air. All she needs is to be given the chance to shine …” Goodreads.

 

Counting by 7s by Holly Goldberg Solan

This is a slightly more serious story about a really clever girl! This heart-warming read is available in our libraries and on Overdrive.

“Willow Chance is a twelve-year-old genius, obsessed with nature and diagnosing medical conditions, who finds it comforting to count by 7s. It has never been easy for her to connect with anyone other than her adoptive parents, but that hasn’t kept her from leading a quietly happy life… until now. Suddenly Willow’s world is tragically changed when her parents both die in a car crash, leaving her alone in a baffling world. The triumph of this book is that it is not a tragedy … Her journey to find a fascinatingly diverse and fully believable surrogate family is a joy and a revelation to read.” Goodreads

 

Esperanza Rising by Pam Munoz Ryan

You’ll love reading about how Esperanza grows and changes – she’s such a cool character! This book is available in our libraries and on Overdrive too!

“Esperanza thought she’d always live with her family on their ranch in Mexico–she’d always have fancy dresses, a beautiful home, and servants. But a sudden tragedy forces Esperanza and Mama to flee to California during the Great Depression, and to settle in a camp for Mexican farm workers. When their new life is threatened, Esperanza must find a way to rise above her difficult circumstances–Mama’s life, and her own, depend on it.” Goodreads.

 

Coraline by Neil Gaiman

Here’s a book which is waaay better than the movie! There are copies of Coraline available in most of our libraries and on Overdrive!

Coraline’s often wondered what’s behind the locked door in the drawing room. It reveals only a brick wall when she finally opens it, but when she tries again later, a passageway mysteriously appears. Coraline is surprised to find a flat decorated exactly like her own, but strangely different. And when she finds her “other” parents in this alternate world, they are much more interesting despite their creepy black button eyes …” Goodreads

 

When You Reach Me by Rebecca Stead

This story is a well loved book in our collection! Some of the things that happen to Miranda seem to defy the laws of time and space. When You Reach Me is available in most of our libraries and on Overdrive.

“By sixth grade, Miranda and her best friend, Sal, know how to navigate their New York City neighborhood. They know where it’s safe to go, like the local grocery store, and they know whom to avoid, like the crazy guy on the corner. But things start to unravel. Sal gets punched by a new kid for what seems like no reason, and he shuts Miranda out of his life. And then Miranda finds a mysterious note scrawled on a tiny slip of paper:

I am coming to save your friend’s life, and my own.
I must ask two favors. First, you must write me a letter … ” Goodreads.

 

City of Ember by Jeanne DuPrau

City of Ember is the first book in the Ember series and it’s available in most of our libraries and on Overdrive. The main character, Lina, is definitely epic enough to finish this list with!

“Many hundreds of years ago, the city of Ember was created by the Builders to contain everything needed for human survival. It worked…but now the storerooms are almost out of food, crops are blighted, corruption is spreading through the city and worst of all—the lights are failing. Soon Ember could be engulfed by darkness…

But when two children, Lina and Doon, discover fragments of an ancient parchment, they begin to wonder if there could be a way out of Ember. Can they decipher the words from long ago and find a new future for everyone? Will the people of Ember listen to them?” Goodreads

 

 

 

Halloween at Khandallah Library

The Khandallah Halloween Storytime was lots of spooky fun.  On Thursday, 30th October, before trick-or-treating we celebrated All Hallows’ Eve with a special Storytime at Khandallah Library. Witch-Librarian Raissa read spooky stories which among other things taught us how our animal friends celebrate Halloween and what werewolves do when it’s not Halloween.  Silly Monster songs to familiar tunes got us wiggling and roaring like goblins! We also got crafty!  The Devilish Librarian Grace taught us how to make skulls out of The Witch’s Handbook. After a fun evening we took home lovely decorations for our rooms.

 

Hallowe’en party at Kilbirnie Library

On the day before Hallowe’en, an enthusiastic group of spooky characters joined witch/librarian Sandra at Kilbirnie Library for interactive stories themed around Hallowe’en. Stories shared included Room on the Broom, What’s in the Witch’s Kitchen and Bedtime for Monsters. Afterwards, the junior ghouls took home more spooky stories to share with their families. It was great to see them relish the stories and join in the fun!

Halloween @ Kilbirnie2Halloween @ Kilbirnie1

 

Fun New Kids Fiction!

Image courtesy of SyndeticsTell Me by Joan Bauer

Feeling scared and powerless when her father’s anger escalates and her parents separate, twelve-year-old Anna spends the summer with her grandmother and decides to make a difference when she sees what seems to be a girl held against her will.

 

 

 

Image courtesy of SyndeticsThe Whispering Skull by Jonathan Stroud

“In the six months since Anthony, Lucy, and George survived a night in the most haunted house in England, Lockwood & Co. hasn’t made much progress. Quill Kipps and his team of Fittes agents keep swooping in on Lockwood’s investigations. Finally, in a fit of anger, Anthony challenges his rival to a contest: the next time the two agencies compete on a job, the losing side will have to admit defeat in the Times newspaper. Things look up when a new client, Mr. Saunders, hires Lockwood & Co. to be present at the excavation of Edmund Bickerstaff, a Victorian doctor who reportedly tried to communicate with the dead. Saunders needs the coffin sealed with silver to prevent any supernatural trouble. All goes well-until George’s curiosity attracts a horrible phantom. Back home at Portland Row, Lockwood accuses George of making too many careless mistakes. Lucy is distracted by urgent whispers coming from the skull in the ghost jar. Then the team is summoned to DEPRAC headquarters. Kipps is there too, much to Lockwood’s annoyance. Bickerstaff’s coffin was raided and a strange glass object buried with the corpse has vanished. Inspector Barnes believes the relic to be highly dangerous, and he wants it found…”

 

The incomplete book of dragons; (a guide to dragon species)Image courtesy of Syndetics by Cressida Cowell

Long ago, the world was full of dragons. But what happened to them? Where are they now? These pages are taken from the notebooks of Viking Hero Hiccup Horrendous Haddock the Third when he was just a boy. A keen dragonwatcher, Hiccup paints a picture of the brilliance and fire and spirit of that lost dragon world. Featuring dragon profiles, dragon anatomy, dragon riding tips and lots more must know info e.g. how to spot the difference between an arsenic adderwing and a glow worm (you don’t want to mix those two up) and what to do when confronted with a Hellsteether.

 

Egg & Spoon Image courtesy of Syndeticsby Gregory Maguire

An impoverished Russian country girl Elena Rudina and the aristocratic Ekaterina meet and set in motion an escapade that includes mistaken identity, a monk locked in a tower, a prince traveling incognito, and the witch Baba Yaga.

 

 

 

Awful AuntieImage courtesy of Syndetics by David Walliams

Aunt Alberta is on a mission to cheat the young Lady Stella Saxby out of her inheritance – Saxby Hall. But with mischievous and irrepressible Soot, the cockney ghost of a chimney sweep, alongside her Stella is determined to fight back … And sometimes a special friend, however different, is all you need to win through

Fun New Fiction!

Truth or Dare by Meredith Badger

A window gets broken at school but can Mia and Michiko tell the truth about what happened? One story -two sides.

 

 

 

 

Stories for 7 Year Olds by Great NZ Authors

An awesome collection of stories by NZ Authors including Anna Kenna, Elizabeth Pulford, Kate DeGoldi, Barbara Else and Penelope Todd!

 

 

 

Image Courtesy of SyndeticsStarring Jules #3; Super-Secret Spy Girl

Second grade is over and Jules is on her way to Quebec to film a spy movie, but she misses all her friends, and with only a hockey player and a diva starlet as cast mates in a place where nobody speaks English, she is feeling lonely–and her mother will not even let her go bungee-jumping.

 

 

Twelve Minutes to MidnighImage Courtesy of Syndeticsby Christopher Edge

Penelope Tredwell is the feisty thirteen-year-old orphan heiress of the bestselling magazine, The Penny Dreadful. Her masterly tales of the macabre are gripping Victorian Britain, even if no one knows she’s the real author. One day a letter she receives from the governor of the notorious Bedlam madhouse plunges her into an adventure more terrifying than anything she ever imagined. A thriller with a fast-paced cinematic style, Twelve Minutes to Midnight is an electrifying story from an exciting new author.

 

Night of the Perigee MoonImage Courtesy of Syndetics by Juliet Jacka

All Tilly Angelica wants for her thirteenth birthday is to be normal! But with her changeover party looming and her mad, magical family gathering from near and far, Tilly is set to inherit a terrifying or tantalising talent of her own. But what if she inherits Hortense’s talent of super-smelling, with a huge honker to match? Will her best friend Olivia think she is wonderful or too weird for words? As the enchanted Angelicas gather and Arial Manor becomes a madhouse, Tilly’s troubles are tripled by her creepy cousin Prosper, and his sinister plot to bewitch the family by harnessing the powers of the perigee moon.

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

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?

 

 

Young readers’ special treats!

How are you feeling now that you are back at school? Ready for new challenges? Are you getting confident with reading short stories all by yourself?  If so, this selection of easy chapter books will be perfect for you!

 

Spooky house, by Sally Rippin

Billie and her friends have started a Secret Mystery Club! There’s just one problem – they don’t have any mysteries to solve. But then Billie thinks of the spooky house at the end of her street. She has always wondered who lives there. Is it a witch or a ghost?

It is up to the SMC to find out!

Age 7 and +

 

 

Stink it up! A guide to the Gross, the bad and the smelly, Megan McDonald

Stink has a nose for yuck and muck, and this book is full of it: moose-poop festivals, mouse-brain toothpaste, maggot cheese, and more.

The pages are packed with more than two hundred facts and bits of trivia about things that are gross, bad, and smelly – loads of P.U. served up just for YOU!

Age 7 and +

 

 

Thea Stilton and the Spanish dance mission, by Geronimo Stilton

The Thea sisters are visiting friends at a lively festival in Spain. But the theft of a precious fan turns their trip into an investigation! They end up hot on the trail of a secret treasure… but they’re not the only ones searching for it. Can the mouselets solve the mystery in time? It’s a mission full of flamenco dance!

Age 7 and +

 

 

 

Lulu Bell and the Cubby Fort, by Belinda Murrell

Lulu and her family are visiting their uncle’s farm for the Easter holidays. There are horses to ride, a creek to swim in, and they can even sleep outside in a tent. What fun!

Lulu loves being a cowgirl on the farm, especially when all the cousins decide to build the best cubby fort ever. But when she sees a calf get stuck in the mud, Lulu has to find help – fast!

Age 7 and +