New Non Fiction: Just in time for Easter and School Holidays.

With summer now over, Winter is slowly entering the Capital with the cold and nasty periods of gale winds, rain and the odd storm. Also with the school holidays and Easter around the corner, why not pop down to Wellington City Libraries and check out a new range of  non fiction in the Children’s collection for your enjoyment and pleasure, especially as we now have some new handicraft books to give you ideas on potential gifts you can give to your family and friends over Easter, or the odd birthday party here and there.

Check them out here!

The Book of Complete Nonsense.

Are you in the mood for nonsense poems? I am! All your favorite authors including Julia Donaldson, Spike Milligan, Roald Dahl, Edward Lear, Lewis Carroll and a whole lot more are featured in this fantastic book of rhymes and riddles that are bound to fry your brain. As an added bonus author,  Michael Rosen provides tips on how you can write your own nonsense poems. Fantastic to use if you have a creative writing homework assignment.

 

 

 

 

Africa : everything you ever wanted to know.

In the mood for another ‘not for parents’ read? Check out this new book on everything you ever wanted to know about Africa. This book opens up a world of amazing facts and stories  (probably facts and stories your parents don’t even know) about the people, places, History and culture of Africa. Another brand new read from the Country Series Book from Lonely Planets that  is not a guidebook and it is definitely not for parents.  Great for ages 8 to 11 years.

Also check out last month’s new ‘not for parents’ release: How to be a dinosaur hunter : your globe-trotting, time-travelling guide.

 

 

Philip Pullman’s Aladdin and the Enchanted Lamp.

The author of The Dark Materials Trilogy brings to life one of the greatest and classic Arab-Persian stories, (although the story is set in China) ever told. Be prepared to go on a magic carpet ride when reading this vivid retelling of  Aladdin, a poor tailor’s son who becomes a wealthy prince with the help of a magic lamp he finds in an enchanted cave. This is a story that has everything – comedy, drama, fantasy, magic, fear, excitement and a terrific plot.

 

 

 

Brilliant Badges to make yourself.

With School Holidays and Easter just around the corner, this is the perfect book to keep you entertained and give you gift ideas on what to give your family and friends over Easter and even the odd birthday here and there. There are fantastic ideas on how to make your own badges, including how to creat a dotty dinosaur badge, a paper-mache cat badge, a funky bow tie badge, a lollipop badge, a birthday badge  and a feathery chicken badge (A great badge idea for Easter!) Great for kids aged 8 to 12 years.

 

 

 

Crafty Creatures.

Forget buying soft toys when you can make your own, (or maybe get your mum or your nana to help). This book is a treasure trove of animal toys/projects to sew, knit and cross-stitch. It includes over 30 projects ranging from practical phone pouches and coin purses to delightful felt cats and teeny tiny animals ideal for necklaces and key fobs. My personal craft idea favorites from this book are the sock monkeys, ducklings and bunny girls (another gift idea for Easter), giraffes and my little pony, (No, not the Hasbro toys.) Another handicraft book to keep kids entertained over Easter and school holidays. If I could knit or sew, then I would be devouring this book like there was no tomorrow.

 

New Year! New Fiction!

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 SyndeticsChitty 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 CreechImage Courtesy of Syndetics

“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 SyndeticsRunt 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.

 

 

 

 

Image Courtesy of SyndeticsThe 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.

New Non Fiction: Amazing Series! Animals, Adventure and … Some not for Parents!

As School’s drawing to a close, here are some new exciting reads to keep you busy during the holidays.

New from Lonely Planet:

Not for Parents U.S.A. Everything you ever wanted to know.

Planning a trip to the USA over Christmas? This book opens up a world of amazing facts and stories  (probably facts and stories your parents don’t even know) about the people, places, History and culture of the USA? A brand new read from the Country Series Book from Lonely Planets that  is not a guidebook and it is definitely not for parents. Great for ages 8 to 11 years.

 

 

 

 

New from National Geographic Kids.

Angry Birds Playground Animals.

Have you ever wanted to play Angry Birds and learn all about animals around the world at the same time? Angry Birds Playground Animals makes that possible! The Angry birds have lost their precious eggs, thanks to those pesky pigs and they need YOU to help them. On this quest to find the eggs, you will also find information  about about various animals, like jaguars, desert horned lizards, great hammer-head sharks, black swans and polar bears. Also learn about the animals’ habitats which includes rain forests, deserts, oceans, grasslands and the Arctic. Also full of activities and quizzes to test your knowledge.

 

New from Eyewitness:

Jungle.

Interested in zoology and ecology? Experience all the action of the rain forest and encounter the teeming animals and plants of the tropical rain forest by reading Jungle, from the Eyewitness series. This would also serve as a great companion guide alongside  How to be a world explorer and Angry Birds Playground Animals .

 

 

 

 

 

Titanic.

Interested in the history of shipping disasters? How about learning more about the detailed descriptions of the Titanic, including its accommodations, a retelling of its sinking in the North Atlantic in April, 1912, and amazing facts like the Titanic was carrying 5,986 tonnes (6,598 tons) of coal to New York  and there were only two bathtubs for more than 700 third class passengers.   A Great resource for ages ranging from to intermediate to junior secondary age.

 

 

 

 

Find your Talent.

Whether you want to start your own blog, start a band or make a film, this new series, Find you Talent will tell you everything you need to know about developing your skills and ambition into a brilliant hobby or even a glittering career.  Start a Blog is full of ideas that will inspire you to create your own blog, Start a Band will help make your dream band become a reality and Make a Film will give you ideas that will inspire you to make your every own short film.

 

 

Mean Machines.

This high impact series features information about the world’s fastest, biggest and meanest machines.  Roar into action with the world’s fastest, weirdest and most cutting edge vehicles with the Mean Machines series! Supercars brings you up to speed with amazing facts about the latest and greatest  cars known including Lamborghini Miura and Ferrari 599 GTB. You will find out all you need to know about high-tech war planes and super-fast record-breaking planes like the X43-A in Superplanes and Superbikes gives you everything you need to know about concept bikes like the Dodge Tomahawk and record-breaker like the fastest bike in the world, the Top Ack Attack Streamliner.

 

 

Also new:

My Polar Animals Journal : In Search of Polar Bears, Penguins, Whales and Seals.

Interested in wildlife photography? Then have a read of this new animal journal by Steve Bloom. This book is complete with journal entries, amazing photographs of polar bears, penguins, whales and seal in the Arctic and Antarctica and packed full of amazing facts about the animals, for example a male polar bear weighs up to 545 kg (the weight of 7 men) and a humpback whale can live to about 50 years old. Steve Bloom also offers tips of taking wildlife photographs, creative projects to help you have fun with the photos and develop your camera skills.

 

 

 

A Horrid Factbook: Food.

Did you know that carrots used to be purple? How long does it take for food to reach your stomach? Does eating crusts really make your hair curly? Find all the answers to these questions and more in this amazing new read. The Love-able character, Horrid Henry takes you on a weird, wonderful, hilarious and horrid journey on everything you have ever wanted to know about… food.

 

 

 

 

  

Princess : The Essential Guide (Revised editon).

If you are a fan of Disney Princesses (like I am) and you loved the book, Princess : The Essential Guide first published in 2008 with Princess Aurora on the front cover, then you are going to love this this new edition fabulous updated edition of this  guide to the best loved fairy tale princesses of all time! Experience the magic of Disney with this guide to the best loved fairy tale princesses of all time! This guide provides  in-depth information on all six favorite Disney princesses, that includes Snow White, Cinderella, Aurora, Ariel, Belle, Jasmine, Mulan, Pocahontas, Tiana and Rapunzel. Fully illustrated, the book is full of cut-away artwork and scenes from the Disney films and provides a view of the princesses’ magical worlds, ‘where dreams really can come true’.

 

Hope you all have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

 

 

Kids’ Review by Sofia

Chitty Chitty Bang Bang Flies Again by Frank Cottrell Boyce

This is a really good book. It is about a magical car called Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. When the Tootings family finds out that it can fly they go on heaps of adventures. Chitty Chitty Bang Bang has a mind of its own and is trying to find its missing parts. The Tootings go to Paris, The Sphinx and to a funny island. But will someone try to stop them? Here is a question: What is a lighting?
 
5 Stars
 
Review by Sofia of Hataitai