Book YAK

World Refugee Day 2013

2013-06-17T15:56:3012:00:00

World Refugee Day is this Thursday 20 June so we currently have a library display of books relating to this theme. There are some lovely picture books as well as books for young adults which focus on refugees from a wide range of countries. Come and browse the display and borrow anything of interest. There is something there for teachers of the very young as well as teachers at high school level. A big thanks to Nola Harvey from Curriculum & Pedagogy for prompting us to mark the day and explore this important issue.

Top Six - 12 June 2013

2013-06-12T13:16:1712:00:00

Out Of This World: Poems and Facts About Space by Amy E. Sklansky (Junior Non-fiction)
This colourful and well-illustrated poetry book juxtaposes poetry and facts, and would be ideal for integrating language into a science or space study at primary level.

10 Kooky Kiwi pictures by Deborah Hinde, sung by Pio Terei, Maori lyrics by Kotuku and Te Okahurangi Tibble (Junior Non-fiction)
This colourful book and accompanying CD will be shelved in our junior non-fiction with other resources of a musical nature. The song uses the tune of Ten Green Bottles to tell of ten kooky kiwi and is presented in both Maori and English. Good musical fun and number learning for early childhood and early primary.

This Is Not My Hat by Jon Klassen (Junior Picture Book)
Last time Jon Klassen wrote of a bear and a hat, this time a fish. This is excellent fun for all ages. I also love the blurb: “A fish has stolen a hat. And he’ll probably get away with it. Probably.”

Bear Despair by Gaetan Doremus (Junior Picture Book)
What happens if you steal a bear’s teddy bear? Find out by reading this quirky wordless story with great pictures. Or if you like to read reviews first, here’s the review from Publisher’s Weekly.

The Day My Father Became a Bush by Joke van Leeuwen (Junior Fiction)
Gecko Press books are always worth a look, and this slim chapter book is no exception with an irresistible title and engaging illustrations. The back cover reads: “Toda’s father has gone away to fight in the war. Luckily, he’s read about camouflage and will be able to hide from the enemy by disguising himself as a bush…A clear-eyed, funny, and off-beat novel about a girl making sense of a baffling world”.

When We Broke Up by Daniel Handler, art by Maira Kalman (Young Adult fiction)
Coincidentally I’ve just read an article from the Guardian which asks “ Why can't teen fiction have pictures?” , and this appealing new book is exactly that. It’s not a graphic novel but instead has short chapters with bold and brightly coloured pictures interspersed throughout. An honour book for the American Library Association Award for Young Adult literature: “Min Green and Ed Slaterton are breaking up, so Min is writing Ed a letter and giving him a box. Inside the box is why they broke up. Two bottle caps, a movie ticket, a folded note, a box of matches, a protractor, books, a toy truck, a pair of ugly earrings, a comb from a motel room, and every other item collected over the course of a giddy, intimate, heartbreaking relationship. Item after item is illustrated and accounted for, and then the box, like a girlfriend, will be dumped.”

Top Six - 5 June 2013

2013-06-05T10:52:3112:00:00

Moonbird: A Year on the Wind with the Great Survivor B95 by Phillip Hoose (Junior Non-fiction)
We’ve put this beauty in our junior collection but adults will enjoy this also. B95 is rufa red knot dubbed Moonbird by scientists because he has flown the distance to the moon and halfway back again. This is a thorough look at his life, his migratory circuit, and the changing habitats of his stopover sites.

The Cazuela That the Farm Maiden Stirred by Samantha R. Vamos and Rafael Lopez (Junior Non-fiction)
A Spanish and cooking lesson in one fun story. Bright, engaging illustrations and a repetitive structure as per the “this is the house that jack built” tradition, this story uses Spanish words at the end of each line and from the pictures and context you know exactly what it means. E.g. This is the cow that made the fresh milk while teaching the cabra that churned the crema to make the mantequilla that went into the cazuela that the farm maiden stirred.

Crown Park by Des Hunt (Junior Fiction)
This New Zealand author is very popular and keeps turning out great reads for upper primary readers. This one is aimed at a slightly younger age group and is published by a co-operative based in the Bay of Plenty called Ocean Books.

The Fall of the House of Usher by Edgar Allan Poe, retold by Matthew K. Manning and Jim Jimenz (Young Adult Fiction, graphic novel)

Bitter Melon by Cara Chow (Young Adult Fiction)
A family story about a Chinese American teenager seeking her identity amongst the demands of her family’s culture.

Heart of War by M. Zachary Sherman (Young Adult Fiction)
This might be one of those books that could get a teen boy reading. It tells the tale of one American family’s involvement in war by following the lives of 8 soldiers from different generations.

Top Six - 29 May 2013

2013-05-29T08:52:5612:00:00

Because Amelia Smiled by David Ezra Stein (Junior Picture Book)
This would be great to share with children in a classroom setting. One little girl’s smile sets off a whole string of consequences which reach around the globe.

Each Kindness by Jacqueline Woodson (Junior Picture Book)
This sensitive story about friendship and kindness won an honor award in the Coretta Scott King Award. This one could be well used in primary schools when studying values.

Ferguson’s Night Fright by Melissa Isaacson and Natalie Morrell (Junior Picture Book)
This attractive picture book was funded via Thrillpledger, a web-based funding platform for arts, music and sports projects. “Ferguson the Fantail who meets Millie the Morepork in the night. Ferguson tells her that he is frightened of the dark. Millie, being a creature of the night, shows Ferguson that it's really not that scary. It's a little tale of new friendship and trust.” (from Thrillpledger website)

Felix and the Red Rats by James Norcliffe (Junior Fiction)
I’ve been looking out for this one as it is receiving very good reviews and is by the excellent New Zealand author, James Norcliffe, who wrote the Loblolly boy titles. The plot sounds intriguing: “When David's uncle comes to visit he sets off a bizarre series of events. Things become complicated when the pet rats turn bright red. David senses that somehow the red rats are connected to the story he is reading, and he becomes more convinced when the colour red becomes contagious. The parallel story sees Felix and his friend Bella inadvertently shifted into a strange land where they must solve a riddle. But this puts them into great danger. How will they escape and find their way home?”

Sinking by David Hill (Junior Fiction)
For primary and intermediate students: "Conrad [is] on his way to swimming training in the pre-dawn darkness. As he hurries through a park, a terrified old man bursts out of the trees at him, before running away. On his way home later, Con sees the same old man, perfectly at ease this time, with his grand-daughter, an edgy, aggressive, solitary girl who has just arrived at Con's school. The girl (Becks) is a horse enthusiast. Con hates horses almost as much as she hates swimming. The old man holds a terrible secret, which is driving him almost mad. Becks is fiercely protective of him, and reacts explosively against the group of school bullies who mock him. But she can't cope by herself, and slowly, she and Con are drawn into the full details of the secret.”

5 centimeters per second by Makoto Shinkai and Yukiko Seike (Young Adult Fiction)
Described as a modern romantic classic, this manga graphic novel is based on an award-winning film of the same name.

LIANZA Children's Book Awards Finalists 2013

2013-05-24T12:57:4112:00:00

The finalists in this year's LIANZA Children's Book Awards have been announced. Further information is available at the LIANZA website.

Te Kura Pounamu (te reo Māori)

Hautipua Rererangi story by Julian Arahanga, illustrated by Andrew Burdan, (Huia)

Ngā Waituhi o Rēhua by Katerina Te Heikoko Mataira, (Huia)

Arohanui by Huia Publishers, illustrated Andrew Burdan, (Huia)

Ko Meru by Kyle Mewburn, translated by Ngaere Roberts, illustrated by Ali Teo and John O'Reilly, (Scholastic)

Taea ngā whetū by Dawn McMillan, translated by Ngaere Roberts, illustrated by Keinyo White, (Scholastic)

LIANZA Junior Fiction Award – Esther Glen Medal

The Queen and the Nobody Boy: A tale of Fontania by Barbara Else, (GECKO Press)

Drover’s Quest by Susan Brocker, (HarperCollins Publishers (NZ) Ltd)

When Empire Calls by Ken Catran, (Scholastic NZ Ltd)

Red Rocks by Rachael King, (Random House New Zealand)

The ACB with Honora Lee by Kate de Goldi, (Random House New Zealand)

Lightening Strikes: The Slice by Rose Quilter, (Walker Books Australia)

LIANZA Young Adult Fiction Award

My Brother’s War by David Hill, (Penguin NZ)

The Nature of Ash by Mandy Hager, (Random House New Zealand)

Marked by Denis Martin, (Walker Books Australia)

Earth Dragon, Fire Hare by Ken Catran, (HarperCollins Publishers (NZ) Ltd)

Snakes and Ladders by Mary-anne Scott, (Scholastic NZ Ltd)

LIANZA Illustration Award - Russell Clark Award

The Dragon Hunters by James Russell, illustrated by Link Choi, (Dragon Brothers Books Ltd)

Mister Whistler by Margaret Mahy, illustrated by Gavin Bishop, Gecko Press)

Kiwi: The Real Story by Annemarie Florian, illustrated by Heather Hunt, (New Holland Publishers Ltd)

Blue Gnu by Kyle Mewburn, illustrated by Daron Parton, (Scholastic NZ Ltd)

Melu by Kyle Mewburn, illustrated by Ali Teo and John O’Reilly, (Scholastic NZ Ltd)

A Great Cake by Tina Matthews, (Walker Books Australia)

LIANZA Non Fiction Award – Elsie Locke Medal

At the Beach: Explore & Discover the New Zealand Seashore by Ned Barraud and Gillian Candler, (Craig Potton Publishing)

Eruption! Discovering New Zealand Volcanoes by Maria Gill, (New Holland Publishers (NZ) Ltd)

100 Amazing Tales from Aotearoa by Simon Morton and Riria Hotere, (Te Papa Press)

Top Six - 23 May 2013

2013-05-23T09:56:4012:00:00

Magical Margaret Mahy by Betty Gilderdale (Junior Non-fiction)
Great to see a revised edition of this book for children about our much-loved author. First published in 1987, this edition includes a new chapter, updates the lists of awards given to Margaret Mahy and updates the bibliography.

The Book of Blood: From Legends and Leeches to Vampires and Veins by HP Newquist (Junior Non-fiction)
This one’s on the list because, quite simply, it looks intriguing! All aspects of blood appear to have been covered, from the scientific and medical to how blood was used in sacrificial rites and in fiction. Suit upper primary level and up.

In Darkness by Nick Lake (Young Adult Fiction)
We’re receiving many young adult award winning titles at present. This one won an American Library Association Printz Award for Exellence in Young Adult Literature. Set in Haiti, it tells the tale of a boy trapped in the rubble of a hospital during an earthquake.

Fearless Fred and the Dragon by Maureen Sudlow (Junior Picture Book)
A very real and well-illustrated New Zealand adventure about a young boy’s imagination. Is he hunting a dragon? This one was a finalist for the Storylines Joy Cowley Award in 2012.

Charley’s First Night by Amy Hest, illustrated by Helen Oxenbury (Junior Picture Book)
Excellent story told with perfect pace and warm illustrations. Teachers looking for stories about pets, family rules, friendship, should have a look at this one.

My Dad is a Taniwha by Frank and Spike O’Connor (Junior Fiction)
A very attractively produced book, this New Zealand title caught our eye for looking a little different. Would love to hear from anyone who has read it – we’ve not heard of this author or publisher before so it may be self-published. The summary says: "When Fred the taniwha hatches from his egg he has a lot to learn. He needs to find food. And water. And what is safe, because there are many dangers for a small taniwha. With help from his father, he begins to find out about his world".

Top Six - 17 May 2013

2013-05-17T10:10:5212:00:00

The top six this week are not just children’s books, we’ve also including an interesting and positive book about teenagers and reading which is one of those perennial issues for teachers and parents.

Book love: Developing depth, stamina, and passion in adolescent readers by Penny Kittle (Non-fiction)
Written by a literacy coach, here is one for secondary teachers to explore. Looks at why teenagers often appear to have apathy for reading and what can be done about it.

Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe by Benjamin Alire Saenz (Young Adult Fiction)
There are three medal stickers plastered on the front of this one so we just had to have a look. This young adult novel has made a big impact in North America, winning a Printz Honor Award,a Stonewall Book Award and the Pura Belpré Award which “is presented annually to a Latino/Latina writer and illustrator whose work best portrays, affirms, and celebrates the Latino cultural experience in an outstanding work of literature for children and youth.” (Pura Belpré website). It sounds like this one covers many themes: cultural identity, friendship, sexuality and coming of age.

Annie Sullivan and the Trials of Helen Keller by Joseph Lambert (Junior Non-fiction)
Although there have been many books about Helen Keller and her teacher, this one caught my eye because it is in graphic format and therefore offers a fresh way for this inspiring tale to be explored by children.

31 Ways to Change the World (Junior Non-fiction)
Compiled by an organisation called we are what we do, this book is “inspired by the suggestions of thousands of kids” and suggests 31 actions we can all take. This looks like a great book for the classroom, but individual young readers will also find it thought-provoking to flick through.

Cow Boy: A Boy and his Horse A western graphic novel by Nate Cosby and Chris Elipoulos (Junior Fiction)
Leathery looking cover and the words “justice ain’t got no age” on the end papers make this an amusing- and unique- looking graphic novel for primary aged children.

ABC Zoo Borns by Andrew Cleiman and Chris Eastland (Junior Picture Books)
An alphabet book with gorgeous photographs of newborn animals.

Wordless blown-up books for te reo Maori

2013-05-15T08:57:1112:00:00

Several wordless blown-up books have arrived in the library from the reo Maori series Pihi. These will be excellent resources for teachers to use in classrooms. Wordless picture books can be used in several ways, such as to generate discussions with children about what is happening in the pictures. The children get to tell the story in their own way and explore the detail of the pictures. To learn more, have a look at the National Library’s information about how wordless picture books can be used. The quality material coming from Huia is great to see – these ones were published for the Ministry of Education and are linked to curriculum strands.

E tipu, pōhutukawa
A wordless picture book that tells the story of a pōhutukawa, from the time it is planted as a small seedling. It describes the growth of the tree, and the lives of the animals, insects, people, and community around it. Links to the Pūtaiao and Hauora (Taiao) strands of Te Marautanga o Aotearoa.

Nō wai ēnei whatu?
A wordless picture book that tells the story of a small beachside community, through the eyes of the different community members. Aims to develop visual literacy. Links with the Hauora strand of Te Marautanga o Aotearoa.

Ki te hoe!
A wordless picture book about a young girl who is excited about learning to paddle a waka ama with her friends and whānau. Linked to the Pāngarau and Hauora (Koiri) strands of Te Marautanga o Aotearoa.

Te māra kai a Koro
A wordless picture book that tells the story of a family who vist their grandparents' house to do some gardening with their Koro. Links to the Pāngarau, Hauora (Waiora) and Hangarau strands of Te Marautanga o Aotearoa.

Top Six: 8 May 2013

2013-05-08T08:58:1912:00:00

Ted by Leila Rudge (Junior Picture Book)
Delightful story, one of those picture books that all ages would enjoy, about a dog who goes through life unnoticed until he finds a friend. You’ll love the humorous and unexpected ending.

If you’re looking for fairytales or fables to perform as plays in your school you may these three plays from Dramatic Publishing of interest; Story Stew: A Fairy Tale Revue, The Far-Fetched Fable of the Frog Prince, and Aesop’s Fable-ous Christmas Tree.

Citizen Scientists: Be a Part of Scientific Discovery from Your Own Backyard by Loree Griffin Burns (Junior Non-fiction)
Although North American content, this is still relevant for its fun approach to exploring the natural environment on our doorsteps. Particular focus is on butterflies, birds, frogs and ladybugs.

Silenced by Simon Packham (Young Adult Fiction)
"Chris loses the power of speech completely when his best friend dies in a car crash. Why? What terrible secret is he hiding? And can he find his voice before it's too late?"

The Blood Lie by Shirley Reva Vernick (Young Adult Fiction)
This book about prejudice is winning awards in the U.S. and is inspired by real events. The blurb reads: “In 1928 in Massena, New York, Jewish sixteen-year-old Jack Pool, in love with his Christian neighbor, is accused of killing her little sister for a blood sacrifice.”

Top Six: 3 May 2013

2013-05-03T10:44:1312:00:00

The books that caught my eye on the New Books display this week are:

Bad Dog Flash by Ruth Paul and He Kuri Kino Koe Flash translated by Ngaere Roberts. This picture book is a lot of fun, and the language and rhythm is perfect. It’s really nice to see Maori and English editions published simultaneously.

Te Papangarua a Piwakawaka by Gay Hay, illustrated by Margaret Tolland. The reo Maori version of The Fantail’s Quilt.

A Boy and a Bear in a Boat by Dave Shelton, a junior fiction title. Longlisted for the CILIP Kate Greenaway Medal 2013, Shortlisted for the CILIP Carnegie Medal 2013, Shortlisted for the Costa Children's book Award 2012. Described as a fable on friendship.

The Boy Who Swam with Piranhas a junior fiction title by highly acclaimed author David Almond who seems to do something quite unique with each title he writes. Tells the “barmy” tale of ordinary boy Stan whose Uncle becomes fascinated with canning fish.

A Necklace of Souls by R.L. Stedman, a new Kiwi author who will be one to watch. This young adult novel was the winner of the Storylines Tessa Duder Award in 2012 and is the first published novel from this author. It has received excellent reviews which is no easy feat in the large and competitive fantasy market.

Code Name Verity by Elizabeth Wein, a young adult title which is receiving a lot of attention by reviewers and bloggers. Set in France in 1943, it tells of two young British women who survive when their spy plane crashes in Nazi-occupied France.