New+Browsing+Books

New Browsing Books

Do you agree with these reviews - or can you write a better one??????? (Some of these reviews are not really reviews, more a synopsis or blurb) Best kids reviews will be on the wiki and in the newsletter!

TEACHERS!!!! LESSON PLANS FOR THIS BOOK

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Was Cinderella annoyingly chatty? Was the Big Bad Wolf a victim of circumstance? Just because these classic stories are told from the protagonist's point of view doesn't mean the antagonists don't have their side of the story too. Make sure your readers have the whole story!



Dani is probably the happiest person she knows. She’s happy because she’s going to start school. She's been waiting to go to school her whole life.

Then things get even better—she meets Ella. Dani and Ella stick together through wet and dry, sun and rain, thick and thin. They do everything together.

But then things start to happen that Dani isn’t prepared for… [|http://www.geckopress.co.nz]

//Oh, my Yummy One, my Utterly Lovely One!// //Look at you, so gorgeous!//

So opens a glorious praise song from a parent crane to her little cranelet — drawing many other species into the circle of love as she sings. Warm, funny, and full of energy and affection, this is another gem from Mary Murphy, whose springlike palette is well suited to the story's celebratory air.



Ted is a smart dog, with his own jumper. But he has lived at the pet store for as long as he can remember and nobody seems to notice him. Will Ted ever find the perfect place to live?

[]

//Leila Rudge//, author of //Ted//, answers Ten Terrifying Questions.



[|abdomen] [|adult] [|Africa] [|American] [|animals] [|aphids] [|attack] [|bees] [|biggest] [|birds] [|bite] [|bumblebees] [|burrow] [|butterflies fly] [|carries] [|cat fleas] [|catch] [|cause] [|centipedes] [|chemical] [|chewing mouthparts] [|cicada] [|cocoon] [|colony] [|color] [|Crab spider] [|cricket] [|dangerous] [|disease] [|dragonflies] [|dung beetles] [|earthworms] [|eaten] [|enemies] [|Europe] [|eyespots] [|faeces] [|fangs] [|female] [|flies] [|flowers] [|front legs] [|fungus] [|giant African snail] [|grasshopper] [|gray slugs] [|group of beetles] [|grow] [|hair] [|hatch] [|head louse] [|hive] [|honeybee] [|hoverflies] [|huge] [|jaws] [|killed] [|kinds] [|larvae] [|lay eggs] [|lay their eggs] [|leaf-cutter ants] [|lice] [|lives inside] [|locusts live] [|look] [|male] [|mammals] [|mantis] [|mate] [|millions] [|millipedes] [|monarch butterflies] [|moth] [|mouthparts] [|nectar] [|nest] [|pair] [|Partula snails] [|pest] [|plant] [|poisonous] [|pollen] [|predator] [|prey] [|produce] [|queen] [|scorpions] [|shell] [|silk] [|skin] [|soil] [|soldier ants] [|species] [|spiny] [|stick insect] [|sucking mouthparts] [|tapeworm] [|termite] [|termites live] [|tick] [|tiny] [|tongues] [|tropical] [|tsetse fly] [|underground] [|vast numbers] [|wasps] [|weevils] [|wings] [|winter] [|workers] [|worms]

[|Anne Cottringer's Author Site] Intro to my children's books [] (Games and activities) This is a perfect storybook for any young child who adores trains, dinosaurs and drawing – and those who don’t. Titus is going on a train journey under the watchful eye of the train guard; his Uncle Henry is waiting for him at the end of the journey. What no one realises are the bandits, T-Rex’s avalanches and breakdowns waiting for Titus during his journey. Fortunately, he manages to sort them all out.



MORE TEACHERS NOTES!!! []



With their spoon-shaped bills, it would make sense that a Spoonbill bird would be right at home in the kitchen… or would it?

Dr. Seuss's Sleep Book
This book begins with a small bug, named Van Vleck, yawning



Marisol and her single mom have been invited to spend a few weeks of the year with friends in Montana. Though it will mean Marisol will be separated from her best friend for part of the school year, she thinks it will be worth it to experience life in another part of the country. Sure enough, when she arrives at her new temporary home, things are definitely interesting. For one thing, she's living with twins who are just her age. Jack is outgoing, cute, friendly, and popular, while Halley is quieter, more timid, and somewhat mysterious. After Halley disappears during the full moon on Marisol's first night, and then returns home with leaves in her hair, Marisol begins to wonder what she's up to. After hearing rumors about wolves at school, she becomes convinced that Halley is a werewolf, and sets out to prove as much with science. ([])



Why would you need to avoid being a secret agent in the second world war?



A fascinating journey around the world of extinct animals, combining cartoons with naturalist drawings, and mythology with science. Sing along with iconic entertainer Pio Terei counting down from ten kooky kiwi to one! Colourful kiwi characters act out this funny kids' version of the popular singalong Ten Green Bottles, including CD by iconic NZ entertainer Pio Terei.



Man v wild.

Max has just one friend. His name is George, and he appears in any kind of window - shop windows, car windows, train and house. Max loves hovering near windows to find his sweet bunny friend. He loves chatting to George and sharing jokes.

"What are you laughing at? Who are you talking to?" adults ask Max. They just don't understand.

Max and George share a lot of the same qualities. They are around the same height, dress the same and even move the same. When Max is feeling happy, George is, too. Same for when he's feeling jittery - and today, Max is feeling particularly jittery. Why? Because it will soon be his first day of school. But not to worry - George will be with Max the whole way. Will his new school chums find his friendship with George strange? Or will school herald a whole new way of being for Max?

[]



'Ten baby tuatara hatch and try to find a place to hide ... ' What a lovely surprise to discover that the last tuatara is sharing a burrow with a bird.

Rhyming children's picture book with full colour illustrations. Everyone knows that kiwi birds always sleep in the day - all except Emily the Kiwi, who loves to play here ukulele. A story about the joy of music, and sharing. Also featuring Annie the Granny, Louie the Tui, Molly Morepork, Abigail Fantail, and others.

Giraffe, Elephant, Hippo and Baboon all live by the lake, happily going about their own business, until one day Giraffe spies the shadow of Lion - prowling, creeping, stalking, sneaking. What are they to do now? Phil Cumming’s noisy, energetic text and Janine Dawson’s witty, expressive illustrations will have young children itching to jump up and perform this book out loud. Great fun. Review: [] How does a caterpillar become a butterfly or a gray whale find its way home on the world's longest journey from breeding to feeding territory? You'll be amazed at the feats that come naturally to these living things. But don't just take our word for it. See if you can figure out how they do it!



Subtitled "Dr. Seuss's Surprising Word Book," //The Shape of Me and Other Stuff// certainly lives up to its billing. In this delightful book, first published in 1973, kids are encouraged to ponder shapes they may never have considered before: "Just think about the shape of beans and flowers and mice and big machines!" Dr. Seuss's illustrations are in silhouette (for the purpose of accenting the outlines of figures), but are nonetheless up to par with his usual wacky, amusing style. Soaring well beyond the mundane arena of circles, triangles, and squares, here we are challenged to consider "the shape of camels … the shape of bees and the wonderful shapes of back door keys!" Kids will love the silly rhymes and funny pictures, and parents will appreciate this original take on the largely untapped world of shapes.

Molly thinks cat-sitting will be a doddle. All she has to do is feed Mimi twice a day and play with her. But Molly is in for a big surprise - not only is the cat in question a very fussy eater, but she can talk!



by
[|Carol Ann Martin] The narrator loves to stay with her grandmother in her house on Huffingup Hill. Most of all she loves Grandma's stories about Tansy Magill, a llittle red-haired girl who once also lived in this house, and who slept in the same bed under the same patchwork quilt. The story she likes to hear most of all is Grandma's tale about how Tansy Magill met Billy Higgins and became part of the Huffingup Hill Gang. She never tires of hearing it, and it always makes her laugh … But who is Tansy Magill, really?

= Please read these books and write a review!! =   //Sam's best friend Harry is working on a school assignment about refugees from the Balkans, and comes across a photo of the school caretaker as a war criminal. The next thing he knows, Harry is dead and has returned as a ghost to help Sam solve the mystery of his murder. The boys, with the help of the class geek Anna, uncover an operation centred at their school, involving giving war criminals protection in exchange for big bucks.//

 It's 1943 and Lillian's father is fighting in North Africa. When Lillian develops a spot on her lung she is sent with her older sister, Joyce, to live on their grandparents' farm at Whangateau, near Warkworth. Both girls think life is going to be very boring on the farm - but then the countryside is invaded by United States troops training to fight in the Pacific. A camp of US Marines is established just down the road on the edge of the harbour, and it's not long before several handsome young Marines are knocking on the door asking for a drink of fresh milk.

Even on ordinary days Hannah thought Mr McPherson's second hand shop was somehow mysterious. But today, being Christmas Eve, it seemed even more so. And as she grasped the wooden doorknob and pushed open the door, she thought she heard the faint jingling of sleigh bells ...What is the mystery behind the wee dancer trapped in the crystal ball? Could it be connected to her hunt for a Christmas tree ... Iris wants to be the best rapper and ukulele player in the whole of the entire universe. Preferably with her best friend ever, and fellow Master of the Musical Universe, Sidney, at her side. They're even writing a rap musical together, and Iris hopes they'll win the talent competition which will enable her to buy the new purple ukulele that she covets. But then she and Sidney fall out

Retold in graphic novel form, Sherlock Holmes investigates a report of a young wife sucking the blood from her infant son. Includes a section explaining Holmes's reasoning and the clues he used to solve the mystery.



Lulu the pukeko found some old shoes, Jacko Pukeko discovered them too. Four Pukeko feet, only one pair of shoes - what will the pukekos do? A story about sharing, with the pukekos romping through pages to find a surprise at the end.

The first page of ‘Dinosaur Rocks’ made me laugh…it pictures Tim arriving at his grandparent’s property in the country, surrounded by his iPad, iPod and Nintendo DS. He is //horrified// to learn that there is no internet or television…oh the terror. To cope with his boredom, Tim and Belle the dog have no option but to take a walk to explore nearby ‘Dinosaur Rocks’. Not far into his walk he stumbles upon a funny looking chick, distressed and looking for it’s mother. Tim quickly discovers mum…a very large (unnamed) dinosaur, who takes Tim on a fantastical journey through ‘Dinosaur Rocks’.



//Oh, this canyon was famous!//

It was clean. It was great.

As a tourist attraction,

it was voted ‘first rate’.

Munkle Arvur, dear Munkle,

he cared for it all …

until once upon onetime,

the Bod paid a call…

The Bod proceeds to use the canyon as a place to dump waste … and gradually the canyon fills up. It is up to Munkle Arvur to find a way to rescue the canyon – by recycling the waste!

From gangs of gangsters to maniacs who massacre, meet the biggest baddies in history and discover how they tortured and terrifie their way to the top. Want to know: * whose savage speciality was nostril-splitting? * which evil emporer served up guts in gold dishes? * whose axe-murdering antics were turned into a ballet?

A graphic novel adaptation of Kipling's story. Overall, a funny way of explaining something as complex as camouflage. The animals can hear the narrator and make comments about how he's telling the story which I think will appeal to young readers and dial right into their sense of humor. Animals are drawn in a cartoony way (think of the Madagascar movies). Back matter includes a bio on Kipling and both the retelling author and the illustrator. Terms are defined and discussion questions follow the story. Some facts about leopards and an invitation to do some research on topics mentioned in the story round out the supplemental material. (Review: goodreads)

Lily is sure Petal the kitten would be a star at the angel cat show. But now she has to take Frumplepuss too, and he's bound to misbehave! And when she accidentally dyes Professor Glumbo's wings pink, her day goes from bad to worse!

Illustrator Aki Fukuoka was born in Japan. At the age of eight, she immigrated with her family of seven to New Zealand, settling in Whangarei. A graduate of Elam School of Fine Arts, Aki now lives in Auckland and works as a freelance illustrator/graphic designer.



Have you ever wondered what colour dinosaurs really were, what they had for breakfast or even whether you could beat one in a running race? You have! Then this is the book for you. Crammed full of interesting dino-facts and bursting with detailed illustrations, How Dinosaurs Really Work covers everything you need to know about these roaring beasts. The perfect book for all dino-crazy youngsters.



The droid army is coming and Queen Amidala and her people must join forces with Gungans to reclaim their home planet of Naboo before it's too late! Young readers will learn all about the characters, weapons, and vehicles from the climatic battle of //Episode I in Star Wars: Battle for Naboo// from Jedi Master Qui-Gon Jinn and his apprentice Obi-Wan Kenobi, to the dark side of the Force with the return of the Sith!



In a faraway kingdom, there lives an Emperor who prizes fancy clothes above all else. He buys suit after suit made of the most expensive materials instead of tending to his threadbare kingdom. Then, one day, two traveling merchants offer to make the Emperor a special suit that has magical powers. The merchants, however, are not who they claim to be, and the suit has one major flaw -- no one can see it!



This is a delightful rhyming book about the journey of a kiwi egg that is found in the wild and brought back to a rescue centre where it hatches into Koki the Kiwi.

Buy it. Buy it now. It's the Goldilocks tale from a fresh perspective, but the more you dig, the more //Me and You// will reveal. It's an utterly gorgeous picture book that works on so so so many levels. (review: theBookbag.co.uk)

A sweet, funny picture book about overcoming stage fright, being brave, and embracing your talents. 'My little brother thinks I'm the best singer in the world. But I can't sing if there are too many people. When I was six, we were having a performance at school to celebrate spring. It would be on a real stage, with proper spotlights. I told the teacher I didn't want to ...'



For the legions of dedicated Ripley's fans, and anyone else on the planet who loves the unbelievable, the latest annual in the bestselling series is a feast of delights. Following hot on the heels of last year's best-selling edition, //Ripley's Believe It or Not! 2013// offers an entirely new compendium of bizarre facts and features, including the largest crocodile ever captured, the village in China where three million snakes are bred each year, and the national sport that uses a headless goat as a ball!

As well as the jaw-dropping images and strange stories are intriguing interviews with some of the astounding individuals who feature in the book, informative 'Ripley's Research' boxes, mind-boggling lists, fascinating black and white photos from the Ripley archive, submissions from Ripley fans around the world - and a brand new Ripley's Weird Records feature.

 When 10-year-old Will’s father dies in the Iraq war, his mother surprises him with a trip to Indonesia. But little could she have known what awaited them both there.

At first Will knows that something is wrong is when Oona, the elephant he is riding along the beach, begins to spook. Then, suddenly, she takes off into the jungle with Will on her back. And that’s when Will sees the wave come crashing in! With his mother almost certainly drowned, with nothing to cling on to but an elephant and nothing to help him but the clothes on his back, Will faces a terrifying future. But maybe the jungle and Oona the elephant, can help him! Find out more on the website here: []



The year is 1943. The setting is the seaside village of Slapton, Devon, for this moving story which is a subtle blend of history and human and animal relationships. Suddenly the villagers, together with families from six neighbouring villages totalling 3000, are ordered to move out so that US troups can practice their landings in preparation for D-Day, when the forces will invade France.

Everyone packs up, but Lily still can’t find her precious cat, Tips. Maybe two friendly American soldiers will help her search? Dare she climb over the forbidden barbed wire fence? Sadly, Lily leaves without Tips. Will she ever see him again? And will the village be the same place when they finally return? This is a compelling read for the family to share.



Deserts are dry and immense landscapes. Find out about the amazing ways that animals survive in these unique habitats.



Give your food an eco-makeover! This make-and-do book contains 16 ideas for tasty and healthy lunches and picnics which at the same time highlight a range of ethical issues around sourcing food. In preparing lunchtime and picnic snacks, these activities encourage the use of seasonal, locally sourced and fairtrade products as well as encouraging children to consider how their lunch is packaged to minimise resources. Photos and step-by-step guides show children how to make appealingly tasty yet nutritious food including bean burgers, pizza pods, popcorn, lemonade and vegetable crisps as well as their own handy packaging. (lionhudson.com)



Tired of the stress of being stuck in traffic, Madison Moon buys a hot-air balloon and takes to the skies. But when everybody else decides to do the same, she goes back to her car, leaving them to fight for space in the wild blue yonder!



Fantasy collides with the western in the second volume of the Will Gallows series. The title character, half-human and half-elf, inhabits a world of cowboys – albeit sky cowboys – and sheriffs, as well as Native American- inspired elves and mages. As tensions grow between cowboys and elves, Will uncovers a sinister plot and things get worse when his uncle is wrongfully imprisoned. There is plenty of drama and action to keep the reader interested, and the last one hundred pages or so are particularly gripping, as disasters and crises pile up. (review inis magazine)

The Tiny Triplets _ Whangarei, Whakatane and Phellington - are anchored in Port Perfect. They are waiting for the wind to blow them over the curve of the Earth to far distant seas, where highly prized Giant Plastic Bags can be found. Huge sea serpents and foul-mouthed enemies lie in wait for the Sailing Boats of Saggimau.



Norman Normal was a normal eight-year-old. He lived in a normal house on Normal Street, with his normal family. But things were never really very normal in Normalsville. Everyone in Norman's family was musical, except Norman. But all that changed the day he got the tingle, jingle, twitch and itch, and made farty armpit music. Norman buuurted his way to the top of the charts. He became Normansville's greatest musician but his finest moment came when he was invited to perform at the Royal Variety Gala.



From the very first page you know that this is not a happy story. ‘The Great Orlando,’ otherwise known as Sunday Jones lives in a ‘rough, broken house with an unkempt lawn and a dead lemon tree in the front yard.’ His father is a cruel, miserable man, but his mother cares for him, protects him, and tells him bedtime stories of The Great Orlando. When his mother dies, Sunday Jones is left with his father who makes his life a misery. When he gets the chance to enter the school talent show, he transforms himself into The Great Orlando and is finally able to escape his miserable life.



"A unique, gripping tale of powerful cats, monstrous fairies, and a girl with determination and heart" – Tamora Pierce, author of the Beka Cooper series


 * Kyle Mewburn** has done it once again! He’s created another clever and fun-filled picture book that children and adults alike will love, and it features a loveable hippo called Po.

Po and his friends love the playground. “I want to swing!” said Uta. “I want to slide!” said Madi. “I want to spin!” said Raff. “I want to do everything!” said Po. They all rush off to the playground and have a go on everything. Everyone, that is, except Po. Poor Po is just too big to go on anything…until he gets to the seesaw. (wordpress.com)



Barry and his fishy friends are playing Hide and Seek. Puffy finds a great hiding place in an old wreck, but he gets scared out of his wits when he sees a hairy monster lurking in the shadows. Luckily Barry the fish with fingers comes to the rescue - and discovers that the 'monster' is a friendly seahorse who just needs a haircut!

'What we need is a tree!' said Bonny. 'I completely agree,' said Pop. Bonny and Pop are bursting with ideas. Pop's ideas are big and brave and Bonny's ideas are simple and clever. When they decide to make something that will attract the birds, they come up with ideas for a tree. A brave tree, a clever tree... a magnificent tree.



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The hare is exuberant about the arrival of spring. She dances her way around the fields and across the stone wall, somersaulting in the air, joyous in her freedom and being herself. She approaches the sleeping hound, wanting him to join in with her excitement, but the little mouse who lives in the stone wall, wants to warn her. He knows that the dog is not really sleeping, that he has one eye on the hare coming increasingly closer. When he does reach out and trap the hare the mouse must think quickly. (readplus.co.au)

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Meet Volcanica, the feisty reporter at Magmatic Press who presents hot facts about volcano science in New Zealand. Discover the four main types of volcano found in this country: stratovolcanoes, shield, caldera and volcanic fields and explore the characteristics of each as demonstrated in data panels and aerial photographs of selected volcanoes around New Zealand. Bright colourful graphics depict key aspects of volcanic activity such as fissures, fumaroles, debris avalanches, craters and fire fountains and kids are encouraged to find these again through the book. Special features devised by the author provide extra learning opportunities: Maoritopia has creation stories and Maori legends, Videotopia gives access to online educational videos and animations, and there is Factopia with flash facts for additional knowledge.

Resources at the end of the book list trips to visit volcanoes, books to read and advice about what to do in the event of an eruption, along with a comprehensive index and a map locating the volcanoes described in the book. (Manaaki Whenua Press review)


 * Grandma Mcgarvey paints the shed**
 * by Jenny Hessell.**

When Grandma McGarvey paints the shed, she does it with her own distinctive style. You'll never see another shed quite like this one.

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 * Muncle Trogg, the tiny but determined giant, is worried.**

His home on Mount Grumble is at risk from being destroyed when the mountain shows signs of erupting, but all his fellow giants can think about is celebrating the departure of the smalling humans from down the mountain.

Luckily for Muncle, his friend Emily hasn't abandoned him - and she has an idea. The giants might not listen to a little giant but they will sit up if a donkey - the wisest, most wondrous animal they know - makes an eeaw-mously important appearance. (review: doublecluck.com)

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Prudence wants a pet. Desperately. “No,” says Dad, “pets cost too much to keep.” “No,” says Mom, “pets make noise.” But Prudence is determined. She finds her own pet. It is a…branch. But Branch isn't exactly the pet of her dreams, and neither are Twig, Mr. Round (a car tire), or her baby brother Milo. Poor Prudence. Will she ever find the perfect pet? (review goodreads.com)

<span style="color: #ff00ff; font-family: Impact,Charcoal,sans-serif; font-size: 160%;"> Feisty Ophelia Wild decides to set up her own detective agency, with its headquarters in her tree house. Along with her assistant, Albert, she foils bullies, solves a meat-pie mystery, and cracks the case of the disappearing dentures. (Review Goodreads)

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//Uncle Trev And His Whistling Bull//, is full of the mild anarchy of childhood. You get a sense from the Introductory chapter, titled //My Mother's Remarkable Ears//, that the book is going to fun. The narrator, a poorly 1930s schoolboy on a farm, has a pretty intimidating mum. Her ears are so sharp they can hear the echo of naughty conversations. She warns him after spotting a mark on the kitchen floor: "My eyes can read that lino like a book". (Review Daily Telegraph)

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Told from the eyes of a little girl, //My Grandad Marches on Anzac Day// is a charming book about the importance of Anzac Day and the reason behind it. It starts with the dawn service on Anzac Day then moves onto the parade. The little girl sits on her fathers shoulders while she waits for her Grandfather to march by with his friends and for his friends that didn’t make it. The little girl talks briefly of the history of Gallipoli and the thousands of men that didn’t make it home. It is also a book about a young girl’s relationship with her family. (review abc.net)

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 * In this delightful bedtime story, a young bear tells his mama all about his exciting day — in reverse — inspiring little listeners to do the same.**

(Review Goodreads)

<span style="color: #ff00ff; font-family: Impact,Charcoal,sans-serif; font-size: 160%;"> Never Say No To A Princess is an enchanting story about a sparkly princess, who you've guessed it, is used to getting her own way. That is until a dragon passes over the kingdom. When the Royal Servants can't catch it her tears turn into a river and she is washed out of the palace. Luckily for her she meets the very dragon she wanted to possess. However, this dragon stands for no nonsense from the rude princess who eventually remembers 'a word she heard a long time ago' (please). Guardian review

<span style="color: #ff00ff; font-family: Impact,Charcoal,sans-serif; font-size: 160%;"> A story that related well to children who already had an interest and connection in their own lives to rugby, nature, farms, mud, food, fishing, family and our mighty All Blacks. Such strong connections creatively threaded together in rhyming, witty words are this book’s real strength. (Reviewed by Julie King @ Booksellers) //** The world doesn’t need us all to be the same. Wouldn’t it be a boring place if we were? What the world really needs are more picture books like this one that celebrate the differences within friendships, and help children to accept that it is okay to be different. **//

<span style="color: #ff00ff; font-family: Impact,Charcoal,sans-serif; font-size: 160%;"> Thumbelina is a fairy tale that is a bit lesser known to me so I was excited to take a peek at it. The book starts off with a cast of characters, giving you your first hint at the beautiful illustrations to come. They are very quirky and colorful, just what I like! The illustrations range from tiny details to almost scribbles. The story follows Thumbelina's journey back to her mother Gerta after she is plucked from her home while sleeping... (Review by Alea on Goodreads.com)

<span style="color: #ff00ff; font-family: Impact,Charcoal,sans-serif; font-size: 160%;"> The story begins with Isaac asking his friend Luke, who is blind, if he knows about colours. Luke’s answer is naturally no, so Isaac sets out to do what seems impossible – describing colours to someone who can’t see. (review Gloss co)

Martin Bridge sound the alarm
<span style="color: #ff00ff; font-family: Impact,Charcoal,sans-serif; font-size: 160%;"> Martin Bridge and his friend Stuart find a full-scale model of their space hero's rocket in the toy store and just have to climb in for a ride. But after landing back on Earth, they find the toy store closed and locked -- with no way out Then Martin sees something in a display window that turns his knees to jelly. What will he do when he's trapped with his greatest fear? (review: goodreads.com)

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Old Macdonald had a farm - e-i-e-i-o ..." Everyone knows the song. But now the farm and animals are in New Zealand and old Macdonald has a Swanndri and gumboots. Donovan Bixley's illustrations depict the beautiful New Zealand landscape - with farm animals! But what are those crazy animals up to? For pre-schoolers. (Review Fishpond)

** Goldie and the Three Penguins ** by Chris Gurney, illus. Sarah Nelisiwe Anderson, Scholastic NZ One of the latest titles in the popular Kiwi Corkers series, this hardback book presents an amusing and ultra-modern take on Goldilocks and the Three Bears. Goldie sets off to buy a jelly-tip ice-cream but is lured by the smell of fish and chips to the house of the three Penguins. When she eats the meal of Chick Penguin, she says, “My oh my, that was really kapai!” This mantra is repeated throughout the story as Goldie tries out the chairs and the beds. Everyone can guess the ending – Goldie runs back to the loving arms of her mother. Children who know the original story (and are favourably inclined towards movie-style penguins) will enjoy the inter-textual links. The rhyming text is fairly demanding to read aloud but should be entertaining if read with panache. The illustrations are lively, intriguing and very modern – using a style that combines a semi-comic-book format with digital painting and digital collage. Goldie’s snarls of blonde wool hair provide an interesting motif (and of course her mum has the same). Best for primary-aged children. (Review [] ) My seven-year-old daughter loves the Kylie Jean series of books. These books make a great transition from early readers to chapter books as the chapters are brief, and there are many cute illustrations throughout. Kylie Jean Carter is a precocious girl who lives in Jacksonville, Texas with her mom, dad, her brother T.J. and her bulldog, Ugly Brother. She aspires to be a beauty queen, but don't be put off by this as the stories explore the many facets of Kylie Jean's personality and through the course of the books, Kylie Jean begins to discover she has quite a few other hidden talents. In Kylie Jean Drama Queen, Kylie's class is putting on a play, Alice in Wonderland and Kylie has her heart set on the role of Queen of Hearts. Unfortunately, Kylie has a rival in new mean girl, Paula Dupree. It is great fun to read about how Kylie goes about achieving her goal. This is an engaging chapter series for independent young readers. (Amazon customer review) At Victory School for Super Athletes, Kenzie is angry because she is having trouble controlling her super strength in swimming class.

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> === Difference, Danger and Dragons: These are all found in Nazam Anhar’s novel //Dragon Hunter.// === > === I must say, I’m not a big fan of dragons. I don’t even play video games with dragons in them, such as //‘The Elder Scrolls V// – //Skyrim//, but after reading this book it has shown me a different perspective of the mythical creatures. I like how Nazam had portrayed the scene for the reader, allowing adequate information to be able to understand where a character is, but also leaves enough room for imagination to make the book more enjoyable. I must praise Nazam for this great effect in //Dragon Hunter.// Although I very much enjoyed the novel, I felt that I was a little too old for this book. I would strongly consider this book to those between school years four and eight, so from ages ten to fourteen who are interested in Dragons and the eras in which such stories are set. I think Nazam has provided a great read and I anticipate reading more of his novels. === > === === > [] > > ====== > Mr Tuna, the Eel of all Eels presides over the Kaituna River. He is a slippery slimy creature who only thinks about succulent fat morsels inside his puku. Whitebait is his weakness. Whitey, Tere and Freddy, his old whitebait friends cleverly lure him into a whitebait net. But are they really safe from him? Tuna is the Maori word for eel, and this delightful picturebook tells the story of the breeding habits of the tuna. (Review publisher) Macquarie Island lies in the Southern Ocean, between Antarctica and New Zealand. A speck of green in the vast, windswept sea, it is a haven for many creatures that live above and below the waves. This title tells the story of this remote and precious World Heritage Site. (Review Wheelers)

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<span style="color: #ff00ff; font-family: Impact,Charcoal,sans-serif; font-size: 160%;"> Angus and Lucy love books. They have hundreds of them. Butwhen the books are taken away, Angus and Lucy’s family soondiscover they cannot live without them.A warm and moving celebration of books and the way in whichthey bring us all together. (New Frontier Publishing) [] One morning, Lily’s mom wakes up with a sore throat and achy head and needs to stay in bed. But Lily’s dad needs to go to work. Who will look after Lily? When Dad arranges for her to spend the day at Melanie’s house, Lily is none too happy. "Don’t want to go!" she says. Even though Melanie has a friendly dog named Ringo and a funny baby named Sam, Lily is shy and wants to sit under the table with her toy Bobbo. But maybe a chance to make silly collages, or feed Sam lunch, or hold Ringo’s leash might make her feel braver—and maybe she’ll start having so much fun she won’t want to leave at the end of the day! With illustrations that keenly convey emotion through the subtlest gesture, Shirley Hughes mines a familiar situation for its most genuine moments and creates a truly reassuring story for young children. (Random House )



Even super boy spies have to learn their awesome spying skills somewhere! First readers can now follow Zac Power as he trains for his missions! Join Zac Power at Spy Camp.. and as Zac has a uncanny way of getting into trouble, he's sure to encounter some mini missions along the way! The books are enthralling and high on excitement, without overwhelming fi rst readers with too many words! With a maximum of 50 words per page, Spy Camps are packed with illustrations and word art.

Get inside the minds of scientists, engineers and programmers, and unravel the workings of the modern world. Technology is an authoritative and visually engaging look at discovering the secrets of tunnel builders, the splitting of an atom, and the adventure of a ride into orbit. Web links and quotes throughout the book allow readers further exploration into each subject. (Macmillan review)



The Very Hungry Bear is the latest instalment in the adventures of a very popular and much loved bear at the hands of Australian author and illustrator Nick Bland. Incorporating a new angle, but still with a clearly defined theme of friendship, this latest picture book was great fun to read out loud. Mybookcorner review) This exquisite picture book invites readers to accompany a host of animals from walruses to whales, as they migrate to the Arctic for the summer months. A lyrical and informative text supports gloriously detailed illustrations, which include depictions of the five thousand mile journey to the Arctic Circle of a grey whale and the impressive flights of cranes and snow geese who travel even further from Mexico and China. (Booktrust.org.uk review)

Kaspar Prince of Cats opens in 1912 at the Savoy Hotel, when orphaned bell-boy Johnny Trott unexpectedly finds himself the guardian of Kaspar Kandinsky, "the most beautiful cat in all of Russia". Kaspar makes friends with one of the guests, Lizziebeth, only child of wealthy New York parents, who starts off being a "hoity-toity" know-it-all, but turns out to be a thoroughly good egg. The three friends battle the kind of class (and species) prejudice you'd expect in an age when everyone knew their place, but this is nothing compared with what they encounter when they sail on the "biggest, fastest ship in the whole world": the Titanic. (Review The Independent)

Judy is enthralled with her current read, THE MYSTERY OF THE 99 STEPS. Okay, so she's slightly creeped out by the spooky goings-on there. But being the teensiest bit scared is certainly not going to prevent her from looking for a mystery close to home. She's on the watch for a whodunit, armed with her official Nancy Drew detective kit, complete with flashlight, "duck" tape, lipstick for writing SOS messages, and disguise. During class, Judy believes she has found one: the Mystery of the Teacher's Missing Eyeglasses. She even thinks she’s figured out the villain. This turns out to be a dead-end dud of a detective case, but "Judy Drewdy" is just getting warmed up. She’s still on the hunt for the perfect mystery. (Review kidsread.com)



<span style="color: #800080; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 160%;"> The soggy bog is home to ten polliwogs. They splosh and splash together in the rain and mud, until one polliwog turns into a frog. Now there are nine polliwogs in the soggy bog and one frog on the mossy log. As the rain continues to fall, more and more polliwogs turn into frogs and the bog comes to life with colour and sound. Even the local scriffy scruffy dog cannot resist the bog-frog hop! (Whitcoulls)

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Rupert is a Huey. One day, he breaks out from the uniformity of the crowd and knits a bright, new, orange jumper. He is the only one with a jumper and others begin to talk. After a short period of rumour-mongering, the Hueys all begin to admire Rupert’s jumper and individuality. They like the idea of being different, and one by one they get a jumper; one just like Rupert’s. The Hueys all think they’re being different, but the group-shot image of the Hueys together tells a very different story. The use of the contrasting text and image on this page creates a clever, tongue-in-cheek message. (review from mylittlebookcase.co.au)

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<span style="color: #800080; font-family: 'comic sans ms',cursive; font-size: 160%; line-height: 0px; overflow: hidden;"> The bloodthirsty, squabbling, greedy - and somewhat dim-witted - Goblins live in the towers at Clovenstone keep, which are described beautifully by Reeve. "Gargoyles lurk in their ivy like lice in beggars' beards", he writes. Clovenstone is a great creation (the one in Reeve's mind, I've never been to the real one in Aberdeenshire).

The language throughout //Goblins// is playful and witty. In a chapter called '//The Bumwipe Heaps'// the crafty old Goblin Breslaw shows Skarper (the Goblin hero of the book) a pile of old mouldering books, used only - and infrequently - by other goblins to clean the places where the sun definitely doesn't shine. Skarper, an unusual and inquisitive Goblin, teaches himself to read with a dictionary. . . "From this Skarper learned the meaning of words which no Goblin before him had ever known, words such as kindness and Gazebo." (Part of a review from the Telegraph)

<span style="color: #800080; font-family: 'comic sans ms',cursive; font-size: 160%; line-height: 0px; overflow: hidden;"> Three magic Doors you here behold Time to choose: Wood? Silver? Gold? Listen to your inner voice And you will make the wisest choice.

<span style="color: #800080; font-family: 'comic sans ms',cursive; font-size: 160%; line-height: 0px; overflow: hidden;"> Life in a medieval castle was not as romantic as you might think! See what life was really like for a lowly servant, carrying out all the grim menial work of the castle and doing her best to survive the horrors of siege warfare. The humorous cartoon-style illustrations and the narrative approach encourage readers to get emotionally involved with the characters, aiding their understanding of what life would have been like being a in medieval castle. Informative captions, a complete glossary and an index make this title an ideal introduction to the conventions of non-fiction texts for young readers. (Amazon review)

<span style="color: #800080; font-family: 'comic sans ms',cursive; font-size: 160%; line-height: 0px; overflow: hidden;"> Otto is a bear who lives in a book - a book bear - and nothing makes him happier than when people read his book. But he also has a secret: at night, he comes to life, and loves to explore the house and also work on his own stories. But one day, Otto's book is left on the shelf as the family moves away and Otto must find a new home. And so he must set off on his biggest adventure yet; across the city he goes until he finds the best possible home for a book bear, a magical place full of wonderful and happy surprises for Otto ... a library. (Librarymice.com review)

<span style="color: #800080; font-family: 'comic sans ms',cursive; font-size: 160%; line-height: 0px; overflow: hidden;"> The Coat is a story of possibility: of disappointment, risk and triumph. The story begins with our hero the coat - once a proud and feted performer - now stuffed and stuck in a strawberry field: 'What a waste of me!' it yells to the sun and whoever will listen. (Wheelers review)

These are the New Zealand Post Book Award finalists...

The cat loves its pyjamas, it has new ones each night and has great dreams. But what happens when he wears monster pyjamas? (Review by H Whelan)

The story is a rather simple follow the leader story – great for little ones to imitate what is going on in the book. We created actions and voices so it was pretty fun! The illustrations are nice and bright and I love that the words go up and down and all over the page – just as my voice does when reading it aloud. (Booksellers review)

//Kimble Bent// is a retelling of James Cowan’s 1911 biography //The Adventures Of Kimble Bent//. Bent was American by birth. Bored by his own country he emigrated to England, where in a snap decision he joined the army and eventually ended up as a soldier in the Taranaki land wars. Malcontent with army life, he deserted and gave himself up to and consequently joined forces with the Taranaki Maori. The story is told in a style reminiscent of manga comics. In addition, short sections with historical background information, back story and forays into the local fauna are interwoven with a fast paced action filled recount of Bent’s life among the Maori. (Reviewed by Melanie Wittwer, Booksellers NZ)

//Digging Up the Past// is a 106 page hard-cover book on New Zealand Archeology by David Veart, but written with inquisitive young people in mind. However, in saying that we all enjoyed the book, especially the fascinating photography. The chapter on Kauri trees is amazing. My seven year old daughter read a chapter a night with us and this is what she had to say on the first chapter: ‘Title of Chapter One: Leave nothing but footprints. In chapter one, I was really interested in how they left their footprints behind. I mean, we can’t leave our footprints behind, the water washes them away. It’s a really good book because kids learn new big and hard words.’ (Reviewed by Vicky Marshall, BooksellersNZ)

New Zealand Hall of Fame 50 Remarkable Kiwis not only informs children about talented kiwis in many fields but shows them that they became famous not by accident but by hard work and perseverance. All the people in this book have gotten to where they are through determination and hard graft. It is an inspiring book, and tells children that if they want to be famous, they have to work hard, keep their eyes on their goal and be determined to succeed. Review from Tomorrow's Schools Today

From a story by Chris Szekely and beautifully illustrated by Malcolm Ross (1948 - 2003), Rāhui takes the reader on a wonderful journey to a cousin's holiday in a rural Māori community having adventures and fun together - playing in the bush, riding horses, fishing, eeling and swimming at the beach. However, 'one day, when we were swimming, my cousin Thomas went missing. We thought he had gone home.' And so, during the holiday, a death leads to a rāhui being placed on the beach. The book is at once joyous and wistful, with the illustrations richly evoking the atmosphere of the setting and people. (Review by Huia Books)

The Travelling Restaurant is a quirky, heartfelt tale about finding out who you are and how powerful you can be. Told in a simple but charming chapter book format, this book is perfect for confident readers aged 8-12.

12 year old Jasper is a fugitive and he has no idea why. One day he’s playing with his little sister in the garden and the next he’s hiding from hungry pirates on a dockside.

When Jasper is abandoned by his family he has to fend for himself and do all he can to find his little sister. Cold and alone on the dock hope comes in the form of the travelling restaurant and its crew, Dr Rocket and Polly, and as more characters climb aboard a truly charming adventure begins. The travelling Restaurant is an adventure story featuring pirates, monarchy, seagulls, slaves, orphans and a whole load of very hungry people, oh and a very secret magic. (Review by Stevie Hopwood, Guide to Auckland website)

I really enjoyed reading the book //Just Jack//, which is about a young boy who wants to be a jockey as he loves horses, so he leaves home and goes to Napier to train with a mean man called Mr Mac who isn’t very nice and makes Jack just be a cleaner, at Mr Macs he meets another young boy called Kenny who doesn’t like him but Kenny leaves pretty quickly, Mr Mac lives with his sister and her cat marmite, but she is sad as her son left. After a while Jack’s uncle gets him a new job with a nicer man and he gets to train as a jockey and starts to make new friends, but then there is an earthquake and Jack becomes a hero by saving people. The book made me sad at the start but happy by the end as Jack learns his family do love him and helps to reunite other families after the earthquake. This book was cool. (Reviewed by Ella Bartholomew, age 8, BooksellersNZ)

Did you know that when it's cold, the tuatara's heart may beat only once in four minutes, and several minutes might pass between each breath? However, when it's hot, the heart might beat up to forty times per minute. Find out all about our very own 'living fossil' in this fascinating look at the life cycle of the tuatara, presented with stunning images and educational text.(review Fishpond books)

How do you escape from being the loblolly boy? The answer is simple: find the boy who stole your life and Exchange.

But when the loblolly boy seeks help from the mysterious Captain Bass, he discovers it's not going to be simple. Standing in his way will be the Juggler, the unpredictable Gadget Man & the sinister Sorcerer. (review goodreads.com)

Even though Nancy is big, one day she feels small. She asks her mum, brother, cousin, aunt and grandfather to play with her. They re all busy and inevitably reply, Later. So Nancy climbs a tree in her backyard to wait for later, and imagines playing the games her family doesn t have time for. When later arrives, it s her family who wonder where Nancy s got to. (review Walker Books)

When looking out for a way to save someone’s life (because, isn’t that what superheroes do?), Finn decides to save the life of the World Vision child the family have sponsored. To do this he needs to raise some money. I chortled to myself while reading some of the madcap adventures he and Brain get up to. I thought this book was very well written and I loved the humour – I really felt for the poor guy who was only trying his hardest to help someone else. The chapters were reasonably short making it easy for a child to read a bit at a time, (or for an adult to read one more chapter before stopping). (Reviewed by Niki Bailey, Booksellers NZ)

//Nice Day for a War// follows the story of Cyril Elliott – grandfather of Matt Elliot – who enlisted to fight in WWI at the age of 18 and travelled from the Kaipara Harbour to the Western Front, where he fought for 3 years. Elliott’s teamed with cartoonist Chris Slane to present //Nice Day for a War// as a sort of graphic novel/non-fiction book hybrid for younger readers (probably about 12+) and they do a reasonably good job of it, incorporating a lot of great historical material (photos, newspaper clippings, postcards, cartoons, soldier’s pay books). (review by Bookiemonster)

> Old China like you’ve never seen before. Shaolin Burning is an exciting, modern take on kung fu mythology; a fusion of punked-up street culture and Chinese tradition. > When the Shaolin Temple is destroyed by the Emperor’s army, only five monks manage to escape alive. Or so the legend goes. > But few know the story of the sixth, Monk Who Doubts, who turns his back on the Buddhist path and embarks on a bloody trail of revenge, culminating in a devastating showdown with the Emperor’s forces. > Fewer still know the story of Deadly Plum Blossom. Unwanted at birth, she is rescued and raised by a Shaolin nun. Trained all her life in a new fighting style, she is determined to prove herself, and sets off to challenge the most dangerous man in China. > Shaolin Burning is a masterful interweaving of kung fu legends, Chinese history and stories of those lost to the past. It is a story of breathtaking beauty and no-holds-barred action sequences and is, at its heart, a meditation on the dangers of pursuing one’s talents(review onthenightstand.net) > > Written by New Zealand author Johanna Knox and illustrated by New Zealand artist Sabrina Malcolm, //The Flytrap Snaps// takes us to the movie industry town of Filmington, where a young Spencer Fogle quickly finds himself at the centre of mysterious goings-on involving the financial mogul Jimmy Jangle and his henchwomen Cassandra and Sybil, a missing scientist named Bette Noire, a sentient Venus Flytrap, and possibly Spencer’s schoolmate Tora. > //The Flytrap Snaps// is, above all, a charming read and when you get to the end you’ll be looking forward as much to Book 2 as I am. (Review by BookieMonster) >