More of Bob's Best: Salt, by Maurice Gee.

A strong multi layered story from one of New Zealand's best writers. On one level it is an adventure action story of two teenagers, Hari, a downtrodden underclass boy, and Pearl a privileged girl from the ruling Company both with a developing talent of speaking to animals and humans through mind control. The two are thrown together in the midst of a bitter struggle, and find themselves on a quest to save mankind from a dreadful weapon.

On another level it is a story of man's inhumanity to man and his inability to learn from history. An exciting story that will be a hit with teenagers.

Published by Puffin

- Reviewed by Bob Docherty

More about about Maurice Gee and his publications

Two great New Zealand bird books

Studying New Zealand native birds? Children will love reading Irene Swadling's new bird legends, and then draw their own birds following Heather Arnold's step by step guide.

New Legends of Aotearoa New Zealand birds.

How did fantails become so happy and chirpy? Why are there three types of NZ parrots? These original stories, by Irene Swadling, illustrated by Peter Campbell, (published by Reed, 2006) are not the Maori legends we know and love...but they could be. Clear vibrant illustrations enhance this book which could be shared with younger classes, or read independently by most middle school students. At the back there is a glossary of (between three and ten) words and phrases used in every story.

This could be used for study of New Zealand native birds, how legends explain natural phenomena, and to encourage use of Te Reo. Take a look at the Jabberwocky Children's Bookshop review here

- Lynn, PN.


Draw New Zealand Birds. A step by step guide

This intriguing book, by Heather Arnold, (published by Reed, 2007) showing how to draw nine of New Zealand’s native birds will captivate any budding young artist. Each bird is introduced by describing where it lives, its feeding and breeding activities.

This is followed by a colour photograph of the bird, so you can see what each bird looks like, then 4 detailed drawing steps to achieve a finished drawing.

In addition there are four information panels throughout the book. The first one talks about sketching. The other three panels show the differences between three birds' heads, feathers, and feet depending on where they live and what they eat.

Other topics that are discussed include: Learning to See, Drawing Skills, Design Skills, Techniques, Materials, with a Glossary and Resources at the back.

- Joy, PN

Great new read alouds

Try sharing these fabulous picture books with juniors.

Black? White! Day? Night! A book of opposites.

The pages of this delightfully different concept book are colourful, with cutout shapes so the reader can simply lift the flap and find the opposite. For example, a sunny day is transformed into a starry night; there is a surprise of finding a tiny beetle has become part of an elephant's eye and the opposite concept of tiny? is huge!

This imaginative book by Laura Vaccaro Seeger (published by New Milford, Conn. 2006) has 18 opposites presented as questions and answers and is sure to be a big success with junior students and also those interested in clever designs.

- Fiona, Palmerston North

Weaving Together

Jamie and her Nan use the many colours in the wool basket to make a piece of weaving. Each colour reminds them of some way in which their lives are woven together...both sad and happy memories of Nan and Grandad's farm, Jamie's childhood and her family.

Vivienne Lingard's beautiful illustrations help to make Weaving Together (published by Reed, 2007) one of Dawn McMillan's better books.

- Lynn, Palmerston North

Clarence the copy cat

This action-packed story by Patricia Lakin, is well complemented with John Mander's delightful cartoony illustrations about a peace loving cat who cannot bear to kill mice. It is hard for Clarence, the cat, to find a home, but he finally does, in a public library. A good plot provides a lively text that builds to an exciting climax and a satisfying conclusion. This book (published by Dragonfly Books, USA, 2007) is full of fun and will appeal to junior/primary students.

- Fiona, Palmerston North

LIANZA Children’s Book Awards 2007 Shortlist Announced (Library and Information Association of New Zealand Aotearoa)

From the Christchurch City Libraries Blog:

In case you hadn’t heard, the short-list for the LIANZA Children’s Book Awards has been released. Information on each of the four individual awards is also available on the library website.

Judging panel convenor Bob Docherty said the quality of the entrants was outstanding. “This year’s finalists are the best I have come across in my three years as judge,” he said. “We named six finalists for the Esther Glen Award and could easily have named 15.”

Ahead of NZ Book month, the list gives you plenty of choice for next time you’re looking for a great Kiwi book to curl up with. Happy reading!

Two New Picture Books for Christmas

I recently enjoyed an evening with Random House, eating, drinking, and also hearing about and previewing their forthcoming books. Here are two of their up-and-coming children's picture books.

RATS! / Gavin Bishop (to be published October 2007)
This is vintage Gavin Bishop, with wonderfully detailed illustrations, mainly of the lovingly-drawn interior of a New Zealand house. The story is about a woman over-run by rats. After a pied-piper type exterminator gets rid of the rats, she finds herself a little lonely...

Tahi - One Lucky Kiwi / Melanie Drewery (to be published October 2007)
Melanie Drewery's latest tells the true story of a Kiwi called Tahi, who gets an artificial leg, thanks partly to Weta Workshop. The story is told in very simple picture-book format with a fictitious young boy sharing the latest about Tahi each morning at his classroom "news" sessions. Fact-boxes are included on each page. I really loved this one, though there's going to be a great discussion about whether to classify it as fiction or non-fiction.

Te Tai Tamariki - Aotearoa New Zealand Children's Literature Charitable Trust

Do you know about the proposed national centre to celebrate the writing and illustrating of New Zealand children's books? Go to http://www.tetaitamariki.org.nz/ to find out all about it - and the new calendar they have for sale as a fundraiser.

The calendar, with lots of gorgeous artwork, will be launched this Wednesday August 29th at Centre for the Child, Central Library, Christchurch from 7pm-8pm. Gavin Bishop, Jenny Cooper and Helen Taylor will be there to sign your calendar for posterity.

Snake and Lizard by Joy Cowley, illustrations Gavin Bishop

Everything about Snake and Lizard is elegant: the writing, the illustrations, the message, the feel. Gecko Press have a history of producing stylish books and this is yet another – their first publication of a New Zealand book.

Written by Joy Cowley with illustrations by Gavin Bishop, the story is rather a series of (ideal read aloud) stories featuring an inseparable, argumentative (as only true friends can be) pair of friends – snake and lizard. Suitable for children from Year 3 . Adults will love it too

Bookclub Picks

Here are some current favourite read-alouds, picture books, graphic novels, and non-fiction children’s books, from the teachers and school library staff at a Primary and Intermediate Schools Bookclub.The books' details were taken from the National Library Catalogue

For a summary of the story, find the book in the catalogue, then click on 'detailed view'.

Recommended Read-alouds

-- Dumb creatures / Jeanne Willis ; illustrated by Nicola Slater
-- Hoot / Carl Hiaasen
-- Kensuke’s kingdom / Michael Morpugo ; with illustrations by Michael Foreman
-- The tale of Despereaux : being the story of a mouse, a princess, some soup, and a spool of thread / Kate DiCamillo ; illustrated by Timothy Basil Ering

Picture Books to Share

-- Edwina, the dinosaur who didn’t know she was extinct / words and pictures by Mo Willems
-- The grumble rumble mumbler / by Melanie Drewery ; illustration and design by Loudmouth Productions
-- SuperHero ABC / by Bob McLeod

Popular Graphic Novels

-- Anna Sewell’s Black Beauty : the graphic novel / adapted by June Brigman & Roy Richardson
-- Boffin Boy and the lost city / David Orme ; illustrated by Peter Richardson

Fun Non-fiction

-- Pharaoh’s Egypt / Mick Manning & Brita Granstrom (see also other great non-fiction by these authors, on a wide variety of topics)

Boys into Books - reading list for 11-14 year olds

If you’d like to have a look at the list of books that British Librarians have chosen to get boys reading, check out the "Boys into Books" list on the British School Library Association's website.

The list (which is available for download as a PDF) includes over 160 books to attract and enthuse boys of 11-14 about reading for pleasure. It includes classic novels with action, adventure, fantasy, crime, horror and sports titles, as well as fact-based books, history and humour. Every British state school has been invited to choose 20 free books from the list to create a dedicated "boys’ bookshelf".

The initiative is aimed at boys aged 11-14, as research shows that that is the age when boys who were previously keen readers stop reading.

"We know there is a clear link between reading for pleasure and academic performance - not just in English, but across the whole curriculum," said Alan Johnson, the British Secretary for Education, when introducing this initiative in May.