Back and Beyond: New Zealand painting for the young & curious by Gregory O’Brien

ISBN 978 186 940 4048

This lavishly illustrated book is a sequel to O’Brien’s earlier “Welcome to the South Seas.” The approach is familiar and chatty, based on a mix of fact and his own personal observations. In fact this seems to be his aim, to get the “curious” of the title, thinking about their own interpretation of the works, as the text in places is quite sketchy or even opinionated.
It is, however, an interesting overview of the last 200 hundred years of New Zealand art, tying together art works with similar themes common to the New Zealand experience. Many of the works would not have been previously published in books outside of exhibition catalogues, and in that sense gives little indication of the relative importance of some of the artists. This book would be suitable for Year 4 up to Intermediate level – mainly for the images. It is a beautifully produced book and would add a valuable perspective to the school art collection. An enjoyable voyage of discovery.

Suzanne Hardy

The New Food Guide Pyramid (Level 2) by Emily K. Green

Publisher: Minneapolis, MN: Bellwether Media, 2007. ISBN: 9781600140037 (hardcover: alk. paper)

Series includes: Fruits; Healthy eating; Keeping fit; Meat and beans; Milk, yoghurt, and cheese, Oils, Vegetables

This brightly coloured, well-formatted series is a great introduction for children into the field of nutrition and healthy eating. Level 2 is the middle of the range for early readers providing a range of vocabulary, structured sentences and less reliance on high – frequency words.
The series has the updated Food Guide Pyramid (the American version), and uses colour, graphics, photographs and basic diagrams to illustrate the value of healthy eating.

Literacy tools include a variety of text load, according to the level you are reading. Bold text is used to highlight keywords; clear contents and index page as well as a useful glossary help students navigate the book.
An added value is the “To Learn More” page with a basic bibliography of books to read from the library, along with the “On the Web” category which includes instructions on which search engine to use, and what keyword to enter.

This series is a fun, interesting and engaging series for use with NE – Y2 students.

Reviewed by Tracy Dyett
Health and Physical Wellbeing Selector

Flickr image by BohPhoto

More Fabulous fiction

You may remember our series 'Fabulous fiction for terrific teens', from a few months past. It contained a small selection of Y7 - 13 fiction reviews by avid reader and fiction promoter Fiona Mackie under the following themes:

Sex, drugs and rock 'n' roll! - the edgier side of YA fiction.

Friends, family and other disasters - the relationships between people.

Invincible, untouchable, immortal - teen's view of themselves.

Magic, mystery and mayhem - fantasy/horror writing.

Searching, struggling, choosing and changing - teen's uncertainty about their place in the world.

Everything old is new again - teen fiction that is still read and loved today.

Not content with reading over 300 books for her series, Fiona has also created a LibraryThing account with all the 351 titles listed, rated, tagged, and reviewed. If you are, like her, passionate about teen fiction the URL is here:

Have a squiz if you’re interested in this area of children’s literature or are simply curious about Librarything – which Create Readers is a big fan of.


flickr image by Shifted Librarian

The Dead and the Gone by Susan Beth Pfeffer

This is the second story by this author involving the same scenario, the first being Life as we knew It, and I wondered why?

The scenario is, an asteroid hits the moon knocking it closer to the Earth. As a result the pressures of the Moon's gravity cause chaos on earth unleashing earthquakes, tidal waves and the eruption of volcanoes. The result is something akin to a nuclear winter. Thousands of people die and those left behind exist in a dog-eat-dog society in which food becomes the main currency.

Why another novel? Pfeffer moves the action from the country to New York City, makes the main character a good catholic boy and looks at the devastation caused to a city on the coast. The new dimension is mainly about "faith and belief". Alex, the main character is, in Catholic terms, a saint, as he assumes responsibility for his family and those around him. But will he and they survive? You will have to read the book to find out.

Not as good as Life as we Knew It but worth reading just the same.

Intermediate and high school students are the target for this book.

Published by Harcourt Books

Reviewed by Bob

How Mama Brought the Spring by Fran Manushkin

This book is topical on two counts at the moment.

• The first is obvious-- after a few lingering grunts, winter seems to be on the way out at last.

• The second is that this book, originally published as Grandmama Brings the Spring to Minsk, is set in Belarus, where they breed Olympic shot-putters nearly as good as Valerie Vili and we have the chance to see them on television.

There isn't a lot of junior level material available about Belarus.

The story here is told by a Belarussian migrant mother to her Chicago-born daughter, and Holly Berry's illustrations capture the atmosphere of the Minsk kitchen where Grandmama is making her magic recipe, the one that always causes the snow to melt and the spring to arrive. Present day Chicago is just as snowbound, and the mother and daughter decide that the magic recipe is needed here too. The recipe, for cheese blintzes, is included in the book. It is simple and easy to follow (haven't you been wondering what caused spring to finally come?)

This is an attractive little book that gives an insight into a country that I, at any rate, know very little about.

Reviewed by Cecily

Published by Dutton Children's Books

See a list of picture books about children from other cultures that we have available at National Library

Planting the trees of Kenya: the story of Wangari Maathai

By Claire A. Nivola. Published by Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 2008

In 2004 Wangari Maathai became the first African woman to receive the Nobel Peace Prize. It was awarded to her for her work with the Green Belt Movement which has seen the restoration of Kenya’s forests and gardens, and has been responsible for a turnaround in the health not only of the environment but of many of Kenya’s people. This lovely little picture book tells the inspiring story of Wangari’s life and work. Simple enough for young readers and with appealing watercolour illustrations, this remarkable tale of courage and perseverance will strike a note of hope with all those who dare to hope that we can make a difference in our world.

Reviewed by Pamela

Have any books slipped by you unnoticed?

The Center for Children's Books is an integral part of the Graduate School of Library and Information Science at the University of Illinois.

Here is a connection to their monthly bulletin although it is not all online

There are links to all sorts of interesting things including a round-up of award winners for 2008


Image by Kell Bailey

The Little Secret by Kate Saunders

A new girl, Staffa, comes to Jane's school looking for a best friend and Jane is the one. What follows is a fantasy story that verges on the fairy tale.

After winning over Jane's family, Staffa and her villainous mother take Jane back to a miniature world which is entered via a beautifully decorated box that must not be opened. Once inside this fantastic world Jane learns that all is not well and she is destined for a fate she could not have imagined.

The characters are beautifully described and developed, particularly that of Staffa and her mother Matilda, and if you have ever wondered what it is like to ride on the back of a bee in a land where the most precious commodity is chocolate, then give this surprising book a whirl. The fantasy is excellent with good values, and plenty to think about.

Aimed at middle and intermediate school readers, but I was enthralled, and you will be too.

Reviewed by Bob



Published by MacMillan Children’s Books

Australasia’s most amazing animals

By Anita Ganeri Published by Raintree, Chicago, 2008

This title is one in a series called ‘Animal top tens’, which should appeal to young animal lovers and is a great browse book for reluctant readers. Each title devotes a page opening to each of a number of unusual creatures within the region. This includes a short description of the creature and information on habitat, with a fact box giving brief data on their size, weight, life-span and unusual features. These facts boxes are repeated together at the end, so readers can make comparisons. The Australasian title includes pages on kiwi and tuatara.

Other titles in the series cover Africa, Asia, Europe North & South America, the Oceans and the Polar regions. All are well illustrated with photographs and each title includes a common list of reputable websites.

Reviewed by Melva

Poems from everywhere—even here

‘My sister’s remarkably light,
She can float to a fabulous height.
It’s a troublesome thing,
But we tie her with string,
And we use her instead of a kite’

A nice surprise to find this limerick by Margaret Mahy included in Here’s a Little Poem : a very first book of poetry which ‘gathers poems from various parts of the English-speaking world, including Great Britain, the Caribbean, the U.S. and Australia.’ This little inaccuracy does not mar a fresh and delightful anthology of poems collected by Jane Yolen and Andrew Fusek Peters, and illustrated by the wonderful Polly Dunbar. Unlike many books of ‘first poems’ these are genuinely suitable for pre-schoolers and beginning readers. As simple as nursery rhymes, they incorporate enough gentle wit (as the Mahy example demonstrates) to appeal to a wide-age range, including adults. The book is well indexed, with the poems grouped into useful subject sections including ‘Me, Myself and I.’

Thoroughly recommended.

Published by Candlewick Press

Reviewed by Cecily

Multiplying Menace

by Pam Calvert Published by Charlesbridge Publishing, 2006

Rumplestiltskin is back! The Queen discovered his name 10 years ago and sent him packing. But like the bad fairy at Sleeping Beauty's christening, he has appeared at Prince Peters 10th birthday, and he wants Peter to repay the debt. He causes chaos with his multiplying stick, so for the sake of the kingdom, Peter agrees to go with him. Back at Rumplestiltskin's cottage, Peter discovers the secret of the stick and how to use it. He needs to multiply by whole numbers to bring back people and objects that have disappeared, and by fractions to remove the large numbers of pests Rumplestiltskin has created. But can he beat Rumplestiltskin and return the kingdom to normal?

This is a maths fairy story in picture book format. It would be a fun book to use with more senior primary classes when looking at either multiplication or alternative fairy stories. See also the Activity Guide produced by the publishers.

Reviewed by Heather

The Coming of the Pakeha by John Lockyer

The Coming of the Pakeha looks at what was happening in this “lawless land” after European arrival and up until 1840.

We find out about explorers other than Cook and Tasman, and early (1790’s) Europeans who married Maori and followed Maori customs and beliefs (Pakeha Maori).

Maori were trading potatoes and pork for nails, muskets and blankets and huge quantities of flax and timber were harvested for export. Five shiploads of kahikatea were shipped to England but rejected because the wood rotted in water. But kauri, of course, was a different story - from the 1820’s “Pakeha, helped by Maori communities, cut, shaped and removed almost all kauri from the Northland and Coromandel coasts”.

We find out about the burning of the Boyd in 1809, Hongi Hika’s trip to London in 1820, the early missionaries and changing Maori beliefs.

This book fills a real gap for primary school children wanting to learn more about the very early days of Maori/European contact. It will be well received, especially in school libraries.

A Raupo Publication

A Monster Response: Best Overseas Picture Books

The oldest is a respectable 61 years, the youngest just a year old. From Goodnight Moon to The Arrival there was a huge and fascinating range of best picture books submitted by you throughout August.

Interesting to note that even halfway through collating your responses we had a clear leader by a monster mile. It was, of course, Where the Wild Things Are. Here’s the full list, an (almost) top twenty of your favourite overseas books of all time in order of popularity.

Top Overseas Picture Books

1. Where the Wild Things Are - Maurice Sendak
2. The Very Hungry Caterpillar - Eric Carle
3. The Gruffalo - Julia Donaldson
4. Animalia/Waterhole - Graeme Base
5. The Arrival - Shaun Tan
6. I will never ever eat a tomato/But excuse me that is my book - Lauren Child
7. The Zoo - Anthony Browne
8. The Short and Incredibly Happy Life of Riley/ How to Live Forever - Colin
Thompson
9. The Cat in the Hat - Dr Seuss
10. Mummy laid an egg - Babette Cole
11. Goodnight moon - Margaret Wise Brown
12. Rose Blanche - R. Innocenti
13. Each Peach Pear Plum - Allan and Janet Ahlberg
14. We're Going on a Bear Hunt - Michael Rosen
15. Mr Gumpy's Outing - John Burningham
16. Raymond Briggs (anything by)
17. Gary Crew (anything by)
18 Jez Alborough (anything by)
19. Emily Gravett (anything by)


Flickr image by Thomas Hawk

Top Dog: Your Choice Picture Books of all Time

A big thanks for your enthusiastic responses to our top picture books of all time competition. The selections were fascinating and fun, a lively mix of old and new, tried and true - and the unpredictable.

Applying some elbow grease we’ve collated the results into two lists – one for your most favourite New Zealand picture books and the other for titles published overseas.

But first since it was a competition there are winners to announce. They are:

Library chicks from Hawkes Bay who posted a comment on 12 August
Bridget S who posted on the 28 August
Margaret of Argyll East who posted on the 28 August
Bridget H who posted on 29 August

Congrats if you're one of the above. To claim your prize (an autographed copy of a Babette Cole picture book) please email website.changes [AT] natlib.govt.nz with your contact details so we can arrange delivery.

Here’s the New Zealand list in order of popularity and no surprises who gets top dog billing. I’m still collating the overseas list but already a certain Max (hint, hint) features heavily. Look out for that list tomorrow.

Your Top New Zealand Picture Books

1. Hairy Maclary - Lynley Dodd
2. My Cat Likes to Hide in Boxes - Eve Sutton
3. Kiss! Kiss! Yuck! Yuck! - Kyle Mewburn
4. Down the Back of the Chair - Margaret Mahy
5. Little Yellow Digger - Betty & Alan Gilderdale
6. The Nickle Nackle Tree - Lynley Dodd
7. Kiwi Moon and Rats - Gavin Bishop
8. Mrs Wishy-washy - Joy Cowley
9. Clubs - Kate de Goldi
10. Grandma Mc Garvey - Jenny Hessall
11. Pamela Allen (anything by)

Duck, death and the tulip by Wolf Erlbruch

Duck is strolling along one winter’s day, minding her own business, when she becomes aware that she is being followed. She instantly recognises the figure of Death—probably helped by the fact that it has a skull instead of a head. Naturally enough, she is frightened. Death, however, is in no hurry and is quite happy to kill a bit of time (forgive the pun) building up a relationship with Duck before gently and peacefully seeing her on her way.

This strange, beautiful picture book is not everyone’s cup of tea, as has been shown by the lively discussion it inspired on the schoollib listserve recently. One high school librarian expressed doubts about whether vulnerable teenagers should be left alone with it, which is a good point. There is perhaps a fine line between treating death as a natural part of life, as Duck, Death and the Tulip does, and normalising it. I feel this book would be best used as a basis for group discussion about the great mystery that (since it seems we ARE going to get tax cuts of some kind!) is the one inevitability in all of our lives. Like all good sophisticated picture books it lends itself to this sort of thing very well.

It is important to note that Death comes when the Duck is physically ready to die—not before. He has a quirky personality (rather similar to the way he is depicted in David Zusak’s The book thief) -- neither menacing nor malevolent, but just doing his job. Occasionally he is playful, and in one beautifully depicted moment even vulnerable:

‘Are you cold?’ Duck asked. ‘Shall I warm you a little?’

Nobody had ever offered to do that for Death.

Wolf Erlbruch, winner of the Hans Christian Andersen children’s literature award for illustration in 2006 (the same year that Margaret Mahy won the writer’s award), has chosen to depict Death in an odd shapeless plaid garment, dowdy rather than shroud-like. Although this looks like a dress (Christchurch readers may be reminded of the Canterbury Museum exhibit ‘Ern’s wee frock’) there is something about the depiction that makes me unhesitatingly refer to Death as ‘he.’ When Kate de Goldi and Kim Hill were discussing Duck, Death and the tulip on the latter’s National Radio programme I was interested to notice that they did the same.

Gecko Press have an interesting way with death—maybe it could be regarded as a topic that gets ‘found in translation’ rather than lost? Duck, Death and the Tulip was originally published in German, as Ente, Tod und Tulpe. It continues the tradition established by Gecko’s other two ‘death’ books: Can you whistle, Johanna? ( Ulf Stark, 2005) and All the dear little animals (Ulf Nilsson, 2006), both translated from Swedish. Like Duck they take a more matter-of-fact attitude toward death than most English language picture books and treat it as an everyday part of life—never showing disrespect, but injecting enough gentle humour to prevent the topic being depressing. While the two Swedish books are suitable for junior level, Duck, Death and the Tulip is probably best used, with discretion, for intermediate ages upwards. Its originality and beauty make it likely to appeal just as much to adults.

Reviewed by Cecily

Published by Gecko Press

Incredible Space Missions

By Gary Jeffrey Published by Rosen Publishing Group, New York, 2008

I think space flight is always an interesting topic, and the graphic format of this book makes it doubly so.

The first four pages of the book are an overview of the space race and early space technology and are in traditional format, illustrated with colour photos. The main part of the book are the three graphic stories - the first space walk, the Apollo 11 moon landing and the problems that occurred with the Apollo 13 mission. These are a brief summary of the events in a blend of factual information and historical narrative. The drawings are in colour. The book finishes with information and photos about the space shuttle and the International Space Station. There are the usual non fiction sections at the back of the book - a glossary and an index, and a short list of suggestions for finding more information.

The graphic format for non fiction has become popular over the last couple of years. This book is part of a history series that looks at high interest topics. Other books in this series include ancient treasures, shipwrecks and the story of flight.

While the book could be useful as a quick introduction to a study on space missions, I think it a good recreational read.

Reviewed by Heather

Sold by Patricia McCormick

A stunning story about human trafficking personalised in the story of a young 12 year old Nepalese girl who is sold by her stepfather and ends up as a prostitute in India.

The story is not pleasant but Patricia McCormick tells Lakshmi's story in a style that softens the blow for the reader, but doesn't diminish the gravity of her plight. The chapters are mostly one or two pages long and the sentences short and right to the point. Each chapter has a heading that announces the direction of the chapter which means you can read the story very quickly, at the same time feeling sympathy for this amazing little girl and how she copes with her situation.

When you learn at the end of the book that over 12,000 Nepalese girls suffer this fate every year - that's right 12,000 - then you understand the horror of the situation. Fortunately Lakshima's story ends in a little hope.

Some Intermediate students may be able to cope with this powerful story but it is more for Secondary school students.

Reviewed by Bob

Published by Allen and Unwin

Thanks for telling me Emily by Deirdre Madden

What a fabulous little story this is for middle school readers, and read-a-loud for Juniors.

Emily runs a pet shop in the town of Gillnacurry which has a magical presence about it typified by an old stone with a hole through it that sits on a hill overlooking the town.

Emily doesn't like to sell the pets in her pet shop and so the shop has become a home for a wide variety of animals including a snake, a parrot, a cat, a dog and a former magician's rabbit. When the horrible, society snob, Henrietta Fysshe-Pye buys three of the long standing residents of the pet shop, a chain of events starts that sets off a lively, funny and heart warming story.

Don't miss this. It is a real gem.

Reviewed by Bob

Published by Orchard Books

Under the Mountain: The Taranaki Children’s Book Festival

From Urenui to Waverley, the first Taranaki Children’s Book Festival kicked off on August 31st with a week long series of celebrations. Events range from New Zealand children authors touring the district to workshops for school and public library staff on topics from Web 2.0 to reading aloud.

The focus though is very much on inspiring Taranaki children to read and also to realise that although, “they come from the small settlement of Ngaere with perhaps 100 people, they could be the next Trevor Pye or from the back blocks of Stratford, the next Vince Ford or even from Inglewood – the next Fleur Beale or Janet Hunt!”, according to Pam Jones, District Children’s & YA Librarian at South Taranaki District Libraries. She adds.

“Anything that gets more kids reading has to be a good thing!”

We agree and hope this inaugural festival is the first of many and that it also inspires other regions…

For further information on the Taranaki Children’s Book Festival visit:

Puke Ariki

or contact:
Puke Ariki and District Libraries (06) 759 6060
Stratford District Library (06) 765 5403
South Taranaki District Libraries 0800 111 323


Flicker Image by slack13

Twilight by Stephenie Meyer - 2 reviews from different perspectives

Twilight is a fantastic book about a typical teenage girl called Bella Swan. When her mother remarries, Bella moves from sunny Phoenix to rainy Forks to live with her father. Charlie. She meets a mysterious young man called Edward Cullen, and his family. He is alluring, smart, beautiful and perfect. Immediately Bella knows that there is something very different about Edward and his strange and gorgeous family.

At first it seems as though Edward despises Bella, but little by little, as they get to know each other, they fall madly in love. As Bella gets close to Edward, she finds out his disturbing and unbelievable secret. Edward is a vampire. Although Edward and his family refuse to drink human blood, he still worries about his self-control around Bella.

I really enjoyed this book because the chemistry between Edward and Bella is what every teenage girl dreams of in a relationship. The element of forbidden love makes the book a perfect love story because it is both exciting and dangerous. It keeps you on the edge of your seat. It is also very well written because it is easy to read but is not too simple.

Reviewed by Georgia Morgan (15yrs)



This review is for that one person out there who hasn’t yet cottoned on to the Stephenie Meyer Twilight series.

Working in my ivory tower, I had missed these books. It wasn’t until I read that bookstores had opened at midnight to allow excited patrons to buy the newly released Breaking Dawn, the latest in the series, that I got a whiff of the excitement. So what are people so excited by?

17-year-old Bella has moved from sunny Phoenix where she lived with her mother and stepfather, to be with her father on the Olympic Peninsula near Seattle, Washington State. where the sun is a rare visitor and fog and rain is the norm. She has enrolled at the local high school where she is already well known as the daughter of the local policeman. But there is a small group of students, the Cullen family, who hold themselves apart from the rest, who have a mysterious air and who are unbelievably beautiful. Bella is initially confused by the reaction of Edward Cullen towards her, but it does not escape the reader that they are strongly attracted to one another.

I can see clearly why teenagers (and many older) are hanging out for the next in the series - there are two more before Breaking Dawn. Stephenie Meyer manages to maintain the undeniable sexual tension throughout without quite making it into a bodice ripper. As a wizened old crone I feel a bit of editing wouldn’t go amiss amongst the smouldering looks and worrisome mood changes. Personally I am uncomfortable with the unbalanced nature of the relationship between Bella and Edward; he is “perfect” and she feels unworthy. This may be a bit too close for comfort with respect to the way many teenage girls feel in relationships. But hey, this is fiction right! I cannot deny that if I was a teen or in my early twenties, I too would have been queuing at the Barnes and Noble doors. And I cannot deny that I have found it a page-turner too.

I would have bet my dentures that boys would absolutely not be interested in this book but I am reliably informed that this is not so. Amazing!

Published by Little, Brown and Company