Button Up

Just the thing to lighten, and darken, your day. One of the scary trademarks of Neil Gaiman's bestseller Coraline were the black buttons eyes of Coraline’s, “other parents.”

That book is now a 3D stop-motion movie directed by Henry Selick (of The Nightmare Before Christmas and James and the Giant Peach fame). There’s also the requisite movie website that gets you get into the spirit of things via a tour of Coraline's home, atmospheric wallpaper, and some novel accessorising where you upload a picture of yourself then literally button your eyes.

Creepy sure, fun absolutely, and there’s a gorgeous range of buttons to choose from. Happy sewing.

Helen Keller: Courageous Advocate

by Scott R. Welvaert,illustrated by Cynthia Martin and Keith Tucker. Published by Capstone Press 2006

A bright and breezy account of the life of Helen Keller, the blind and deaf woman, who became an advocate for the blind, written in graphic form. It is encouraging to see more non-fiction titles in this format as it gets reluctant readers(boys and girls)interested in reading titles they might not have contemplated reading before.
Contains other interesting facts about Helen, as well as a Glossary, Bibliography and Index.

Reviewed by Robin

Robin

Contemporary New Zealand art” Volume 5, by Elizabeth Caughey

“David Bateman Ltd, ISBN 978 186953 7197

This book continues the well established “Contemporary New Zealand art” series, the last volume being published in 2005. These books are an important record of both the current practice of the artists represented in this volume, as well as taking an essential look at trends and directions in the current art scene.
There are 24 artists featured, with over eighty well-chosen colour reproductions. A wide range of images are represented with works in different media, such as photography, sculpture, painting, installation and multimedia. A brief essay and biographical information is included on each artist. This title is a very good resource for schools as it is colourful and informative without being overly academic.
Suitable for Year 7 upwards.

Suzanne Hardy

Fine Feathers

Wings by Sneed B. Collard III
and Bubble Trouble by Margaret Mahy with illustrations by Polly Dunbar

Wings by the impressively named Sneed B. Collard III, is a book that runs the whole gamut of flying things and wannabes, from bats to us. Along the way it introduces such words as echolocation and elytra (well, they were new to me anyway, and I was grateful for the well organised glossary at the end). It crosses over into several Curriculum areas, having useful information on different aspects of Technology and Science presented in an economical but entertaining way, as well as being a decided asset to the Arts area.

Robin Brickman’s superb collage illustrations make this an outstandingly beautiful book. (She and Collard previously collaborated on the self-explanatory Beaks in 2002) Wings has a broader scope than the earlier book, possibly because there is only so much you can do with a beak. Our own kiwi features here in a section on why some birds had the ability to fly and lost it; and there is detailed coverage of man’s efforts, with or without mechanical help, to gain this ability he has never had outside a superhero comic.

Because of its visual appeal, Wings could be enjoyed from pre-school to adult level.

Published by Charlesbridge They have an interesting website and also a blogspot.


Another very successful artist-illustrator collaboration is that of Margaret Mahy and Polly Dunbar, seen in the 2006 book Down the Back of the Chair and now in the 2008 version of Mahy’s Bubble Trouble, originally published in 1993. Like Wings, this too deals with flying:

‘Little Mabel blew a bubble and it caused a lot of trouble,
Such a lot of bubble trouble in a bibble-bobble way,
For it broke away from Mabel as it bobbed across the table,
Where it bobbled over Baby and it wafted him away.’

Margaret Mahy’s total command of rhyme and rhythm, perfectly visualised by the talented Polly Dunbar, make this an ideal read-aloud for children of many ages. Its colourful use of language and tongue-twisters would also be useful in helping children develop their own oral and written language skills.

Published by Frances Lincoln

Reviewed by Cecily Fisher.

Create Readers with Library Loyalty Cards

It works for retailers, so why not try it in the library?

Noeline, the librarian at Opunake High School, has been using a library loyalty card to encourage her students to read more. It looks like a ''coffee card'', with 10 squares big enough to be stamped, and the school logo at the top. Students read a book, give an oral book talk to Noeline, and she stamps the card. When they have ten stamps, they get a reward.

Noeline says that library issues have been rising steadily since introducing the card, and students are now recommending cool books to each other. Way to go, Opunake High School!

From Jan.

(Image from Flickr creative commons: http://www.flickr.com/photos/joelogon/2819512729/ )

Johnny Delgado: private detective by Kevin Brooks

The opening chapter sounds like a Raymond Chandler novel:

“Rain was drizzling on the window, and the air inside felt hot and steamy. But that wasn’t the problem. The problem was this. The Most Beautiful Girl in the World was sitting on my bed, and the Second Most Beautiful Girl in the World was sitting next to her. And they were both wearing very tight clothes.”

Johnny Delgado has spread the word that he is available as a private detective in his south London tower block neighbourhood. The two Most Beautiful Girls in the World offer him a job, and a la Raymond Chandler, what follows is a tale of betrayal, trouble with the law and attempting to stay on top of events.

Kevin Brooks says in his introduction that he has always been an ardent fan of Raymond Chandler and has always wanted to write a book like this, and he loved finally doing it. It is great fun to read.

It is a story for older readers – real people get really killed - but it is short enough, and easy enough to read, to appeal to those who don’t normally enjoy reading.

Published by Barrington Stoke

The Very Cranky Bear

By Nick Bland Published by Scholastic, 2008.

The rhyming text and humorous illustrations make this a satisfying read-aloud that junior students will love to hear and see. This story also fits in well with values and virtues.
Moose, Lion, Zebra and Sheep are all very good friends but on a cold and rainy day they want a cosy place, out of the rain, so they can play.... they find a cave but there is a very angry bear inside. After some discussion, Zebra, Moose and Lion go back inside thinking that they will solve the bear's crankiness in a flash; however, it is not to be, until Sheep listens and solves the bear's problem by her one selfless act. Finally everyone can enjoy the space inside the cave.
The expressive illustrations and language will have children longing to act out their own versions of the drama.

Reviewed by Fiona

Search and Rescue: Heat and Energy Transfer by Isabel Thomas

We all love a story and if you can impart information by telling a story it is so much more effectively retained.

Search and Rescue tells middle primary readers about heat and energy transfer by telling the story of… well, a search and rescue operation. A soldier is lost in the jungle and the commandos go to search for him.

The helicopter transports them courtesy of kinetic energy. The commandos sitting in the helicopter have potential energy until, of course, they jump. Then, while using kinetic energy they also feel the thermal energy of the hot air. And so it continues. The story includes campfires, cooking utensils, conductors, insulators (sleeping bags of course), thermal cameras and solar radios.

The commandos get their man, and the story ends examining a map and a mission debrief back at headquarters.

This is a good practical way to look at energy transfer, appealing to middle to senior primary school children – especially boys.

Published by Raintree

2008 Scholastic Kids & Family Reading Report

Why do some kids and teens read less and less the older they get? One of the key reasons, according to this excellent and very readable report, is that they have trouble finding books they like.

This sounds like a clarion call, not to mention job description starter for school library teams!

This report is subtitled "Reading in the 21st Century: Turning the Page with Technology." Other key findings include that kids prefer reading books printed on paper than on computers, but that they enjoy extending the reading experience via the internet, for example learning what other people think about a book, and connecting with other readers.

For more information, and to print out the whole FREE report, go to http://www.scholastic.com/aboutscholastic/news/readingreport.htm.

Thor’s Hammer

by Maggie Moore and Tim Archbold. Published by Franklin Watts, 2008.

This Viking myth is one of several titles in the new Franklin Watts series, “Hopscotch myths”. Pitched at an easy reading level, this fine retelling has managed to keep all of the drama, energy and humour of the old Norse tale, in which Thor the thunder god is persuaded to dress up as a blushing bride in order to win his trusty hammer back from his fiercest enemies, the giants. The book has the look and feel of an early chapter book, and Tim Archbold’s colourful cartoon illustrations are an excellent match for the tone of the story. This series is a perfect introduction for young readers to some of the greatest traditional stories of the world.

Reviewed by Pamela

Maraea and the Albatrosses by Patricia Grace with illustrations by Brian Gunson

Patricia Grace, better known for her short stories, has made a welcome return to picture book writing with a story of time, continuity and change.

For generations Maraea’s whanau have been the kaitiaki of an albatross colony. Every spring they gather and welcome the albatrosses home. Time passes, and the world changes. People move away. People die. Until only Maraea remains to call the albatrosses home.

Maraea eventually dies too, but her wairua remains with the albatrosses.


Ko te Kōrero Māori - Ko Maraea me ngā Toroa / ko te huri ki te reo Maori nā Waiariki Grace

Reviewed by Kathy

Published by Puffin

Battle Fleet Trafalgar-1805 by Paul Dowswell

This British author is famous for his fiction as well as his non-fiction works in history. His adherence to detail as a researcher is very clearly reflected in the series, ‘The Adventures of Sam Witchall’. However what’s good about the series is that although the books follow a sequel, each book can stand alone as a separate adventure on the high seas.

The first part of this book deals with Sam’s return to England on a merchant ship that takes him on a voyage through the East Indies. The journey is fraught with danger from stormy weather and attacks from pirates. Their escape is both captivating and dramatic.

The second part of the book finds Sam as midshipman on board the Victory, the very ship under the command of Lord Nelson at the Battle of Trafalgar. Kudos goes to the author for such a splendid account of this epic battle fought, the death of Lord Nelson and his funeral thereafter.

The cover is very explicit and serves as a good indicator of what the book is all about. The author has thought well to provide a map showing the positioning of the British fleet alongside the Combined French and Spanish Fleet.

This historical novel would do well for reading on topics such as risks, survival and challenges besides sea stories and the Battle of Trafalgar.

Level: Primary, intermediate, junior secondary.

by Janice Rodrigues

Felix

by Pamela Allen Published by Penguin/Viking, 2008

This delightfully dramatic story builds to a suspenseful climax with a happy satisfying end for all. This book will have a wide appeal and it is perfect to read-aloud to the junior-primary students.
The plot revolves around Felix, the cat; he sleeps on Molly's bed and when they come down for breakfast...they find Grandma in a very cross mood. The reason for Grandma's mood is that someone has been eating the bread and jam...Felix is determined to catch the thief and there are hilarious consequences. There is fabulous descriptive language as Felix stalked..."creeping, crawling, slinking, slithering" and other words, "wiggled", "jiggled" and "joggled"; the illustrations are full of energy - a very memorable story.

Reviewed by Fiona

So much to do in the South Island!

The Reading Crusade 2009 has begun!

Christchurch City Libraries and the Crusaders are once again joining forces to promote reading for fun. Crusaders, librarians and teachers will be working in partnership to encourage reading throughout the first term of the 2009 year. The participation area covers from Waimate and the West Coast, to the north of the South Island - the area of the Crusaders franchise.
Go to the Reading Crusade website to find out all the info and great activity ideas.
And take a look at their blog




We've mentioned the South Island Children's Librarians' Conference before and want to remind you all that it is fast approaching. You don't have to be in the south to participate - it is open to all! Look here for details and registration information.



Storylines presents the Margaret Mahy Award Lecture on Saturday March 28th at Heaton Intermediate in Christchurch. Andrew Crowe, this year's recipient, will deliver the lecture. The Storylines site gives info about registration and other activities for the day






So much to do - so little time!

Best Books of 2008, Part 2

Following our December posting on School Library Journal's Best Books 2008, and last week's post about the best selling books in the USA, here are some other lists of last year's best books.

The YALSA (The American Library Association's Young Adult Literature Services Association) Teen's Top 10 list is a teens choice award. Over 8,000 teens voted for their favourite books, back in October 2008. You'll find some very well known books here - Eclipse by Stephenie Meyer, and Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by J.K. Rowling are numbers 1 and 2. There are also some I haven't yet seen - could be coming up on our 2009 favourites lists, maybe.

Here also is YALSA's own list of their 2008 Top Ten young adult reads. Quite a different list from the teen choice list above, it also has some great books on it. I have recently read the compelling The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie, their number 1 pick, and highly recommend it. Its the auto-biographically-based story of Junior, an American Indian teen living on a reservation, who makes the unheard-of decision to attend the all-white school 20 miles away. See also our blog post here.

The Association for Library Service for Children, another part of the American Library Association, has also produced a 2008 list of Notable Children's Books, divided into Younger Readers, Middle Readers, Older Readers, and All Readers.

Amazon.com have created a number of "Top Ten" lists, both of editors' picks, and of customer favourites. Books for young people have been divided into Picture Books, Middle Readers, and Teens. You can get to all these lists from their Best Books page.

Kidsreads also have their list of best children's books of 2008, here. And their companion site, Teenreads have done the same with favourite teen books of the year.

For a local list, have a look at our blog post about the Christchurch City Libraries and Canterbury Reading Association Best and Worst Literature of 2008. The Christchurch City Libraries have expanded this list into a great Holiday Reading List. (OK, so the holidays are a distant memory, but that's no reason to stop reading!)

Wellington City Libraries has also had a 2008 Kids Choice competition, and here are their three winners.

What are your favourite books from 2008? Let us know in the comments.

Reading Rockets

Reading Rockets is a superb website focusing on reading initiatives, information and literacy programmes. This American site (in-part funded by the US Department of Education) has been developed to help launch young kids into the world of reading by providing their parents and educators with, "resources on how young kids learn to read, why so many struggle, and how caring adults can help."

The website certainly takes a dynamic almost exhaustive approach to the art of reading. There are
strategies to assist reluctant readers, techniques to foster reading habits, best books/authors and a range of free reading and resource guides. There is also a multimedia component including
podcasts, videos, webcasts, and an award-winning series from PBS television about reading - six of which can be downloaded for viewing.

As well the Articles from A-Z section delivers a comprehensive range of information and advice. Four articles that caught Create Readers eyes are:

Creating podcasts in the classroom.

Literacy Instruction with Digital and Media Technologies

Learning to Read and Write What Research Reveals



Flicker photograph by sdobie

Pele: The Soccer Superstar

Young Pele soccer’s first star
Lesa Cline-Ransome
New York : Schwartz & Wade Books, c2007.
ISBN: 9780375835995 (hbk.)

Looking for a biography for year 3 to year 8? Want it to include colourful and engaging artwork, along with an easy to read yet informative story on one of the worlds most famous and respected sports people.
Then look no further; in Lesa Cline- Ransome’s Young Pele soccer’s first star we have such a book.

Cline-Ransome tells the story of Pele’s childhood where he would day dream while in school of being a great footballer. Is family were so poor Pele didn’t have shoes to play football in and played with a ball made up of a bunch of rags. The team of friends he played with were known as the Shoeless ones. Still none of this dampened Pele’s enthusiasm for the game or his drive to succeed.

This story told in picture book format, highlights the values Pele had including commitment, loyalty, hard work, perseverance and an unstoppable drive to succeed. Earning the respect of his teammates, fans and most importantly his mum.

A great book to support the values strand in the curriculum, while its easy language, striking illustrations and fun subject matter will engage all readers.

Reviewed by Tracy Dyett

Pepetuna

Written and illustrated by Denise Whitmore

The story of the Puriri moth is told, alongside the story of a family. The book covers the five years of the Puriri moth’s life with vivid painted and collage illustrations of the local animals and plants, and black and white drawings of the family which grows during that time.
There are informative notes about the moth -also known as Ghost moth, or Pepetuna (meaning eel bait).

Denise Whitmore has written and illustrated with an obvious love for the NZ bush and natural environments.

A beautiful book.

Reviewed by Lynn

Tales from Outer Suburbia by Shaun Tan

Shaun Tan is a genius at putting together the ordinary and the real, with the wondrous and the fantastic. He's done this in this collection of short stories brilliantly.

This title could have been a picture book but there is too much text and in this instance the text is supported by the illustrations rather than the other way round. The stories vary in content from the hardships of modern life to what happens to all the poetry that people write then discard, and each story has illustrations that raise the story to a different level. Truly amazing.

The good thing about short stories is that they can be read at morning break or on the bus or in short times when you have free time. They are ideal for the reluctant reader and these by Shaun Tan will have you thinking long after the story is read. This book has no level it - is for everyone.

Published by Allen & Unwin.

Looking to US Trends for Book Buying Inspiration - Best Selling Teen's and Children's Books Last Year

According to the USA Today, Stephenie Meyer is definitely the new J K Rowling - and then some. She has taken the top 4 places on the USA Today's 2008 Best Selling Books List for her teen Twilight Saga. This list is taken from all books, including adult books and non-fiction, sold in the USA.

Stephenie Meyer is currently doing the same thing in New Zealand, with Beattie's Book Blog reporting that the 5 top selling books in NZ, for the week ending January 3, were those of the Twilight Saga. (Twilight, the first book in the series takes TWO top places on the list, one for the movie tie-in.)

Its also very interesting to see the other teen's and children's titles on the USA Today Best Selling Books List. The Tales of Beedle the Bard by J. K Rowling, at number 8, and Brisingr, by Christopher Paolini at No 9, are no surprise, although it is quite cool that young readers' blockbusters are pushing adult books out of top places!

Jeff Kenney's Diary of a Wimpy Kid (No 21) , and its sequel Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Rodrick Rules (No. 17), are not yet so well read in New Zealand, but I'd suggest you lead the rush and buy them for your primary/intermediate school library if you haven't yet. Reminiscent of Captain Underpants with their cartoons, and irreverent humour, these books will be very popular with boys who want an easy read with lots of laughs. The third book in the series is on its way. Here's another USA Today article about the author and his books.

The other kids' series to make it onto the list of best selling books in America is Rick Riordan's Percy Jackson and the Olympians, with Book 4: The Battle of the Labyrinth, at no 47, and Book 1: The Lightning Thief making it to number 70. I've read Book 1, and found it an intriguing idea, well paced, with good characters and lots of adventure, conflict and danger, making you want to find out what's going to happen next. So, this might be another series to put on the must buy list, if you don't yet have it in your Intermediate/Secondary library.

There are several more children's books on the list, with Dr Suess, Eion Colfer, J.D. Salinger (Catcher in the Rye), Margaret Wise Brown (Goodnight Moon Board Book), and Markus Zusac (The Book Thief) all taking their place. But, I'd just like to finish by mentioning this wonderful story, great read-aloud, loved favourite of many, 2004 Newbury Medal winner, and now movie. Primary/Intermediate librarians, if you don't yet have The Tale of Despereaux (No. 54), by Kate DiCamillo, buy it now!

For a list of School Library Journal's best books of 2008, see this post.

Novels in verse.

NOVELS IN VERSE

HOME of the BRAVE by Katherine Applegate

The next week,
My ESL class takes a field trip to the zoo.
Field trip is another English trick,
Like raining cats and dogs
and a barrel of laughs
because there is no field
and it’s not a far trip
like the one I took from Africa.

This story in free verse is about Kek, a refugee from Sudan and his resettlement in America.
Katherine Applegate does not keep you dwelling too long in one place in the novel but moves skillfully between Kek’s education, adjustment and experiences. Woven very delicately into this quagmire are the disturbing sights and sounds that Kek fights to leave behind.
Applegate’s poetic expression is simple yet so vivid and eloquent; you feel the anguish in Kek’s voice and his astonishment as he endures life in America and what it takes to adapt to it.
You will love Kek, the main character for his resilience and openness. Another impressionable character is Hannah whose brief interludes are fresh, lively and full of mirth.
This first stand alone novel from Applegate (author of the Animorphs series) will make a good read aloud and is suited for readings on refugees, challenges, hope and survival at a senior primary and intermediate level.



WHERE THE STEPS WERE by Andrea Cheng

CARMEN
To Farmer Otis

Dear Farmer Otis,
thank you
for letting us
visit your farm.
P.S.
Would you like to see
our play?
it’s Cinderella,
I’m a mouse,
it’s on November 7
at 12:00.
Please come.


Page by page, in short snatches, Andrea Cheng slowly plays out the simple life of this community school in Cincinnati.
The book is marked by three seasons. Fall is a medley of expression about Miss D who is everyone’s favorite teacher, the zoo, the church and the unpleasant news that the school will soon be closed down. Winter brings reality to their history lessons when they get turned away from the theatre. However spring heralds hope with the buds blossoming, cicadas singing and the promise of a new school.
This is the first book written and illustrated by the author. Andrea Cheng’s verse is a candid and gentle insight into the fears and personas of the children of Pleasant Hill and good teachers who are distinguished by their genuineness.
Another good read aloud for primary and intermediate levels on school, teachers and novels in verse.


Janice Rodrigues

The illustrators art.

Auckland City Library is currently running an exhibition showcasing some of the best of children’s picture book illustration from over the last hundred years. First editions on display include material by Beatrix Potter, Lewis Carroll, and A.A.Milne, as well as more recent examples such as Philip Pullman and Raymond Briggs.
Personal favourites are the illustrations by Arthur Rackham and Edmund Dulac – it is surprising to see how intricate and delightful these drawings are in real life. This is an interesting display for those who love the illustrator’s art and it is fascinating to see how the picture book has evolved over the years. The display is running until February 28th and entry is free.

Suzanne Hardy

The Inside Story

If you’re interested in remodeling, refurbishing or developing a school library then have a look here for photographs that highlight some innovative and student-centred school library environments in New Zealand.

Also on the National Library website is a new list of hot topics for teachers. All are particularly relevant to the New Year and term and include:

Me Myself, I
Summer
Summer safety
The Rocky Shore
Waitangi Day

All can be found here.

Image School Library Mural Rangeview Intermediate, Te Atatu