"Ostrich Boys" by Keith Gray

Blake, Kenny, Sim and Ross share a camaraderie that is typical of teenage boys. When Ross is killed in a traffic accident, the boys are determined to give Ross the funeral he truly deserves.
They steal the urn with Ross’s ashes and embark on a journey to Ross, a town in Scotland that their friend had wanted to visit when he was alive.
The trip is full of excitement, experiences, mishaps and disagreements. Very carefully plotted into this journey is the process of grief that the boys are going through, revelations of their own guilt and a realisation of how very little they really knew about each other…and of Ross for that matter.
Though the book is an exhilarating read, it has its’ moments of seriousness. The last chapter reveals the reason why the book is called Ostrich Boys. I was reminded of “Thirteen reasons why: a novel,” by Jay Asher. Keith Gray touches upon a topic that needs a lot more exposure but with very delicate handling.
The book deals with the subjects of friendship, relationships and death. And although both boys and girls from intermediate onwards would enjoy this book, I think many an adult would find this book a beneficial read.

Read more about this author on http://www.keith-gray.com/.

Janice Rodrigues

The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman, illustrated by Chris Riddell

This novel won the Newbery Medal for 2009 and you will never read a book like it again.

Nobody Owens is brought up in a graveyard after his family is murdered while he is a baby. He survives because of his wandering and quizzical nature, which leads him to the graveyard, as the mysterious Jack murders his family. Bod, as he becomes known, is taken in hand by Silas, who becomes his guardian, and raised by the Owens's, who give him his name. After the inhabitants of the graveyard give Bod the freedom of the graveyard, he is able to see the dead and to live amongst them and learn as he goes.

The first half of the book explores a number of relationships and experiences that Bod has and the second half develops the mystery of why his family was killed, and why he is still a target of the same killer.

Interesting stuff and well told. Gaiman is noted for this style of writing and if you haven't read his earlier book Coraline then try that as well. Suitable for intermediate and secondary school students. You won't regret reading this one.

Reviewed by Bob

Check out our earlier post with a link to Neil Gaiman reading The Graveyard Book chapter by chapter while on tour.

Published by Bloomsbury

The Tomorrow Code by Brian Falkner

Subtitled: crack the code - or tomorrow is history!

Imagine that the World is a living organism like a human body with it's own immune system also like a human body with antibodies and macrophages to attack disease. Imagine then that Man is the disease and that a scientist creates this world immune system which starts attacking man right here in New Zealand. Better still it attacks the North Island, north of Auckland and Auckland is under threat. This is a South islanders' dream. Well then this is roughly what this science fiction/fantasy novel is all about.

Rebecca, Tane and Fatboy are the main characters in this story, all teenagers of higher than normal intelligence, who stumble upon a message from the future which tells of impending doom for the planet. After supplying them the means to oppose and resist what is happening by giving them the winning Lotto numbers with Powerball, the three teenagers in an action packed story, set about cracking the Tomorrow Code to save the world.

Heady stuff, although the science may non-plus a few readers, including this reviewer. I enjoyed the story and so will you.

Aimed at intermediate and high school students this is a great read with some of the best action scenes I have read since John Marsden's War Series. Go for it

Reviewed by Bob


Published by Walker Books

The Tomorrow Code is a finalist in the New Zealand Post Book Awards for Children and Young Adults in the Young Adult Fiction Category.

Wellington City Libraries Teen Blog

I've been really enjoying this cool teen blog, from Wellington City Libraries which I just have to share with Create Readers readers. In fact this blog is so cool, we gave it a Butterfly Award last week!

This blog would be useful for teens and anyone with teens in their life who wants to keep up with new and great teen books.

It includes blog posts on Wellington City Libraries' "most wanted" books each month, as well as reviews and new books. There's also the libraries' latest music CDs, or themed selections, complete with playlists to listen to.

The blog also has some great booklists. Here's a recent Top 10: Strong Females List. Go here for their top 10 top 10 lists!

Wellington City Libraries Kids Blog is also well worth checking out.

Whale Pot Bay

by Des Hunt

This is another exciting adventure story, set on a remote coast of Wairarapa, New Zealand. Des Hunt has woven together story strands involving Jake, his solo dad, a possible new partner and her daughter, a fictional international rock celebrity, a persistent member of the paparazzi, and a whale and her calf. Des explores and explains about surfing, whale beaching, old whaling stations, and tsunami, while the story unfolds and comes to an exciting but satisfying climax and conclusion.

Suitable for primary, intermediate and junior secondary age.

Reviewed by Lynn

Create Readers Presents Butterfly Awards

Last Friday we announced that Create Readers has won a Butterfly Award!

This week we're proud to pass on the award by presenting these outstanding blogs with their very own Butterfly Award.

Wellington City Libraries Teen Blog
The Book Whisperer
School Library Displays

We have chosen these blogs as ones which extend the Create Readers experience in quite different ways. Have a look at them and see what you think. Comments about your favourite blogs are also very welcome.

Over the next few weeks, we'll be posting blog entries about these blogs, to keep you busy on your Professional Reading over the school holidays.

This is a meme award and the rules for passing it on are:

1. Put the logo on your blog.
2. Add a link to the person who awarded you.
3. Award up to ten other blogs.
4. Add links to those blogs on yours.
5. Leave a message for your awardees on their blogs.

Hate That Cat by Sharon Creech

Don't take offence at the title. The main character, Jack, who appeared in Love that Dog and narrates this as well, doesn't really hate cats.

This title is a sequel, and is written in the same blank verse as the first book, but this time the nature of what constitutes poetry, and the grammatical techniques used in poetry such as alliteration and onomatopoeia, are explored.

Jack is still recovering from the death of his dog Skye and has taken exception to a cat that is invading Skye's old territory. Eventually he gets a cat of his own and all is rosy in the garden.

Not as good as Love That Dog but certainly useful in encouraging children to read and write poetry.

Suitable for middle primary school children.

Reviewed by Bob

Published by Joanna Cotler Books

The Future of Reading - Its a Best Seller!

Last month, Stephalie Rosalia, a humble elementary school librarian, made the front page of the New York Times, in an article titled "The Future of Reading: In Web Age, Library Job gets an Update," by Motoko Rich. (You can view New York Times articles for free, but you do need to quickly register first.)

This article became the most emailed story of the day, receiving 78 comments from readers and being mentioned on blogs around the world.

It shows Ms Rosila teaching students how to judge the accuracy of web sites, collaborating with teachers on information literacy lessons, and showing students online newspapers on the interactive whiteboard. She also encourages reading, weeds, and buys cool new books!

This month, the School Library Journal features an interview with Stephalie Rosalia, where she talks about her role in the school, and what it was like being the subject of the article.
I particularly liked what she said about books v. computers. It makes me mad when people think there has to be a fight to the death between the two, and that we have to choose which side we're on.

This is what the "poster-girl of school libraries" has to say on the topic:

I take issue with the few comments that seem to suggest that one media is better or worse than another. I am an unabashed bibliophile and I always promote books and tell my students that if the grid goes down, they can stand in the sunshine and read a book. However, it is my job to bring all media and sources of information and reading to my students. They have to learn to gather all information from all sources and assess it all. Print is NOT dead; Internet is NOT evil.
(From the School Library Journal article.)

This article is third in a series about the Future of Reading. The others are Literacy Debate: Online R U Really Reading, about what it means to read in a digital age (receiving 166 online comments!), and Using Video Games as Bait to Hook Readers.

Why should you be interested in all this? If you have become professionally registered as a librarian (or are considering doing so), you know that you need to keep up with your professional development, including professional reading. Looking at the hot off the press School Library Journal online, for free is one good way to do this. I subscribe to a weekly e-mail, SLJ Extra Helping, that tells me about the latest School Library Journal articles, here.

And whoever we are, whatever we do for a living, these issues around "The Future of Reading", are rapidly moving from science fiction to everyday reality all around us. Why not read the New York Times over a nice hot coffee, and have a ponder about our future and the part you want to play in shaping it ...

"Digital art: painting with pixels" by Ron Miller

This book displays cutting edge art using photography and digital art. Photographic images are combined with handmade artworks to amalgamate into a contemporary hybrid picture.
Miller attempts to answer these questions – where does this art form come from? How does it work? And is it even art in the traditional sense?
Plenty here for the comic book, manga, anime and the gamer generation, with funky colourful images and useful, easy-to-follow diagrams showing step-by-step procedures. This title would be particularly attractive to teenage boys but has something for everyone interested in this field. Recommended for Year 9 upwards.

Twenty-First Century Books ISBN 978 0 8225 7516 0

By Suzanne Hardy

Don't Call me Jojo by Tania Mills

A first book by Auckland school teacher Tania Mills and a pleasant surprise it was too. Well written, straight to the point, and on a subject that will get kids attention.

Josie, whose father calls her Jojo, is a teenage girl who is confronted with a sudden change in her life which at first consumes her, but she hangs in there, and comes out the other end a stronger person.

The incident that changes her is when the police burst into her house in the middle of the night, turn the place upside down, find stolen goods under her bed, and arrest the father. Jojo is stunned, but more change is to follow when the father goes to prison and Josie's mother ups sticks to go to be near to the prison. Josie has to change her life, refuses to be called Jojo, faces bullying and prejudice and learns the meaning of true friendship.

A very good short novel with a positive ending that will appeal to intermediate and junior high school children.

Reviewed by Bob

Published by Scholastic

Teacher notes are available for this book.

Create Readers wins Butterfly Award!

We have been chosen by Paper Tigers as one of their favourite blogs! They have passed on a Butterfly Award to us "for the coolest blog I ever know." Thanks Paper Tigers! Paper Tigers blogs about multicultural books for children and young adults, and looks like a pretty cool blog too!

Paper Tigers has also listed some more of their favourite blogs worthy of a Butterfly Award, here. Have a look and see what you think.
Now the pressure is on...

We have to choose up to 10 blogs to pass this award on to. Do you have any ideas? What are your favourite blogs? Please let us know in the comments.

Stuff! Materials and how they change

by Peter Riley. Published by Franklin Watts 2008

This colourful book would appeal to all young scientists, with explanations which are easy to understand, and well illustrated. Activities and experiments on each page are presented in steps with photographs, and use everyday materials. Inserts suggest other activities the reader might try, including fair tests. The reader is also provided with a glossary, index, a list of websites and explanations of expected outcomes of each of the experiments.
The title is part of an attractive series ‘The Real Scientist’ which also includes
Bang! Sounds and how we hear things
Flash! Light and how we see things
Heave! Forces and how we move things
Spark! Electricity and how it works things, and
Space! Our Solar System and beyond

Reviewed by Melva

Want to find some great books? - They're just a couple of clicks away...

Do you live in a big city, small town, or out in the country? Do you have a major children's bookshop just down the road, or do you have to travel for hours? Do book reps knock on your door day and night, or do you never see them? No matter where you live, you can have access to a large choice of children's books for your library, just by going online.

For example...

1. Want to find some award-winning fiction books for 7-9 year olds?
2. What are a few popular horror and ghost stories for teens?
3. How do I find a few good books for my class about the solar system?
4. I'd like to buy some graphic novels for early readers...

Wheeler's Books Online have recently revamped their website. It is now an easy-to-search site that can help you to locate some of the books that you are looking for. Wheeler's has a large number of books from a variety of publishers, so can be a good starting place for your search.

To answer the questions above from this site:

1. Go to Wheeler's. Go to the categories right at the bottom of the page, under the heading Children and Young Adults. Click on Award Winning. In the right-hand column, under "Filter results", choose your age group, and specify Fiction books. Lastly, click on Apply to see the books you have selected.
2. From the Wheeler's home page, go to the categories right at the bottom of the page, under the heading Children and Young Adults. Click on Fiction. From the list choose Horror & Ghost Stories, Chillers. Then choose your age group under "Filter results" in the right-hand column, and click on Apply.
3. From the Wheeler's home page, go to the categories right at the bottom of the page, under the heading Children and Young Adults. Click on Non-Fiction. Follow the links from Science to Astronomy & Space, to Solar System.
4. From the Wheeler's home page, go to the categories right at the bottom of the page, under the heading Children and Young Adults. Click on Graphic/Comic Strip. Then choose your age-group from the right-hand side and click on Apply.

You can also register with Wheeler's for free, and buy online. Follow the links under "Teachers and School Librarians".

There are also a number of other bookshops and publishers sites that are worth having a look at. Here are some more to try:

The Children's Bookshop, Kilbirnie

Jabberwocky Children's Bookshop

Scholastic

If you have used an online book-seller with success, please let us know in the comments.

Ancient Egypt : archaeology unlocks the secrets of Egypt’s past

By Jill Rubalcaba. National Geographic, c2007.

There is nothing dry and dusty about this book, which is from the series “National Geographic Investigates”. Clean design with high quality graphics and eye catching headings get it away to a great start – but author Jill Rubalcaba must take her share of the credit with her vivid narrative style and wonderful anecdotes which open windows to the world of ancient Egypt (I loved the story about the note inscribed on a pottery scrap found in a rubbish pit, from a teacher to their procrastinating student: “Bring your chapter and come!”), as well as offering real insights into the science and craft of the archaeologist . This is a great read for anyone who has any curiosity about ancient cultures. Best suited for intermediate through to junior secondary.

Reviewed by Pamela

Kei te pēhea koe? by Tracy Duncan

A simple book about feelings written and beautifully illustrated by Tracy Duncan.

The language level is pitched at Y1-2, but could still be used with Y3-4. The bilingual text is matched with a suitable illustration and is useful for shared or group reading.

Find out more about Tracy Duncan and her art You can of course see more of her illustrations in Melanie Drewery’s Nanny Mihi stories.

Reviewed by Kathy

Published by Puffin

Kākāriki and the Kai, Kākāriki and the Hāngi, Kākāriki and the Mīti by Julia Sloane

A series of books about a young, greedy, naughty, bright green taniwha called Kākāriki Green.

His mission is to eat as much food as quickly as he can. He’s very good at it and his owner, Tom, never catches him out.

The stories are told in rhyme with simple Māori phrases incorporated into the story. There is a glossary of all Māori words used at the back of the book
Reviewed by Kathy

Published by Scholastic

2009 Newbery medal for Neil Gaiman's "The Graveyard Book"

If you're a follower of overseas book awards, you'll know that Neal Gaiman has won this year's Newbery medal for his book "The Graveyard Book." The Newbery has been criticised lately for choosing books that are well reviewed, but ignored by children. With this book, they have gone back to choosing a highly acclaimed book, that is also very popular with kids at the senior primary to secondary level.

Imagine the Jungle Book, but set in a graveyard...

When the man Jack is sent to kill a family of four, the adventurous toddler just happens to be making an escape bid, out of the front door to the nearby graveyard. He is brought up by the friendly ghosts, who keep him safe from the murderous world outside. Each chapter is a distinct episode, set a year or two apart as Bod (short for Nobody) grows up.

School Library Journal calls this book:

one of the most emotionally honest books I've yet to have read this year. Smart and focused, touching and wry, it takes the story of a boy raised by ghosts and extends it beyond the restrictive borders of the setting. Great stuff.

For an extra special treat, you and the young ones in your life can hear Neal Gaiman read the whole book online, here. (If your connection is slow, click on Play, then click on Pause a wee while before you want to listen. Then click on Play again after the chapter has had time to download.)

I have listened to the whole book this way, and loved it. While not suitable for the very young or impressionable child, I would highly recommend it to those who like their books a little scary, but tempered with delicious humour, wonderful writing, and characters you care about.

Also check out this blog post about Neil Gaiman's book (now movie) Coraline, and a very scary picture of our blogger Dylan.

Finalists - New Zealand Post Book Awards 2009

Emerging authors and illustrators battle it out with our long-time writing heroes in the nation’s most prestigious children’s book awards this year.
Announced today, the finalists in the 2009 New Zealand Post Book Awards for Children and Young Adults include names loved by generations of Kiwis including Joy Cowley, Maurice Gee and Jack Lasenby. Alongside them are some exciting new talent in New Zealand children’s literature, admired by the judges for their humour and creativity.
The finalists were selected from more than 130 children’s books published in New Zealand in 2008 and submitted for the awards.
Nagelkerke, a past New Zealand Post finalist and former children’s librarian is joined on the judging panel by children’s editor and career bookseller, Jenni Keestra and children’s literature reviewer and librarian, Rosemary Tisdall. Together they will decide which author will earn the New Zealand Post Book of the Year prize and will choose winners from across the four categories. Winners will be announced on 20 May.
The finalists in the 2009 New Zealand Post Book Awards are:

Picture Book:

Duck’s Stuck! Written by Kyle Mewburn, illustrated by Ali Teo and John O’Reilly

Every Second Friday written by Kiri Lightfoot, illustrated by Ben Galbraith

Piggity-Wiggity Jiggity Jig written by Diana Neild, illustrated by Philip Webb

Roadworks written by Sally Sutton, illustrated by Brian Lovelock

The Were-Nana written by Melinda Szymanik, illustrated by Sarah Nelisiwe Anderson

Non-fiction:

Back & Beyond: New Zealand Painting for the Young & Curious by Gregory O’Brien

The Crafting of Narnia: The Art, Creatures, and Weapons from Weta Workshop by Weta Workshop, Paul Tobin and Daniel Falconer

High-Tech Legs on Everest by Mark Inglis with Sarah Ell

Juicy Writing: Inspiration and Techniques for Young Writers by Brigid Lowry

Piano Rock: A 1950s Childhood by Gavin Bishop

Junior Fiction:

Chicken Feathers by Joy Cowley, illustrated by David Elliott

Enemy at the Gate by Philippa Werry

Five (and a bit) Days in the Life of Ozzie Kingsford written by Val Bird, illustrated by Rebecca Cundy

Old Drumble by Jack Lasenby

Payback by Michelle Kelly

Young Adult Fiction:

The 10pm Question by Kate de Goldi

Chronicles of Stone #1, Scorched Bone by Vincent Ford

Gool by Maurice Gee

Juno of Taris by Fleur Beale

The Tomorrow Code by Brian Falkner

All winners will be announced at an awards ceremony held at Auckland Museum on Wednesday 20 May.

Suzanne Hardy

MISTIK LAKE by Martha Brooks.

This is a story about learning to cope with loss, finding closure and moving on.
In 1981 a car breaks through the ice on Mistik Lake and drowns all but one survivor, Sally. Years later Odella the eldest daughter realises that her mother is still reliving the horrors of this tragedy. Odella knows there are secrets that need to be unveiled.
It’s only when she visits Mistik Lake that the truth is disclosed. Martha Brooks uses the narratives of her two main characters Odella and Gloria to unfold this dramatic story about a family struggling to find peace and stability. The author also very cleverly fits in links between Mistik Lake in Manitoba and Iceland.
The vivid description of the landscape, the characterization and mystery that surrounds Sally and her link to Mistik Lake make for a very compelling and memorable read. No surprises that this book has won the Canadian Library Association Young Adult Award for 2008.
A great book for a movie, it deals with the subjects of tragedy, loss and relationships.
The book is best suited for students at the secondary level.

Janice Rodrigues

The 10 p.m. Question by Kate De Goldi

There is no middle of the road opinion about this book. You will either love it or hate it. That was the opinion I had after 50 or so pages, but Kate De Goldi is too important a writer and critic to discard just like that, so I persisted with the book, and at the end was very glad I had read it. It was a struggle though, as De Goldi's style of metaphor, simile and detailed description, often left you dazzled with her brilliance or left you pleading for something to happen to advance the plot. I found it difficult to get a flow going while reading. It is a human interest story, a story of family, a story of individualism and acceptance of difference, and a story of growing up.

Frankie is a 12 year old boy living with an older sister Gordana, a father who is called Uncle George, various animals, and a mother who never leaves the house and nobody talks about it. Frankie is a worrier and while he has great outside interests like cricket and a great male friend, Gigs, and is happy at school, his mother worries him. Why can't she leave the house?

Into his fascinating childhood comes Sydney, a tomboy with dreads and a worldly attitude who precipitates all Frankie's anxieties because of difficulties with her own life. Frankie and Sydney hit it off like a house on fire and this relationship is the highlight of this story.

The story is structured into chapters that detail a fortnight in time from February 14th to June 6th. At the end of each day Frankie talks to his mother at 10 p.m each night about his worries. Perhaps we should all do that. Read the book if you are interested.

Suitable for high school students.

Reviewed by Bob

Download a resource kit for teachers

Published by Longacre

The Dragonfly Pool by Eva Ibbotson

This latest offering from Eva Ibbotson follows the same structural pattern as her prevoius novels.

It is written in three distinctive parts, it has a lively and popular girl heroine and the drama builds up to a satisfactory ending. In short Eva Ibbotson tells a bloody good story and while it is formulaic it is a satisfying read.

Set just before World War 2, Tally a 12 year old London girl, who is loved by everyone (even the reader), is sent to an alternative public school that has an open curriculum and forward thinking teachers. Just before Hitler stomps all over Europe, the children from the school go to a folk dancing festival in the fictional kingdom of Bergania, and Tally becomes friends with the heir to the throne of Begonia, Karil. When the king is assassinated an adventure has begun that keeps the reader enthralled. Written in an easy style this a good novel for children from years 5/6 through to junior high. It would make a good read-a-loud too.

Reviewed by Bob

Published by Macmillan Children's Books