Five(and a bit) Days in the life of Ozzie Kingsford. by Val Bird. Illustrated by Rebecca Cundy

Finalist in the New Zealand Post Book Awards
Junior Fiction category

A funny family story featuring the Kingsford family consisting of Ozzie, who narrates the story, his sister Holly(the Brat), mother, father(skilled parents), dog Snoops and best friend Fletch.

This is one of a series of books about the same characters, all illustrated expertly by Val Bird's daughter Rebecca. Look at the illustration of "a lying little toad" - it is my favourite.

Ozzie narrates this story in diary form and it concerns a visit from an uncle who has not been seen for 10 years. A family reunion is planned and the Kingsford family goes into an uproar which provides the humour to the story.

Val Bird uses a number of fonts in telling this story which helps highlight key words , ideas actions and feelings. A good family yarn for younger readers at school years 3,4,5.

Reviewed by Bob

Published by Random House

Boys, Non-fiction, Flow and Leap

Marc Aronson writes a blog called Nonfiction Matters, and a column in School Library Journal.

A post of his earlier this year discusses the book "Reading Don't Fix No Chevys: Literacy in the Lives of Young Men", by Michael W. Smith.

He has some really interesting points to make about the experience of reading fiction v non-fiction, and what to look for when choosing non-fiction for boys.

Here's what Marc Aronson has to say:

One of the key points in the book is about flow -- that experience of moving beyond yourself, being caught up in an activity. Reading seems the opposite of that to many boys, while action -- sports, building, competing -- offers just that experience.

I'd like to add another term, one which gets to the heart of what nonfiction offers: leap. Here's what I mean: if you think of NF as a plod through information, it doubtless seems as daunting and unpleasant as, say, a novel might for some boys. But, to me, one of the main reasons for acquiring information is so that you can jump, leap -- think about it. Some people love envisioning what it would be like to live in a time and place. I love speculating about how and why -- and that leap past the known into the region where you feel alive, creative, smart, alert, open is the great pleasure of nonfiction.

My fear is that we too often evaluate books on their command of fact, and that we spend too much of our attention on how students assimilate and record those facts. I would like to see us do more to stimulate kids to experience the pleasure of leaping, then make sure they have the facts to support, or falsify, their leaps.

Happy leaping, everyone!

Watch out next week for another post about getting boys into books.

2009 New Zealand Post Book Awards

Today we start posting reviews of the finalists in the 2009 New Zealand Post Book Awards for Children and Young Adults.

Finalist - Non Fiction section.
"Back and Beyond: New Zealand painting for the young and curious"
by Gregory O'Brien


This lavishly illustrated book gives an interesting overview of the last 200 years of New Zealand art, featuring art by a number of contemporary painters and printmakers. It offers more than forty full-colour plates that will dazzle and entrance the young and the curious and bring new life to the history of this country. Also included is an activities section which will delight youngsters and guide teachers into developing young peoples' appreciation of art.

Reviewed by Joy

The Knife that killed me by Anthony McGowan

This is one of the saddest books I have ever had to review because it is a book without hope.

It is set in an English school where there are only two types of student, bullies and victims. The only qualities that are respected are toughness and the ability to fight. If it is reality, no wonder we have lawlessness and social problems. If it is the future, we are doomed.

Paul Vaderman is a victim. He is not a bad lad and at the start of the book he proclaims "The knife that killed me wasn't a special knife....but it did the job".
What happens in the rest of the book leads up to the big event.

The social groups that exist within the school are all well described but even in the victims groups there is a culture of humiliation and put down and amongst the bullies, of which Roth is the king, there is a culture of cruelty and inhumaneness. Roth has only two facial expressions - agitation and blank. He manipulates through fear and bullying and is tribal in mentality. It is the law of the jungle.

This novel is absolutely compelling. You can't put it down. The difficulty is that those who should read it probably won't or can't and it is sad that such topics are part of children's literature.

For High School and young adult readers.

Reviewed by Bob

Published by Definitions 2008.

Also read the Guardian review

The Boy in the Dress by David Walliams

With an impressive line-up of quirky and loveable characters, football-loving Dennis is "enjoying" an interesting life - and missing his mother. Beautifully illustrated by Quentin Blake too.

From time to time we like to publish reviews of books from other sources. Here's a viewpoint about this much-discussed book from Genevieve Krefft when she was a Year 13 student last year.

"I thought this was a really quick read with a brilliant illustrator and a
cute, quirky story. Boys in dresses is not something I’m a stranger to, what
with coming from Wellington High School, but I appreciate the way this book tells a lot of people, with slightly less liberal origins, to embrace the lace.

I think this short novel has a valuable message - to be yourself no matter what other people think about you, which makes it good in my books.

An interesting feature was the strong narrator’s voice. The narrator almost becomes another character which allows for some humorous commentary throughout the novel. The friendship and family scattered amongst the pages makes it a nice book that left me with a smile on my face when I finished."

You can find Philip Ardagh‘s Guardian review here

Published by HarperCollins

"Book 1: Scorched bone" by Vince Ford. (Series-Chronicles of Stone)

Finalist in the New Zealand Post Book Awards : Young Adult Fiction

http://www.scholastic.co.nz/ 2008. ISBN 9781869438302 (pbk)

Set in the period known as pre-history, this series from New Zealand writer Vincent Ford takes us on a journey of discovery. Beautifully written and well researched, the characters leap from the page in a fast moving, exciting narrative, sure to captivate any reader.

In Scorched Bone we meet Souk and her brother Trei living with their clan, the People of the Canyons. A mysterious visitor arrives telling stories of the people to the North, the Manhunters, who have extraordinary powers, able to hunt bison and mammoth. Souk and Trei along with their friend Crien decide to leave the starvation and perils of life within their clan and head north.

In this story of survival, an epic journey comes alive with description so vivid the reader is immersed in the daily lives of our early ancestors.
A fabulous read, guaranteed to start discussions, invite comment and enthral all who read it.

Look out for books
Bk2 Set in Stone
Bk 3 Tribal Ash

Reviewed by Tracy

“Lets’s get art: children look at contemporary New Zealand art” by Brad Irwin

The question behind the theme of this book is aimed at children – “What is contemporary art?” The narrative follows the experience of four children as they visit a gallery exhibition of contemporary New Zealand art.
The author uses the comments of actual school children to engender a discussion about what is the nature of a subject that is a difficult one for adults let alone children. A range of different artists working in a diverse range of media is represented, but there is no attempt here to analyse the works and give a context for them or give any background information about the artists. The art is merely used to illustrate the point being made. The conclusion is a little too concise and I feel a brief comparison with previous art styles might have been more illuminating for those new to the topic.
The book is attractively presented and could be well used in the classroom to instigate a debate. Recommended for a reading age of 8yrs to 12yrs old.

Reviewed by Suzanne Hardy

http://www.randomhouse.co.nz/. ISBN 978 186979 0486

Woolbur by Leslie Helakoski, Illustrations by Lee Harper

Do you ever just want to be a “free spirit”?

A sheep named Woolbur shows the reader exactly how this can be achieved by using his own entertaining ideas and not following the rest of the flock. Woolbur makes decisions that are all against the norm;

“Instead of dyeing the yarn, I dyed myself", said Woolbur. “I like experimenting”.

This is just one of the many unusual behaviours that Woolbur displays to assert his individuality.

I particularly enjoyed this book as it portrays how being different and having self determination in a carefree manner can eventually be accepted by others – a wonderful message for children. The articulate illustrations contribute hugely to making this book an enjoyable read, or read aloud, for all primary school children

Reviewed by Shirley

Published by HarperCollins (2008)

The Red-hot Rattoons by Elizabeth Winthrop

After their talented parents are killed in a pest eradication programme at their barn in the country, five brother and sister rats set off to New York City to seek their fortune. Mum and dad were famous jazz musicians and played at all the legendary clubs in New York. Their children want to be dancers and to follow their parents' footsteps and this is a story of their attempts to reach the top.

We all know it is a long way to the top if you want to rock and roll, and there are many adventures and heartbreaks along the way for these brother and sister rats. Still it is a very entertaining story which stresses the need to keep going and not to lose heart when you are pursuing your dreams.

A good read-a-loud for year 3/4 children and will appeal up to Intermediate student level.

Reviewed by Bob

Published by Henry Holt and Company

Beautiful science

Many writers/illustrators are expert at distilling non-fiction into an attractive form for juniors. Adding the element of beauty and magic necessary to awaken real interest, however, is a different matter altogether.The aptly-named Read and Wonder series used to do this very well, and three recent science books in picture book format have the same irresistable quality of magic and mystery so often lacking in factual material.

Manfish : a story of Jacques Cousteau (San Francisco: Chronicle Books, 2008) stresses the wonder factor.
‘From the beginning little Jacques loved water….and water made him wonder. He wondered why ships floated. Why he floated. And why rocks sank.’
We all know where this initial sense of wonder led little Jacques as he grew to adulthood. Jennifer Berne’s lyrical prose is perfectly matched by Eric Puybaret’s illustrations in this story of a boy who loved the sea so much that he inspired a whole world to share his enthusiasm. The strong conservation message speaks for itself without preaching, and, as with the other two books discussed here, there is a useful factsheet at the end. Manfish could inspire young scientists from new entrants to intermediate school level, and will delight anyone who loves a beautifully presented picture book.

Susan Stockdale’s Fabulous Fishes (Atlanta: Peachtree Publishers, 2008) is simple enough to be used as an early reader. Stockdale’s rhyming text introduces young readers to a range of exotic and familiar varieties of fish, from the sardine to the whale shark with a flotilla of shapes, sizes and colours in between. The rhyme flows well—not always the case with rhyming picture books—and has a catchy lilting rhythm to accompany the very appealing one-page-to-a-fish illustrations. Each fish is given a detailed factual description alongside the thumbnail reproductions at the back of the book. While aimed at a younger audience than Manfish, this has enough real information to make it useful well beyond the junior primary level.

The same applies to This is the Oasis, (Frances Lincoln, 2005) from the well-known writer/illustrator team of Miriam Moss and Adrienne Kennaway. Its alliterative text describes different aspects of the Sahara Desert in near-haiku form, making it as useful for encouraging writing skills as for its very informative content on the red-gold beauty of desert ecology.

Here is a selective list of recent picture books with a science theme.

Engaging the children in science activities using picture books is the aim of Science Postcards. You can get free downloads and pupil notes to help with science teaching in the classroom.

Reviewed by Cecily Fisher

Heading for Gold

The lineup has just been announced for Spinning Gold, The Wellington Children's Book Association New Zealand Children’s Book Writing and Illustration conference to be held this September. Speakers Include; Martin Baynton, Kate De Goldi and writers’ agent Fiona Inglis from Australia.

Amongst the programme’s ten workshops, master classes, panel discussions, and mystery trips is a novel cross between speed dating and Dragons’ Den - a Pitch Slam where writers and illustrators get the opportunity to pitch their work, for just five minutes, to publishers and agents.

All in all in this time of recession the $300 cost is incredibly reasonable since it also covers all lunches, breaks and dinners for the two and a half day Wellington conference.

Registration is now open via email (the.wcba@gmail.com.) but be quick as space is limited to 80 attendees.


image by monikahoinkis

Gervelie’s journey: a refugee diary

By Anthony Robinson and Annemarie Young. Published by Frances Lincoln Children’s Books, 2008

This is Gervelie’s life story as she has told it to Anthony and Annemarie. Her words speak straight to the heart in a way that is quite extraordinary. Gervelie’s story begins in the Republic of Congo in 1995, and at the time of writing she and her father were waiting to hear whether they would be allowed to stay in Britain, where they had fled for safety. “Sometimes I think we are really unlucky” Gervelie says at one point in her story, and it would be hard to disagree. She tells of growing up in war and strife, of a family torn apart, of making friends only to lose touch with them, of being at the mercy of officials who might or might not be kind and helpful, and of her hopes and dreams for a future which is still by no means certain. In sharing her experiences through this book, Gervelie offers readers some real insights into the plight of refugees.

Reviewed by Pamela

Want Ideas for great School Library Displays?

Any librarian will tell you that the books that go first in the library are always the ones on display. Great school library displays are a powerful incentive to get and keep kids reading. Often, very effective displays can be put together with just a little bit of thought and a pinch of creativity.

And that's where the School Library Displays blog comes in. Elaine Pearson, Librarian at Horowhenua College, Levin, who creates the blog says:

Having searched the internet in vain for ideas for inspiring library displays I thought I would share a few of my own!

Elaine's displays are designed to be quick, easy and low cost. Her latest idea is a display on "fun books," set up for April Fool's day. The display includes fiction and non-fiction books that are purely for entertainment. As Elaine says, this display can be set up any time of the year, not just the first of April!

Other recent display ideas on the blog include one titled "help yourself" about (you guessed it) self-help books; one on "who's in the news" with cuttings about achievements of the school's students; and "reading is in fashion" highlighting fashion and design books.

We like this blog so much, that Create Readers gave it a "butterfly award". Check it out, here.

Where we live

By Susan Hoe Published by Ticktock, 2008
Series: Using maps

'Where we live' is a well laid out, colourful book about maps and mapping for junior primary children.
The book begins with an introduction covering what a map is, and an explanation of why we need maps.
Different ways of mapping a bedroom are covered, and then simple maps of towns, a country and the world are explained and discussed. Questions and activities for the reader in colourful text boxes are on most pages. The book also covers how to draw a map, and how hi-tech maps are made. Scale and map keys are also explained, both in the main text and the glossary.

Using Maps is a series of four books that cover mapping in different contexts.The other titles are 'Our Environment', 'Where things come from', and 'Natures habitats'.

Reviewed by Heather

The HORRIBLE Science of Everything

Written by Nick Arnold and illustrated by Tony DeSaulles. Published by Scholastic 2008

Horrible Science titles have been around for a while but now they are getting a makeover. The revised editions have a new look with a larger format, a strong plasticised cover, and more colour, and should appeal to a wider audience. This is the first time I have been tempted to look beyond the cover of one of these titles and I was pleasantly surprised.
Scientific facts are blended into a mix of quirky tales and weird information and more than a smattering of gore. Cartoons and diagrams and even recipes are scattered through the pages and somehow the wide range of fonts add to the fun rather than being a distraction. The authors really converse with their readers and invite them to be part of the fun. The language is not simple, and the science concepts are quite sophisticated, but what a lot of fun for would-be scientists who may be put off by more traditional formats.

I look forward to other new-look titles as they become available.
Visit the Horrible Science website to find out more.


Reviewed by Melva

Images of war: World War One : a photographic record of New Zealanders at war 1914-1918 by Glyn Harper and Queen Elizabeth II Army Memorial Museum

As Wilfred Owen so ironically wrote. "Dulce et Decorum est Pro Patria Mori". New Zealanders did this in great numbers at Gallipoli, the Somme and Paschendale during World War 1. The bloody, mud, gore, horror, sacrifice, ineptitude and incompetence is well known and, for many, forms a large part of their knowledge and impressions of our country's involvement in "The Great War".

This brilliant collection of photographs will certainly enhance those impressions but will also serve to illustrate the far broader commitment and scope of this "war to end all wars."

Certainly the Western Front, the war in the trenches, was a major part of New Zealand's involvement in the first war but these photos bring to light many lesser known theatres of conflict and other behind-the-scenes experiences of our gallant soldiers and the innumerable and varied support provided.

"The war in the desert" is a phrase normally associated with Rommel, North Africa and World War two but many of the photos contained herein bring to life the conflict with both the Germans and the Turks in the Middle East. This was a tough and uncompromising conflict but one conducted in vastly different conditions. The Western Front - mud, trenches, mass attacks, slaughter - compares with the mobile and fluid campaigns in Syria and Palestine where water and horses were the most critical resources.

The brilliant, dramatic and REAL photographs serve to highlight the wider experience of New Zealanders during World War 1. From the various campaigns to the troopships that continued to feed the military machine and the nurses who picked up the pieces, the light-hearted swimming in the Mediterranean, the cooking rough food in the mud or the sand, the desperate need for shade in the desert.

Oh what a "great adventure" it was....

And, as if to highlight the international, ridiculous and incongruous nature of the conflict, I draw the reader’s attention to the photograph on page 226 of "Rarotongan detachment guard artillery shells at Jaffa". Men from a tiny Pacific Island serving in the Eastern Mediterranean? Bizarre!

This book is a brilliant visual record of New Zealanders and our country's involvement in this horrible conflict. Best used as a research tool at senior level. Also worth a scan

Reviewed by David

Published by HarperCollins

Storylines Notable Book List 2009

Storylines have produced their annual list of books judged to be the most notable for the year. This is a celebration of all that is best in both the fields of writing and illustrating and covers all genres of books for children and young adults. See below -

Picture books Books for children and/or young adults where the narrative is carried equally by pictures and story.
Herbert, the Brave Sea Dog by Robyn Belton (Craig Potton Publishing)
The Apple by Ben Brown, illustrated by Tracy Duncan (Puffin)
Kei te Pehea Koe?: How Do You Feel? by Tracy Duncan (Puffin)
Every Second Friday by Kiri Lightfoot, illustrated by Ben Galbraith (Hodder Children's Books)
Piggity-Wiggity Jiggity Jig by Diana Neild, illustrated by Philip Webb (Scholastic)
The Seven Stars of Matariki by Toni Rolleston-Cummins, illustrated by Nikki Slade-Robinson (Huia)
Roadworks by Sally Sutton, illustrated by Brian Lovelock (Walker Books)
The Were-Nana (Not a Bedtime Story) by Melinda Szymanik, illustrated by Sarah Nelisiwe Anderson (Scholastic)

Special Mentions:
The judging panel would like to make special mention of Bubble Trouble by Margaret Mahy, illustrated by Polly Dunbar (Frances Lincoln Children's Books). Margaret's poem has been in print for many years and therefore not eligible for inclusion in the list. However the panel considers Bubble Trouble to be a treasure for New Zealand children.The judging panel would like to make special mention of Jack by Mike and Esther Fitzpatrick , illustrated by Bruce Madden (JacksBooks). For a self-published book, the design and production values are worthy of special mention.

Junior fiction Fiction suitable for primary and intermediate-aged children.
Five (and a Bit) Days in the Life of Ozzie Kingsford by Val Bird, illustrated by Rebecca Cundy (Random House)
Night Hunting by Deborah Burnside, illustrated by Jeff Fowler (Puffin)
Big Fish, Little Fish by Melanie Drewery (Raupo)Payback by Michelle Kelly (Scholastic)
Old Drumble by Jack Lasenby (HarperCollins)
Thornspell by Helen Lowe (Alfred A. Knopf)
Land of Promise: The Diary of William Donahue, Gravesend to Wellington, 1839-40 [My Story ] by Lorraine Orman (Scholastic)
“ Why I Hate School ” by Michael Fatarsky by Kris Stanhope (Scholastic)
Freaky Fish written by Feana Tu'akoi, illustrated by Eleanor Meecham [Kiwi Bites] (Puffin)

Young adult fiction Fiction suitable for upper intermediate and secondary school students.
Juno of Taris by Fleur Beale (Random House)
The 10 PM Question by Kate De Goldi (Longacre Press)
The Tomorrow Code by Brian Falkner (Walker Books)
Scorched Bone by Vince Ford [Chronicles of Stone, Book 1] (Scholastic)
Gool by Maurice Gee (Puffin Books)
Shadow of the Mountain by Anna Mackenzie (Longacre Press)

Non-fiction For authoritative, well-designed information books accessible to children and young adults.
Piano Rock: A 1950s Childhood by Gavin Bishop (Random House)
High-tech Legs of Everest by Mark Inglis with Sarah Ell(Random House)
Let's Get Art: Children Look at Contemporary New Zealand Art by Brad Irwin, illustrated by John Ward Knox (Random House)
Juicy Writing: Inspiration and Techniques for Young Writers by Brigid Lowry (Allen and Unwin)Atoms, Dinosaurs & DNA: 68 Great New Zealand Scientists by Veronika Meduna & Rebecca Priestley (Random House)
Back and Beyond: New Zealand Painting for the Young and Curious by Gregory O'Brien (Auckland University Press)
Learn to Skateboard with Luka - Ko te Akonga ki te Papa Retireti I te Taha o Luka by Lee and Errol Petra, translation by Tokikapu Peta (Raupo)
How to Make a Piupiu by Leilani Rickard (Raupo)

About the Notable Books List

Graphing weather and climate.

By Chris Oxlade Published by Heinemann Library, 2009
Series: Real world data

"Graphing Weather and Climate" is one book in a really interesting series that shows how data can be displayed through different types of charts and graphs. The Weather and Climate book covers aspects of weather such as wind, cloud cover, rainfall, forecasting, and climate change and demonstrates what to do with the data that might be collected.
Different types of graphs are used to present the data, including a special type of bar chart that shows the prevailing wind direction, cloud cover over an afternoon shown in a pictogram, and total rainfall per day over a two week period is shown in a bar graph. There is also an example of how to use a graph to compare information - temperature and rainfall, in two different climates
At the end of the book, "Chart smarts", summarises the different types of graphs and charts.

Other titles in the series cover topics that are frequently studied in schools, such as transportation, food and nutrition, the environment, energy and the universe. There are 12 titles in the series.
It would be very useful at the year 4 to 6 level, both for the topic information, and the graphing.

Reviewed by Heather

Getting kids reading - The "Book Whisperer's" Way

Donalyn Miller is a 6th grade (NZ Year 7) teacher in Texas. She writes a blog called The Book Whisperer and has just published her book "The Book Whisperer: Awakening the Inner Reader in Every Child."

The Book Whisperer blog is inspirational. Its full of practical ideas to create readers, and keep them reading. Donalyn Miller talks about the books that she and her students love to read, and her blog entries make you wish that you were in her classroom enjoying them too. This blog is so good, that Create Readers has recently presented it with a Butterfly Award!

Recent entries talk about reading aloud (with some great books) for upper primary to intermediate age students, and engaging gifted readers,

Donalyn says she has yet to meet a child she couldn't turn into a reader. On average, her students read between 50 and 60 books a year; last year, one of her students read 300 books.

Want to find out how to do this? I've just read three articles by Donalyn Miller, written for Teacher Magazine, which are full of great, practical ideas to create readers. Here are some of them:

• Assume all children are readers and that they can be successful as readers from the first day.
• I share my personal love of reading, model my reading, and talk about the books. I read the books the children want to share with me.
• When students come into to my room, they know that they have to get out their books and read until I start the instruction for the day. If they finish an assignment, they read. If the projector breaks, they read. If a teacher or parent comes to speak to me, they read. There are no "free” time or “when you are done” activities, only their books.

For reluctant readers, Donalyn says:

I would look for a short, easy-to-read book that taps into a personal interest. I often slip kids a new book that no one has read yet (except me, of course) so they can be the “first” or give them the first book in a high-interest series such as On the Run by Gordon Korman. Don’t attach any “teacher strings” to the book, no report, no comprehension questions, just a conference perhaps to see how it is going.

She also recommends books to hook readers, has a list of 13 books to read before you turn 13, and answers teachers' and librarians' questions about creating readers. Here are links to these excellent articles. Read them!

Creating Readers Part 1 and 2

Creating Readers Part 3