The Night before Christmas... (nearly!)

Merry Christmas, everyone!

Have happy and safe holidays, and read lots and lots of books...

Here is Caroline Quentin reading 'The Night before Christmas' to end the year for our blog.  See you next year!

Summer Reading Gives You Superpowers

It's stock take time this week - and we would love to see all our books back in the library, ready for lending out next year - or for reading over the summer.

Please search out all books that you know you have out - and a quick look under the bed and on the bookshelf would be great, too!

Summer Reading forms have gone out now for Tui to Kea rooms: it's a great way to keep learning over the summer, and to enjoy the books you have always wanted to read but haven't normally got the time! 

Ashleigh's book review

Here is Ashleigh's book review of 'Pandora Gets Jealous'

Ashleigh has been reading the whole series, and has really enjoyed them, and has chosen one to review.  This book review is very special because, not only is it the first student post on the Library Blog, it is also Ashleigh's final task to complete her Level 2 Student Librarian Award.  

Congratulations, Ashleigh!!!

Pandora gets jealous

There are many new books in our library such as: 

The Christmas toy factory, The very brave bear, The Christmas surprise and Big Nate on a roll.

Pandora gets jealous is a fiction book.

This book is set in Ancient Greece.

It's characters are Pandora, Iole and Alcie.

My favourite character is Pandora because she is very sneaky.

The plot is Pandora wants something new to show at school so she brings her dad's box, but she opens it and releases terrible evils into the world, then has to go all over the world to get them back. Will she make it back alive? 

This story has a good ending.

I would recommend years 5 and 6 to read this book.

I give it a 9/10.

By Ashleigh 

Owl Babies

This week's post is one of our library's most popular picture books, and I'm sure the older students among you will have memories of this, too... possibly you remember Mrs Homer reading you the Big Book version!

As the term gets busier and more hectic, take a moment to relax and enjoy a quiet story.  Have a good week!

Andy Griffiths and Paul Jennings - author websites

Andy Griffiths  is one of the most popular authors in our library, and lots of you think he's really funny! His sense of humour is wild, wacky, and a little bit gross...and his website tells you a lot more about him, and about his books.  And yes - it's definitely on the weird side! Click on his picture below to find his site.

Paul Jennings is another author whose books are offbeat and funny.  He writes books for all ages, from the 'Rascal the Dragon' series on our Star Bookshelf, to the 'Uncovered ' series on our senior fiction shelves.

Which author do you think has the best website, and why?

There's a prize for the best answer.....

...and don't forget to check out all the other great author websites on the blog - links are along the right-hand side.

Fore Edge Painting

Books and art have always had a really close relationship, but not always in the most obvious ways...

Here is an old form of book art: handpainted scenes on page edges, that can only be seen if the pages are bent a little.

Have a look at the link below, and imagine the patience the artist had to have - all to make a piece of hidden artwork!

Welcome to Term 4!

Each year we survey students and staff to find out more about what you like, and what you want to have in your library!  Please click on the link below to complete this year's survey..

Library Survey 2013

... and come and have a look at the new display in the library also - it's definitely springtime...

Library Week Competition Winners

There were some incredible entries for our Library Week competitions, and they were truly the hardest ones EVER to judge!  The Castles will all be put up on display for you to see, and I know you will agree with me that there are some amazing artists among you.

But, there had to be prizes given out... so the winners are...

 Castles, from left to right:

Erin - Kea Room  :  Jonathan - Paua Room  :  Lorelei - Kiwi Room

Bookmarks from left to right:

Hunter - Pukeko Room  :  Duncan - Tuatara Room  :  Buddy - Pukeko Room

Congratulations to all of you, you are amazing!!

Library Week - Friday

It's the end of Library Week, already!  It's been an amazing week, and lots of fun.  Today is my favourite event: Library Olympics - so put on your running shoes after morning tea, and get ready to think hard as well as run fast!

To end the week, here is a clip that is just for fun.  Did you watch Sesame Street as a pre-schooler?  Do you remember these guys?? They're really not too sure what to do with a 'book'.....

Happy Library Week everyone - and thank you  all for making it such a success!  Have a look below for some great photos of some of the things we have done this week...

Library Week - Thursday

We are lucky enough to have Alex in this afternoon, to help us celebrate Library Week with his wonderful storytelling.  It is always a joy to listen to him read, and we are very lucky that he is prepared to give his time to us!

We also have more library activities at 1pm for all those that want to come and join in - and don't forget to have all competition entries handed in at the library by 1.30, also!

The video today is a short film made with paper animation.  It was made to celebrate the 25th anniversary of a publishing company, and is a story told without words.  Do you think wordless stories can be just as easy to understand as 'normal' stories? Come and look at some of of the wordless Sophisticated Picture books we have in our library and see how imaginative they are!   

Library Week - Wednesday

Welcome to Dress-Up Day!  It is wonderful to see you all with your costumes - so many of you (and your Mums and Dads) have put in so much effort!  There will be photos up soon ...

We have a great day planned today, with our wonderful visiting author, Ruth Paul.  We have many of her books in our library, such as The Kings Bubbles, Superpotamus, Two Little Pirates, Stomp, and the Animal Undie Ball. Let's give her a great welcome!

Click on the picture below for a link to Ruth's biography on the NZ Book Council website:

Library Week - Tuesday

Today at lunchtime, the library is open for book-related activities like colouring, puzzles, and stories.  Come and join in at 1.00!!  Can you guess when the 'Stop and Read' bell will ring today?

If you are busy thinking about the 'Castles' competition, the book is able to be viewed in the library, for inspiration and ideas....I am really looking forward to seeing your creations.


The video today is a beautifully made film  -  the story of a bookmark in a forgotten book, and what happens when the wind knocks it over....called 'Much Better Now'.  Enjoy!

Welcome to Library Week

It's Library Week again!

We have lots of great things going on this week, all aiming to celebrate reading, and our readers - and to have some fun.

Listen out for a surprise bell: it will be telling everyone to stop and read for 10 minutes, no matter what else you are doing!

To officially start the week, Mr Frater will be reading a special Library Week story this morning in the library at 10.20am - see you there....

We also have the book version of 'The Fantastic Flying Books of Morris Lessmore' in the library now.  Some of you will remember seeing the movie last year on the library blog, but if you don't, here it is below.

The physical book is an 'Augmented Reality' book, which means that if we view it through our special iPad app, amazing things happen!  Come and read the book - and be amazed by the special effects - in classes this week.

Requesting all books...

It's Library Stocktake time!

Please bring all books back.... 

.....to Mrs Nicol and Pip in the library, who would love to see you (and the books!!)

THANK YOU!!!

Captain Underpants

Some books have fantastic websites built around them.  Here is the Captain Underpants site, made by Scholastic.  Not only does it have games and videos, but great ideas and tools to make your own comics, just like the ones Dave Pilkey has created!  If you make one you are really pleased with, you could bring it in to school to show the rest of us!

The Wonder of Books

Our favourite books are those that catch our imagination and make us feel as though we really are somewhere else - or even, someone else!

Peter Pan has been a much-loved story since the book was first published in 1911.  This Peter Pan poster is also a little magical.  There is something special about it if you look closely.  Really closely....

Come into the library this week and see if you can tell what it is!

New Books this week

We have two new series on the New Book Stand this week...

Raven's Pass is place where weird and scary things happen on a regular basis.  What is really going on in this place??

The Mysterious Benedict Society is for only the most unusual children, who have succeeded in a range of difficult, and very strange, tests.  Now they have a secret mission to complete.  Will their friendship be enough to pass the biggest test of all?

Also on the stand this week: crafts to create, and stories to read...come in and have a look!!

     

Topic: Games!

Have you been enjoying this term's topic on 'Games'?  Here is a great article which looks at lots of different types of games on the Te Ara website, the online Encyclopaedia of New Zealand. Make a comment on this post and tell us what you think the most interesting fact is... one comment will win a prize from the Library Prize Box!

Story Time

One of the nicest things about winter is snuggling up with a good story.  Here is one of my favourites from our library picture book collection, Dog Loves Books - read by British actress Alison Steadman -  to start off a wonderful Term 3!  

Our Hairy Maclary Party

On Tuesday we had a party in the library to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the publication of Lynley Dodd's first book about Hairy Maclary. We had fun activities like colouring, mazes, puzzles, videos playing, and Dalmation ears to make and take away. It was a busy lunchtime for everyone! Click on the link below for a time lapse video of the fun we had...

Hairy Maclary Day 9 July 2013 from H Nicol on Vimeo.

...and here are some photos of our wonderful kids with their creations!  We all had a terrific time!

Thank you to Summer, Astaria, Mikey, Ellie, and Morgan for giving up your lunchtime to help - you were all absolute stars!

Hairy Maclary turns 30!

That's right - this month is Hairy Maclary's 30th birthday.  He and his friends have been an essential part of childhood for three decades now!  To celebrate, we are having a special Hairy Maclary birthday party on Tuesday (July 9th) in the library at 1 pm.  We will have activities, crafts, and videos - followed by our special storyteller Alex in the afternoon to celebrate some of our favourite books.

If you can't wait till then, click below to see one of my favourite Hairy Maclary stories on film.  See you on Tuesday!

Takeshita Demons - on the New Book stand this week

Takeshita Demons is an adventure and mystery story about a girl who moves from Japan to the UK to live.

The question is.... what has followed her from her old home??  Click on the picture below to link to a video interview with the author (who is a New Zealander), which tells you a little more about the story.

This is a fast-paced, inventive action story, and confident Year 4 and up readers will love it!

NZ Post Children's Book Awards - 2013 Winners!

The winners have been announced, and some of our favourites are there!

Best Picure Book:

Mr Whistler by Margaret Mahy

Children's  Choice Award:
Melu by Kyle Mewburn

Best Junior Fiction

My Brother's War by David Hill

Best Non-Fiction:

100 Amazing Tales from Aotearoa by Simon Morton & Riria Hotere

Congratulations to all the authors and illustrators!!

Red Rocks

The announcements of the award winners for the 2013 New Zealand Post Children's Book Awards are happening this Monday 24 June!  I will let you all know the winners after the announcements, but in the meantime, here is a book trailer for Red Rocks, set on Wellington's south coast - a great book for senior readers!

Click on the book cover below to see the video.

Kelly Campbell's Book Art

There are some amazing artists out there doing very clever things with books.  One I have recently come across is Kelly Campbell, who designs and makes pop-out graphic art from well-loved books.  Below is the link to a short article about her, with some wonderful pictures of her work!

We Give Books

'We Give Books' is an organisation based in America that aims to promote reading and access to books within the USA, but also around the world - by offering free books online for you to read!

The idea is simple: read a book online, and a physical book will be donated.  The causes change all the time, and include schools in Africa, Haiti, South America, and children in World Vision programmes in many countries.  Below is a video which introduces what they do.

The programme is run by The Penguin Group and The Pearson Foundation, who are both very big companies in the publishing world.    Click on the icon below to go to the website.  You need to have a (free) account to 'open' a book: you are welcome to use the school one to go online and read.  

The details are:

username:    PlateauLibrary

password:    read

Please note: the books on this site are all aimed at children between 4 and 10 years old.  You are welcome to set up your own account, but you must ask your parents first as you must be over 13 to sign up.

Timmy Failure - Mistakes Were Made

We all love the 'Wimpy Kid' series.  Luckily, when you have finished reading them, there are lots off great new books out there which are just as good!  One of my new favourites this year has been the 'Big Nate' series of books, which are very funny (if you haven't read them yet, give them a try!)

A new book we have just received looks a lot like these two series... but although it is just as funny, it has a totally different storyline.  I have never thought of a Polar Bear as a detective before..... see the book trailer below.

If you would like to see more, here is the website - click on the book cover to enter!

The new Graphic Novel this week is Magic Trixie, the little witch who's not allowed to do anything fun!

Come in and request a book, search through our graphic novel box, and try out the 3D glasses on the Marvel Heroes on our display!

The World of Graphic Novels

What are Graphic Novels?  Stories told with pictures and words, in a sequence.  Our latest library display is all about the great graphic novels we have in our library - from classics like Tintin and Asterix, to traditional stories like Treasure Island, and even newer fiction such as Artemis Fowl.   We will also have some great new graphics over the coming weeks, check out the New Book Stand!  Comics certainly have evolved, and there really is something for everyone..... come and have a look!

Here is a link for adults who want to know a little bit more about graphic novels, and how they add to the richness of reading and learning!

http://www.humblecomics.com/comicsedu/

Children's Choice Award - it's your vote that counts!

Now that you have all had a chance to see the finalists in this year's NZ Post Children's Book Awards categories... it's time to vote!  Click on the link below to get to the voting form, or vote as a class in library time this week.....

...and remember, one lucky person will win a prize of a $500 book voucher for themselves, and another one for their school library!

NERDS

Michael Buckley, who wrote the NERDS series of books, has a great video on Youtube explaining how he writes and why. He is a very funny man, and if you haven't read the books, give them a try!  Great for Year 4 readers and up, who like humour and crazy action.

(....Look out for the movie, starting production soon...)