NZ Post Winners!

The NZ Post Children's Book Awards for 2012 have been announced!

Overall winner is 'Nice Day for a War' (also winning the Non-Fiction prize)



The winner in the Picture Book category is 'Rahui',



while the Children's Choice Award goes to 'The Cat's Pyjamas'.



The Junior Fiction Award was won by 'Super Finn'.

Congratulations to all the authors and illustrators!!!

Maurice Sendak - author and illustrator

Maurice Sendak, the author of Where the Wild Things Are (and many other wonderful books) has died this week.  To celebrate his work - and to remind you of how great his books are - here is a link to his most famous book, read by Gwendolyn Sandford.  Some of you will have seen the movie, too!

As a footnote for all the Andy Griffiths lovers out there...last June, I posted a blog link to an Andy video of him reading to his cat.  Can you figure out how to find a previous post and watch the video? (Hint: check the blog archive on the bottom right.....)

Andy Griffiths visit

We were lucky enough to be able to take Kea and Ruru Rooms to Maidstone Intermediate on Wednesday May 9th, to see Andy Griffiths speak.  Andy is the author of 'Just Crazy', 'Just Annoying', 'The Cat on the Mat is Flat', and most recently 'Just Doomed', coming into our library very shortly!

 Andy was a truly entertaining speaker, and gave us lots of good ideas for plotting a story...showing us with words, and also with props!  Here are some photos of the day, including Finn, Rory, and Morgan, who got books signed by Andy at the end of the afternoon.

Book People Unite!

In America, a group called 'Reading is Fundamental' give books to children who don't have any - a bit like the Books in Homes programme in New Zealand.  Here is the new TV ad they have produced to publicise their ideas - in America, it is called a Public Service Announcement.  See who you can recognise!

Senior students especially will enjoy this next video, where the characters talk about their experiences in making the ad.  So clever!

Northwood by Brian Falkner

One of the best-reviewed New Zealand books lately has been Brian Falkner's 'Northwood'.
Cecilia Undergarment is a girl who loves animals.  When she finds a neglected dog, she wants to help...so how does she end up flying in a balloon over a dark and scary forest?  A forest where black lions prowl?  Is there any way to get home?
'Northwood is on the New Book stand this week, and will be enjoyed by senior readers who like mystery, adventure, and imagination. 
Watch the trailer and read the book!

Need to get into a new series?

We have been bringing in some cool new series to enjoy!  Some are from authors you know and love, while others are completely new!
Come and have a look at them on the New Book stand in the library...


The Chronicles of Avantia follow on from Beastquest books, and are full-on action and adventure! See the book trailer by clicking on the picture.

Wilma Tenderfoot is a brave and clever girl detective, who does some amazing things to solve crimes!

The Magnificent 12 is all about the search for 12 ordinary children - who are actually heroes who are needed to save the world....click on the picture to link to a book trailer about the series.

 

Mercy Watson is a pig who loves buttered toast, and will do anything to get it......

Pandora is just a typical girl, with one exception...her Father is the Greek Titan Prometheus.  She has done something she really, really shouldn't have...can she and her friends fix it? Click on the picture for the book trailer....

The Dragons is a series written by Colin Thompson, the same author as The Floods.  Was King Arthur as brave, and bold, as we thought???

Happy Easter

How many of you have read and loved the Little Critter stories by Mercer Mayer?

Here is a video of Mercer reading his story 'It's Easter Little Critter', so find a spare 7 minutes, and sit down and listen....

Happy Easter everyone!!  See you next term!