A quick reminder that Josef Trethowen will be performing at the Whangaparaoa Library on Thursday 20 May at 6.30pm. He'll be playing a couple of songs off his EP, "Inside the Wendy House" then will stay around for a short jam session post-performance. Bring in your instruments and join in.
Thursday, 13 May 2010
Celebrating Music Month at Whangaparaoa Library
A quick reminder that Josef Trethowen will be performing at the Whangaparaoa Library on Thursday 20 May at 6.30pm. He'll be playing a couple of songs off his EP, "Inside the Wendy House" then will stay around for a short jam session post-performance. Bring in your instruments and join in.
Wednesday, 12 May 2010
Gavin Bishop at Kumeu Library
Award winning new Zealand author Gavin Bishop paid a visit to Kumeu Library yesterday and I believe he got a very good reception over in west Rodney. The visit was part of the New Zealand Post Children's Book Awards and Festival. Here is the introduction given by Kumeu Children's Librarian Tina Collins, together with a list of his awards to date."Our guest today, Gavin Bishop is very talented and we are excited to have him visit us at Kumeu Library. As children’s book author and illustrator Gavin Bishop has won numerous national and international awards for his distinctive ink and watercolour illustrations and his original text. This year Gavin has 2 books nominated as finalists in the NZ Post Children’s Book Awards. Friends: Snake and Lizard and Cowshed Christmas. The Awards will be announced on 19 May. Gavin’s awards are too many to mention but are listed if you want to check out how his talent has been acknowledged.
His illustrations have been exhibited at international shows from Japan to Czechoslovakia, and he has appeared as a teacher and guest speaker at many international forums. He has been commissioned to write and design several successful ballets for the Royal NZ Ballet Company
In 1985 Gavin wrote and designed a ballet– Terrible Tom that toured the country for 18 months.
His illustrations have been exhibited at international shows from Japan to Czechoslovakia, and he has appeared as a teacher and guest speaker at many international forums. He has been commissioned to write and design several successful ballets for the Royal NZ Ballet Company
In 1985 Gavin wrote and designed a ballet– Terrible Tom that toured the country for 18 months.
Gavin was a high school art teacher for many years, but now works full-time as an illustrator and teacher of illustration. Gavin’s first book 'Mrs McGinty and the Bizarre Plant' was published in 1981. In 2002, Gavin’s plaque became part of Christchurch’s Writers’ Walkway. In 2003 Gavin's short story, ‘Giant Jimmy Jones’, was launched as the world's first 3D animated children's picture book. In 2009, Storylines launched the Gavin Bishop Award for Picture Book Illustration, in honour of one of New Zealand’s celebrated children’s illustrators. "
Awards that Gavin Bishop has won
Noma Concours for Children’s Picture Book Illustration 1982 runner-up.
Russell Clark Award 1982 Winner for Mrs McGinty and the Bizarre Plant.
New Zealand Government Publishing Awards - New Zealand Picture Book of the Year Award 1983 for Mr Fox.
Noma Concours for Children's Picture Book Illustration Grand Prix 1984.
Russell Clark Award 1988 shortlist for A, Apple Pie.
Russell Clark Award 1991 shortlist for Katarina.
Arts Council Grant, International Cultural Exchange Scheme to the USA 1993.
AIM Children’s Book Awards 1994 Picture Book Winner for Hinepau.
New Zealand Post Children’s Book Awards 1997 Picture Book shortlist for Maui and the Sun.
Creative New Zealand Project Grant 1998.
Russell Clark Award 1998 shortlist for Little Rabbit and the Sea.
Spectrum Print Award for the Best Use of Illustration in a New Zealand Book 2000.
White Ravens List 2000 for The Video Shop Sparrow.
New Zealand Post Children’s Book Awards 2000 Picture Book shortlist for The Video Shop Sparrow.
New Zealand Post Children’s Book Awards 2000 Picture Book Winner for The House that Jack Built.
New Zealand Post Children’s Book Awards 2000 Book of the Year Winner for The House that Jack Built.
Storylines Margaret Mahy Medal 2000.
Storylines Notable Books 2000 Picture Books list for The House that Jack Built.
Storylines Notable Books 2000 Picture Books list for The Video Shop Sparrow.
New Zealand Post Children’s Book Awards 2001 Picture Book shortlist for Stay Awake, Bear!
Russell Clark Award 2001 shortlist for Stay Awake, Bear!
Storylines Notable Books 2001 Picture Books list for Stay Awake, Bear!
New Zealand Post Children’s Book Awards 2002 Picture Book shortlist for Tom Thumb.
Smash Palace Art and Science Collaboration Grant with the HIT Lab, Canterbury University 2002.
Storylines Notable Books 2002 Picture Books list for Tom Thumb.
Noma Concours jury member 2002.
Ursula Bethell Residency in Creative Writing, Canterbury University 2003.
Waikato University Writer in Residence 2003.
New Zealand Post Children’s Book Awards 2003 Book of the Year Winner for Weaving Earth and Sky.
New Zealand Post Children’s Book Awards 2003 Non-fiction winner for Weaving Earth and Sky.
Elsie Locke Award 2003 shortlist for Weaving Earth and Sky.
Storylines Notable Books 2003 Non-fiction list for Weaving Earth and Sky.
Creative New Zealand Project Grant 2004.
Sylvia Ashton Warner Fellow, University of Auckland 2004.
Russell Clark Award 2004 shortlist for The Three Billy-goats Gruff.
Storylines Notable Books 2004 Picture Books list for The Three Billy-goats Gruff.
Represented New Zealand at the World Summit Award 2005 with ‘Giant Jimmy Jones’.
New Zealand Post Children’s Book Awards 2005 Picture Book shortlist for Taming the Sun.
Russell Clark Award 2005 shortlist for Taming the Sun.
White Ravens List 2005 for Taming the Sun.
Storylines Notable Books 2005 Picture Books list for Taming the Sun.
Russell Clark Award 2006 Winner for Kiwi Moon.
Russell Clark Award 2006 shortlist for The Waka.
New Zealand Post Children’s Book Awards 2006 Picture Book shortlist for The Waka.
Storylines Notable Books 2006 Picture Books list for Kiwi Moon.
Storylines Notable Books 2006 Picture Books list for The Waka.
New Zealand Post Children’s Book Awards 2007 Picture Book shortlist for Riding the Waves.
Russell Clark Award 2007 shortlist for Riding the Waves.
Storylines Notable Books 2007 Picture Books list for Riding the Waves.
New Zealand Post Children’s Book Awards 2008 Picture Book shortlist for Rats!
Russell Clark Award 2008 Winner for Rats!
New Zealand Post Children’s Book Awards 2008 Junior Fiction Winner for Snake and Lizard.
New Zealand Post Children’s Book Awards 2008 Book of the Year Winner for Snake and Lizard.
Storylines Notable Books 2008 Picture Books list for Rats!
Storylines Notable Books 2008 Junior Fiction list for Snake and Lizard.
New Zealand Post Children’s Book Awards 2009 Non-fiction shortlist for Piano Rock.
Elsie Locke Award 2009 shortlist for Piano Rock.
PANZ Book Design Awards 2009 Children’s Book Winner for Piano Rock.
Storylines Notable Books 2009 Non-fiction list for Piano Rock.
Phew - That's a pretty impressive list in anyone's book (pardon the pun).
I spoke briefly to Tina this morning who said the visit was a great success. Gavin was really friendly and worked well with the kids. Gavin has his own website which you can visit but stay tuned to the blog for photos of the Kumeu visit.
Tuesday, 11 May 2010
Library Humour
Enough of the serious stuff of book reviews, reading challenges and such. Today it's time for a little library humour plucked from the International Federation of Library Association website.
Books will remain upright on the shelf until you go to place another book beside them.
If it's a good book, it's out of stock. If it's an excellent book, it's out of print.
No matter how many books you have on a subject the student always thinks they're all "too big".
From The Bookmark, September 1989, p.48-49M.L. REVEYRAND, teacher-librarian, KLO Secondary School
THE PERFECT EXCUSE! or Why my book has not been returned to the library!
... cuz I left it in my truck and my truck was in an accident and got towed to the garage and I won't be able to get to the garage in Abbotsford until this weekend.
... my mother took it camping and lost it.
... I didn't take it out!
... cuz my cat peed on it and it smells too bad.
... it flew out the car window on the 401 Freeway and was devoured by an 18 wheeler!
The Chicken Joke
A chicken walks into the library. It goes up to the circulation desk and says: "book, bok, bok, boook".
The librarian hands the chicken a book. It tucks it under his wing and runs out. A while later, the chicken runs back in, throws the first book into the return bin and goes back to the librarian saying: "book, bok, bok, bok, boook". Again the librarian gives it a book, and the chicken runs out. The librarian shakes her head.
Within a few minutes, the chicken is back, returns the book and starts all over again: "boook, book, bok bok boook". The librarian gives him yet a third book, but this time as the chicken is running out the door, she follows it.
The chicken runs down the street, through the park and down to the riverbank. There, sitting on a lily pad is a big, green frog. The chicken holds up the book and shows it to the frog, saying: "Book, bok, bok, boook". The frog blinks, and croaks: "read-it, read-it, read-it".
And I can tell the last joke as part of my previous life was spent as a legal executive in a law firm, so I can appreciate the small gremlin of truth in it:
Q: What happens when you cross a librarian and a lawyer?
A: You get all the information you want, but you can't understand it.
Books will remain upright on the shelf until you go to place another book beside them.
If it's a good book, it's out of stock. If it's an excellent book, it's out of print.
No matter how many books you have on a subject the student always thinks they're all "too big".
From The Bookmark, September 1989, p.48-49M.L. REVEYRAND, teacher-librarian, KLO Secondary School
THE PERFECT EXCUSE! or Why my book has not been returned to the library!
... cuz I left it in my truck and my truck was in an accident and got towed to the garage and I won't be able to get to the garage in Abbotsford until this weekend.
... my mother took it camping and lost it.
... I didn't take it out!
... cuz my cat peed on it and it smells too bad.
... it flew out the car window on the 401 Freeway and was devoured by an 18 wheeler!
The Chicken Joke
A chicken walks into the library. It goes up to the circulation desk and says: "book, bok, bok, boook".
The librarian hands the chicken a book. It tucks it under his wing and runs out. A while later, the chicken runs back in, throws the first book into the return bin and goes back to the librarian saying: "book, bok, bok, bok, boook". Again the librarian gives it a book, and the chicken runs out. The librarian shakes her head.
Within a few minutes, the chicken is back, returns the book and starts all over again: "boook, book, bok bok boook". The librarian gives him yet a third book, but this time as the chicken is running out the door, she follows it.
The chicken runs down the street, through the park and down to the riverbank. There, sitting on a lily pad is a big, green frog. The chicken holds up the book and shows it to the frog, saying: "Book, bok, bok, boook". The frog blinks, and croaks: "read-it, read-it, read-it".
And I can tell the last joke as part of my previous life was spent as a legal executive in a law firm, so I can appreciate the small gremlin of truth in it:
Q: What happens when you cross a librarian and a lawyer?
A: You get all the information you want, but you can't understand it.
Monday, 10 May 2010
Ride of silence
The Ride of Silence will be held on Thursday 20 May. Rodney cyclists can show their support by participating in the free event which will start outside the council offices on 50 Centreway Road at 5:20pm. The ride will follow a 4.5km loop around Centreway Road, Loop Road, the Hibiscus Coast Highway and West Hoe Road.Helmets & shoes and bright clothing must be worn and bikes must be fitted with lights as per the new Road Code for Cyclists.
You can register for the Ride of Silence 2010 here.
On Thursday 20 May, cyclists from 300 cities around the world will join together to demonstrate their concern and raise awareness about cycling fatalities through the Ride of Silence. The ride started in 2003 in Dallas, Texas, after endurance cyclist Larry Schwartz was killed by a passing bus on an empty road. Since that time, the ride has developed into a global event and is now held in 18 countries.
Rodney has experienced two cycling fatalities in the last seven years – and the loss of those two lives has been felt by families, friends, work colleagues, and throughout their communities.
There have also been many more serious injuries and close calls reported – and it is suspected that thousands more cycle incidents a year go unreported.
Friday, 7 May 2010
Friday Snippets
News from the book and publishing world over recent weeks
Gardening Book Plagiarism claim - With so much information out there both in print and digitally, you sometimes wonder how anyone can write anything new. Luckily there are plenty of people who can. However in the case of a new gardening book there have been claims that parts of it have been copied directly from other sources. Penguin New Zealand are taking the claims seriously and have recalled the books. Read more on the link.
Kiwi Author winner of French Literary Award - Bernard Beckett is a popular New Zealand writer. His novel Genesis, which has already won the 2007 Esther Glen Award and the young adult fiction category at the 2007 New Zealand Post Children's Book Awards has now won the young adult division of the 2010 Prix Sorcières in France.
Crime & Thriller Reviews - "New Zealander readers love their crime and thriller fiction" writes Craig Sisterson in this weeks Scoop website bookreviews. Here he takes a look at some of the recent releases.
Inaugral Author Blog Awards - Neil Gaiman was one of the winners of the first ever Awards for blogs by Authors. Read what he and other winners have to say about what makes a good blog and see if you agree.
Once Bitten is the New York Times interview with Charlaine Harris, the creator of Sookie Stackhouse of True Blood fame. There's some really great insights in the interview such as this one - "Do you have any advice for young mystery writers or fantasy writers? For any writers at all, read everything you can and then put your butt in the chair and write. That’s all there is to it."
And don't forget the Auckland Writers & Readers Festival which kicks off next week. Have an awesome weekend everyone.
Gardening Book Plagiarism claim - With so much information out there both in print and digitally, you sometimes wonder how anyone can write anything new. Luckily there are plenty of people who can. However in the case of a new gardening book there have been claims that parts of it have been copied directly from other sources. Penguin New Zealand are taking the claims seriously and have recalled the books. Read more on the link.
Kiwi Author winner of French Literary Award - Bernard Beckett is a popular New Zealand writer. His novel Genesis, which has already won the 2007 Esther Glen Award and the young adult fiction category at the 2007 New Zealand Post Children's Book Awards has now won the young adult division of the 2010 Prix Sorcières in France.
Crime & Thriller Reviews - "New Zealander readers love their crime and thriller fiction" writes Craig Sisterson in this weeks Scoop website bookreviews. Here he takes a look at some of the recent releases.
Inaugral Author Blog Awards - Neil Gaiman was one of the winners of the first ever Awards for blogs by Authors. Read what he and other winners have to say about what makes a good blog and see if you agree.
Once Bitten is the New York Times interview with Charlaine Harris, the creator of Sookie Stackhouse of True Blood fame. There's some really great insights in the interview such as this one - "Do you have any advice for young mystery writers or fantasy writers? For any writers at all, read everything you can and then put your butt in the chair and write. That’s all there is to it."
And don't forget the Auckland Writers & Readers Festival which kicks off next week. Have an awesome weekend everyone.
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