Dare to Explore Celebrations

Around the Auckland Libraries this week, celebration events are being held to congratulate all those who have successfully taken part in Dare to Explore - Auckland Libraries Summer Reading Adventure.

This new programme has been an outstanding success with estimated participation from of over 6,000 children around Auckland. We have heard some fantastic stories, received from great photos and emails from parents and children and the libraries have been abuzz with explorers at Man vs Wild Picnics, waterslides, scavenger hunts, magician and storyteller sessions and lots of other activities.

We have heard that several children have completed ALL 52 challenges that were set as part of Dare to Explore. One young lady is reported to have been to 53 out of the 55 Auckland Libraries. One passport was stamped as far away as Hutt City Library in Wellington.

So if you see a whole lot of very excited (i.e. noisy) children and proud parents, grandparents and caregivers at our libraries this week, cut them some slack. They have been working at their reading all holidays and this is their reward.

Dare to Explore - Our People

Auckland is made up of people from all over the world. As part of Dare to Explore we have invited you to check out books by New Zealand authors as well as books about people from other countries. Here are a few ideas we have found about people and places from other cultures.

If you lived here: Houses of the world by Giles Laroche. Hot off the press is this lovely non-fiction picture book with collage style illustrations of houses from right around the world. Houses can be caves chiseled into the hills or built from earth and cow dung. We find out where they are located, who lives in them, when they first (or last) were built and a fascinating fact about all of them. You can catch fish from your bedroom in palafitos, live in one house with dozens of other families or need to have a good sense of direction as in some places all the houses look alike, and they are all white. Treehouses are even included. A fascinating read.

Little kitchen around the world By Sabrina Parrini. “Delicious international recipes that kids can really make” shouts the byline on this book. So, as international cooking is one of the challenges in Dare to Explore… Our People, I thought I would try out a couple of the recipes from this recent release. After all, if I can make it, then a kid will definitely be able to. It is really well set out for a recipe book, and appropriate to it’s target audience with each recipe have a flag for the country it is from, a rating on it’s ease and the number of servings… plus a photo of what the end product should look like (absolutely vital in my experience even if it leads to disappointment when I look at my results). I also like that as well as a list of ingredients, a list of equipment is provided with each recipe. A perfect read for the young chef.

For you are a Kenyan Child By Kelly Cunnane and Ana Juan. Experience a day in the life of a young Kenyan boy. Who, although he wakes to a rooster instead of an alarm clock and eats bugs instead of an apple for a snack, isn’t so much different to you when his mother gives him a chore to do. There is just so much going on in his village it is easy to get distracted. It’s vibrant, colourful and interesting. Read about a boy like you (or your brother) in another part of the world.

The Little Refugee By Anh Do and Suzanne Doh. The picture book version of the memoir Australia’s Happiest Refugee, this is both the story of another culture and a survival story. The sepia tones of the old life in Vietnam and as the family try to escape to another country give way to the colour of life in a new land, not always easy, but perhaps it will be all right in the end. Poignant, well told for the audience and with great illustrations from Bruce Whatley to compliment the story.

To explore the peoples and cultures, and find reading from picture books to chapter books by Kiwi authors and about New Zealand people, go to the Dare to Explore...Our People page on our website.

Dare to Explore Booklists - Pirates, Mermaids and Go Aqua

One of the challenges in the Go Aqua set is to read a Pirate or a Mermaid book. Luckily we have heaps here at the libraries, as well as lots of other books about the sea and water sports.

Pirate Underpants! By Tom Easton and Matt Buckingham. One of the books from the Poor Pirates start reading series.
Captain Flint is in a bad mood. His ship (The Stuck Pig) is too slow to catch any ships because it sails are full of holes. He comes up with a plan that gives him patched up sails but leaves his crew in their underpants. But are they fast enough to catch up with the treasure on the Spanish Galleon. A lively funny tale for first readers.

The fierce little woman and the wicked pirate by Joy Cowley was one of my favourite picture books from last year when the original 1984 story was reissued with wonderful new illustrations. The little woman is fierce and fiesty and the pirate is wicked. But he does need something from the little woman. A true kiwi classic.

The Little Mermaid by Hans Christian Anderson is a forever favourite and has been adapted many times. So the story of a little mermaid who is prepared to give up life under the sea for the love of a prince on land is often available in different formats (picture book, children's fiction, fairy tale anthology and DVD) in the library.

The Deep End by Ursula Dubosarsky and Mitch Vane. One of the Aussie Nibbles readers
I can still vaguely remember learning to swim at school. Although we had a deep end, we could still touch the bottom and stand up in it. I’m sure if we had a deep end over my head when I was learning to swim, that I would be just a little bit scared about jumping in. Read how Becky overcomes her fear and her pride when she achieves her goal. Although not strictly a mermaid book, learning to swim is the first step to finding your inner-mermaid. This is an easy to read first chapter book with simple text and illustrations, well spaced out to help the new reader.

Check out the Dare to Explore... Go Aqua pages on our website for some more things to do in the water this summer (we didn't include things to do out in the rain - but why not put on your gumboots and raincoat, take mum and dad and go splash in some puddles) and check out our Dare to Explore Booklists for more ideas of water books to read.

Dare to Explore - Survival Stories

My introduction to survival stories came many (many) years ago when a teacher at primary school used to read to us from chapter books every day. There are a couple I remember vividly. One of them was the Newbery Honor Book My side of the mountain by Jean Craighead George. I am not sure exactly what it was that attracted me to the book as a child. Perhaps the running away from the City and the independence of striking out on his own. Perhaps it was the interaction with nature because I was an outdoors farm girl. It could have been the pull of having an eagle for a pet and companion. It almost certainly wasn’t (at that time) that Sam spent a lot of time reading up and storing knowledge so that he could undertake this adventure at his local library. Maybe it was just a great children’s adventure story about a boy escaping and looking after himself – something a lot of children can probably relate to as a dream.

My side of the mountain hasn’t dated much since it was first published in 1959. The same can be said for a more modern survival story Hatchet by Gary Paulsen which was first published in 1987 and which quickly became a favourite, a classic (and also a Newbery Honor Book. Brian’s arrival is slightly more violent and unexpected than Sam’s, the result of a plane crash. And he spends less time in the wilderness but that doesn’t detract from the struggle and the adventure. As he struggles to find anything edible by the side of a lake in which the plane landed, you can almost taste the juice of the berries he finally finds and gorges himself on. You can almost smell the spray of the skunk he disturbs in his cave one night and feel the jabs of the porcupine quills as they stab your leg. This is children’s writing at it’s best for both boys and girls.

Hot off the press is an epic survival story The Winter Pony by Iain Lawrence. Based on the true story of the race to the South Pole, this book tells the adventure as seen through the eyes of James (or Jimmy) Pigg, one of the twenty ponies chosen to go on the expedition. The hardship of the life in Russia, gives way to the unsettling roll of the an ocean voyage and the piercing cold of the Antarctic for this pony. There are “storms at sea, killer whales and calving glaciers, crushing ice and gaping crevasses, frostbite and hunger and blinding blizzards”. It’s a fantastic and well researched story.

Another new book on Scott's Antarctic Expedition is the non-fiction No Return: Captain Scott’s Race to the Pole By Peter Gouldthorpe. This recent release is a superb addition to the resources that tell the story of the Antarctic Expeditions over 100 years ago. Told as a narrative with incredibly detailed illustrations to support the story, the information is naturally absorbed as you read. For those that know the story, this is a great retelling. For those that are new to the adventures of Scott and the men who perished with him on his adventure, this is a fantastic introduction and highly recommended.

The Little Refugee is Anh Do’s memoir The Happiest Refugee told in picture book form. Life in Vietnam was tough, made even more so by the war that came. So Anh Do’s family risk everything by buying an old wooden fishing boat and trying to escape to another country. And even when they finally arrived in Australia, things weren’t always easy. The sepia pencil illustrations of the struggle give way to colour in the new land as the family struggle to see if everything will turn out all right in the end.

My first 5 books for 2012

List by Tosca

"Once you learn to read, you will be forever free."
- Frederick Douglass

I wanted to write my 2011 top 5 lists for graphic novels, fiction, nonfiction, dvds and cds that I'd taken out this year. I thought it'd be a nice way to wave goodbye to 2011 and see in 2012. Two things stopped me: I'd deleted my reading history of everything I'd taken out from January 2011 - November 2011, and had read/watched/listened to 299 items from October 2011 - December 2011. The thought of trying to go through 299 titles and choose my best of the best was somewhat daunting, to say the least. It left me feeling a bit deflated. And then I thought why don't I make this post a simple list of my first 5 books for 2012, instead. Which, I think, works quite well with a couple of book goals I have: 1) get back into young adult fiction and 2) read widely. As beginnings go, it's not too bad!

What book did you kickstart the new year with? What book goals do you have in mind?

Summer Reading for Children - How you can help

We have designed Dare to Explore - Auckland Libraries Summer Reading Adventure with both children and their parents or caregivers in mind. One of the things that we want to do is help you to help them. And to make it FUN. So here are some tips for the adults about our new summer reading programme.

We have designed Dare to Explore to be as flexible as possible, fitting in with whatever you have planned for the holidays. The Auckland Libraries Summer Reading Adventure runs right through the holidays, and your child can complete as much or as little as they want. It can be done at home, while on holiday, by visiting the library, on the Internet and with friends. You can visit other libraries around Auckland in person, or drop by our website to carry out the online activities and challenges.

Dare to Explore aims to:
* maintain or improve reading skills over the summer holidays

* increase your child's love of books and reading

* help create confident and comfortable library users

* provide a fun adventure that helps children get the most out of the holidays

The key to any visit to the library is that if you can't find what you are looking for, just ask. That's why the librarians are there. Librarians do more than just check out books. We might not know every book in the library, but we can certainly help recommend some and help you find what you are looking for.

We have taken top picks from all of the children's librarians around Auckland to point you at some fantastic new books (and some old favourites). Each of the challenge sets comes with a booklist, and you will find more suggestions here in the Booklists section.

But it's not just about books... we also have collections of music CDs, DVDs, puzzles, games and magazines, as well as a whole world of digital resources for us to help you explore.

We have plenty of other tips to help you. Check them out on our Dare to Explore - Encouraging young readers page

School's Out - Dare to Explore

Most schools have now broken up for summer which means there are plenty of kids out there between 5 and 13 who are looking for something to do. Which is where Auckland Libraries come in with Dare to Explore - Auckland Libraries Summer Reading Adventure.

We have already talked about this a bit on our blog. Maybe you have heard something about it through the school newsletter, or seen it advertised. Let me tell you how it works so that you can be as excited about it as we are.

Over the summer holidays we want you to read, read, read and see if you can complete the Dare to Explore... Your Library challenges. We want you to read every day - even if it's just a little bit. You can choose your own books, or you might choose a book from the challenge lists, or get a librarian to help you pick a book. Check out the Your Library challenges in the Guidebook. You will need to complete at least 4 of the challenges to get a stamp in your Passport. The more you can complete, the better - try and become a Trail Blazer! Visit the Dare to Explore... Your Library pages to find more challenges, helpful hints and great book recommendations

When you have completed at least 4 challenges, visit your library and get one of the friendly librarians to stamp your Passport. Don't forget to bring in anything you'd like to show us from your completed challenges - your photos, bookmarks, crafts, reviews and stories and, of course, tell us about the books you have been reading.

When you've finished doing the Your Library challenges, you will receive a certificate and can come along to the Summer Reading celebration event in your area - check the events page on our website for more details.

But wait - there's more.
For those who want more adventure, we have 5 more sets of challenges to choose from:
Dare to Explore... Your Past, Dare to Explore... The Great Outdoors, Dare to Explore... Go Aqua, Dare to Explore... Our People and Dare to Explore... Get Active. Talk to your librarian about which you'd like to try and they will give you the challenge card. Complete at least 4 of the challenges to get another stamp in your Passport; you can try as many as you like - it's up to you!

As well as the challenges, our website provides lots of other ideas and resources, plus details of all the events and activities being run at all of the Auckland Libraries over summer to support the adventure. Why not check it out and join the fun.

Dare to Explore - LIbrarian's choice Booklist #2

As promised yesterday, here are some recommendations for older or more confident readers from our Dare to Explore Website. You can find out more about any of the books from our catalogue. Once again, like all the lists we have put together from Dare to Explore, these are the favourites from librarians across Auckland. Many are part of a series or are written by an author who has produced several different books. So if you can't find the one listed, there might be something else similar for you to read. Just ask the librarian next time you head into the library.

100 cupboards by Nathan D Wilson
After his parents are kidnapped, timid twelve-year-old Henry York leaves his sheltered Boston life and moves to small-town Kansas, where he and his cousin Henrietta discover and explore hidden doors in his attic room that seem to open onto other worlds.

Alabama moon by Watt Key
After the death of his father, ten-year-old Moon leaves their forest shelter home and is sent to an Alabama institution, becoming entangled in the outside world he has never known and making good friends, a relentless enemy, and finally a new life.

Best friends by Jacqueline Wilson
Gemma and Alice, born on the same day, have been devoted friends ever since. Despite Gemma's larger-than-life personality and Alice's quieter character, the two are inseperable - until that is Alice has to move house, all the way to Scotland.

Danny the champion of the world by Roald Dahl
A young English boy describes his relationship with his father and the special adventure they share together.

Dead Man's Cove by Lauren St. John
When orphan Laura goes to live with her uncle in Cornwall, she longs for a life of excitement just like the characters in her favourite detective novels. Life in Cornwall turns out to be full of mysteries, and when Laura finds a message in a bottle she embarks on a quest that will test her detective skills to the limit.

Let me whisper you my story by Moya Simons
Rachel is German and Jewish and living in Leipzig,Germany. Life is good, and revolves around Sabbath meals shared with her happy family. With the outbreak of World War II, their lives are changed. The family are forced to move from their comfortable home into cramped housing, and when the Nazis arrive to finally take the family away they don't know what is to become of them. But Rachel's father gives her instructions that save her life. He also tells her not to speak. Rachel remains quiet for the rest of the war, but what happened to her family? Will Rachel regain her voice now that she really needs it?

Pirate diary : the journal of Jake Carpenter by Richard Platt
Starting in 1716, this describes the adventures of nine-year-old Jake. When pirates capture his ship, Jake finds himself embarking on a new life, on the wrong side of the law. He takes part in a treasure raid, encounters a sea monster, endures a terrible storm and learns about the pirate code.

The phantom tollbooth by Norton Juster
A journey through a land where Milo learns the importance of words and numbers provides a cure for his boredom.

The portal by Andrew Norriss
When your parents disappear it is one of those things that sticks in your mind. Another of those things is the discovery that behind your dad's office door lies an intergalactic portal... When both of these things happen to William Seward and his brother they're left with two questions. What are they going to do now? And where are their parents?

Saffy's angel by Hilary McKay
After learning that she was adopted, thirteen-year-old Saffron's relationship with her eccentric, artistic family changes, until they help her go back to Italy where she was born to find a special momento of her past.

Dare to Explore Booklists - Librarian's choice

As part of Dare to Explore - Auckland Libraries Summer Reading Adventure, we have put together a whole host of booklists to give children (and parents) some reading ideas for summer. From time to time over summer we will be rolling these out on the Blog. The first couple of lists are part of the Dare to Explore... Your Library challenge and are some of our favourites. Librarians across Auckland contributed to these lists and most of these titles came up multiple times. This list is for the younger reader... check back tomorrow for a list of books for the older or more confident readers.

Big bad raps by Tony Mitton
A collection of rap rhyme retellings of fairy tales which include the Beans talk rap, Fol-de-Rol rap, Huff puff houses and Little Red rap.

The boy who cried ninja by Alex Latimer
When Tim is accused of several misdemeanours no-one believes his side of the story. The truth is unbelievable so will he be able to persuade his parents to believe him?

Dear Fairy Godmother by Michael Rosen
Deep in the enchanted forest, the fairy tale creatures all have problems. Luckily they can call on the ultimate agony aunt - Dear Fairy Godmother!

The duck in the gun by Joy Cowley
The general and his men are about to fire on a town they are at war with. But the Gunner has bad news for the General, they can't load the gun as there is a duck nesting inside it.

Friends : Snake and Lizard by Joy Cowley
A collection of stories about the friendship between Snake and Lizard. Snake and Lizard run a helping business, Helper and Helper. The daily adventures of this lovable pair continue as they meet a frog without its croak, a nosy porcupine and many other creatures of the desert - even human things. Although Snake and Lizard argue a lot, they remain the best of friends.

Your pal Mo Willems presents Leonardo the terrible monster by Mo Willems
Leonardo is a terrible monster -- he can't seem to frighten anyone. When he discovers the perfect nervous little boy, will he scare the lunch out of him? Or will he think of something better?

The naughty corner by Colin Thompson
Sometimes it gets pretty crowded in the naughty corner ... Babies George and Cleopatra, 14-year-old Peter, 38-year old Brian, Nigel the cat, Credence the dog, and Monique, the yellow bird all of them have spent time in the naughty corner. It's meant to make them think about their behaviour, but they've turned it into a place to have fun.

Press here by Hervé Tullet
Press here. That's right. Just press the yellow dot...and turn the page. This irresistible picture book is ideal for sharing with children and has created a sensation worldwide.

Shark in the park! by Nick Sharratt
Through his telescope a little boy keeps seeing what seems to be a shark in the park, but by turning the page the reader can see and identify the whole object.

Who's in the loo? by Jeanne Willis
Who's in the loo? There's a very long queue. Is it an elephant doing a poo?' If your house has many occupants, then this witty rhyme from the irreverent and observant pen of Jeanne Willis will resonate profoundly. Adrian Reynolds's exuberant illustrations highlight the fun.

If you want to check out all the lists head over to the Dare to Explore pages on our website.

And our Auckland Libraries Facebook page has some photos of the launch event held at Highland Park on Monday.

Dare to Explore STARTS TODAY

Registrations for Dare to Explore - Auckland Libraries Summer Reading Adventure open today. Some people have been extremely quick off the mark and we already have a number of children registered for the challenge.

The beauty of this new programme is that you can register for Dare to Explore at any time throughout the holidays. Just fill in the form on this sign up page, and then come into your local library to pick up your Dare to Explore pack - you're on your way! You can also pop into your library and sign up in person.

When you are signing up, have a look at the Events that are happening in your local library (or if you are going away, see if there is anything happening at a library near you).

Dare to Explore - Auckland Libraries Summer Reading Adventure

It summer (well... it's supposed to be). And that means holidays and sun and time for us to launch our NEW summer reading programme to Auckland. We want you to have fun, get to know your library and read and learn something new and exciting! That's why we are going to challenge you to explore your library and your city. Welcome to Dare to Explore.

Over the summer holiday we want you to read, read, read and see if you can complete the Dare to Explore challenges, starting with Dare to Explore... Your Library.

For those who want even more adventures, there are 5 more challenge sets for you to choose from...

• Dare to Explore... Your Past


• Dare to Explore... The Great Outdoors


• Dare to Explore... Go Aqua


• Dare to Explore... Our People


• Dare to Explore... Get Active

It's FREE to sign up and start exploring! The adventure is open to Auckland kids aged 5 - 13 years and runs from 12 December 2011 to 27 January 2012. There is no limit to the number of children who can register and they can register at any time, right up to the end of the adventure. Register online or at your local library from the 12th of December, and then collect your Dare to Explore pack at the library to begin.

Activities can be done at home, on holiday, at the library, through the internet and with friends. Many of our libraries are running special activities and events over summer as part of Dare to Explore. We are really excited about the scale and potential this programme has to reach the children and families in Auckland. So spread the word, check out the Dare to Explore page on our website and get ready to have some fun.

Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award (ALMA) longlist announced

While you might not remember the name of Swedish author Astrid Lindgren, you should recognise her well-known character, Pippi Longstocking, the feisty red-head with freckles, from your childhood.

Astrid Lindgren passed away in 2002, and since 2003, the world’s largest prize for children’s and young adult literature, the Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award (ALMA) has been awarded in her memory.

This annual award is presented to authors, illustrators, oral storytellers and those active in reading promotion work, and may be presented to a single recipient or to several, regardless of language or nationality, and recognises their lifelong body of work. Previous authors to win include Maurice Sendak, Katherine Paterson, Sonya Hartnett and Phillip Pullman. Previous organisations that have won include Venezuela's Banco del Libro and the Tamer Institute based in Ramallah.

The 2012 longlist of nominees was announced earlier this month, 184 names from 66 countries, and there are two New Zealanders on the list – Joy Cowley and Margaret Mahy. It’s fantastic to see these two New Zealanders recognised amongst the world’s best.




The 2011 recipient was Shaun Tan, an outstanding Australian author and illustrator, whose work includes The Arrival, The Lost Thing, The Red Tree, and Memorial.

I’ve used Shaun Tan’s work for group discussions with people from a range of ages, from primary school children to adults. There’s always plenty of intriguing and interesting discussion, because his images always draw you in, and often take you to places you might not have expected to go. If you haven't yet discovered the joy of Shaun Tan's work, then head down to your local library quicksmart!

I’m looking forward to seeing who the jury picks for the 2012 ALMA winner. Wouldn't it be great to see a New Zealander win this one?

Be part of the BIGGEST Wriggle and Rhyme in New Zealand

This week it is all about being proud to be a Kiwi and supporting the All Blacks. As part of the REAL New Zealand Festival the TelstraClear Pacific Events Centre at Manukau are putting on the Heart of the Nation during the school holidays. And on Friday 21st November, we are going to be there for something special... but we need your help.

Join Auckland Libraries and the Regions’ Sports Trusts at the BIGGEST Wriggle & Rhyme session ever held in New Zealand. It's on Friday at 11.00 am. It will be fun, it will be free (there may even be giveaways). Parking is free. All you need to do is bring along yourself and your pre-schoolers, plus a blanket or cushion. We will be there with the music, songs, and smiles. While Wriggle and Rhyme is normally targetted at babies from birth to two years old, for this special occasion, the whole family is welcome.

So what is Wriggle and Rhyme? Wriggle and Rhyme is based on the SPARC (Sport and Recreation New Zealand) principles of Active Movement for Early Learning. Movement is a child’s first language so it is important to provide babies with positive whole body movements’ right from birth to stimulate development of both the brain and the body. Wriggle and Rhyme provides a series of sequenced sessions using a range of music and movement, and explanation of the active movement principles. Virtually every library across Auckland provides this programme. The sessions are run during the school term and last approximately 30 minutes.

Wriggle and Rhyme provides a great foundation for early learning. It enhances bonding, demonstrates safe activities and helps you step by step through the development stages. It’s also a great way to meet other new parents and caregivers in your community.

Come along on Friday and make it a day out. We look forward to seeing you there.

New Children's Fiction by Kiwi Author

Award winning Kiwi Author Brian Falkner recently released a delightful new Children's Fiction title (with illustrations from Donovan Bixley)

Northwood is a whimsical fantasy tale with hints of humour in the Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett vein of writing. The young heroine is Cecilia Undergarment, which is acknowledged in Chapter One as being a "slightly odd name" but is otherwise perfectly normal, except that she can talk to animals. Her family live in an extraordinary house (Mr Undergarment owns a balloon factory) in a small town with the a vista over the lake and Mr Jingle's Wild West Show and African Safari Park to the "mist-shrouded forest, and black-capped mountains of Northwood". No one who enters Northwood forest ever returns.

This is the setting for Cecilia's adventure. Along the way she rescues a neglected dog, which unfortunately leads her to Northwood where ferocious black lions roam. There are secrets in Northwood and Cecilia sets out to uncover them. It is a fabulous tale which the author readily admits "It depends on whether what I am telling you is true, or just a big fat farty fib".

This is a book which I think will quickly make it onto the read aloud lists for many classrooms around the country. It's setting is universal and I think it will also be taken up around the world. Its the sort of book I can easily picture as a movie (but that is probably thinking too far ahead). Highly recommended.

Quick reads for Kids

For the children who aren't as good at reading or are a little more reluctant, the trick for parents can be to find a book that will make them want to read it but is not all froth and fairies. These three quite different books fit the bill as they are thin, the text is larger, bolder and easier to read, but this takes nothing away from the content and stories contained within the covers.

Cody's Unexpected Catch (Des Hunt). A great first chapter book adventure, with themes of conservation and consequences. The beauty of this is that it is Kiwi. Cody and Wiri go whitebaiting, but what they actually catch are redbait... and greenbait... and purplebait. What is the mystery behind the coloured whitebait and what else is happening on the beach during the holidays.

Do Not Push (Kyle Mewburn). Another first chapter book by a Kiwi author with a theme of consequences. The action could take place anywhere, but New Zealander kids will definitely be able to relate. If you found a big red button in the middle of the forest with a sign on it saying "Do Not Push", what would you do? Everyone at the Library Roadshow yesterday admitted that they would probably give it just a little push. To find out what happens next and how much of a surprise Cam gets from his having pushed the button, you have to read the book.

Against the Odds (Marjolijn Hof). Slightly more advanced and with a subject matter more serious that the first two books, this award winning first novel has been described as powerful, sad, and funny all at the same time. Kiki's father is a doctor who travels to dangerous faraway places to help, no matter how much Kiki asks him not to go. When he goes missing and after a conversation with her mother about the odds of something happening to him being small (or big), Kiki undertakes her own mission to increase the odds of her father coming home. This Dutch novel has been translated into 12 languages.

Top 5 for Friday - New Picture books

Sally and I have been busy chuckling our way through the unpacking of new picture books which have been arriving at the library this week. Here are five of our favourites, some of which may find their way to our Libraries Roadshow at Warkworth Primary school next week.

1. The Naughty Corner (Colin Thompson). An irreverant look at the people who get sent to the Naughty Corner and if they deserved it or not. It gets quite busy in the naughty corner of this particular house and many of the readers will identify with the situations. Wonderful illustrations with great facial expressions bring life to the text. Although irreverant it is not to the scale of Go the **** to Sleep (which is not and was never meant to be a picture book for children). A similar humour can be found in Dog did it (Lynne Garner and Mike Brownlee) but The Naughty Corner is our favourite book of the week.



2. When I woke up I was a Hippopotamus (Tom MacRae and Ross Collins). Easy to read aloud, rhyming text tells the story of a small boy who fantasises he is different creatures, mainly to get out of things he doesn't want to do. At the end of the day his parents convince him that it can be a positive game and join in with the fun.



3. No Bears (Meg McKinlay and Leila Rudge). On one level this is simply a little girl who wants to read a story without any bears in it... and she does. However with very clever illustrations, a bear appears in every page of the book and even saves the day. If you examine the pages closely you can search for many different fairy tale and nursery rhyme characters. A multi-layered success.



4. Get Well Friends (Kes Gray and Mary McQuillan) contains simple text but plays on words in relation to the pictures. For instance, Cynthia the centipede is poorly as she sprained 98 ankles playing hockey. Similarly Thank you for looking after our pets (Tim Hopgood) plays on the characteristics of all the different animals while the author is away. Both are simple and good fun.



5. Clem always Could (Sarah Watt). Facing your fears is something we all have to do. Learning to swim if you are scared of water (or being made fun of) is just one of them. With our coastlines and waterways in New Zealand, it is a hurdle that needs to be overcome. This is a book that will help you introduce the subject to reluctant swimmers, addresses the fears with a mixture of light humour and sensitivity and concludes with a positive outcome. Well worth a look.

Top 5 for Friday - Picture books with a message

When I attended a children's and teens librarians hui earlier this year, we had the pleasure (and hilarity) of a presentation by Kiwi author Kyle Mewburn. He gave a fantastic talk (and display) based on a book review he had read in an Australian newspaper which contained the words "spinach ice cream". The idea was that while we all (or at least most of us) enjoy ice-cream, if you combine it with spinach you get somewhat less palatable (and in his case extraordinarily messy when his blender blew up). If you apply this analogy to the number of picture books for children that aim to teach or provide a message, you sometimes find that the same thing happens. Both the message and the enjoyment of the reading experience are lost.

I thought of this when I looked my picture book shelves this week and read through some of the new books that have come in. Here are five new books which all fall into the above category and my purely subjective of if they work or not.

1. Stand Tall like a mountain (Dr Shara Ray, illustrator Pamela Drysdale). "The book is presented by a feisty little storyteller 'Mouse', who presents a toolbox of practical strategies to teach our children how to stand tall through 'tricky, thick and thin'. The book offers a lively message of hope, helping to foster each child's personal sense of pride and self accomplishment." Okay I get the concept here and I am the first one who will pick up a warm fuzzies type book to find a pithy quote for self esteem. But as the mouse doesn't actually look all that feisty to me, I lost interest in this as a children's picture book quite quickly. Like many of it's ilk, it will have it's place in a dedicated lesson on values and self-esteem, but it doesn't work as a general picture book for me. Another new picture book that is very similar is God Is (Mark Macleod, illustrator Kirrily Schell) which examines the question "Where is God".


2. Todd's TV (James Proimos). "When Todd's parents are too busy to take care of him, his television steps in to handle the parenting." The School Library Journal provided a glowing review of this book "With broad strokes and witty slapdashery, Proimos's light cartoon art and plotline carry some weighty themes ... the author jumps into a hilariously exaggerated focal plot that manages to ease the tension and intensify the message ... funny-scary cautionary tale. It's a hoot.-Susan Weitz" although the Booklist review notes "This cautionary picture book, though entertaining and meaningful on a child's level, might be more directed at parents." This picture book almost works. I think a child would it up and enjoy the humour although they may find the ending unsatisfactory.


3. Stolen Girl (Trina Saffioti, illustrator Norma MacDonald). "Stolen Girl is a fictionalised account of the now universally known story of the Stolen Generation and tells of an Aboriginal girl taken from her family and sent to a childrens home. Each night she sings, and dreams of her mother and the life they once shared of sitting on the verandah of their corrugated-iron home, cooking damper and hunting goanna. But each morning she is woken by the bell to the harsh reality of the childrens home, until finally one day she puts into action her carefully crafted plan unlocking the door and taking her first step back toward home." Because this is aimed at a slightly older audience, it works better for me. This title belongs to the group of books which tell stories of part of the world's history, events that we hope will never happen again, which can be slightly easier to create than the "message" book. I enjoyed this. The illustrations and text work well together. Not everything is spelled out leaving something to the reader's imagination. This makes it more sophisticated and excellent for classroom discussions. A similar book is Azad's Camel (Erika Pal) about an orphan boy who is forced to be a part of the dangerous sport of camel riding.


4. Please is a Good word to say (Barbara Joosse, illustrator Jennifer Plecas). Harriet gives examples of polite words and expressions to use in various social situations to make them more pleasant. I can understand why there are no copies of this on the bookshelves of Auckland Libraries. So at least on one level (the parents are keen to pick it up) it works. However as a picture book that kids want to pick up to read, I doubt it. However, there is humour in it, the illustrations are cute (aimed at girls) and the dialogue is quite realistic.


5. Of Thee I Sing: A letter to my daughters (Barack Obama, illustrator Loren Long). "In this tender, beautiful letter to his daughters, President Barack Obama has written a moving tribute to thirteen groundbreaking Americans and the ideals that have shaped our nation. From the artistry of Georgia O'Keeffe, to the courage of Jackie Robinson, to the patriotism of George Washington, President Obama sees the traits of these heroes within his own children, and within all of America's children" Famous people thinking they can write picture books is the subject for a whole other discussion, so I was more than a little reluctant to pick up this book. It's true that there is an American flavour, especially in the conclusion. It's also true that it is a motivational speech in book form, perhaps even with a political motive. But it is also a fantastic story to read to your children to tell them how much you love them, introduce heroes and let them know they can dream big. Supported by evocative illustrations, for me this was a picture book that worked for both adults and children.

All of which leaves me to ponder. Are picture books written for children or for adults? Have a great weekend everyone.

Leadership Week Poll

The Sir Peter Blake Leadership Week is coming up at the beginning of July.

Every year, Leadership Week highlights the value of great leadership and showcases the work done to develop New Zealand’s leadership capability.We'd like to know who your favourite New Zealand hero is.

We have a poll running on our website so go to This Poll Page and Vote now!

Children's and Teens reading

While I should have been doing something else, I caught up on a bit of Children's and Teens fiction reading over Easter. So before I forget (and so I can return the books to avoid any fines), here's a quick rundown.

The short second life of bree tanner - Stephenie Meyer. I thought I might be over vampires and the Twilight phenomenon. But I found this novella a thoroughly good read. Bree is a new vampire and finds it difficult to control her thirst. Combine that with not knowing who to trust and a dawning realisation that she may be a pawn in a larger game and you have a suspense filled and, at the conclusion, poignant book for teens.

Tussock - Elizabeth Pulford. Kate's father is missing. The whole family is suffering as the search continues for his downed plane. Kate believes that if she lights the lamp each night in the old tin hut among the tussock, it will guide her father home. While there she meets Troy who she discovers is running away from his father, with good reason. The two story strands combine in a satisfying conclusion in this New Zealand chapter book for older children.

Dreams of Warriors - Susan Brocker. A Kiwi animal lover, this author's latest story of a family struggling to survive during the Second World War. Their father is a POW, their neighbour wants their farm, the grass is running out for the dairy herd and Bella's older sister is more interested in the American soldiers who are camped in town. Add to the mix a crazy bad-tempered racehorse called Gipsy and you have the ingredients for a great tale which mixes a slice of Kiwi history with an adventurous animal story.

When the cat's away - Jackie Rutherford. This Kiwi teen read is on the NZ Post Children's Book Awards short list. And it's a brilliant read. Real characters doing things that everyone can relate to. After all, if you were a teen and your mum and dad went away, and the person who was supposed to be looking after you couldn't be there, wouldn't you have a party. Find out how it happens and how three siblings who don't get on cope in the aftermath. There are jobs, food stalls and then there's the eating disgusting foods competition. Recommended.

Wriggle and Rhyme Programme is a Winner

Auckland libraries has won the Project Collaboration Award at the 2011 Sport and Recreation Awards for our Wriggle and Rhyme programme.

The award, which was presented on Tuesday, recognises the unique partnership between Auckland Libraries, Sport Auckland, Sport Waitakere, Counties Manukau Sport and Harbour Sport, which has enabled children and their parent/caregivers to participate in Wriggle & Rhyme programmes in libraries across the Auckland region . Wriggle and Rhyme encourages 0-2 year olds to learn and participate in movement to assist with brain development. The theory is that movement is a child’s first language and the basis of early learning and reading. For parents and caregivers the opportunity to learn the skills and develop an awareness of the importance of active movement for young children is invaluable.

Free weekly sessions are offered in 50 libraries across Auckland and in its first year 70,000 children and caregivers particpated."Wriggle & Rhyme is one of our most effective programmes. It aligns with the role of libraries in supporting reading, literacy and learning for all ages, and it helps build strong communities,” says Allison Dobbie, Libraries and Information Manager, Auckland Council.

Ashlie Gauld, Special Projects Manager of Sport Auckland says the success of the project is due to the innovation and hard work that each partner organisation has contributed.

Wriggle and Rhyme evolved from Sport and Recreation NZ’s (SPARC’s) Active Movement for Babies programme. It is based on their initiative to provide positive movement experiences to stimulate development of the brain and body in youngsters. First implemented as a partnership between Sport Auckland and Auckland City Libraries in 2008, it proved so successful that a wider partnership between the regional sports trusts, Councils and libraries in the Auckland region was formed in 2009. Funding was provided by SPARC and then implemented across all libraries. Meanwhile Auckland Libraries also run two other successful pre-school programme - Storytime and Rhymetime.