Tributes

While I was away we mourned the loss of two identities, one in the entertainment world and the other a children's literary favourite. Elizabeth Taylor. What can you say? When it comes to famous, they don't come much bigger than Liz. Icon, celebrity, actress, on-screen (and off-screen) lover, using her pulling power for good, addict, personality. There are so many words that can be used to describe the woman who first hit our screens in National Velvet and later tore up the movie and tabloid world with her exploits. The Libraries hold over 20 biographies and pictorials on her life as well as over a dozen of her movies so that you can relive some of her magic. Diana Wynne-Jones. For those that don't know, this author had a devoted following as the writer of children's fantasy novels, the most famous of which was probably Howl's Moving Castle. The UK Telegraph obituary calls her "40 or so books maintained a remarkably high standard in both inventiveness and the elegance of their prose" and several were adapted for television and film. She received numerous awards, including a World Fantasy lifetime achievement award and a rennaisance on the back of the popularity of the Harry Potter genre. This is the link for the full list of her titles held at the Auckland Libraries. Rest in peace ladies, knowing that you have bought joy and magic into the lives of many.

What I found in the Hawkes Bay

I'm back! Did you miss me? Did you even realise I was gone or did my clever scheduling of blog posts during the two weeks I was away convince you I was as busy at my desk as ever? The reality is that I have been away for a couple of weeks (which is a very long time when you consider the overflow in my email inbox), the best part of which was a week in the Hawkes Bay taking in the sights and flavours, particularly at the 2011 Horse of the Year Show.

Which is where I stumbled across a fabulous new book which was launched at the Show. It looked sooo good that I didn't even bother to put in a request for it through the library. I bought a copy right there and then. As you would expect in this environment, it is equine in nature.

The horse in New Zealand : attitude & heart by Carolyn Mincham is packed full of information and stories, photographs and reproductions of New Zealand artwork to show just how the horse fitted into our lives, both past and present. Horses at war, at work and at play are all covered as well as chapters about women on horseback.

Although it is based on the author's Masters thesis, don't be misled into thinking that this is a dry text book. Carolyn is passionate about the horse and her subject (I met her so I am totally confident in saying this) and this passion leaps off every page in a book horselovers young and old will be proud to read. If you don't believe me, you can road-test it by checking out the copy held by your local library.

You can also hear Carolyn's Radio New Zealand interview by clicking this link or read the Rural Living article on her here

Super Special Top 5 for Friday Part 2

Here's part two of the Super Special Top 5 for Friday. This week we are covering off the other two sections in the New Zealand Post Children's Book Awards 2011.

Introducing Young Adult Fiction

Ebony Hill Anna Mackenzie. Publisher Random House New Zealand Target age 12+. Sequel to The Sea-wreck stranger. Vidya - a city in ruins - and Ebony Hill: two halves of a community trying to find a way forward from the tragedy of the past. But theirs is not the only way. In a battle for survival, is endurance enough? Is there more than one kind of courage? As conflict rages, Ness and her fellow islander Ronan must come to terms with themselves, with each other and with their attitudes towards violence and belonging. Will they be strong enough to survive the decisions they must make?.

Fierce September Fleur Beale. Publisher Random House New Zealand. Target age 12+. Book 2 in the Juno of Taris series. Juno and the Taris inhabitants must leave their dying island to live on the Outside, a seemingly hostile place. Juno enjoys the new freedoms and choices now available to her. But Taris doesn't give up its hold so easily, and she is shocked to find the island held more secrets than any of them knew.

Guardian of the Dead Karen Healey. Publisher Allen & Unwin Target age 14+. At her boarding school in New Zealand, Ellie Spencer is like any ordinary teen: she hangs out with her best friend, Kevin; obsesses over her crush on a mysterious boy; and her biggest worry is her essay deadline. Until everything changes... In the foggy woods near the school, something ancient and deadly is waiting.

The Limping Man Maurice Gee. Publisher Penguin Group (NZ) Target age 10+. Book 3 in the Salt series. When Hana's mam chooses to swallow frogweed poison rather than die in the great witch-burning in People's Square, Hana flees the burrows before she too is taken. Deep in the forest she meets Ben, son of Lo, and the two journey back to the burrows to find a way to destroy the Limping Man before his evil consumes the world. But first they must discover the secret of his strength.

Smiling Jack Ken Catran. Publisher HarperCollins Publishers. Target age 12+. Robert lives in a small, prosperous rural town where his father is a respected and trusted pillar of the local community. When Robert's father and uncle are killed in road accident his comfortable world rapidly begins to unravel. With so much to deal with, he barely thinks about the evil grin on the playing card Jack found at the site of the accident. Until the second death, and the third, when once again Jack's leering malicious grin is found nearby. As Robert realises he never knew his father, those people his father betrayed turn against him, and he is forced to look deep into the shadows that are closing in if he is to get out alive.

Introducing Non-Fiction
The Kiwi Fossil Hunter's Handbook James Crampton & Marianna Terezow. Publisher Random House New Zealand Target age 8+. Kids are fascinated by dinosaurs, and love the idea of the fossils they have left behind. New Zealand has a rich fossil record which is accessible to the amateur fossil-hunter in locations around New Zealand, including shells and plant remains as well as the bones, teeth and other remnants of ancient reptiles, birds and fish. This book features locations throughout New Zealand where fossils can be found, and includes lots of photos

The life cycle of the Pukeko Betty Brownlie. Publisher Scholastic New Zealand Target age 6+. Uses images and educational text to describe the life cycle of the pūkeko.

Sensational Survivors Sandra Morris. Publisher Walker Books Australia. Target age 6+. An ancient land isolated by vast oceans, New Zealand is home to many fascinating creatures. From a prehistoric reptile to one of the world's largest insects, you'll discover some of the most unusual and impressive species on our planet

Who's Cooking Tonight? Claire Gourley & Glenda Gourley. Publisher Penguin Group (NZ) Target age 12+. Based on a popular website, www.itsmyturntocooktonight.com, Who's Cooking Tonight? is a one-of-a kind cookbook, written by a teenager especially for other teenagers.

Zero Hour: The Anzacs on the Western Front Leon Davidson. Text Publishing Company. Target age 13+. The First World War was only meant to last six months. When the Australians and New Zealanders arrived at the Western Front in 1916, the fighting had been going for a year and a half and there was no end in sight. The men took their place in a line of trenches that spread through Belgium and France from the North Sea to the Swiss Alps.

Don't forget there is also a People's Choice Award which gives you the chance to win as well. Call into the Library to check out the books and pick up your voting card. Or go online to the NZ Post Book Awards website.

Writer's Read-in for Christchurch.

As the world appears to implode around us with the News filled with civil war in Libya and the triple whammy of disaster in Japan with earthquakes, tsunamis and nuclear meltdown, it is easy to forget and have moved on from the fact that one month ago disaster struck in our own backyard. And the reality is that while those events are just as heartbreaking, there are still people hurting down in Christchurch and we can't lose sight of that.

Auckland Libraries and the NZ Society of Authors (PEN NZ Inc) have got together to provide a fundraising event for all the booklovers in our community.

On Friday 25th March (this Friday) right around Auckland we are having an Writer's Read-in. 140 authors will read in libraries in two sessions (1pm and 6pm) and for a gold coin donation you can come along to listen to them and meet them. Proceeds go directly to the NZ Government Christchurch Earthquake Appeal.

Here are the authors that are reading in Libraries in our area (all at 6pm)

Orewa - Joyce Irving, Jannette Wood, Evan Andrew, Karina Kayes
Whangaparaoa - Jack Ross, Jenny Harrison, Robert Bolton
Warkworth - Kelly Ana Morey, Maria Gill, Lorraine Orman, Stephen Barker, Ann Smith

For the full list of authors reading around Auckland go to the Auckland Libraries website and look for Christchurch Fundraiser.

KIWI KIDS KIDDING AROUND

Have you been into the library and seen the posters for our new competition to support the Rugby World Cup 2011 yet? Well - what are you waiting for? There are heaps of great prizes to win and you could see your joke up in lights at some of the Rugby World Cup Games in October.

KIWI KIDS KIDDING AROUND is a children's joke competition to support Rugby World Cup 2011. It runs from the 1st of March for three months and involves children between the ages of 5 - 14 making up their own own jokes. Entry forms can be picked up at libraries or printed off the interim website. The competition is also promoted on the Council Website.

Completed entry forms need to be dropped into your local library. The first four children to drop off their entry/entries at each community library will be rewarded with a McDonalds Hat and a burger voucher.

CONDITIONS
Children must be between the age of 5 and 14 years of age and must be library members
Jokes must be no longer than 80 characters [not including spaces]
The joke must relate to either rugby, Kiwiana, cultural or a mix of them
Jokes must not use swear words or be insensitive to cultures.
The joke should be original

Oh - did I forget to mention the prizes? The prizes on offer are:
Ultimate winners joke in large scale art installation at TelstraClear event Centre at the time of the rugby festival (RWC)
4 x bikes from Bike Barn (2 x larger, 2 x smaller bikes including helmets)
Auckland Hogs (for a couple of vouchers for kids to ride on a hog (Harley Davidson that is ...not a large black pig!!)
McDonalds caps and vouchers for the first four entries at each community library.

So get your thinking caps on and drop your entries back to us as soon as you can to be in with a chance to win the McDonalds caps and vouchers.