Weeping Waters

Did you see the awesome film last night on Tangiwai? Despite the fact that I had very heavy eyes (will let you know the reason why for that later in the week), I stayed riveted through the whole thing, and may even have shed a tear at the end. This wasn't guy gets girl and everyone lives happily ever after stuff. This was New Zealand history, our people, our country, our pain and our triumph.




The tale told last night is recounted in book form in What are you doing out here : heroism and distress at a cricket test / Norman Harris ; with a foreword by Bob Blair.

If you want to know more about Tangiwai check out the Libraries holdings under this subject headings link.

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.

LIANZA Children's Book Awards Winners Announced

The Library & Information Association (LIANZA) has paid tribute to some of New Zealand’s most famous writers and artists in their annual LIANZA Children's Book Award Winners. (drum roll please)

Hill and Hole by Kyle Mewburn and Vasanti Unka, (Puffin Books) has won the 2011 Russell Clark medal. The judges said that Hill & Hole is an inspiring treasure that conveys envy, affection and contentment of a hole and a hill. The content and calibre of illustrations are stunning with multi layered original paintings and collage. Pene Walsh said “this book has all the makings of a classic, one that will be treasured by today’s children in 50 years time”.

Northland based Diana Menefy received the LIANZA Esther Glen medal, New Zealand’s oldest book prize for The Shadow of the Boyd, (HarperCollins Publishers (NZ) Ltd). Based on a true story The Shadow of the Boyd tells a powerful tale from our colonial past, the bitter clash of two cultures from the point of view of Thomas Davidson, an apprentice sailor who survived the infamous massacre of the Boyd.

Fierce September by Wellingtonian Fleur Beale,(Random House New Zealand) received the LIANZA Young Adult medal and poignantly deals with a community’s transition into life in New Zealand where they don’t know everyone, where life has changed fundamentally and they are living isolated like refugees. Fierce September can be read as a standalone novel but Belynda Smith, judge and panel convenor, is holding her breath for a third book in the Juno series.

The Te Kura Pounamu was awarded for the first time to a graphic novel, Ngarimu: te tohu toa researched and retold by Kawata Teepa and illustrated by Andrew Burdan, (Huia Publishers).

More information about the awards and the winners can be found on the LIANZA website

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.

What's on in August

Our latest "What's On" e-newsletter is out. Here are some excerpts and some events in libraries around Auckland to mark on your calendar.

Family History Month
Enjoy workshops that aim to continue your love of family history research, or let you discover the fun of it for the first time. Some of the talks are finding your Croatian roots , Family Search with Judy Jones, Flesh on the genealogical bones with Auckland Museum’s Bruce Ralston, Beginning family history research and Social media for family historians. The full schedule of events can be found on this website link. Seonaid Lewis, Auckland Libraries specialist family research librarian will be visiting Whangaparaoa Library for two workshops (12th and 15th of August) so look for those details or ask at the library.

Authors and Poets visits
Meet Lauren Kate 5.30pm, Thursday 11 August // Central City Library
Spend an evening with Lauren Kate, author of the Fallen series which has taken the world of young adult fiction by storm. She stops in Auckland on a world tour for her new book, Passion.

An afternoon with John Marsden 2pm, Sunday 14 August // Central City Library
Join us at 1.30pm for light refreshments. Meet the international bestselling author John Marsden, whose hit novels include the Tomorrow series and The Ellie Chronicles.

Joy Harjo poetry reading 6pm, Thursday 18 August // Central City Library Join us at 5.30pm for light refreshments. Don’t miss this chance to hear internationally known and award-winning poet, Joy Harjo, in performance on a rare visit to New Zealand.

Meet thriller writer John Hart 6.30pm, Tuesday 23 August // Takapuna Library
Join us at 6pm for light refreshments. Author John Hart talks about his latest book, Iron House. There will be an opportunity to ask questions, buy books and get autographs.

Lunchtime concert series 12.10pm - 1pm, Thursdays // Central City Library
Every Thursday, come and enjoy concerts by up and coming musicians and students of the highest calibre.
4 August: Auckland Suzuki Cello Academy
11 August: Students from Avondale College
18 August: University Cello Students
25 August: Students from Diocesan School

Other Events
St Johns - First to Care: 2pm, Wednesday 3 August // Orewa Library Janis Dixon, a St John home health representative, talks about St John' services including Caring Caller, first aid courses and Life Link medical alarms.
Old Fashioned Games: 4pm , Wednesday 24 August // Highland Park Library What sort of fun and games were available back in the 19th century? You can find out by joining guests from Howick Historical Village for some fun, old-fashioned games from the 1860s!
New Exhibition: Auckland Akarana ‘The wonderful isthmus’ exhibition. 13 August - 13 November // Central City Library. Auckland Akarana is a new Sir George Grey Special Collections exhibition that highlights wonderful features of Auckland from the 1800s through to the more modern times.

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