Super Six Saturday - My Favourite Mums

It's my rostered Saturday on at the Warkworth Library and everyone is in an extremely buoyant mood following the twin celebrations of William and Katherine's wedding and a win to the New Zealand Breakers last night. Everyone agrees that she was beautiful (Kate), the ceremony was a lovely mix of formal and informal and that the most nerves shown all night were probably from the crowd at the basketball for the first three quarters before the Breakers ran away with it.


Tomorrow is Mother's Day!! And to celebrate in an extremely biased fashion, here are my Top 6 mums of TV, Film, Music and Literature.

1. Marmee from Little Women (Louisa May Alcott). The story of four sisters and their mother during the American Civil War is a classic. The libraries have over 40 different versions of this story, ranging from the full classic text, the abridged and simplified versions for younger readers, adaptations and modernisations.


2. Stella Johnson of Harper Valley PTA fame. The original country song was written by Tom T Hall, was a hit for Jeannie C Riley and spawned both a movie and a TV series. I love the words and the message about hypocrisy. Plus it has a fantastic rhythm. Any Mum who can sock it to a PTA meeting has my vote.


3. Lucille Ball. I grew up watching re-runs of I Love Lucy and while she may not always have got it right in the mothering department (or if she did it was more by accident than design) she still gets my vote as one of the funniest TV mum's.


4. Molly Weasley from the Harry Potter series (J K Rowling). Who wouldn't love Mrs Weasley as their mum. Tough but fair. Warm-hearted but a little kookie and capable of embarressing you from a distance. However her ability to do magic to get you out of a tight spot may come in handy.


5. Donna Sheridan from the hit musical Mamma Mia. One spunky capable lady, despite the obstacles put in her path. She has single-handedly raised an independent daughter about to get married and is helped in getting my vote in having three men to vying to be father of the bride.


6. Mary, Mother of God. Whether you believe in her simply as a character in the Bible, as a figure in history or as part of your faith, stories of Mary of Nazareth are part of my upbringing and she remains a very strong mother figure that has to be included in this list.

So that's my list. Have I left off your favourite? Leave me a comment if you agree or disagree with me. And above all - make your Mum (and all Mums) feel special tomorrow.

Top 5 for Friday - A Right Royal Knees Up

Whichever way you turn this week, it is hard to avoid the fact that on the other side of the world a certain family is having a "small" ceremony as one of their clan ties the knot. We have got right into the spirit of things here at Warkworth Library with my Mum's wedding dress taking pride of place in our display (her reaction when I rang up to see if she still had it and if I could borrow it are a subject for a whole other day).

For today's Top 5 I have a list of movies you can watch to warm you up for the main event. Whether they concentrate on royalty or matrimony, there is something here for everyone (if you haven't already overdosed on "the wedding")

1. Kings & Queens: the real dramas of Britain's greatest monarchs. If you are a bit of an English History buff like me (one of the highlights of my Northern Hemisphere jaunt several years ago was walking through the Tower of London on the same stones as all the people I had only read about in books) then this documentary is for you. In a thousand years, the British monarchy has evolved from divinely appointed warrior kings to benign political figureheads. Among them are some of the most fascinating historical figures - conquerors, murderers, lovers and schemers. Their gripping stories - from Henry II's 'murder' of Thomas A'Becket to George III's loss of America - are at the heart of the nation's history. From this millenium of violence, romance, intrigue and controversy, Cambridge University's Dr Nigel Spivey tells the stories of twelve great kings and queens. At the scenes of the decisive moments in British history, accompanied by dramatic reconstructions, he pieces together the incidents, battles and motivations that shaped their lives.


2. The Queen. It sometimes seems strange to watch a movie about a past so recent that we actually lived through it. I got that feeling several times watching this movie about the reaction of the royal family, and especially Queen Elizabeth II in the aftermath of the death of Princess Diana. However in much the same way that I am in awe of the actors who created The King's Speech, this movie is worth watching just for the performance of Dame Helen Mirren. An intimate, moving portrait of Queen Elizabeth and Tony Blair following the untimely death of Princess Diana. The Queen's restrained reaction causes a public relations debacle that Prime Minister Blair must defuse. The two struggle to reach a compromise between what was a private tragedy for the Royal family and the public's demand for an open display of mourning.


3. Four Weddings and a Funeral. It's not royalty but it is English and there are weddings. And it is heaps of light-hearted fun which is always good for a rainy afternoon. A young man meets and falls in love with a young woman while attending various weddings (and a funeral), including her wedding to someone else, and his to another woman.


4. Elizabeth. The life of Queen Elizabeth I has been the subject of several movies. One of the best stars Cate Blanchett and Geoffrey Rush. Queen Elizabeth I must learn to weigh her counsel carefully and ignore her private yearnings if she is to keep her crown, and her head. A thriller of intrigue in the court of one of history's greatest monarchs.


5. Sione's Wedding. Neither British or royal, this home grown comedy is another movie that can bear rewatching over and over. I can't wait for the sequel that is currently being filmed (one of our Auckland libraries was used for a scene recently). Meet best friends Michael, Albert, Stanley and Sefa; the ladies' man, the good boy, the weird one and the party boy. They're staring down the barrel of their thirtieth birthdays, but still act as if they're sixteen; they get drunk, they chase the wrong women and they have a remarkable record of misbehaving and causing chaos at every wedding they attend. But now Michael's younger brother Sione is getting married, and everything is about to change. Sione is their boy, the kid they used to look after, who grew up while they were still partying. And to ensure his big day isn't spoiled by his boys and their idiot antics, Sione has issued an ultimatum; the guys all have to bring dates to the wedding. And not just any dates; real girlfriends, someone they've made a commitment to. They have one month. So just how hard can it be to get a date for your best boy's wedding?

So whether you are sitting down for Tea and Tiara's tonight, are dressing up or are ignoring it completely and cheering the Breakers on instead, have an awesome day, night and weekend.

Go the Breakers!!

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.

School Holiday programmes this week

Here's the full run down of School Holiday programmes around the district this week. Mahurangi East Tuesday @ 10.30am Storytime for Pre-schoolers Thursday @ 10.30am Get ready to celebrate Mother's Day with stories and activities. Orewa Tuesday @ 11am Rhymetime for Pre-schoolers Wednesday @ 2.30pm Let's Celebrate. Stories and activities for school age children Thursday @ 11am Storytime for Pre-schoolers Warkworth Library Thursday @ 10.30am Celebrating Mum's everywhere with stories and crafts. Wellsford Library Wednesday @ 10.30am Storytime for pre-schoolers Thursday @ 10.30am Mothers Day stories and crafts Whangaparaoa Tuesday and Wednesday @ 10.30am Storytime for Preschoolers Tuesday and Wednesday @ 2.30pm Village Fair at the Library. Maypole dancing and more Thursday @ 10.30am Rhymetime for Preschoolers Helensville Library Wednesday @ 10:30am Go wild! 'Rumble in the Jungle' with savage stories, crazy crafts and ferocious fun at our school holiday storytimes for school aged children. Kumeu Thursday @ 10.30amGo wild! 'Rumble in the Jungle' with savage stories, crazy crafts and ferocious fun at Kumeu's school holiday programme for school aged children.

Top Ten for Thursday

As tomorrow is a holiday, there is no Top Five for Friday. Which led me to ponder Thursday. Should it be two or ten? Somehow two just didn't seem to cut it (and I wouldn't have been able to decide which two anyway). So in commemoration of Anzac Day on Monday, here is our Top Ten for Thursday.

For Children

1. Lest we Forget Feana Tu'akoi, illustrated by Elspeth Alix Batt. This recently released picture book gives a Kiwi perspective on the wars New Zealanders have fought on, so far from home. Told from the point of view of a young boy who thinks war is stupid, he sits down for afternoon tea with three generations of his family and then decides whether or not he should go to the Dawn Service on Anzac Day. A wonderful addition to the shelves and well received as a read aloud today during my School Holiday Programme by both children and adults.


2. Anzac Day Parade Glenda Kane & Lisa Allen. Fewer words but slightly more sophisticated in meaning is the next Kiwi Anzac book. Meanings are implied rather than explicit which means this is a great picture book to share with your family. The illustrations and ghosting are superb.


3. The Pillow War Matt Novak. The publisher's blurb calls this tale "whimsical" and on one level it is a very light-hearted look at a pillow fight between Millie and Fred which spreads until the whole world is involved. On another level it can be used to introduce the concept of arguments, fighting and war and how easily they spread outside the boundaries of a single country. Another picture book that went down well at my storytime for pre-schoolers earlier this week.


4. Should we forget? : the significance of Anzac Day : letters to James Jim Rolfe. I haven't read this book but it sounds intriguing. "Letter from a grandfather to a grandson explain the significance Anzac Day has for so many New Zealanders and Australians" With chapters (letters) describing the significance of the red poppy, the last post and the ode, many people will find this interesting.


5. I dream of peace: Images of war by children of former Yugoslavia created by UNICEF. It's not about Anzac Day, Kiwis (or even Australians). And although it is catalogued as Children's Non-fiction and I have included it in this section, I would also highly recommend it to adults. The images are startlingly simple and the words incredibly powerful as children between 8 and 15 describe what war means to them. A big part of Anzac Day for me personally is the hope for peace and that there will no longer be a need for Kiwis to go to war. This book really reinforces that message.

For Adults

1. The long white cloud : Gallipoli Buket Uzuner ; translated by Pelin Thornhill Ariner. One of the fabulous things about now being part of the biggest library in Australasia is being able to find and tell you about treasures that are available to us now. This 2004 Turkish title which has been translated into English looks like one of them. I haven't read it but it may join others on my TBR list. The summary in our catalogue reads Gallipoli 2000: A young New-Zealender woman coming to Gallipoli to find the lost grave of the great-grandfather who died in the Battle of Gallipoli, and the stunning eighty-five year old secret of a Turkish granny strolling in the Gallipoli National Park with her cane... Gallipoli 1915: The terrifying lesson Ottoman Lieutenant Ali Osman bey and ANZAC (Australian and New Zealander Army Corps) Private Alistair John Taylor teach mankind together... The great test for mankind that no nation is yet ready to include in history books: Could the same man be a hero in two conflicting countries in the same war? Or, is history a text that can be read linearly? Besides, should history be re-written?


2. 25 April 1915 : the day the Anzac legend was born David W. Cameron. What happened on April 25th to make Anzac Day such a part of our history. This 2007 book is one of many which describes the events of the day, what led to it and it's aftermath.


3. Gallipoli : the battlefield guide / Mat McLachlan. Like many Kiwis, one day I would like to visit Gallipoli and really get a sense fo the place that is such a big part of our history. As the catalogue summary for this book says More Australians and New Zealanders visit Gallipoli every year, and the numbers are increasing each year as the centenary of the landing approaches in 2015. This practical guide book enables them plan their trip, work out what to see and in what order, and gives the historical background to the major battles.


4. Traitor Stephen Daisley. This novel came out last year and I haven't read it yet either. The summary from the Publisher's website indicates that it addresses in fiction how one man balances his pasifist nature with his pride in his country. Opening on the battlefields of Gallipoli, Traitor follows the story of young New Zealand soldier, David, as he is forced to confront the clash of love for his fellow man versus love for his country. Sent home in disgrace, broken and made anew, David attempts to find peace in the secluded hills of his homeland.


5. Peter Fitzsimons. Whatever I think of Peter Fitzsimons in rugby terms (he played for the Wallabies - I am an All Black fan. What can I say?), when it comes to well researched and written biographies and histories there are few better. His forthright manner comes through in his very readable non-fiction tomes. While he has not addressed Gallipoli specifically, many of his titles deal with periods and characters from our history at War. Nancy Wake, Kokoda and Tobruk have all been explored.

Have an awesome weekend everyone. May the Easter bunny be generous, Monday morning not be too chilly for those at Dawn parade and everyone be safe on the roads.