Wednesday, August 28, 2019

On the New Books Display this Week




Picture Book:
  • "I Love Tomato Sauce" by Nicky SIEVERT
  • "A Mother's Day Dilemma" by Juliette McIVER; illustrated by Janine MILLINGTON
      Fiction Book:
      • "Ella Diaries : The Super Secret Club" by Meredith COSTAIN; illustrated by Danielle McDONALD (Ella Diaries series)
      • "Fluffy Strikes Back" by Ashley SPIERS
      • "How to be a Detective" by Barbara MITCHEL-HILL (No.1 Boy Detective series)
      • "The Popstars Wedding" by Barbara MITCHEL-HILL (No.1 Boy Detective series)
      Senior Fiction:
      • "To Trap a Thief" by Des HUNT
      Non-fiction:
      • "My Book of Feelings" by Tracey ROSS; illustrated by Rosy SALAMAN
      • "New Zealand : Discover the Country, Culture and People" by Jane HINCHEY (Australia's Neighbours series)
      • "China : Discover the Country, Culture and People" by Jane HINCHEY (Australia's Neighbours series)




      Wednesday, August 21, 2019

      On the New Books Display this Week




      Picture Book:
      • "I Am Jellyfish" by Ruth PAUL
      • "A Story for Matariki : The Promise of Punanga" by Kirsty WADSWORTH; illustrated by Munro TE WHATA
          Fiction Book:
          • "Ella and Olivia : The Big Sleepover" by Yvette POSHOGLIAN; illustrated by Danielle McDONALD (Ella and Olivia series)
          • "Ella and Olivia : Popstar Sisters" by Yvette POSHOGLIAN; illustrated by Danielle McDONALD (Ella and Olivia series)
          • "Mystery of the Midnight Rider" by Carolyn KEENE (Nancy Drew Diaries series)
          • "Embassy of the Dead" by Will MABBITT
          Senior Fiction:
          • "Liars : The Truth App" by Jack HEATH (Liars series)
          Non-fiction:
          • "If the World Were a Village" by David J SMITH; illustrated by Shelagh ARMSTRONG
          • "Erosion and Sinkholes" by Joanna BRUNDLE (Physical and Human Geography series)
          • "Tsunamis and Floods" by Joanna BRUNDLE (Physical and Human Geography series)




          Monday, August 19, 2019

          Ruth Paul Visit

          Last Tuesday illustrator Ruth Paul visited St Brendan's. She talked about many of the books she has written and illustrated and based her presentations around her book I Am Jellyfish which won the Picture Book section of the 2018 New Zealand Book Awards for Children and Young Adults.

          Ruth began her first two sessions with the Middle/Upper Middle and Senior syndicates by having students volunteer to act out the three main characters (Jellyfish, Swordfish and Squid) from I Am Jellyfish in front of the rest of the students.


          Ruth explained how she came up with her ideas, including the funny jokes, and about her illustration process and the different art techniques she has used. She pointed out that her first drafts of the text and illustrations were often quite different to what the final book looked like as the words were tweaked, and her illustrations became more detailed. She emphasized that she had to keep trying, she didn't get things "right" the first time and had to try again and again until she was pleased with the result. 
          One group had time to plan their own picture book, with Ruth writing the ideas and making illustrations on the whiteboard, unfortunately the other group ran out of time to do this. Both groups were able to ask Ruth questions which included: 
          • Who is your favourite author? 
          • Which of your books is your favourite?  and
          • Which of your books sold the most copies?

          After morning tea Ruth read her book I Am Jellyfish to the Junior syndicate who were also able to plan their own picture book, with Ruth again writing the ideas and drawing illustrations on the whiteboard.

          Thank you for visiting our school Ruth, we very much enjoyed your visit and hope you enjoyed your time with us also.

          Ruth's visit was organised through the New Zealand Book Council "Writer's in Schools" programme with the support of Creative New Zealand. 
          #writersinschools

          Wednesday, August 14, 2019

          On the New Books Display this Week





          Picture Book:
          • "The Little Yellow Digger" by Betty GILDERDALE; illustrated by Alan GILDERDALE
          • "The Day the Plants Fought Back" by Belinda O"KEEFE; illustrated by Richard HOIT
              Fiction Book:
              • "The Disappearing Daughter" by Barbara MITCHELHILL (No.1 Boy Detective series)
              • "Serious Graffiti" by Barbara MITCHELHILL (No.1 Boy Detective series)
              • "The Secret of the Crystal Fairies" by Thea STILTON (Thea Stilton Special Edition series)
              • "Tom Gates : Extra Special Treats (Not)" by Liz PICHON (Tom Gates series)
              Senior Fiction:
              • "Swing it, Sunny" by Jennifer L. HOLM; illustrator Matthew HOLM
              Non-fiction: 
              • "Rocks" by Claudia MARTIN (Rock Explorer series)
              • "Fossils" by Claudia MARTIN (Rock Explorer series)
              • "Rowdy Revolutions" by Terry DEARY (Horrible Histories series)




              Friday, August 9, 2019

              Children's Reading Rights

              More from Cressida Cowell the 11th Waterstone's Children's Laureate.


              Image from Cressida Cowell on Twitter HERE

              Wednesday, August 7, 2019

              On the New Books Display this Week





              Picture Book:
              • "There's a Hole in My Bucket"  sung by The TOPP TWINS; illustrated by Jenny COOPER
              • "The Wall in the Middle of the Book" by Jon AGEE
                  Fiction Book:
                  • "It's Alive! It's Alive!" by R L STINE (Goosebumps Slappyworld series)
                  • "Ninja Kid 3 - Ninja Switch" by Ahn DO (Ninja Kid series)
                  • "Ella Diaries : Goal Power" by Meredith COSTAIN; illustrated by Danielle McDONALD (Ella Diaries series)
                  Senior Fiction:
                  • "Moon Rising" by Tui SUTHERLAND (Wings of Fire series)
                  • "Winter Turning" by Tui SUTHERLAND (Wings of Fire series)
                  Non-fiction: 
                  • "Cambodia : Discover the Country, Culture and People" by Jane HINCHEY (Australia's Neighbours series)
                  • "South Korea and North Korea : Discover the Country, Culture and People" by Jane HINCHEY (Australia's Neighbours series)

                  Friday, August 2, 2019

                  What LEGO Book Cover is that? #3

                  Below are 5 more classic or popular children's book covers which have been turned into LEGO pictures using the website HERE.  I borrowed this great idea from 100 Scope Notes HERE.

                  How many books can you name?