Showing posts with label Kids. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Kids. Show all posts

Wednesday, 6 July 2011

Bungawitta by Emily Rodda

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This is a new book from Emily Rodda but it is not her usual fantasy setting – this story is set in an Australian country town called Bungawitta. Bungawitta has been in drought for seven years.  As the land has dried out the birds have stopped visiting, the livestock on the farms have gone , the shops have closed and the people have gradually left.  Now there are only twelve people left in Bungawitta. In an attempt to bring some life back to the old town ( and some much needed money) the residents decide to put on a Festival to attract tourists.  They dream up The Bungawitta Earth Sculpture Festival – will it work?? Will visitors flock to Bungawitta?? You’ll have to read the book to find out. This is a good read for middle primary aged children with great illustrations by Craig Smith fleshing out the characters and adding to the humour.

Bernie



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Saturday, 4 June 2011

Henry Hoey Hobson by Christine Bongers

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This title has been shortlisted for the Children's Book Council of Australia Book Week awards. The quirky title helps set the scene for an enjoyable book. Henry Hoey Hobson arrives at his sixth school, Our Lady of Perpetual Succour. Even though he is used to moving to new schools, Henry is mortified that he is the only boy in Year 7.
After an incident involving his mouth full of braces and blood coming from his mouth, Henry is labelled a 'vampire.' To add further to his woes he is seen helping the new quirky neighbours move a coffin into their home!

Henry decides to focus on training for the upcoming swimming carnival and soon makes a friend at the pool who also goes to school with him. After his mother is in an accident, he spends more time with his quirky neighbours and soon finds life can take unexpected turns.

This is a great kids novel that deals with everyday life in a both a humorous and sensitive way.



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Thursday, 14 April 2011

CBCA Book of Year 2011 - Shortlist Announced!

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The Children's Book Council of Australia have announced their short list for Book of the Year 2011. Each year, judges read masses of books for children choosing six nominees for each category. They do all of this in just 10 months - what a job!

The winners for each category are announced during Book Week (this year being held from 20th - 26th August) - a week where schools and public Libraries across Australia celebrate all things bookish, including the book week winners.

Now without further ado, here is the short list for 2011.

Which book is your favourite?

Older Readers (these books are for mature readers)

Graffiti Moon by Cath Crowley
The Midnight Zoo by Sonya Hartnett
About a Girl by Joanne Horninam
The Life of a Teenage Body-Snatcher by Doug Macleod
The Piper's Son by Melina Marchetta
Six Impossible Things by Fiona Wood

Younger Readers (intended for independent younger readers)

Just a Dog by Michael Gerard Bauer
Henry Hoey Hobson by Christine Bongers
Violet Mackerel's Brilliant Plot by Anna Branford. Illustrations by Sarah Davis
The Red Wind by Isobelle Carmody
Duck for a Day by Meg McKinlay. Illustrations by Leila Rudge
Toppling by Sally Murphy. Illustrations by Rhian Nest James

Early Childhood (intended for children in the pre-reading to early reading stages)

The Tall Man and the Twelve Babies by Tom Niland Champion and Kilmeny Niland. Illustrations by Deborah Niland
The Deep End by Ursula Dubosarsky. Illustrations by Mitch Vane
Noni the Pony by Alison Lester.
It's Bedtime, William! by Deborah Niland
Look See, Look at Me! by Leonie Norrington. Illustrations by Dee Huxley
Maudie and Bear by Jan Ormerod. Illustrations by Freya Blackwood

Picture Book (intended for an audience ranging from birth to 18 years. Some books may be for mature readers)

Mirror by Jeannie Baker
Why I Love Australia by Bronwyn Bancroft
Hamlet by Nicki Greenberg
Two Peas in a Pod by Chris McKimmie
Family Forest by Lucia Masciullo. Written by Kim Kane
My Uncle's Donkey by Tohby Riddle

Eve Pownall Award for Information Books (intended for an audience ranging from birth to 18 years. Some books may be for mature readers)

Theme Parks, Playgrounds and Toys by Nicolas Brasch
Drawn from the Heart : A Memoir by Ron Brooks
Zero Hour : the Anzacs on the Western Front by Leon Davidson
The Return of the Word Spy by Ursula Dubosarsky. Illustrations by Tohby Riddle
Wicked Warriors & Evil Emperors : the True Story of the Fight for Ancient China by Alison Lloyd. Illustrated by Terry Denton
Our World : Bardi Jaawi : Life at Ardiyooloon by One Arm Point Remote Community School



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Friday, 4 February 2011

Me and You by Anthony Browne

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Everyone knows the tale of Goldilocks and the three bears, but do you know what the three bears were up to whilst Goldilocks was ransacking their house?

With popular movies such as Shrek and Tangled which twist traditional fairy tales this book is sure to be popular with kids. It takes the tale of Goldilocks and the three bears and modernises the story. The three bears and Goldilocks tales are told simultaneously. Goldilocks lives a life of poverty portrayed on the left in dark wordless panels and the bears living a colourful life of privilege. The illustrations are wonderful especially depicted in the beautiful ending which makes the most of the use of gold of which we have only seen glimmers of till now. This is a rich and layered book which can be read over and over and shakes up the reader’s assumptions about the familiar tale.



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Thursday, 3 February 2011

It's a book - by Lane Smith

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CAN IT TEXT? BLOG? SCROLL? WI-FI? TWEET? No. . . It’s a book.

We all just love this book in the children’s library, no matter how many electronic devices are available these days you just can’t beat a good book.

This cheeky picture book is about reading in the digital age. Oh the simple pleasures of settling down in a quite area, turning the pages and escaping into another world. Smith offers a wry tribute to the printed word through a conversation about a book.

As a monkey sits reading quietly, a technophilic donkey pesters him about the source of his absorption: "Can it text? Tweet? Wi-Fi?". The donkey discovers that a good book doesn't need fancy electronic accessories - least of all, no batteries required! The dry humor illustrated through the visual exchanges between the monkey and donkey make for an enjoyable read. With a cheeky punch line (kids, do not try it at home) your kids will love the silly questions the donkey asks about the monkey’s book.



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Friday, 31 December 2010

Mirror by Jeannie Baker

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This is two picture books in one! Open up the book to find two books side by side. Each follows the lives of two boys one in inner city Sydney and the other from a small remote village in Morocco, North Africa. Although their lives and surroundings are so different the pictures show that the true spirit of family is the same.

Jeannie's collages are beautiful, intricate and colourful and capture the message so beautifully. A great book to share with the family.



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Thursday, 16 December 2010

Shadow by Michael Morpurgo

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Looking for something enjoyable to read for our Summer Reading Club?
This story will take you on the treacherous journey of young Afghan refugee, Aman, and his mother. They are accompanied part of the way by a stray dog, who we eventually learn is actually a highly credentialed K9!

Aman and his mother face great tragedy and sadness on their journey but also experience the joy of true friendship and compassion. This moving and uplifting story, told by three different people, tells of the many challenges faced by refugees and asylum seekers. The story of Shadow is accompanied by illustrations to appeal to the young reader.
Debra Engadine Library



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Friday, 17 September 2010

The Spiderwick Chronicles

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The Spiderwick Chronicles is a movie based on a series of Children's books with the same name. The majority of the action is centered around three children- two twin boys and a girl. In an interesting move by the movie makers, the same boy actor was selected to play both of the twins. I must admit, watching the movie I thought that they were two separate actors.

The story begins when we see the children and their mother moving into a seemingly abandoned mansion in the middle of a forest. Jared (the oldest of the twins) goes exploring in the house when some of their belongings go missing and stumbles upon a mysterious old book. When he starts reading the book, strange things begin to happen. Firstly he meets a strange creature who lives in the house and whose job is to protect the book. The creature (whose name turns out to be "Thimbletack") shows him how to see the fantastic creatures that live nearby. Jared learns that he has to protect the book from an Ogre who wants the power that it offers. So begins an exciting adventure that involves evil goblins, an Ogre and even a Troll! How can Jared and the children get rid of the Ogre and his goblins once and for all? The solution may involve the use of Tomato sauce....


This is a movie that should appeal to the whole family (except perhaps very young children) and isn't very long (about 90 minutes), so it should hold the attention of children. If you like fantasy stories, you will like this movie.



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Tuesday, 24 August 2010

2010 Children's Book of the Year Winners Announced!

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The Children's Book Council of Australia have announced the 2010 winners of Book of the Year. There are five categories with a winner and two honour books listed in each:

Book of the Year : Older Readers
Jarvis 24 by David Metzenthen
Honour Books : Older Readers
The Winds of Heaven by Judith Clarke
A Small Free Kiss in the Dark by Glenda Millard

Book of the Year : Younger Readers
Honour Books : Younger Readers
Running with the Horses by Alison Lester
Pearl verses the World by Sally Murphy; Illustrations by Heather Potter




Book of the Year : Early Childhood
Bear and Chook by the Sea by Lisa Shanahan; Illustrations by Emma Quay
Honour Books : Early Childhood
Kip by Christina Booth
Clancy & Millie and the Very Fine House by Libby Gleeson; Illustrations by Freya Blackwood


Picture Book of the Year
The Hero of Little Street by Gregory Rogers
Honour Books : Picture Book of the Year
Isabella's Garden by Rebecca Cool; Text by Glenda Millard
Fox and Fine Feathers by Narelle Oliver



Eve Pownall Information Book of the Year
Honour Books : Eve Pownall Information Book of the Year
Polar Eyes : a journey to Antarctica by Tanya Patrick; Illustrations by Nicholas Hutcheson
Maralinga: The Anangu Story by Yalata and Oak Communities with Christobel Mattingley



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