Information Books, poetry and fairytales — Holiday Reading 2010
Cooling, Wendy (Ed). All the wild wonders: poems of our earth
For this celebration of our Earth, distinguished anthologist Wendy Cooling has chosen poems from around the world to make children look, think, and ask questions. Why are trees so important? How are motorways damaging our countryside? What can we do about rubbish? What can we do to protect our Earth for the future? Includes Elizabeth Honey, John Agard and Tony Bradman.
Belloc, Hilaire Jim: who ran away from his nurse and was eaten by a lion
Award-winning illustrator Mini Grey turns her inimitable hand to Hilaire Belloc’s classic cautionary tale of Jim: who ran away from his Nurse and was eaten by a Lion! First published in 1907, Belloc’s wickedly funny poem describes the sad end of Jim.
Brownlie, Betty The life cycle of the pūkeko (New Zealand);
The life cycle of the royal albatross (New Zealand)
A drove of bullocks : compilation of animal group names; A filth of starlings : a compilation of bird and aquatic animal group names
Very clever bright graphics illustrating unusual collective nouns.
Crampton, J. S. The Kiwi fossil hunter’s handbook (New Zealand)
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.
Dennis, Brian Nubs : the true story of a mutt, a Marine & a miracle
The story of a wild dog who befriended Marine Major Brian Dennis in Iraq, and, when they were separated, trekked seventy miles through the desert winter to rejoin his friend.
Desbordes, Astrid The reflections of a solitary hamster
Hamster can be selfish and narcissistic but his forest animal friends still love him, warts and all. In graphic novel format.
Duffy, Carol Ann New and collected poems for children
This stellar edition of her poems brings together work from Carole Duffy’s four award-winning collections for children, and sprinkles in a generous helping of new poems to match.
Eccleshare, Julie 1001 children’s books you must read before you grow up
Provides an authoritative listing of classic and contemporary children’s literature that is categorized by age group and pairs each entry with expert evaluations and reproductions of artwork from the featured titles.
Florian, Douglas Poetrees
This book is ripe with poetrees,
They’re grown to educate and please.
You’ll see a cedar. Oak tree too.
Birch and banyan,
Pine and yew.
Palm and gum
And willow tree,
Plus more you’ll love tree-mendously!
Flynn, Leonie The ultimate book guide
From classics to newly released titles. The funny, friendly and frank recommendations have been personally written for children by many of their favourite and best-known authors including Margaret Mahy, Jacqueline Wilson, David Almond, Celia Rees, Darren Shan and Dick King-Smith.
Gherman, Beverly Sparky : the life and art of Charles Schulz
Colourful, fascinating and easily accessible to children. Packed with the art and cartoons of the beloved creator of Snoopy and Charlie Brown.
Houblon, Marie World of colors : seeing colors in a new way
Translated from French. Explores the relationships between real-world objects and their colours, illustrating that each colour comes in many different shades and that familiar objects sometimes come in unexpected colours, such as green bananas.
Hunt, Des Naughty kids book of nature (New Zealand)
This is a book about nature for naughty kids. Nice kids learn about the life-cycle of the monarch butterfly and tadpoles turning into frogs. Naughty kids want to know about squashed hedgehogs and dead pukeko. Nice kids like to look at books with pretty pictures of puppy dogs and kittens. Naughty kids would rather see blood and guts and maggots.
Jenkins, Steve Never smile at a monkey : and 17 other important things to remember
Discover how dangerous an animal can be when it feels threatened or trapped.
Jenkins, Steve and Page, Robin How to clean a hippopotamus : a look at unusual animal partnerships
Learn about the ingenious lifestyles of some of the world’s most unusual animal partners. It includes the tuatara relationship with the petrel.
Kahukura, Ahurewa (New Zealand)
About twenty simple titles of common everyday things such as ‘In the Kitchen’ ‘Counting birds’ and ‘Learning colours” that have been translated into Māori, Samoan and Tongan. A very welcome addition
Krull, Kathlee. The boy who invented TV : the story of Philo Farnsworth
This picture-book biography explains how Farnsworth held on to his dream to develop television and the scientific concepts behind it.
Litchfield, Jo Everyday words in Māori (New Zealand)
Long, Sylvia Sylvia Long’s Thumbelina
A girl no bigger than a thumb is stolen by a toad and subsequently has many adventures and makes many animal friends, before finding the perfect mate in a warm and beautiful southern land
McArthur, Meher An ABC of what art can be
This delightful book is a colourful reminder of the many things that visual art can be, become, and do. Whether it’s weaving or making pottery or working on your computer or turning junk into something unexpected and wonderful, ‘An ABC of What Art Can Be’ is an invitation to look around and think creatively-outside the boring box.
MacDonald, Margaret Read How many donkeys? : an Arabic counting tale
When Jouha counts the ten donkeys carrying his dates to market, he repeatedly forgets to count the one he is riding on, causing him great consternation. Includes numbers written out in Arabic and in English transliteration,.
MacDonald, Margaret Read Too many fairies : a Celtic Tale
An old woman complains about all the housework she has to do, but when some fairies come to help her she finds that they are more trouble than they are worth.
Melvin, Alice Counting birds
Quite an old fashion feel to the illustrations. Includes real and imaginary birds.
Morris, Sandra, Sensational survivors : an illustrated guide to New Zealand’s remarkable wildlife (New Zealand)
An ancient land isolated by vast oceans, New Zealand is home to many fascinating creatures. From a prehistoric reptile to one of the world largest insects.
Napoli, Donna Jo Mama Miti : Wangari Maathai and the trees of Kenya
The story of Wangari Maathai, who in 1977 founded the Green Belt Movement, an African grassroots organization, and in 2004 was the first African woman to be awarded the Nobel Peace Prize.
Noonan, Diana, The NZ kids’ garden : a kids’ guide to growing fruit and vegetables in New Zealand
Provides advice on starting a garden and on plants suitable for young readers to cultivate. Includes sections on designing a garden, what tools are needed, how to protect plants from pests and diseases, as well as planting schedules and a calendar.
Rosen, Michael Michael Rosen’s big book of bad things
The arrival of a new poetry collection from one of Britain’s greatest children’s poets Michael Rosen is always cause for great excitement - and this collection promises to be one of the best.
Scieszka, Jon Truckery rhymes
For generations, Trucks have been sharing these beloved tales, rowdy rhymes, and honk-along songs. Finally these classics have been gathered into one big, noisy, high-octane collection!
Winston, Robert What goes on in my head?
Professor Robert Winston introduces you to the most powerful, complicated computer network that exists - the brain. This book is packed with amazing illustrations and fascinating facts like why bird song is similar to human speech and what makes animals yawn, as well as fun brainteasers to test your child’s memory, perception, reasoning and reactions.
Winter, Jeanette Biblioburro : A True Story from Colombia
Luis loves to read, but soon his house in Colombia is so full of books there’s barely room for the family. What to do? Then he comes up with the perfect solution — a travelling library! He buys two donkeys — Alfa and Beto — and travels with them throughout the land, bringing books and reading to the children in faraway villages.