children

Picture Book Nook: A Patch of Black by Rachel Rooney and Deborah Allwright

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I came across this delightful picture book last week when I was putting new books out for display.  A Patch of Black is one of the best picture books I’ve seen that’s aimed at children who are scared of the dark and it’s a wonderful bedtime story.  It starts with a mother and her child in the girl’s bedroom getting ready for bed.  The mother says to her child,

“Don’t be afraid of the darkness, dear.
Don’t be afraid of the dark.
What can you do with a patch of black,
a moon and a silver star?

The mother then tells the child about all the different places and things she could dream about when she’s sleeping.  There are pirates and mermaids, princesses and dragons, ice cream lakes and milkshake streams, and much more.  The mother’s refrain is repeated throughout the book and is followed by a different dream land.

It’s a very reassuring story that will have children imagining their own dream lands.  The illustrations are also reassuring and comforting, as they’re light, bright and full of excitement.  If you want a bedtime story that you’ll be happy to read again and again, grab a copy of A Patch of Black by Rachel Rooney and Deborah Allwright.

Meet Joseph Delaney in Christchurch

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Joseph Delaney, the author of the Spook’s Apprentice series, is one of my favourite authors.  The Spook’s books are dark, spooky and creepy, and are full of witches, boggarts and creatures of the dark.  If you like spooky stories, with a bit of history, mystery and adventure you’ll love Joseph’s Books.  The movie based on the series, Seventh Son, is due out later this year and I’m sure it will be fantastic.

I’m excited to announce that Joseph Delaney is coming to Christchurch on Wednesday 20 February.  You can come and meet him at Upper Riccarton Library, from 7:00-8:00pm on Wednesday 20 February.  He’ll talk about his books, you can ask him questions, and even get your book signed.

It’s a free event but you need to book a space.  Just call Christchurch City Libraries on 03-941-7923 to book.

To find out more about Joseph Delaney and the Spook’s Apprentice series, visit www.spooksbooks.com

Captain Underpants and the Revolting Revenge of the Radioactive Robo-Boxers

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Captain Underpants and the Revolting Revenge of the Radioactive Robo-Boxers by Dav Pilkey is the latest Captain Underpants adventure.  Reserve your copy at the library now, and while you’re waiting, check out Dav Pilkey’s awesome website where you can read about the books, play games and watch videos.

Dragon Frontier book trailer

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The Wild West: where great possibility also brings grave danger.

Jake Polson and his family are starting a new life on the American Frontier. Twelve-year-old Jake is proud to drive the lead wagon; he’s in charge of the oxen and minding his Ma and little sister.

But tragedy strikes and Jake must venture deep into the West in search of a legendary creature to save his family. What he discovers in that vast landscape is wilder than he ever imagined.

Out on the frontier, an evil force is waiting.

Dragon Frontier by Dan Abnett is out now in NZ from Puffin Books.

David Melling chats about Hugless Douglas

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David Melling is one of my favourite picture book author/illustrators and I absolutely love Hugless Douglas.  He’s a cute character who children and adults love.  There’s even a very cool Hugless Douglas app, with the story read by the wonderful Alan Davies.

David has a great website (www.davidmelling.co.uk) where you can find out more about him and his work, and you can even buy some very reasonably-priced prints (I’ve got the Hugless Douglas one on my wall).  I’d love to have a giant Hugless Douglas costume like the one on his blog.  I’ll have to try and convince my library to buy one.

Support Duffy Books in Homes on International Book Giving Day

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One of the many ways that you can be involved in International Book Giving Day on 14th February is to support Duffy Books, one of our wonderful local charities who get books into the hands of the children who need them most.  Duffy Books General Manager, Linda Vagana, has written a lovely post all about Duffy Books and the amazing work that they do.

Duffy logoWe’re very happy to be associated with International Book Giving Day on February 14.

It’s great to see an initiative that aligns so closely with what we’re trying to achieve here in New Zealand.

Duffy Books in Homes gives free books, three times a year, to over 100,000 New Zealand children in 529 lower-decile schools and 217 Early Childhood centres.  These schools and centres are spread from the Far North to Bluff.

We currently give away an average of more than one book every minute of every day of the year.  In the last year alone the programme has given away more than 600,000 books.

Since 1993 over 8,000,000 books have been given to hundreds of thousands of students from low income homes.

A combination of schools, sponsors and the Government has made it possible to give away so many books.  Each pays approximately a third of the total cost of the programme, equating to around $13.50 per child, per year.

The programme was founded by Alan Duff, author of ‘Once Were Warriors’ and philanthropist Christine Fernyhough who saw that many homes in New Zealand were ‘bookless.’

Raukokore (24)

Our vision is to break the cycle of booklessness in New Zealand homes by inspiring a love of books in Duffy children so they become adults who inspire a love of reading.

We give children a minimum of five brand new books of their choice each year at no charge.  In addition, children can earn weekly ‘Caught Being Good’ book awards as well as other awards for effort and attitude.  Prominent New Zealand Role Models present the books and spread the message ‘It’s Cool to Read and Cool to Achieve!’  Sponsors enjoy the opportunity to hand out books at these special assemblies.

Other features include two travelling theatre groups which perform to schools each year, awards for parents and grandparents and books for preschool siblings on their birthdays

Schools in the programme notice an improved attitude towards books and reading.  Changes include less theft, vandalism and bullying within schools.

Otara Literacy

Past research has shown improvements in reading scores of up to 35% for schools joining the programme.  Current research shows that kids in ‘Duffy’ schools show decreased signs of a drop in reading achievement over the summer holidays – an issue which schools have traditionally struggled with.

We’re most proud of becoming an integral part of so many schools’ literacy programmes and giving children something of their own to treasure.  As the original ‘Duffy kids’ are now beginning to have children of their own one of our greatest rewards is to see how they are passing on their love of reading to their own children.

Duffy kids who have gone on to success in later life include World BMX champion and Olympic Silver medallist Sarah Walker and 2010 Miss World New Zealand Cody Yerkovich.

You can help us give even more books to New Zealand children by making a donation.  As little as $5 will buy one book for a child while $50 will give a child all the services and benefits of the programme for a whole year.

You can even Donate Your Desktop space to us and help to sponsor a Duffy kid at no cost whatsoever.

For more information please visit the Donations Page of our website.

I can testify to the amazing work that Duffy Books in Homes does for the children of New Zealand.  I’ve visited schools when they’ve had their Duffy assembly to give them one of their books for the year, and I’ve seen their hugely entertaining travelling theatre performance that visits schools all over the country.  When you see how excited the children are to receive their books or you see them singing along about books and reading, it’s clear that Duffy Books in Homes are achieving their goals and helping to give children a love of books.

Support Duffy Books in Homes this International Book Giving Day on 14th February.

International Book Giving Day 2013 Poster

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Check out the gorgeous poster for International Book Giving Day 2013!  This poster was designed by Indian children’s author Priya Kuriyan and does, we think, an excellent job of conveying what International Book Giving Day is all about to those who are learning about International Book Giving Day for the first time.

international book giving day poster by priya kuriyan (pdf)

You can download and print the poster from the International Book Giving Day website.  To find out more about International Book Giving Day and how you can support this fantastic cause, read my Celebrate International Book Giving Day this February 14th post.

Celebrate International Book Giving Day this February 14th!

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February 14th is not only Valentine’s Day. It is also International Book Giving Day — a day dedicated to getting new, used, and borrowed books into the hands of as many children as possible.

Well known children’s authors from around the world including Mem Fox, Chris Haughton, Ed Emberley, Ed Vere, Peter H. Reynolds, Sandy Fussell, Priya Kuriyan, Janeen Brian, Barney Saltzberg, Hazel Edwards, and many of our brilliant local authors are giving books to children on February 14th and are encouraging others to do the same.

There are 3 simple ways that you can get involved:

1. Giving a Book to a Friend or Relative.

Is there a child in your life who would enjoy receiving a book on February 14th? In lieu of or in addition to a card or box of chocolates, choose a good book from a bookstore or public library to give to your child, grandchild, friend, or neighbor.

2. Leaving a Book in a Waiting Room or Lobby.

Choose a waiting room where kids are stuck waiting and there are few to no good books available. Purchase a good book, and deposit your book covertly or overtly in your waiting room of choice. The goal here is to spread the love of reading to kids, so choose a fun book, nothing controversial.

3. Donating a Book.

Wrap up a box of children’s books that your kids have outgrown and get them into the hands of children who could really use a book or two. Donate your books to your local second hand store, library, children’s hospital, or nonprofit organization working to ensure that all kids have access to books.

International Book Giving Day is helping to bring books to the children all over the world that need them the most.  Organisations, including Books for Africa, Room to Read and Reach Out and Read, work to get books into the hands of children in need, and every donation counts, whether it is monetary or giving new and used books.

Here in New Zealand we have two wonderful charities that help to get books to the children who need them most – KidsCan and Duffy Books in Homes.  To find out about what they do to help children you can visit their websites:

KidsCan – www.kidscan.org.nz

Duffy Books in Homes – www.booksinhomes.org.nz

Over the next few weeks I’ll be posting more information about International Book Giving Day and the ways in which you can support this wonderful cause.

At bookgivingday.com  you can register t0 support International Book Giving Day, download a gorgeous IBGD poster and print book plates to put in the books you give on the day, and find out about some of the authors and illustrators who have already pledged their support.

Shiverton Hall by Emerald Fennell

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Barry Hutchison, Will Hill, Joseph Delaney and Derek Landy are some of my favourite authors because of the way that they can creep me out, but also having me hanging on every word.  I can now add another author to this list, one with possibly the coolest name around – Emerald Fennell.  With a name like that you’re destined to become an author or an actress, and she’s both.  Her debut novel, Shiverton Hall, is a chilling tale set in a boarding school in England.

Arthur Bannister has been unexpectedly accepted into Shiverton Hall, which, as it turns out, is an incredibly spooky school, full of surprises. And it is just as well that Shiverton Hall has made its offer, because Arthur had a horrible time at his previous school, and was desperate to leave. Timely indeed . . .

But Arthur has no time to worry about the strange coincidence. He is too busy trying to make head or tail of Shiverton Hall, dogged as it is by tales of curses and bad fortune. At least there are a few friendly faces: George, who shows him around; also Penny and Jake. But not all the faces are friendly. There are the bullying Forge triplets for starters. And then there is the acid tongue of the headmistress, Professor Long-Pitt, who seems to go out of her way to make Arthur’s life a misery.

Luckily Arthur has his new friends to cheer him up. Although there are some friends that you don’t want to have at all, as Arthur is soon to find out.

I absolutely loved Shiverton Hall!  It brings together elements of my favourite horror series, Barry Hutchison’s Invisible Fiends and Will Hill’s Department 19, mixes it with a touch of Chris Priestley’s Tales of Terror stories, and sets it in a kind of sinister Hogwarts.  I don’t want to give too much detail in case I spoil the story, but needless to say, if you love Barry Hutchison’s Invisible Fiends books about sinister invisible friends then you will love this story!  I liken the story to Will Hill’s Department 19 and Chris Priestley’s Tales of Terror because Emerald Fennell breaks up the story of the children in the present time with stories about the history of Shiverton Hall.  The grandfather of George (one of the main characters) wrote a book called Accounts of the Supernatural and Preternatural at Shiverton Hall and Its Surrounds, and George tells his friends some of the stories throughout the book, so you find out about what has happened at Shiverton Hall in the past.  These stories of Shiverton Hall’s past are seriously creepy and I was really 0n edge as I was reading them.  Like when you watch a horror movie, I found myself holding my breath, waiting for something to jump out at me.  These historical stories are what made the book so great and I wanted to know even more about the sinister history of Shiverton Hall.

There is plenty of mystery to keep you reading too.  You want to know what is making the students do strange things, why doesn’t the headmistress believe anything they say, and what secret is Arthur keeping hidden?  Emerald keeps you guessing right up to the very end.  Just when you think the worst is over though, she knocks you in the guts and leaves you desperately wanting more.

I sure hope that Emerald is planning to write a sequel as I’m sure Arthur’s story is far from finished.  I’ll be waiting with bated breath.  In the mean time I’ll go and read her Shiverton short story, The Quality Chophouse, for free here.  If you know any young horror fans, Shiverton Hall is a must read, and it’s perfect for primary and secondary school libraries (Year 7 and up).

5 out of 5 stars