Trash

This story is set somewhere in South America and on a rubbish dump. Whilst sifting through the newly dumped trash one day, three boys find something extraordinary, something of value. They realise the object's worth when the police show an interest and want it. The boys sense the danger they are in and the determination of the police and so they run. They are persued all over the city with luck on their side.
The first thing that struck me about this novel is degree of realism with which it is written: fragile housing build on top of the dump, the constant smell, the 'stuppa' [ human muck]wrapped in paper, the crawling and sorting of rubbish. The description used when one of the boys gets taken to the police station goes far enough for the reader to realise that not all police are trustworthy. Life is generally hard for a dumpsite boy and hard for anyone who opposes the powerful.
The book uses themes of unity, loyalty, bravery and justice to demonstrate there is future and hope. It's an informing, exciting and original read for the intermediate age group.

Winnie the witch

The original author of Winnie the witch was Valerie Thomas, an Australian teacher who has travelled most of the world on a broomstick. She too has a black cat just like Wilbur. Korky Paul is the illustarator, born in Zimbabwe, studied fine arts and now lives in Oxford, England. Laura Owen is the present author of Winnie and has managed rather well to capture and maintain the humour started by Valerie 20 years ago.
'Winnie's Book Day' is a must read for all book and library lovers. It's funny and zany whilst promoting books. It is book week and the story teller is unable to turn-up at school.Winnie has been asked to read to the 'little extraordinaries' instead. Of course Winnie can not read but that does not stop her using books and her magic wand to entertain the little extraordinaries.
Abracadabra see what you will find.

We're going on a bear hunt

This is a fabulous picture book which can be enjoyed by both children and adults. The story is written in such a way that the reader ends up developing a fun repetitive chant which becomes interspersed with glorious onomatopoeia. The text outlines the adventure a father and his children

have and the surprised discovery of a bear!

My copy of this book is held together with sellotape and 10 years on, my girls can still chant the story with such joy!

We're going on a bear hunt.

We're going to catch a big one................

Children's literary scene

We are all familiar with the well publised NZ Post book awards but what about the other happening on the children's literary scene? Storylines foundation supports and promotes Children's literature in NZ. Each year it administers numerous awards to NZ authors and illustrators of children's literature. Whilst this may appear to be a bit of a drab subject I feel highlighting other literary achievements is worthwhile as it may be a pointer to a previously unexplored author.
The Gavin Bishop award is one sponsored by the publisher's Random House and is aimed at encouraging the production of a new, exciting picture book from a NZ illustrator. This new award was introduced last year and the inaugral winner being Harriet Bailey .

In 2002 the Joy Cowley Award was established and again is aimed at fostering quality picture books. In 2008, Michelle Osment won the award with "Tiny Miss Dotty and her Dotty Umbrella". A copy of this book can be found in the children's section in the library. This year's winner is Lucy Davey with "The Fidgety Itch". The sponsor of the Joy Cowley award is Scholastics so watch out for the publication in the book club catalogues or our library.

The Storylines Gaylene Gordon award was established in 1999,two years after her premature death due to illness. Gaylene was originally an english and drama teacher. She has written numerous books generally combining the genres of myth, fantasy and sci-fi for children of all ages. This award goes to a work of fiction which has stood the test of time and is still in print. Sheryl Jordan's "Wednesday Wizard" is the recipient of this best loved book awar


The Tom Fitzgibbon award was established by Storylines in 1995 in recognitin of the work Tom had done for children's literature. Tom was the head of the English Department at North Shore Teachers' College and established Children's literature Association of NZ. This award is presented to a NZ author whose audience is in the 8 to 13 age group and who has not previously had a novel published. In 1998 Vince Ford's writing career was launched when he received the award for his novel 2Much 4U. Leonie Agnew is this year's winner and you can read about her if you click here.

The Tessa Duder Award is a new initiative aimed at encouraging unpublished authors in the young-adult fiction category.The inaugral winner will be announced next year, the sponsor is Harper Collins NZ with Storylines as the administrator.