Make New Stories Beyond the Page in the July School Holidays!

Kia ora folks! We are so incredibly excited to announce that the hotly-anticipated Beyond the Page festival is returning this July!

During the school holidays, from the 9th to the 24th of July, libraries across the Wellington region are hosting over 100 awesome, FREE events for tamariki and their whānau, from puppetry, poetry, and costume design experiences through to VR experiences, nature walks, sculpting, and stop motion animation workshops!

There’s something on every day of the holidays, so join us to experience the ‘other’ side of libraries — the side that fizzes and pops, is creative, exciting, and adventurous!

Beyond the Page is a collaboration between Wellington City Libraries, Hutt City Libraries, Upper Hutt City Libraries, Kāpiti Coast District Libraries, and Masterton District Library. You can view the full event calendar and find out more about the festival and our wonderful presenters on the Beyond the Page website, or you can follow the festival on Facebook for regular updates.

Read on to find out about some of the excellent events happening in Wellington City Libraries branches:

Vivita X Beyond the Page: Graphic Novel Series

We’re partnering with Wellington innovation studio VIVITA Aotearoa to bring you the Graphic Novel Series — a group of three workshops focussed on bringing the characters and story of a graphic novel to life, from sculpture and miniatures through to cardboard costumes!

These events are suitable for tamariki aged 9-15, and registrations are required.

  • Cardboard Costumes | Miramar Library | Saturday 9 July, 10am – 12pm (Register here)
  • Serious Sculpting | Te Awe Library | Sunday 10 July, 10am – 12pm (Register here)
  • Miniature Modelling | Johnsonville Library | Sunday 17 July, 10am – 12pm (Register here)

Toro Pikopiko Tales

Have you ever wanted to become a puppeteer? Join the Toro Pikopiko Tales Roadshow to explore an interactive gallery of puppets – from traditionally carved kare-tao puppets, through to puppets inspired by Māori rock art, taniwha, and stories of the land. In this fun-filled workshop, you’ll become the puppeteer!

These events are suitable for tamariki aged 5+ with their caregivers, and registrations are required.

  • Karori Library | Tuesday 19 July, 10 – 11am (Register here)
  • Johnsonville Library | Tuesday 19 July, 2 – 3pm (Register here)
  • Ruth Gotlieb (Kilbirnie) Library | Thursday 21 July, 10 – 11am (Register here)
  • Mervyn Kemp (Tawa) Library | Friday 22 July, 10 – 11am (Register here)

Stories From Our Place with Zealandia

Listen to bilingual stories about our special Aotearoa plant life and animals, then discover more about them on a guided nature walk with a Zealandia educator! Tamariki registered for the first session can explore Zealandia with their whānau free of charge. At the Cummings Park Library session, we will instead be exploring the unique flora and fauna of the beautiful Cummings Park.

These events are suitable for tamariki of all ages with their caregivers, and registrations are required.

  • Cummings Park (Ngaio) Library | Tuesday 12 July, 2 – 3pm (Register here)
  • Zealandia Te Māra a Tāne | Tuesday 19 July, 1.30 – 3pm (Register here)
  • Zealandia Te Māra a Tāne | Tuesday 19 July, 3 – 4.30pm (Register here)

Poetry Workshop with Sara Hirsch

Have you always wanted to learn how to write poetry? Have you been writing for ages and would love the chance to get some tips and tricks? Whatever your background and experience, everyone is welcome at this inclusive workshop, from newbies to the poetry obsessed.

This event is suitable for tamariki aged 8-12 with their caregivers, and registrations are required.

  • Newtown Library | Friday 15 July, 2.30 – 4.30pm (Register here)

String Bean Puppets: Nan and Tuna

Nan and Tuna have been friends for 80 years and now it is time for one last adventure together. But before they leave they will need to find someone to care for the river. Join us for this special bilingual puppet show presented by Anna Bailey of String Bean Puppets!

This event is suitable for tamariki of all ages with their caregivers.

Due to the interference of COVID-19, this event has been rescheduled. The new date and location are:

  • Mervyn Kemp (Tawa) Library | Saturday 16 July, 11.00am – 12.00pm (More information)


…and even more!

The holidays are going to be chocka with even more wonderful events, including Bricks and Giggles (LEGO® building galore!), Stop Motion Stories (fun and simple animation workshops!), Box Bonanza (what can you make armed with nothing but a cardboard box and your imagination?), Zine Machine (make your own mini-book!), and Experience VR (enter a whole new world of story through the magic of VR). Registrations are required for some of these events, so make sure you get in quick to secure your place!

Visit the links above to see all the details, or view the whole schedule on the Beyond the Page website. We can’t wait to see you there!

Lōemis Winter Solstice Festival 2021

Winter has arrived in Wellington, and the Lōemis Winter Solstice Festival is back again, in it’s fourth year,  during the week of the 14th to the 22nd of June, and there’s heaps of exciting events happening in the capital!
Link to loemis.nz website

What is the Lōemis Winter Solstice Festival?

Lōemis (pron. lew-mis) festival began in 2016 and is held annually in Wellington in the lead up to the winter solstice.

For seven days, the Lōemis Winter Solstice Festival  observes the longest nights of the year with a hearty mix of feasting, theatre, music, monstrous creatures and a fiery waterfront procession, based around the winter solstice, which falls on 22 June.

For more information on what events are on, check out the Lōemis website and Facebook page.


In the meantime, why not get into the “festival” season with:

image courtesy of syndeticsFestival folk : an atlas of carnival customs and costumes.

“A beautifully illustrated compendium of weird and wonderful festival costumes around the world. All around the world there are festivals that reach back through the sands of time to the very roots of civilisation; to agrarian rites and pagan traditions. The festivals in this book are often little known outside their locale and they are all characterised by the most radical and bizarre costumes imaginable. The Kukeri in Bulgaria wear enormous headpieces made of goatskin. Burryman festival in Edinburgh features a man covered from head to toe with burrs and thorns. Paraders in Switzerland’s Silvesterklausen wear vast wooden doll-masks and hats carved with peasant scenes. Each costume is brought to life in Rob Flower’s joyous, surrealist, urban illustrations. Brief, engaging texts describe the festival, its history and the traditions that surround it.” (Catalogue)

image courtesy of syndeticsFestivals and celebrations.

“Take a trip around the world, looking at the many different ways that people celebrate special days, holidays, religious festivals and traditional celebrations. Comparing Countries is a ground breaking non-fiction dual-language series which compares and contrasts ways of life in different countries around the world. Presented in two different languages, each title explores a topic common to all children, from homes to festivals, highlighting what makes us different and what we all have in common. This series provides great support to geography learning, as well as helping young language learners improve their reading skills.” (Catalogue)

image courtesy of syndeticsFestivals around the world.

“Learn about the diverse and vibrant festivals that are celebrated around the world.” (Catalogue)

image courtesy of syndeticsA year full of celebrations and festivals.

“Countless different festivals are celebrated all over the world throughout the year. Some are national holidays, celebrated for religious and cultural reasons, or to mark an important date in history, while others are just for fun. Give thanks and tuck into a delicious meal with friends and family at Thanksgiving, get caught up in a messy tomato fight in Spain at La Tomatina, add a splash of colour to your day at the Holi festival of colours and celebrate the life and achievements of Martin Luther King Jr. on Martin Luther King Jr. Day. With fact-filled text accompanied by beautifully bright illustrations from the wonderfully talented Chris Corr, prepare yourself for a journey as we travel around the world celebrating and uncovering a visual feast of culture.” (Catalogue)


Learn more about what happens in winter, as well the other seasons, why not head on down to your local library and grab some books about seasons, such as:

image courtesy of syndeticsSeasons.

“Finding out about the four seasons has never been so engaging. This book is full of exciting experiments, fun puzzles, quirky humour and science facts to make you say WOW … it’s science with a BOOM!” (Catalogue)

image courtesy of syndeticsA stroll through the seasons.

“Follow the wonderful changes that each season brings! From bright spring blossoms to dazzling summer sunshine, vibrant autumn leaves, and sparkling winter snow. Look and Wonder is a fresh, bold, and bright narrative nonfiction series introducing children to the natural world” (Catalogue)

image courtesy of syndeticsWeather in 30 seconds.

“This book takes readers on a whirlwind tour of our planet’s weather and climate. 30 key topics explore and explain the how and why of our global weather and its effects, from atmospheric influences, the seasons, and climate zones to extreme events, forecasting, and global warming. Each topic is presented in a neat 30-second sound bite, supported by a 3-second flash summary and a full-page colourful artwork. Fun active “missions” support the topics and encourage kids to find out more. With stunning artwork, the attention-grabbing format is engaging and immediate, introducing readers aged from 8 up to this fascinating subject that affects all our lives.” (Catalogue)

image courtesy of syndeticsWeather.

“See the biggest hailstone, inside the eye of a hurricane, a warm front in 3-D, the beauty of a snow crystal, a moon dog, and a dust devil. Learn the difference between a stratus and cumulonimbus cloud, how our weather may change in the future, and why tornadoes are so ferocious. Discover why deserts are dry, how clouds are born, what makes raindrops grow, why the sky is blue, and much, much more.” (Catalogue)

Check out the catalogue for more books about seasons and the weather.


Also, why not join in on “the Lōemis workshop fun”,  in the comfort of your own home… or library by creating your masterpieces, (Mask making, Mexican style treats, culinary goodness, puppetry and house building), with some help from the following books:

image courtesy of syndeticsAmazing masks to make yourself : 25 projects for funny and frightening faces to wear!

“Make masks from balloons, kitchen sponges, funnels, strainers, paper plates and other household items! The inventive projects include a tiger mask made from a basket, crazy card glasses, a wicked witch, a teapot and a glow-in-the-dark skeleton. 250 fantastic photographs show you what to do every step of the way.” (Catalogue)

image courtesy of syndeticsCool world cooking : fun and tasty recipes for kids!

“Give up-and-coming chefs a chance to explore the foods of the world! This international cookbook has over 50 recipes from six different cultures and introduces readers to world geography, math, science, and authentic, easy-to-make recipes that taste great. Learn about African, French, Italian, Mexican, Middle Eastern, and Japanese and Chinese cooking. So grab an apron and prepare for a tasty adventure!” (Catalogue)

image courtesy of syndeticsOn stage : theater games and activities for kids.

“Covers basic theatre vocabulary, puppetry and pantomime, sound effects, costumes, props, and makeup; includes several play scripts.” (Catalogue)

image courtesy of syndeticsLet’s build a house.

“Let’s Build a House! But what sort of a house should it be? And what do we need to build it? It could be a shack on a beach, or it could be a skyscraper. Try building a bungalow or even a castle! Join in the imaginative play as a group of children plan their houses and discover the materials and techniques needed to build them. The Wonderwise series presents facts in a way that will inspire young children’s imaginations about the world around them.” (Catalogue)


Winter movies to watch on a cold night in…

image courtesy of amazon.comFrozen.

“The cold may bother us, but it never bothers Elsa, Queen of Arendelle. You can never go wrong with Frozen. Relive the magic and musical renditions of “Let it go” in this amazing classic about family, friendship and diversity.” (Catalogue)

image courtesy of amazon.comFrozen II.

“Anna, Elsa, Kristoff, Olaf, and Sven leave Arendelle to travel to an ancient, autumn-bound forest of an enchanted land. They set out to find the origin of Elsa’s powers in order to save their kingdom.” (Catalogue)

image courtesy of amazon.comRise of the Guardians.

“When an evil spirit known as Pitch lays down the gauntlet to take over the world, the immortal Guardians must join forces for the first time to protect the hopes, beliefs, and imagination of children all over the world.” (Catalogue)

image courtesy of amazon.comIce Age.

“Twenty thousand years ago, at the dawn of the Ice Age, three completely mismatched creatures have been brought together by a twist of fate. Sid, a fast-talking and comical sloth, Manfred, a moody woolly mammoth, and Diego, a sinister saber-toothed tiger reluctantly team up to help return a human baby to his father. Before their incredible journey ends, this unlikely trio will confront boiling lava pits, escape treacherous ice tunnels and meet a prehistoric squirrel-rat named Scrat who is frantically trying to bury his beloved acorn. Join the weirdest herd in history for the coolest adventure of all time!” (Catalogue)

image courtesy of amazon.comIce Age. 2, The meltdown.

“The Ice Age is coming to an end, and the animals are delighting in their new world: a melting paradise of water parks, geysers and tar pits. But when Manny, Sid and Diego discover that the miles of melted ice will flood their valley, they must warn everyone and somehow figure out a way to escape the coming deluge. … With their one chance of survival being a boat at the other end of the valley, the trio make a desperate exodus there. Along the way, they meet Ellie, a female mammoth who is convinced that she is an opossum like her brothers. While the strange group continues their trek across the valley, they must learn to get along. Manny struggles to find some connection to Ellie, who may be the only other one of his kind.” (Adapted from Catalogue)

image courtesy of amazon.comIce age. 3, Dawn of the dinosaurs.

“Scrat is still trying to nab the ever-elusive nut and in the process may find his true love; Manny and Ellie await the birth of their mini-mammoth; Diego, the saber-toothed tiger, wonders if he’s growing too ‘soft’ hanging with his pals; and Sid the sloth gets into trouble when he creates his own makeshift family by hijacking some dinosaur eggs. On a mission to rescue the hapless Sid, the gang ventures into a mysterious underground world where they have some very close encounters with dinosaurs, battle flora and fauna, and where they meet a relentless, one-eyed, dino-hunting weasel named Buck.” (Catalogue)

image courtesy of amazon.comIce age. 4, Continental drift.

“Scrat’s constant quest for an acorn causes a shift in the ice. Manny, Sid, and Diego end up stranded on an iceberg in the middle of the sea. A group of misfit pirates are determined to stop the trio from ever returning home.” (Catalogue)

image courtesy of amazon.comIce age. 5. Collision course.

“Your favourite ICE AGE heroes are back and cooler than ever in this all-new animated adventure that’s mammoth-sized fun for the whole family! Scrat’s epic pursuit of the elusive acorn catapults him into the universe, where he accidentally triggers a series of cosmic events that threaten the Ice Age world. Now the entire herd – including Buck, Manny, Ellie, Sid and Diego – must work together on a hilarious journey, filled with nonstop action and colourful new characters, in order to survive the global Scrat-tastrophe!” (Catalogue)

Keep warm and stay safe this winter.

Children’s DVDs: New Releases in June 2020.

Hey kids! Winter is around the corner and there will be more days spending indoors. To curb the winter’s blues… and boredom, why not head on down to your local library and rent some new DVDs added to the children’s movie collection to keep you entertained. So what are you waiting for? Go down to your local branch and borrow these DVDs!

Enjoy!

image courtsy of syndeticsPAW patrol. Robo dog rescues.

Join the PAW Patrol and their trusty Robo Dog in 7 robotic adventures, including a double-length rescue. Help the pups fix Robo Dog’s glitches and see him become the team’s PAWsome driver, pilot, and only robot rescuer! Plus, watch the pups work together to stop a giant rampaging robot!
image courtesy of syndetics

Playmobil : the movie.

When her little brother Charlie isappears into the magical universe of Playmobil, Marla ust go on a quest of a lifetime to bring him home. As she journeys across stunning new worlds, Marla teams up with some unlikely new friends–smooth-talking food truck driver Del, dashing secret agent Rex Dasher, a wholehearted robot, a fairy-godmother and more to rescue Charlie from the villainous Maximus.

image courtesy of amazon.comSpies in disguise.

Super spy Lance Sterling and scientist Walter Beckett are almost exact opposites. Lance is smooth, suave, and debonair. Walter is not. But when events take an unexpected turn, this unlikely duo is forced to team up for the ultimate mission that will require an almost impossible disguise, transforming Lance into the brave, fierce, majestic pigeon. Walter and Lance suddenly have to work as a team, or the whole world is in peril.

image courtesy of syndeticsBlaze and the monster machines. Ninja Blaze.

Hi-Ya! Blaze and AJ discover the Ninja Training Grounds, where Ninja Master Blackbelt practices his moves with his ninja pals! Then power up with Pickle on a mission to save Crusher, and gear up with Blaze at the big Team Truck Challenge where he shows Crusher how to race fair and square. And it’s all in a Blaze work when Blaze takes on new jobs and transforms into awesome vehicles!

image courtesy of syndetics
Playing with fire.

Chaos and hilarity ensure after an old-fashioned fire superintendent and his crew find themselves in over their heads while attempting to babysit the three lively and unpredictable young children they rescued from a burning house.

image courtesy of amazon.comFrozen. II.

Anna, Elsa, Kristoff, Olaf, and Sven leave Arendelle to travel to an ancient, autumn-bound forest of an enchanted land. They set out to find the origin of Elsa’s powers in order to save their kingdom.

Also, why not go back to where it all began with…

Fr… Fr… Frrr…. Frozen!

image courtesy of amazon.co.ukFrozen 

You can never go wrong with Frozen. Relive the magic and musical renditions of “Let it go” in this amazing classic about family, friendship and diversity.

 

.

 

Lōemis Winter Solstice Festival 2019

Winter has arrived in Wellington, and the Lōemis Winter Solstice Festival is back again, in it’s forth year,  during the week of the 14th to the 22nd of June, and there’s heaps of exciting events happening in the Capital!
image courtesy of https://www.loemis.nz/What is the Lōemis Winter Solstice Festival?: For seven days, the Lōemis Winter Solstice Festival  observes the longest nights of the year with a hearty mix of feasting, theatre, music, monstrous creatures and a fiery waterfront procession, based around the winter solstice, which falls on 22 June.

For more information on what events are on, check out the Lōemis website and Facebook page.

 

In the mean time, why not get into the “festival” season with:

 


image courtesy of syndeticsFestival folk : an atlas of carnival customs and costumes.

A beautifully illustrated compedium of weird and wonderful festival costumes around the world. All around the world there are festivals that reach back through the sands of time to the very roots of civilisation; to agrarian rites and pagan traditions. The festivals in this book are often little known outside their locale and they are all characterised by the most radical and bizarre costumes imaginable. The Kukeri in Bulgaria wear enormous headpieces made of goatskin. Burryman festival in Edinburgh features a man covered from head to toe with burrs and thorns. Paraders in Switzerland’s Silvesterklausen wear vast wood- en doll-masks and hats carved with peasant scenes. Each costume is brought to life in Rob Flower’s joyous, surrealist, urban illustra- tions. Brief, engaging texts describe the festival, its history and the traditions that surround it.

 


image courtesy of syndeticsFestivals and celebrations.

Take a trip around the world, looking at the many different ways that people celebrate special days, holidays, religious festivals and traditional celebrations. Comparing Countries is a ground breaking non-fiction dual-language series which compares and contrasts ways of life in different countries around the world. Presented in two different languages, each title explores a topic common to all children, from homes to festivals, highlighting what makes us different and what we all have in common. This series provides great support to geography learning, as well as helping young language learners improve their reading skills.

 


image courtesy of syndeticsFestivals around the world.

Learn about the diverse and vibrant festivals that are celebrated around the world.

 

 

 

 


Learn more about what happens in winter, as well the other seasons, why not head on down to your local library and grab some books about seasons, such as:

 

image courtesy of syndeticsSeasons.

Finding out about the four seasons has never been so engaging. This book is full of exciting experiments, fun puzzles, quirky humour and science facts to make you saw WOW … it’s science with a BOOM!

 

 

 


image courtesy of syndeticsWeather and the seasons.

Introduces weather and the seasons, describing what is a cloud, why rainbows form, and how animals migrate for the winter, and includes four weather-related science projects.

 

 

 


image courtesy of syndeticsWeather and seasons : questions & answers.

Have you ever wondered why we have seasons, where the wind comes from or how we predict the weather? Read this book to find out about weather and how our planet changes throughout the year.

 

 

 


image courtesy of sydneticsA stroll through the seasons.

Follow the wonderful changes that each season brings! From bright spring blossoms to dazzling summer sunshine, vibrant autumn leaves, and sparkling winter snow. Look and Wonder is a fresh, bold, and bright narrative nonfiction series introducing children to the natural world

 

 

 


Also, why not join in on “the Lōemis workshop fun”,  in the comfort of your own home… or library by creating your masterpieces, with some help from the following books:

 

image courtesy of syndeticsEasy origami decorations : an augmented reality crafting experience.

Handcrafted decorations are just a few folds away! Learn how to turn origami butterflies, swans, and tulips into locker magnets, table decorations, and more.

 

 

 


Now make this : 24 DIY projects by designers for kids.

25 of the world’s leading designers contribute one object each for kids to make themselves.

 

 

 


image courtesy of syndetics51 things to make with paper plates.

51 things to make with paper plates is perfect for those with a creative, crafty streak eager to put their skills to task on recyclable materials in the home. Perfect activities for parent and child to create together. The 51 projects feature a well-balanced mix of techniques, materials, colours and styles for a range of ages. With the easy-to-follow guidance in this book, you can make: a dragon, a hot-air balloon, a lion mask, a snowman and a barking dog hand puppet.

 

 


image courtesy of syndeticsMasks.

Making masks is easy with these creative projects which are explained with illustrated step-by-step instructions. I love Craft Masks features instructions for making fantastic masks. You could be a fairy, a pirate, a dragon or a cat. You could even make crazy glasses or a carnival mask!

 

 

 


image courtesy of syndeticsAmazing masks to make yourself : 25 projects for funny and frightening faces to wear!

From papier-mache to everyday objects like leaves or even a kitchen sieve, Masks can be made for all sorts of uses, such as going to a costume party, for a school drama production or even just to hang as decorations on a wall.

Cosy Winter Reads

It’s that time of year again when all you might want to do is to curl up into a ball in a comfy chair with a good book. Here are some great winter reads to warm your heart and explore new worlds under the comfort of your blanket.

 

Picture books:

Cold paws, warm heart, by Madeleine Floyd – A young girl forms a friendship with a lonely polar bear in this sweet story set in the North Pole.

 

 

 

 

Over and under the snow, by Kate Messner – Both educational and enchanting, this book gives you a sneak peek into a “secret kingdom under the snow” where animals big and small keep warm through the season, just out of sight from people walking by.

 

 

 

 

Chapter books:

Ant and Honey Bee: A Pair of Friends in Winter, by Megan McDonald – From the author of the Judy Moody series comes a clever tale about a pair of insects with different personalities who aren’t quite ready to part ways when it’s time to hibernate.

 

 

 

Winter magic – an enchanting collection of stories from award-winning authors, edited by Abi Elphinstone – An anthology of tales featuring memorable characters from snow queens to boarding school adventurers, this book packs a flurry of mischief and excitement.

 

 

 

The winter of the robots, by Kurtis Scaletta – “Seven feet of snow, four science-fair nerds, one creepy junkyard. Get ready for the ultimate robot battle.” (Publisher’s description)

 

 

 

 

The Blizzard on Blue Mountain, by Kristiana Gregory and Patrick Fancy (Cabin Creek Mysteries) – “In Cabin Creek, winter means sledding, ice skating, snow boarding – and a broken ski lift? A blizzard has blown into town and tourists are filling up the lodge to hit the slopes, which means there are all the more suspects in in the cousins’ latest case.” (Publisher’s description)

 

 

Moominland Midwinter, by Tove Jansson – Moomins are known for sleeping through the winter, but Moomintroll has woken up early! His curiosity is sparked and he sets out to discover what really goes on during this unusual season.

Great children’s movies based on Roald Dahl’s books.

The wintery-est of school holidays have started. Are you still stumped on what DVDs to watch during the coldest and blistery of days? With the release of The BFG, based on the lovable story by Roald Dahl, why not go down to your local library and check out some other movies, based on his novels:

image courtesy of amazon.comFantastic Mr Fox.

An urbane fox cannot resist returning to his farm raiding ways and then must help his community survive the farmers’ retaliation.

Trivia: Roald Dahl allegedly fashioned Mr Fox after himself.

 

 

image courtesy of amazon.comJames and the Giant Peach.

An orphan with terrible aunts for guardians, befriends human like bugs who live inside a giant peach, who take the boy on a journey to New York City.

Trivia: The lyrics for the song “Eating the Peach” were written by Roald Dahl.

 

image courtesy of amazon.com

Matilda.

Story of a wonderful little girl, who happens to be a genius, and her wonderful teacher vs. the worst parents ever and the worst school principal imaginable.

Trivia: The picture of Miss Honey’s father, Magnus, is actually a portrait of Roald Dahl, the author of the book “Matilda,” upon which the film is based.

 

image courtesy of amazon.comDOUBLE TAKE ALERT!

Believe it or not, there are two versions of the same movie adapted from Roald Dahl’s novels. Which version tickles your fancy? Original vs. Remake? You decide!

Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory (1971) vs. Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. (2005)

Both DVDs are the same story, but made different years, which is about a young boy wins a tour through the most magnificent chocolate factory in the world, led by the world’s most unusual candy maker. Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory is an afternoon-delight film that the whole family can enjoy and is indeed a classic, that follows the story roughly to a tee. Charlie and the Chocolate Factory is also a brighter and more colourful film, though it still manages to show the darker side of the story.

Trivia: Roald was reportedly so angry with the treatment of his book (mainly stemming from the massive rewrite by David Seltzer) that he refused permission for the book’s sequel, “Charlie and the Great Glass Elevator”, to be filmed.

 

 

image courtesy of amazon.comThe BFG (Animated DVD) vs. The BFG (2016 film.)

*** Please be aware that the 2016 film version of The BFG is not yet available at Wellington City Libraries. The DVD release date is yet to be confirmed ***

A girl named Sophie encounters the Big Friendly Giant who, despite his intimidating appearance, turns out to be a kind-hearted soul who is considered an outcast by the other giants because, unlike them, he refuses to eat children.

bfg 2016Trivia: Roald Dahl has a granddaughter named Sophie,  who is an English author and former fashion model.

Trivia: Roald Dahl dedicated The BFG to his late daughter, Olivia, who died of measles at age seven in 1962.

 

 

 

image courtesy of amazon.comExtra recommendation: Chitty Chitty Bang Bang.

Roald Dahl wrote the screenplay to this fantastic movie, based on the novel, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang: The Magical Car, by Ian Fleming, the same guy, (believe it or not), who wrote the James Bond series! The movie is about a down-on-his-luck inventor, (played by Dick Van Dyke, who also played Bert in Mary Poppins), turns a broken-down car into a fancy vehicle for his children, and then they go off on a magical fantasy adventure to save their grandfather in a far-off land.

Trivia: Roald Dahl also wrote the screenplay to the James Bond movie, You Only Live Twice.

 

 

 

 

 

Top 5 family DVDs to watch during winter

The holidays are over but winter is well on it’s way. So come on down to your local library for DVDs to watch while you hibernate.

Check out the following five DVD recommendations, many that I watched (on video tape) during my childhood, and are still family favourites today:

 

lochness1) Loch Ness.

Is the Loch Ness monster real? A scientist (Ted Danson) sets out to Scotland to try and prove it’s existence. However nothing can prepare him for the magical journey ahead of him. Overall, it’s a beautiful, heart-warming film without losing sight of its main theme, not to mention a brief cameo from “Nessie” which  is heart-warmingly portrayed, thanks to the  creature effects by the Jim Henson Creature Shop.

 

goonies_2) The Goonies.

The Goonies plunges a band of small heroes into a swashbuckling adventure beyond their wildest dreams.  A true family classic that pays homage to the 1980s aka your parents’ generation.

 

 

 

HEIDI3) Heidi.

After charming her reclusive grandfather and falling in love with the beautiful mountain he calls home, Heidi is uprooted and sent to Frankfurt where she befriends Klara, a young girl confined to a wheelchair. Interesting fact: The actress, Patricia Neal, who plays Peter’s Grandmother was married to Roald Dahl.

 

 

image courtesy of amazon.com4) The Adventures of Milo and Otis.

What happens when you put together a curious cat and a pug nosed pup? Why The Adventures of Milo and Otis of course. Watch this movie and join Milo (an orange tabby cat) and Otis (a pug) on an epic adventure when they leave the farm for the first time and venture out into the big, bad world, while getting separated, then reuniting and making some new friends along the way. A must see film for all the animal lovers out there.

 

image courteesy of amazon.comimage courtesy of amazon.com5) The NeverEnding Story and The NeverEnding Story II.

A lonely boy, Bastian finds solace in magical book that tells a story of a young warrior whose task is to stop a dark storm called the Nothing from engulfing a fantasy world called Fantasia. But Bastian is yet realise his importance in role of destroying the nothing and ensuring the  survival of Fantasia and all its  inhabitants.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

What to do when it’s wet outside

It is cold. It is wet. And in some places it’s been flooding. You guys can’t just go outside on an adventure in this kind of weather. Although some of you Wellington kids have had adventures indoors using boats to sail through your school corridors. We don’t think you’ll be able to be an indoor pirate all winter long so here are some suggestions for cool as activities you can get up to at home and series you can read from our collection!

 

101 Dog Tricks: Kids Edition  by Kyra Sundance is a super cool book that has activities you can do with your pet dog! It keeps them out of the kennel and stops you from getting bored. Who knows you could become the next dog whisperer through teaching your pup these cool as tricks. One of my favourites is called Messenger Dog – where you can actually teach your dog to take little notes from you and pass them on to your friends. It’s a brand new book you can find in many of our libraries and on Overdrive our e-library! You could download the book today!

 

 

D.I.Y Kids by Ellen and Julia Lupton  is full of cool crafts you can do. When I was bored on a wet day my favourite thing to do was to make soft toys with my grandma and this book has a whole section devoted to making your own toys, cuddly looking bunnies, kites and dolls. It even has instructions for how you can make clothing for your teddy bears or yourself! Check out this book when you’re feeling crafty.

 

 

Mad about Cartoons by Judith Heneghan. I know after our Comics Holiday Programme last year that there are a lot of Wellington City Libraries kids who are super talented cartoonists! Mad about Cartoons gives you some good ideas of how to make your own comic strips. And it also teaches you how to create digital animations. You could make your own little animated series just like The Simpsons if you wanted to over those wet weekends?

 

 

Molly Moon by Georgia Byng: If you want to curl up with an amazing series of books I reckon you’ll love Molly Moon! We have all six in the series in our library and also on Bolinda Digital  for download to your kobo or e-reader. Here’s the synopsis of the first in the series to give you an idea what’s in store for you: “Molly Moon is treated like dirt in her squat English orphanage, with only her pal Rocky, starry Qube soda ads, and the library stacks to give her comfort. After she discovers Hypnotism: An Ancient Art Explained in her favorite library spot, Molly begins learning the ropes and takes mental control of Petula, the orphanage’s grumpy pug dog, and the nasty staff members. But when Molly finds out that Rocky’s been suddenly adopted in New York, she hypnotizes her way to the city, into Broadway stardom, and — unfortunately — into a wicked professor’s plot to rob a high-security bank. Thankfully, though, she and Rocky finally meet up, and with a few surprises, the two hatch a plan to set things right for themselves and for their orphanage.” Goodreads.

 

 

Skulduggery Pleasant by Derek Landy is another amazing, actually perfect, series of books for the wet weather. I read them all, last year, over winter and it totally made being inside okay because I was so into finding out what Stephanie and her wacky skeleton detective friend would get up to next. We have all 9 in the series available in our collection – we also have them on audiobook so you can listen while you’re doing cool craft activities if you want! They’re also available for download on Overdrive to your e-reader or Kobo. You can get the first 3 books in one go!  Trust me you’re going to want to have all three out at once, you’ll be so hooked. Here’s the synopsis from the first book to give you an idea of what it’s all about: “Meet Skulduggery Pleasant. Ace Detective. Snappy Dresser. Razor–tongued Wit. Crackerjack Sorcerer and walking, talking, fire-throwing skeleton – as well as ally, protector, and mentor of Stephanie Edgley, a very unusual and darkly talented twelve-year-old. These two alone must defeat an all-consuming ancient evil. The end of the world? Over his dead body.” Goodreads

Latest New Kids Fiction

Image courtesy of SyndeticsNest by Esther Ehrlich

On Cape Cod in 1972, eleven-year-old Naomi, known as Chirp for her love of birds, gets help from neighbor Joey as she struggles to cope with her mother’s multiple sclerosis and its effect on her father and sister.

 

 

 

 

Image courtesy of SyndeticsA Wonderlandiful Life by Shannon Hale.

“When a mysterious being from Wonderland begins to infect Ever After High with a strange magic, everything goes topsy-turvy. Lizzie Hearts, Wonderland’s future queen; Cedar Wood, daughter of Pinocchio; and Madeline Hatter, heir to the Mad Hatter’s Haberdashery & Tea Shoppe, seem to be the only ones who haven’t completely lost their heads. It’s up to them to save their best friends forever after from a curse that threatens to give their school–and their lives–a very unhappy ending”– Provided by publisher.

 

 

image courtesy of SyndeticsThe Girl who Walked on Air by Emma Carroll

Louie, was abandoned at Chipchase’s Travelling Circus as a baby and dreams of becoming a ‘Showstopper’. She secretly practises the tightrope and dreams of being the Girl Who Walked on Air. Mr Chipchase reluctantly lets Louie perform. She is a sensation, and gets an offer from the sinister, opposition, Mr Wellbeloved to perform… over Niagara Falls. But nothing is quite as it seems and soon Louie’s bravery is tested not just on the highwire but in confronting her past and the shady characters in the world of the circus.

 

 

 

Image courtesy of SyndeticsAngels in training  by Karen Mccombie

Riley’s life has changed a lot since she discovered the Angelos sister’s secret. You see her new neighbours are a little bit …magical. They know things that no-one else does and that’s why she thinks they can help her find out about mum. But just as she’s about to get some answers, mysterious events start happening at school. As things get stranger and stranger, Riley begins to suspect that they’re the only ones who can work out what or who is behind them.

 

 

 

The Winter WolfImage courtesy of Syndetics by Holly Webb

Amelia is exploring the huge, old house, where her family are spending Christmas when she finds a diary hidden in the attic. It was written by a boy struggling to look after an abandoned wolf pup. Before she knows it, Amelia is transported into the wintry world of the diary…

 
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