If you’re a huge fan of the Eragon series you’ll probably be jumping up and down with excitement right now. Christopher Paolini, author of the Eragon series, is touring New Zealand in June. Christopher will be in Christchurch on Saturday 30 June and you can meet him in person at the Armageddon Expo at Addington Raceway.
If you’ve never been to the Armageddon Expo before it’s two days of movie screenings, animation screenings, eating challenges, Dragonball Z contests, autograph signings and much more. For more information check out the Armageddon Expo website – http://www.armageddonexpo.com/nz/
Have you ever dreamed of becoming a superstar? Iris and her friend Sidney have. Iris wants to be the best rapper and ukulele player in the whole of the entire universe. Preferably with her best friend ever, and fellow Master of the Musical Universe, Sidney by her side. Iris and Sidney have been working on their masterpiece, a rap musical about werewolves and vampires, and when they hear about the talent contest at their mall they know this is their big chance at stardom. Then everything starts going wrong – Sidney decides he wants to write his own song, Iris doesn’t stand up for her best friend when he’s in trouble, and her mum starts ‘not exactly’ dating her ukulele teacher. Will Iris ever become the Master of the Musical Universe?
Iris’s Ukulele is a story about friendship and reaching for your goals. Both Iris and Sidney are unique and have their own sense of style that makes them stand out from the crowd. Iris gets into some tricky situations but her Mum and her Gran help her out and point her in the right direction. Her Gran is a pretty cool character and has a unique personality like Iris. This is Kathy Taylor’s first book (she won the Tom Fitzgibbon Award for a previously unpublished writer) and sometimes I thought she was trying too hard to make Iris’s voice sound right, but overall the story was interesting. Iris’s Ukulele is a great book for anyone who likes stories about friends and family.
I’ve been looking forward to seeing The Adventures of Tintin since I heard the movie was being made, so I went to the very first screening on Boxing Day. All of the pictures and movie trailers I’ve seen for the film made it look amazing and I wasn’t disappointed.
The Adventures of Tintin is a mish-mash of three different Tintin stories, Secret of the Unicorn, Red Rackham’s Treasure and The Crab with the Golden Claws, so there are locations and characters from each of these books (minus Professor Calculus). The opening credits really set the scene with an endless action sequence that highlights lots of different Tintin stories. The movie opens with Tintin’s creator, Herge, making a guest appearance in the market where Tintin discovers the model of the Unicorn. The story rockets along like all good Tintin adventures and you meet some of your favourite Tintin characters, including Captain Haddock and Thompson and Thomson.
The motion capture animation is amazing, making the characters look real while still looking like Herge’s illustrations. The characters use their catch-phrases, including my favourite ‘Billions of blue, blistering barnacles!’ There are some brilliant action sequences throughout the movie, especially in Bagghar (this part made me crack up laughing as well). I saw the movie in 3D but I’m sure it’s just as great in 2D. Whether or not you’re a fan of Tintin you should go and see The Adventures of Tintin for your dose of action, adventure, and laughs. It’s perfect for anyone from 7-107. 10 out of 10 – my favourite movie of the year!
Hi Guys. I have just finished the brand spanking new Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Cabin Fever book. This book is about Greg Heffley wanting to get money to play net kritterz, but along the way he gets into all sorts of mischief. Now the police are looking for him and then it starts to snow. The snow gets up to 2-3 feet high and Greg decides to make a new paper for the holiday bazaar while there is no power all because of Manny!!!!
Highly recommended A++++++++++++. I was glued to this book. It has 217 pages with awesome pictures. It took me a day and a half-2 days to read this awesome book. Recommended for ages 8- any age. Now I am so sad the book is finished=( !
Elise never really knew her parents. Her mum died after her birth and her dad got sick and died of cancer a few years later. Her Uncle Hugh and Aunt Bessie promised to look after her and she has lived with them ever since. She’s been best friends with Franklin for years and they’ve always loved playing games like Knights together. When they start middle school Elise starts to get embarrassed by Franklin and doesn’t want to hang around with him anymore. Then there’s her locker buddy, Amanda who nicknames her Scabula and squashes her lunch every morning. Elise starts to hate school and is afraid to go because of Amanda’s bullying. Just when she needs it a special surprise comes along. Her father leaves her a mystery to unlock and with each discovery a new key arrives.
Eight Keys is about a girl discovering who she is and learning about the parents she didn’t know. When Elise is feeling lost and worried, the mystery that her father left for her comes along and helps her choose who she wants to be. It helps her see who her mum and dad were and how much they loved her, even before she was born. You see a real change in Elise, from the worried, confused girl at the start to the confident, happy girl at the end. I really liked the character of Franklin because he’s funny, loyal and will do anything to help his friend. Eight Keys is the perfect book for girls who like Jacqueline Wilson and Cathy Cassidy. It will make you laugh and cry, but leave a smile on your face. Recommended for 9+ 8 out of 10
Keeper is a great story, when I had got to the end of the chapters I was desperate to keep on going .
There are about three stories going at once and then near the end they all weave in together, I’ve got to admit you never know whats going to happen next.
There’s a girl named Keeper – she believes in myths and mermaids, and believes that her mum was a mermaid .
Keeper has set off in a small boat called The Scamper with her dog named BD (best dog) and a seagull named Captain (you’ll find out when he comes in).
Keeper’s on a mission to find her Mum, Meggie Marie, who left her when she was just three. But things don’t go to plan and the heavy waves start taking her out to sea.
This is one of my 5 star books, one of the ones that I really want to have as my own. (Some lovely, lovely pictures in there as well.)
If you like animals and magical, moving stories then you’ll love this book.
It’s about a girl called Beauty who lives with her mum and dad. Beauty gets bullied at school and her father bullies her and says that she is ugly!!
Unlike her father ,her mother is really kind she doesn’t get mad at her or hits her or even say that she is ugly. Beauty gets called ugly at her school and she doesn’t have any friends although there is a girl called Rhona who likes her but Rhona is a friend of the girl that bullies Beauty (Skye)and Skye will make fun of Rhona if she hangs out with Beauty.
And her father has silly rules like she’s not allowed to get a pet or spill anything on the floor or accidentally brake the mirror.
When Beauty’s birthday comes up her father spoils her. He asks her what she wants and she says that she wants a bunny, of course because she watches a show called Sam and Lilly and she is obsessed with Lilly (the bunny). After that her dad gets very angry because she told him that she wants to get a pet !! So in the morning when its Beauty’s birthday her dad wakes her up with a big horrible beast and it seemed to be a big purple rabbit !! But I’m not going to tell you the whole story you have to read it .
It’s Sunday morning. The sun is shining and I’m off skiing at my favourite skifield very soon: Ohau, where the sun shines, the snow invites, the views are spectacular, there are no lift queues, and my friends are dotted around the field or eating noodles and drinking coffee in the little cafe. It’s a great place. Ohau means place of wind and yes, it can be windy there, but not today!
Here’s a link to Ohau Ski Area, a photo of Lake Ohau taken by my son Josh (15), and a couple of poem that have come into my head when I have been skiing at Ohau.
(That poem was published in Crest to Crest by Wily Publications. It is a poem adults might understand more than kids because one of the meanings of Teal is that it is the name of an airline that used to be in N.Z. a long time ago – a time that my 7 year-old twins would call the olden days!)
And also for you today blog readers: Something from history …
Images from Guadalcanal in August 1942, the time in history that I wrote about in my book. It looks kind-of beautiful, but actually it must have been terrifying and heart-breaking.
The book i am reading at the moment is a really good book called Scarlett. Scarlett is always getting in trouble with her teachers at school and gets sent to her nana’s. Her nana got sick of her and so she had to go stay with her uncle who is well. He got annoyed with her and sent her back to her mum. Her mum said it was for the best and so far she is staying with her dad.
We’re back at school in Twizel and I’m sure you are too! My class is busy preparing Science Fair projects. Wow we have been busy! What have you been doing?
Anyway, today I thought I’d tell you a bit about my book. Please blog and tell me if you have read it, or if you think you might like to read it …
ABOUT MY BOOK:
The Ghosts of Iron Bottom Sound took me about one year part-time to write and a lot longer to edit and make good enough for readers. It was published by the wonderful team at Harper Collins in 2010.
It’s a ghost story and a war story and a story about the importance of peace and friends and family all mixed into one. I wrote it for boys who are about 10-14 years old but girls like it just as much and older kids and adults do too. It’s one of those books that’s okay for lots of people.
The Ghosts of Iron Bottom Sound is a fictional story about an 11-year-old New Zealand boy named Paddy, but part of it is about a terrible night in World War Two at a place that was named Savo Sound but is now called Iron Bottom Sound (can you guess why?). That battle happened in August, so Harper Collins released my book in August, and now it’s August again when I am Star Author, so I think that’s kind-of cool. The night of 8-9 August will be the anniversary of the 1942 battle, which was named ‘The Battle of Savo Island.’ I will post that day and it will be a sad post. Can you work out how many years ago the battle was?2011 – 1942 = ? or you could turn it around: 1942 + ? = 2011 – Hey, you can tell I am a school teacher can’t you?
Anyway, the ship central to my story was the largest ship Australia lost in the war, H.M.A.S. Canberra. Three American ships were sunk that night too. The Japanese were the clever ones on that wet dark night.
So … my story has:
1. A New Zealand boy with N.Z. friends and family
2. A stretch of deep water in the Pacific Ocean
3. Australian and American sailors fighting for peace and for their lives
4. A convoy of clever Japanese who sneak up and attack in the dead of night.
It’s quite an international story!
All of the history parts in my story are true – even the bit about someone getting shot in the bum (oops – I mean bottom) and about survivors being given frozen oranges (have you ever tried to eat a frozen orange?)
Ka kite ano – see you soon
From Sandy Nelson – your Star Author who lives in the land of tussocks and snowy mountains
What is it like to be one of the authors of the Zac Power series?
It’s pretty cool! Whenever I visit a school and ask how many kids have read a Zac Power book, I’m always amazed at how many hands go up!
What’s your favourite Zac Power gadget?
I think Zac’s Turbo Boots in Volcanic Panic are pretty awesome. Jetpack shoes powerful enough to blast someone out of a volcano? That sounds pretty good to me!
Zac Power books written by Chris Morphew
What inspired you to write your action-packed Phoenix Files series?
This might sound a bit morbid, but one of the biggest things I want to do with The Phoenix Files is tell a story about hardship and suffering. I want to be really honest about the darkness and brokenness of the world. But I don’t want to stop there. I want to suggest that the darkness and the brokenness isn’t all there is, and that maybe there’s a bigger story being told that makes the bad parts worthwhile in the end.
In The Phoenix Files Luke, Peter and Jordan learn that there is only 100 days until the end of the world. What would you do if you knew you only had 100 days left to live?
I would pray a lot. And then maybe see if I could find a super-powered homeless man to tell me what was really going on.
What was the book you loved most as a child?
That’s a tough one! There are so many!
Fiction: The Narnia series, Animorphs, Where the Wild Things Are…
Non-fiction: The Bible and books about dinosaurs.
Who is your favourite author/children’s author?
It’s a toss-up between C.S. Lewis and J.K. Rowling.
Why did you want to be a writer?
Because I love telling stories! I think fictional stories have incredible power to help us understand the real world in new ways.
What’s the best thing and worst thing about being a writer?
The best thing is having the opportunity to explore interesting ideas. The worst thing is usually my next deadline. I write pretty slowly, and sometimes it’s hard to keep up!
What advice would you give to aspiring writers?
Write about things that matter. If you care about your story, then other people are far more likely to care about it too.
You could get your favourite author’s autograph, listen to them talk about their books and read some of them, or enter the Storylines competition. It’s totally FREE, so come along with your family and join the fun. Go to the Storylines website to view the programme or grab one from your library.
Yay – holidays! The only problem with the holidays is figuring out what to do, so we’re here to help fight boredom with the BIGGEST list of ideas. You can help us add to the list as well by telling us what you’re doing.
So…
Go to the library. You can get books to read when you’re wrapped up warm inside, DVDs to watch on a rainy day, audiobooks to listen to in the car, plus heaps more. Find out about the libraries that are open.
Go and see some of the cool movies on these holidays. There’s the last Harry Potter movie, Deathly Hallows Part 2, Cars 2, Kung Fu Panda 2, or Transformers: Dark of the Moon
Play some board games or card games with your friends and family. You can even make your own and challenge your friends.
Write a story or a poem and send it through to us and we could publish it on the blog.
Bake something yummy like a cake or some biscuits. Check out our books on baking.
Learn a new skill like magic tricks, juggling, skateboarding or knitting.
Go to a KidsFest activity. There are heaps on around the city and we have some great FREE events in the library, including Pandemonium at the Library and The Adventures of Tintin story readings.
If you have any other cool ideas, especially ones that are free, add a comment and let us know.
Smile is a graphic novel about an eleven-year-old girl called Raina, who trips over one night after Girl Scouts, and knocks out her front teeth. She gets a cast to help them mend, but her teeth just get pushed up further than the rest, resulting in Raina looking like a vampire. After that, Raina sees numerous dentists, orthodontists, and other dentists that she had never even heard of, and gets a heap of casts, braces, retainers, and embarrassing headgear. As if that wasn’t enough, Raina has to endure not-so friendly friends, confusing boys, high school horrors, and a major earthquake! Eventually, Raina makes a whole heap of friends, and discovers her inner artist, but will she be able to smile again? I found it very interesting, reading about Raina being in a huge earthquake. It was very accurate! I thought that the pictures were very good, and that the book was very funny. My favourite part is when Raina gets her ears pierced, and I also like the bit where she has the sleepover. This is definitely a book for girls, from about 10 to 13. I usually don’t like graphic novels, but Smile is a huge exception.
The school holidays are only a week and a half away and I’m sure you’re all looking forward to having some time to relax and have some fun. One of the best things about the Winter school holidays is KidsFest because there’s so much going on and so many cool things you can do, from playing different sports and experimenting with science to watching a play or learning how to cook.
This year’s theme is Community, so get out and have fun in your community at some of the cool events that are planned. Here are just a few of the highlights:
The Breeze Light and Flight Lantern Parade – Make your own lantern, bring a torch or something that lights up and come along to join the parade with the Kids Samba Band, Coolstuff, the KidsFest car and much more.
The Press Dogs Day Out – Bring along your pet pooch or pedigree and join in the fun with competitions, pimp my pooch, demonstrations, doggy stalls, food, rides, live music and a grand canine parade!
Dust off your singing voice, fine tune your fancy footwork or show us your special talent in the Singapore Airline’s StarFest, a talent quest with three heats and a grand final.
KidsFest is on in Christchurch from 16-30 July. Have a look at the KidsFest website to find out what’s on our pick up a brochure from your library.
Are you going to any KidsFest events? We’d like to know what you’re looking forward to.
My sister Jodie is about two sisters called Pearl and Jodie whose parents get a new job and have to move schools. Pearl used to have no friends at all but here she has got a few. Jodie used to have lots of friends but now has none and everyone teases her by her red hair and three earrings on her ears. One day they have a thing that’s like a party with fireworks and everything Jodie goes to a tower and tries to scare people like she’s a ghost but Jodie falls a long fall and breaks alot of bones and sadly….I dont want to spoil to much of it. But will pearl be able to do it?
Lola Rose is a great book about two kids- Jayni and Kenny. They are forced to move away from their father. They have to change their names so Jayni becomes the new glamorous Lola Rose!
They find their Auntie Barbara and she helps them. But things change when their mother has to go to hospital.
Hi again from a very, very, VERY drizzly miserable Dunedin! I don’t actually mind the rain, because I don’t have to leave the house all day (or all week, even) if I don’t want to. That’s one of the best things about being a writer. The OTHER best thing, which is actually a million times better is having a new book published!!
I’ve been very lucky getting my stories published, I must say. This year I’ve got TEN books coming out. On Thursday night we had a very nice party at the Teacher’s College in Dunedin to launch my latest two new books – Hester & Lester and DO NOT PUSH! Zac has already told you all about my DO NOT PUSH book. But I’d still be very interested to hear what YOU think might happen if you pushed a big red button that said DO NOT PUSH.
My other book is called Hester & Lester. It’s about a big sister trying to make her little brother happy using her imagination. They build a castle out of things they find in the forest, then make a moat and find a platoon of soldiers in dashing suits of armour (who are snails, really). When I was growing up, my little sister and I were always building cubby-houses out of all sorts of stuff. We’d pretend they were castles or secret hideaways and we’d have battles in the back yard. Because I was the older brother, I always had to come up with ideas for our games. Sometimes it was hard thinking of new games all the time. But I could always think of something new and exciting. That’s what I do today, too. Except now I write down my stories … and I don’t build castles anymore.
Do you have a little brother or sister? If you do, who comes up with the best ideas? What sort of games do you play? Let me know and I might use one of them in a story.
OK, I better get back to work. Until next time, have an imagination-filled day!!
I think this book is interesting because I like stories with secrets. It’s about a girl called B who is a witch and can’t find her magic. B goes to a normal school with her friend George. Her family has magic and use it all the time especially her mum who cooks and cleans with her magic. Throughout the book it was really exciting how B figures out what happened to her magic and what type of magic she has.
If you’re a huge fan of the Eragon series you’ll probably be jumping up and down with excitement right now. Christopher Paolini, author of the Eragon series, is touring New Zealand in June. Christopher will be in Christchurch on Saturday 30 June and you can meet him in person at the Armageddon Expo at Addington Raceway. 
