The Fly Papers - Book Two - The Sundew Stalks

The author of the Fly Papers series, Johanna Knox, contacted me to see if we would like to see her second story in the series, the Fly papers..  Because her first story, the Flytrap Snaps, has been very popular in our library, we were very keen to get our hands on it.
I asked Callum, a very capable and eager reader in Year 4, to review the Sundew Stalks for our blog.
Belinda Sutherland - Librarian, Sunnybrae Normal School.
I am Callum.  I am 8 years old and my main hobbies are rock climbing and reading.  My brother is 10 years old, and he is in Year 6.  I belong to the Glenfield Library and the Sunnybrae School Library, and I always have a book to read, incase I get bored.  I prefer fiction books but I am also interested in Astronomy, Reptiles and Deserts.
I read Flytrap Snaps first so I could get the storyline and that made me want to find out more about Spencer, Jimmy Jangle and Dion Horrible, so I went straight onto reading the Sundew Stalks.
This second story is really Tora's story.  She loves training for wrestling but she also has a secret third life, free running.  Tora and her friend Spencer, suspect Jimmy Jangle of doing evil experiments on plants and they want to stop him.
I loved that the story was full of action, longer than the first book, and it is really interesting.  When I reached Chapter 4, I was hooked and kept going until I finished the book.  I liked it that Tora was a lot like a boy and didn't agree with much girly stuff.
I think that boy and girl readers, 8 years and older, who love to read thrillers would really like this book.

New Zealand Post Book Awards - Ihiraia reviews

Taketakerau - The Millennium Tree, by Marnie Anstis

This book begins with a child sitting with his Grandma, listening to the radio.  Grandma shares a history book with the boy.  World history of the past 2000 years is covered in the book.  There is a timeline along the bottom of each page.  New Zealand's natural history is told as well, through the growing of a Puriri tree, which actually exists in the North Island's Bay of Plenty.

I found this an interesting book, telling the history of Aotearoa, through the perspective of the tree, Taketakerau.  The illustrations are more suggestive than realistic but they match the words very well, and bring the story to life.

New Zealand Post Book Review - Bella

At the Beach, Ned Barraud and Gillian Candler

In this book you will find out all about New Zealand's beaches - what animals and plants live there.  
It looks at the Mudflats, Rocky Shores and the Sandy beach.  My favourite pages are the ones which show the crabs, with the Camouflage crabs being the most interesting to me.
(Did you know that their claws look like seaweed?)
The illustrations of the birds, seaweeds, sea stars, shellfish, shells, crabs and habitats are fantastic because of the colours and details.
A wide range of ages would enjoy this book, and you could read it yourself if you are 8 years old and older.

Literacy Week - The Jabberwock

Our group made dioramas to illustrate Lewis Carroll's poem, the Jabberwock.  Mrs Sutherland told us that the Jabberwock is a famous poem written over 150 years ago.  The Jabberwock is an evil monster, and the poem has nonsense words through it.  You can try to read the first five verses.

T'was brillig and the Slithy Toves did gyre and gimble in the wabe,
All mimsy were the borogroves and the momerathes outgrabe.

"Beware the Jabberwock, my Son, the jaws that bite, the claws that catch.
Beware the Jubjub Bird and shun the frumious Bandersnatch!"

He took his vorpal sword in hand, Longtime the manxome foe he sought,
So rested He by the Tumtum Tree, and stood a while in thought.

And, as in uffish thought he stood,The Jabberwock, with eyes of flame
Came whiffling through the tulgey wood, And burbled as it came!

One, two! One, two! And through and through The vorpal blade went snicker-snack!
He left it dead and with its head He went galumphing back.

Second World War Stories for Boys, by J. Eldridge

This book has 3 short stories in it.  The main character is John Smith, a 19 year old British soldier.  Even though the name of the main character is the same in each story, John Smith is a different person each time.
The first story is about John Smith, a pilot in Fighter Squadron, in the RAF.  It tells of his airbattle in France, against the Germans.
In the second story, John Smith is a driver in the Tank Regiment in the deserts of Egypt.  He is captured and put into a prison camp, but escapes.
The third story is set in the jungle of Burma.  John Smith is a lieutenant in the army, on a mission to blow up a bridge.  The enemy is the Japanese Army.
I think that this is a really great book.  It is full of exciting adventures and interesting, detailed information, all about the war.
This is a good book for 10 year olds (good readers) and over, who love to read about history and adventure.  I think girls would like this too.

The Queen and the Nobody Boy by Barbara Else.

I have read Barbara Else's book, The Queen and the Nobody Boy, an entry in the New Zealand Post Book Awards (Junior Fiction).
Hodie is the name of the Nobody Boy - he is a not-noticed boy who has to do the worst jobs in the castle and just gets scraps of food.  He runs away to make a better life for himself.  The Queen, who is called Sibilla, only 12 years old, decides to run away with Hodie. 
I felt this book didn't hold my attention because the plot moved quite slowly for me, but I did enjoy the descriptions.

Barbara Else has edited several short story collections in our library. 
Last year her entry in the New Zealand Post Book Awards was
The Travelling Restaurant.

Georgia reviews A Horse for Angel by Sarah Lean.

I have read this book and I quite liked it.  
Angel is a very nasty girl who does very bad things.  I can't tell you what they are because that will spoil the story for you.  Most of the story is set on her cousin's farm.
At the end of each chapter, I wanted to read more, but I would have found it more exciting if the descriptions were more detailed and the problem in the story could have been resolved sooner.
I think that girls in Years 4 to 6 would enjoy reading about Angel.

The Wolf Princess by Cathryn Constable

My name is Elise, and I am 10 years old.
I have read this book and I think it is one of the best books I have ever read.
The main character, Sophie travels on a train to Russia.  Sophie and her travel companions were left on the train, but then rescued by a Russian Princess.
I love this book so much because unexpected things happened.  I didn't think the story would turn out the way it did.  The ending was exciting as you find out what happens to Sophie.
This story is best for 9 to 13 year old girls who enjoy realistic fantasies.

New book - Milly and the Chittens by Julie Scott

I am Christina, Year 6.  I have just read this new book and I think it is quite a funny story.  Milly is a 10 year old girl who has a disastrous bedroom - her dirty clothes and discarded toys are all over her floor.  Milly's Mum makes her tidy her room and Milly finds 3 Chittens hiding under her bed.
If you want to find out what Chittens are, if you are between 8 and 12 years old and enjoy chapter books, you will find this an interesting book.
I look forward to reading the next in the series, Chittens in trouble.
Did you know that Julie Scott is a New Zealand author, and this is her first published book.

Chantelle has reviewed three new books, that are now on display.

Starring Jules (as herself) by Beth Ain is a senior fiction especially for 8 to 10 year old girls.  
Jules is a cheerful girl with a great imagination.  This story tells how she has been chosen to star in a TV show.  I enjoyed this book quite a lot and I think my friends would like it too.

Great Galloping Galoot is a picture book by Stephanie Thatcher. Galoot is a clumsy giraffe who is teased by other animals, but there is a happy ending.

Polar Bears Close up is a non-fiction book. Anyone using our library would enjoy this, because the polar bears are cute and there are interesting facts about them.  I found out that cubs stay with their Mums for about 2 1/2 years.

New Books, read by Kyla

Penguins Closeup by Lorna Hendry.
This non-fiction books is full of information about different breeds of penguins. There are very closeup photos of the penguins swimming, feeding and keeping warm. Junior children will find this a great book for looking at.

The Silly Goat Gruff by Scott Tulloch (NZ).
This picture book is a funny version of the traditional story, Three Billy Goats Gruff.

Dirty Bertie Pirate by David Roberts.
Dirty Bertie is a new character in our Library. In this book, there are three short stories where Bertie makes trouble in each of them. It is a Newly Independent Reader which means it is good for children wanting an easy chapter book.

My favourite one is The Silly Goats Gruff because it is very funny when Silly meets the Troll.

Starting off in 2013

Welcome to The Sunnybrae School Library.

We are some of the Librarians on duty this year.  Librarians are responsible for looking after the library and being helpful to people that come into the Library. - Cindy

You can come to the library at lunchtimes and with your class to borrow your books.  When you borrow a book, you need to write your name on the date due slip and then take the book to the issue desk where one of us (trained librarians) will scan your book for you. 
You must have a bookbag to transport your book in, to keep it safe, clean and dry.  Please return the book after 1 week. - Hannah

When you are in the library at lunchtime, you are expected to behave respectfully and care for the books you may be browsing.  Can you please listen to the librarian if they request you to do something.  We need to keep the library a nice place for people to read books, and if you like you can use the computers or games from the cupboard, quietly. - Hawon

If you want to use a computer, line up quietly for a computer card from the issue desk.  This will give you a 15 minute turn, and you must be on a site suitable to use at our school.
You may borrow a game from our games cupboard and play it on the tables only.  If there is not spare room, then you cannot play the game, because our main aim is to have the library  a quiet place for reading. Treat the games with respect and tidy up after yourselves when it is pack away time. - Vianni

Hawon, Hannah, Grace, Vianni and Cindy are on duty on Friday, at lunchtime.