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.