An awesome achievement!

Great work by the three Lit Quiz teams. We came in 2nd and 3rd in the 2010 Lit Quiz held last night. The costumes were great - thanks so much to Shelley for co-ordinating the costume-making. You guys looked so awesome! This year the questions were a little more challenging which I think shows even more how well Rapaura did. Way to go.

Reading in the library

The Rapaura School library: this is what it is all about. :-)

Craig Smith and The Wonkey Donkey :-)

On Tuesday Rapaura School was treated to a fabulous performance by Craig Smith writer/singer of The Wonkey Donkey. The Wonkey Donkey is a hugely popular book at our library and all over New Zealand. Not only did Craig entertain us with his great songs he also gave a lot of his time to our Lit Quiz kids showing them the proofs of his next book, Willbee. We can't wait until it comes out! We hope Craig can come see us again at Rapaura and wish him the best of luck in this year's New Zealand Post Book Children's Awards for which The Wonkey Donkey is nominated.

Long time no post!

It has been soooo long since I have posted on this blog. I have decided that busyness is no excuse for not blogging so here's a promise: every week I am going to post something on here - a book review, something fun, a photo, etc. We have been reading lots of great things in the library so I won't have problems coming up with something to say every week. The most exciting thing happening right now though is the Country Harvest Fair. It's on tomorrow and I can't wait! See you there :-)

You need to read (and listen) to the whole thing!

Talia's Book Review No. 2!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Owning a Pet Bird, by David and Penny Glover

My favourite pages of this book are called "New Skills", "Through the Year", "Breeding Birds" and "Watching Birds". The reason I like these pages is because they tell you lots of information about how to look after your birds, how you can teach them to do lots of really interesting things. This book also teaches you how to look after your birds like what food they need and how they need water. Birds are my favourite animal and I would love my parents to give me one for my birthday which is on the 24 of April. I do have my own baby chickens if that counts as a bird but I would rather have a pair of lovebirds. I rate this non-fiction book as a 10 out of 10 and the reason I rate it so highly is because I read it over and over again in less than a week.

HOLIDAYS! What are you reading?

I LOVE the holidays because I get to hang out with Morag in the garden and because I get to read whenever I like. Right now I am reading Morris Gleitzman's "Once". So far it is fabulous. Happy holidays everyone. :-)

$300.00 worth of books!!!!

Today Gwen and I had the privilege of choosing almost $300.00 worth of books. We had a lot of vouchers that were won at the NZ Post Lit Quiz in 2008 and 2009. Gwen also kindly donated a book and I "topped" up a few as well. We had a blast choosing books ranging from dear old classics (like Ballet Shoes, by Noel Streatfeild, Gwen's very generous donation) to exciting newly published reads (like Marcus Sedgwick's Flood and Fang). I can't wait to read them, get them processed and get them onto the shelves. Many thanks to all who participated in our Rapaura School Literary teams. Your great efforts have really benefited your school. Well done.

William's book review: The Wrong Book!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I liked The Wrong Book (by Nick Bland) because he uses lots and lots of expression. The illustrations are awesome, especially the pirate. His boat is weird but really cool. I give this book an 8 out of 10 because the characters are doing really weird things.

Phoebe's book review: The Secret Island

The Secret Island (by Enid Blyton) is interesting and exciting because when the adults come to the island you don't know wht's going to happen. (And it turns out to be a big surprise!) I like the characters and I like the story. it is a 10 out of 10!

A commercial plug (but really an effort to boost the library budget): Wheelers Books

If you like shopping on line for books then please consider Wheelers Books. It is the on-line bookstore where I now buy many of our library and resource books. When you shop with Wheelers you can specify Rapaura as your nominated school which means that 10% of the value of your purchases is credited to our library. Click on the title of this post to learn more.

Are you wondering what to buy a small friend for Christmas?

Here are a few perfect choices:

1. Old Hu-Hu written by Kyle Mewburn and illustrated by Rachel Driscoll is a must have. You could say it is a book about death. Or you could say it is a book about a Huhu Beetle. Or you could say it is a visually stunning, beautifully written story about life, death and rebirth and so therefore is the perfect book for Christmas. (Or you could say it is the perfect book. Period.) Kyle Mewburn dedicated it to 'Momo', who apparently was his old cat. That's another good reason to buy it. Rachel Driscoll? May she never, ever stop illustrating children's books. I really, really love this book and if it doesn't win heaps of awards I will eat my hat.

2. A great pictorial version of the Christmas story can be found in Julie Vivas' The Nativity. No matter how you feel about the "Silly Season" or the Christian heritage of Christmas you cannot deny that this book is a joyful look at the famous old story of Jesus' birth. Washing on the line and hiking boots on the angels add amusing measures of domesticity and cheerfulness. (And I must say that Vivas' take on a large, pregnant, unwieldly Mary is very refreshing.) There are some out there - authors, singers - who use Christmas as a great opportunity for sales. Julie Vivas' book, on the other hand, uses Christmas as an opportunity to celebrate Life. Hallelujah.

3. There is a Bird on your Head! by Mo Willems is one of a series of books about Elephant and Piggie which, in future, will no doubt enjoy the same legacy as The Cat in the Hat and Dr. Seus. With simple line drawings chock-full of expression, a great plot and simple, repetitive yet well-written words this book is a perfect choice for an emerging reader or for anyone else who can appreciate pure genius.

4. If you are like me and have always had a hankering to show off your talent for Spanish, French and Texan accents The Perfect Nest by Catherine Friend (illustrated by John Manders) is the read-aloud book for you. This is a story of gluttony, greed, selfishness, deceit and avian brawls not to mention orphans, a male adoptive mother and an especially cosy, happy ending. Fabulous family fun, as they say.

5. Guji-Guji by Chih-Yuan Chen is a fab book because of the fun take on the Ugly Duckling tale, the gorgeous illustrations and the fact that Mother Duck is so absorbed in her book she doesn't notice a rather large addition to her clutch of eggs. You go, girl. It is also a splendid book because it is published by the incomparable Gecko Press.

Oh, and 6. Did I mention Room on the Broom??? LOL

More suggestions to come....

Star's cousins know all about atoms!

I never knew my Star is from such a smart family of dogs...

Morag's big brother helped to create this!

Rosa's review of Tiny's Big Wish

There is a little elephant that has a big wish. But all the other elephants have the same big wish. He wishes that he is big like all the other big elephants. Then his mum gives him a big hug and tells him he will be big when he grows up. I liked this book because it has elephants and because it was a happy story.