Kiwi Kids Book Chat

Welcome to the Kiwi Kids Book Chat with school librarians Penny Walch and Julie Huggins.

This week we delve into the work of the legend that is Des Hunt. His work is, for the most part, firmly located in Aotearoa and the books always spotlight NZ flora and fauna. There is generally a theme of good vs bad and they are always a good, rollicking read!

Books highlighted in the episode:

Red Edge

Project Huia

The Last Tuatara

Cry of the Taniwha

Search for a Kiwi Killer

The Peco Incident

1918 : Broken Poppies

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Description

Welcome to the Kiwi Kids Book Chat with school librarians Penny Walch and Julie Huggins.

This week we have a whole host of suggestions for Christmas book buying. There is a tantalising selection of great books out there to tempt even the most reluctant of readers!

Please do excuse a few sound glitches throughout.

Books highlighted in the episode:

Super Sleuth by David Walliams

The Land of Lost Things by Andy Griffiths

Big Jim Begins (Dog Man) by Dav Pilkey

Hot Mess (Diary of a Wimpy Kid) by Jeff Kinney

Class Action (InvestiGATORS) by John Patrick Green

The Wrath of the Triple Goddess (Percy Jackson) by Rick Riordan

One Last Thing (Bad Guys) by Aaron Blabey

Unravelled (Keeper of the Lost Cities) by Shannon Messenger

Illustrated Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

Christmas at Hogwarts

Karen's Grandmother (Little Sisters Babysitters Club) by Ann M. Martin

Tales from a Not-so-Bratty Little Sister (Dork Diaries) by Rachel Renee Russell

I Survived the Black Death by Lauren Tarshis

Mr Lemoncello's Fantabulous Finale by Chris Grabenstein

The Squad by Christina Soontornvat

Ambush at Sorato by John Flanagan

Star (Warrior Cats) by Erin Hunter

Mina the Lightning Dragon by Maddy Mara

Science Comics : Human Space Flight by Andy Hirsch

Where to Hide a Star by Oliver Jeffers

Spooky Lakes by Geo Rutherford

The Most Boring Book Ever by Brandon Sanderson and Kazu Kibuishi

2025 Guinness Book of World Records

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Welcome to the Kiwi Kids Book Chat with school librarians Penny Walch and Julie Huggins.

This week we chat with some of our students about what they love to read. These Book Bites are all by Year 7 & 8 boys. Look out for other Bites in future episodes.

Books mentioned in the episode:

What If... by Randall Munroe

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire by J.K. Rowling

The Bodyguard series by Chris Bradford

Skulduggery Pleasant by Derek Landy

One Piece by Eiichiro Oda

The Inheritance Cycle by Chris Paolini

Shooting Stars by Brian Falkner

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Welcome to the Kiwi Kids Book Chat with school librarians Penny Walch and Julie Huggins.

This week we feature Shooting Stars by Brian Falkner which has been a popular addition to our Year 8 reading programme - to the point that it has not only converted student readers to reading, but also teachers.

We interview four of our Year 8 students and a Year 8 teacher about the book.

Apologies for the sound quality which is somewhat sporadic.

Books mentioned in the episode:

Shooting Stars by Brian Falkner

One by Sarah Crossan

Moonrise by Sarah Crosson

Starfish by Lisa Fipps

Alan Gratz

Kwame Alexander

@kiwikidsbookchat

Follow our library (not exclusively kiwi kids literature):

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Welcome to the Kiwi Kids Book Chat with school librarians Penny Walch and Julie Huggins.

This week we chat with some of our students about what they love to read. These Book Bites are all by Year 7 & 8 girls. Look out for other Bites in future episodes.

Books mentioned in the episode:

Out Of My Mind by Sharon Draper.

Winter Horses by Philip Kerr.

Refugee by Alan Gratz.

I Heart You Archie De Souza by Chrissie Perry.

A Good Girl's Guide to Murder by Holly Jackson.

The Summer I Turned Pretty by Jenny Han.

One by Sarah Crossan.

Keeper of the Lost Cities by Shannon Messenger.

Ruby Redfort by Lauren Child.

Bear Grylls.

A Slice of the Moon by Sandi Toksvig.

The End of the Sky by Sandi Toksvig.

Hitler's Canary by Sandi Toksvig.

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Welcome to the Kiwi Kids Book Chat with school librarians Penny Walch and Julie Huggins.

After last week's chat about KLQ, this week we chat to some real life KLQ Kids and ask them about their favourite books.

Books mentioned in the episode:

Northern Lights by Philip Pullman.

Wings of Fire series by Tui Sutherland.

The Wingfeather Saga by Andrew Peterson.

Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling.

Percy Jackson series by Rick Riordan.

The Hunger Games series by Suzanne Collins.

@kiwikidsbookchat

Follow our library (not exclusively kiwi kids literature):

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Welcome to the Kiwi Kids Book Chat with school librarians Penny Walch and Julie Huggins.

This week we chat about the phenomenon that is Kids' Lit. Quiz. We could have gone on for hours!!

The sound quality isn't great for this episode, so apologies for that!

Website mentioned in the episode:

KLQ

@kiwikidsbookchat

Follow our library (not exclusively kiwi kids literature):

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Welcome to the Kiwi Kids Book Chat with school librarians Penny Walch and Julie Huggins.

This week we feature the narrative non-fiction titles by David Hill and Phoebe Morris, which we love. Whilst they have been in circulation for a few years now we feel they are never more relevant as the ANZHC kicks into gear. Not to mention the important messaging around being courageous... however that may look.

We continue to work on our sound quality - bear with!

Books mentioned in the episode:

Sky High by David Hill

Hero of the Sea by David Hill

Dinosaur Hunter by David Hill

Speed King by David Hill

First to the Top by David Hill

Taking the Lead by David Hill

LINK to our Non-Fiction Picture Book Seminar presentation.

Tim Minchin - Play It Safe

The Imperfects Podcast - The Risk of Avoiding Risk

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Welcome to the Kiwi Kids Book Chat with school librarians Penny Walch and Julie Huggins.

Thanks to The Sapling for the links to reviews.

And click⁠ HERE⁠ for some wise words from The Sapling.

⁠⁠Patu: The New Zealand Wars⁠, written and illustrated by Gavin Bishop (Penguin Random House NZ) ⁠Read an interview with Gavin, by Simie Simpson⁠.

⁠The Observologist: A Handbook for Mounting Very Small Scientific Expeditions⁠, written and illustrated by Giselle Clarkson (Gecko Press)

⁠Tuatara: A Living Treasure⁠, written by Katie Furze and illustrated by Ned Barraud (Scholastic NZ)

⁠Ultrawild⁠, written and illustrated by Steve Mushin (Allen & Unwin)Wot Knot You Got? Mophead’s Guide to Life, (Auckland University Press)

⁠⁠⁠The Dream Factory⁠, illustrated by Zak Ātea (Huia Publishers)

He Tarū Kahika, written by Melinda Szymanik, illustrated by Isobel Joy Te Aho-White, and translated by Pānia Papa (Scholastic NZ)

⁠Nani Jo me ngā Mokopuna Porohianga⁠, written by Moira Wairama and illustrated by Margaret Tolland (Baggage Books)

Te Pīkari Pipi, written by Angie Belcher, illustrated by Lily Uivel, and translated by Pānia Papa (Scholastic NZ)

⁠Te Pukapuka ka kore e Pānuihia⁠, written by Tim Tipene, illustrated by Nicoletta Benella, and translated by Kanapu Rangitauira (Oratia Media)

Te Rā Kura Ki Aotearoa, written and illustrated by Donovan Bixley, and translated by Darryn Joseph (Upstart Press)

Rere Atu Taku Poi! Let My Poi Fly!, written by Tangaroa Paul and illustrated by Rebecca Gibbs (Oratia Media)

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Follow our library (not exclusively kiwi kids literature):

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Welcome to the Kiwi Kids Book Chat with school librarians Penny Walch and Julie Huggins.

This week we are featuring three of the categories of the 2024 Book Award finalists - Picture Books, Junior Fiction and YA as there are just too many good ones to squish into one episode!

Books mentioned in the episode:

Thanks to The Sapling for the links to reviews.

And click HERE for some wise words from The Sapling.

⁠At the Bach⁠, written by Joy Cowley and illustrated by Hilary Jean Tapper (Gecko Press)

⁠Dazzlehands⁠, written by Sacha Cotter and illustrated by Josh Morgan (Huia Publishers)

⁠Hatch and Match⁠, written and illustrated by Ruth Paul (Walker Books Australia)

⁠Lucy and the Dark⁠, written by Melinda Szymanik and illustrated by Vasanti Unka (Penguin Random House)

⁠Paku Manu Ariki Whakatakapōkai⁠, written by Michaela Keeble and illustrated by Tokerau Brown (Gecko Press)

⁠DoubleDippers! (Big Little Blue, Book #3)⁠, written and illustrated by Raymond McGrath (Scholastic NZ)

⁠Lopini the Legend⁠, by Feana Tu‘akoi (Scholastic NZ)

⁠Nine Girls⁠, by Stacy Gregg (Penguin Random House NZ)

⁠Take Me To Your Leader⁠, by Leonie Agnew (Penguin Random House NZ)

⁠The Grimmelings⁠, by Rachael King (Allen & Unwin)

⁠⁠Catch a Falling Star⁠, by Eileen Merriman (Penguin Random House NZ)

New Dawning, by A. M. Dixon (OneTree House)

⁠The Sparrow⁠, by Tessa Duder (Penguin Random House NZ)

⁠Tonight, I Burn⁠, by Katharine J Adams (Hachette Aotearoa NZ)

⁠Tsunami⁠, by Ned Wenlock (Earth’s End Publishing)

Click HERE for some Sapling words of wisdom about the Book Award books.

⁠

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