The above comments only begin to describe the Auckland Service Centre’s "Reading at the Beach" evening held on Tuesday December the 9th.
Almost 200 National Library of New Zealand bags of books for holiday reading, selected by librarians enthusiastic about promoting their favourite reads, left the centre. This will surely see many students benefiting from their teachers’ hours of literary nourishment.
Many examples of great ways to be in touch with books were promoted, and book reviews were enjoyed. The Reading at the Beach Blog was highlighted as a marvellous way for the group to maintain contact, and, Gavin Bishop presented a fascinating account of his skills as a writer and illustrator in a video link from Christchurch.
The evening was a wonderful success due to the great variety of enthusiastic presentations and the perfect opportunity for many teachers to enjoy chatting about books, books and more books.

by Barbara Smaill

by David Burnie. Published by Oxford University Press 2008

An attractively presented book with a strong conservation message this is a useful introduction to the topic of extinction and man’s role in it.
Each page opening is a separate sub-topic and is a blend of short paragraphs, photographs, and fact boxes. Eye-catching messages sprinkled through the pages draw the reader into the text. E.g ‘Smuggled birds often die before they reach their destination’; ‘500 million rabbits threaten Australia’s native wildlife.’
New Zealand has its own page under the heading ‘Land of the Moas’ with segments on moa, tuatara, weta, kiwi and takahe.
A good browse book for reluctant readers.


Reviewed by Melva

The Willoughby’s/ Lois Lowry
Everything about this book spells ‘old-fashioned,’ even the characters by their own admission. Even stranger is the fact that there is no love lost between the parents and the children. The story begins with the advent of a little baby deposited on the Willoughby’s doorstep. Children will love the humour, the twist and turn of events and the situations that the characters find themselves in.

Level: Primary Subject: Orphans, family life, humour.

There’s more to Life/ Rachael Billington
Ned arrives at Great Aunt Ellen’s Lilac Cottage for his two-week holiday by the sea, only to see her being driven away in an ambulance. Then the strangest things begin to happen. The sounds of footsteps around the house, an apparition, and the feeling of being watched sets the stage for this great little mystery.

Level: Primary. Intermediate Subject: Holidays, mystery.

Dog Diaries/ Betsy Byars, Betsy Duffey and Laurie Myers
Members of the WOOF (Words of our Friends) Society have decided to meet and listen to stories about dogs from all over the world. They want to establish the fact that dogs can narrate stories too and do have a more prolific vocabulary than ‘sit’, ‘stand’, or ‘roll over’. A wide variety of short stories that are both engaging and entertaining.

Level: Primary Subject: Dogs, storytelling.

by Janice Rodrigues