Tag: kiwi authors

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It’s that time again – Ngaio Marsh Awards

The entrants have been announced and as usual there is a full line up of new novels and this year a new award for non-fiction.

We are thrilled to see so many of our authors going in for this and we wish them well.

There are 58 entrants for the Best Novel section and you can see some of them in the shop along with so previous years finalists and winners. Link through to the books here.

With Queens birthday weekend looking like it’s going to have terrible weather, why not grab a book and find out which of these books is your favourite. And keep up-to-date with what is happening with these awards by following the Ngaio Marsh Awards Facebook page

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Popular genres for 2018

What books sell best in the shop? This is a question we get asked often and off the top of our heads it was difficult to say – picture books did well, but so did historical fiction and non-fiction as well as crime thrillers. With the thanks of a bit of spare time and a spreadsheet we set about looking at the sales for 2018 and what genre had the highest percentage.

Here are the results:

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Delightful new picture books to grow readers

Delightful stories with illustrations that will keep adults and children enthralled. A powerful gift to give the young generation, by giving them fun, interesting and stimulating books, to develop a lifelong love for reading.

Sam and the Reading Dog by Richard Ward
Ages: 3 – 7 years. RRP $20
Meg is a smart dog. She helps Sam with his reading. What can Sam do to help Meg in return?
Read more…

Bella’s Fringe by Marie Munro
Ages  3 – 7 years. RRP $25
There is one thing that Bella knows and that is haircuts are out!
The search activities in te reo Maori that appeared in “Nana’s Shed” are extended in this book, plus counting in English and te reo to 20.
Read more…

Kia Kaha the Cathedral Mouse  by Clare Erasmus
Ages: 3 – 7 years. RRP $20
Kia Kaha lives in the Christchurch Cathedral.
Read more…

Kia Kaha’s Brand New House by Clare Erasmus
Ages: 3 – 7 years. RRP $20
After the Christchurch earthquake Kia Kaha needs a new home.
Read more…

Kia Kaha’s Christmas Cheer by Clare Erasmus
Ages: 3 – 7 years. RRP $20
Kia Kaha celebrates Christmas in the new house.
Read more…

Martians Don’t Dance by Donna Preston
Ages: 3 – 7 years. RRP $18
Everyone likes to dance … or do they?
Read more…

Little Dragon Learns How to Breathe Fire by Chia Rubio
Ages 3 – 7 years. RRP $20
Little Dragon sees Daddy Dragon blow a huge fire. He wants to learn how to breathe fire too.
Read more …

Mother Earth and the Quakeia Babies by Michelle Lagatule and Rose Spijkerman
Ages 3 – 10 years. RRP $25.
Colouring and Activity book $20. Purchase the two together for $40

Disaster education through the eyes of a child.  Read more…

Colouring and Activity book to help children express themselves. Read more…

Remember the Brave by Forrest Chambers and Lena Chambers
Ages 8 – 12 years. RRP $20
In 1917, a young man from New Zealand signs up for an adventure and goes to war in France.
Read more…

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Fantastic new children’s books (7+ years) for Christmas

Exciting new children’s and pre-teen books have arrived at the shop, just in time for Christmas presents or something for your avid reader over the school holidays.

 

The Trespassers Club by Helen Vivienne Fletcher. RRP $20
Trespassers Club was just supposed to be a game, but sometimes going places you shouldn’t has consequences.
Age: 8+ Read more…

The World of Greek Mythology by Ben Spies. RRP $21
From Titans to Olympians, 11 year old Ben, writes his action-packed version of some of the most thrilling tales from Greek mythology.
Age: 10 + Read more…

Fire! by Anne McDonell. RRP $21
Can Flip and Jackson reach a compromise and work together to catch the culprit before someone is seriously hurt? Age: 8+ Read more…

Ezaara by Eileen Mueller. RRP $26
A dragonet’s past murder throws Ezaara into a war between dragons and the monsters enslaving Dragons’ Realm. Age 11+ Read more…

Attack of the Giant Bugs by A.J. & Eli Ponder. RRP $20
YOU are Greenville’s only hope. Choose which path you take. Beware…there is danger. Fail or succeed.
Age: 8+ Read more…

When Words Die by Jenni Francis (Keri Series Book 6). RRP $18
With red hair and fair skin, Chloe stands out for all the wrong reasons at her new school.
Age:10+ Read more…

No Way Back by Alan Whitaker. RRP $20
When 12 year old Noah follows his brother into a cave they enter a parallel world. How do they get back?
Age 9 + Read more…

Greenstone Mystery by Lynley Smith. RRP $20
Six children from New Zealand are suddenly transported back in time to an ancient Israel.
Age 10+ Read more…

A Catastrophe of Gigantic Proportions by Shirley Corlett  RRP $23
Angie Danwoolly hears her family intend to sell their 115 year old house, for the resident ghost, 12 year old Hilda, it is a catastrophe.
Age 9+ Read more…

Fangtastic Dragon Jokes and Clawsome Limericks complied by Eileen Mueller. RRP $15
Yo’ dragon jokes, dragons in love, hungry dragons, fiery dragons, dragons in battle and more. Roll your eyes, groan or burst out laughing. Read more…

Quest by AJ Ponder. RRP $25
Sylvalla has escaped from the castle, she is not alone. The companions set out on adventures, but adventures can bite back.
Age 10+ Read more…

The Adventures of Sandy by Pearl Jackson. RRP $16
Three adventures of Sandy, a poodle bichon cross, in his new home.
Age 6-8 years Read more…

 

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Our staff Picks for Mother’s Day

Mothers Day this Sunday 13th May and what better way to say to mum that she is appreciated than to spoil her with books and some time for herself to read.
We asked some of our volunteers and frequent buyers what they recommend or what they would like to get for Mothers’ Day. We hope you can find some inspiration among the picks – either for yourself, or for a woman in your life that deserves a treat.

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Why We Don’t All Like the Same Books

We welcome our guest blogger Nōnen Títi …

Why do we go around saying that one or another book “is good”, “is fascinating”, “is realistic”, or, alternatively, “is stupid”, “is simplistic” or “is not proper literature”? Why do we express our opinion about certain genres of books as if they are factual?

I am not talking about books that can justifiably be labelled “not very good”, because they have problems with grammar, punctuation, cohesion, pace, tone and characterization – problems related to the ability to use language or the craft of writing itself – which are somewhat objective measurements. Continue reading Why We Don’t All Like the Same Books

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Celebrating International Women’s Day

The 2018 theme for International Women’s Day is Achieve gender equality and empower rural women and girls.
We have excellent reads, that will motivate, encourage or inspire, see these and more on our website.
“A woman with a voice is by definition a strong woman. But the search to find that voice can be remarkably difficult.” – Melinda Gates, Powerful Voices Annual Luncheon 2003
Events happening around the country can be found on the UN Woman, International Woman’s Day page. 

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Our first victim for 2017 is Belinda Mellor!

Kia ora,

Please welcome our latest victim guest, Belinda Mellor. On the metal plate suspended above that puddle by wires is a chocolate fish. Behave and the delicious pink marshmallow fish covered in chocolate won’t end up a goopy mess on the floor.

In the event of an earthquake/zombie plague/or random occupation – you’ll find emergency procedures taped to the bottom of your seat. Yes, just like a flotation device. You’ll also find a Glock 17 with a full magazine.
Remember you cannot reason with zombies and it’s a headshot every time.

Belinda Mellor
Belinda Mellor

Continue reading Our first victim for 2017 is Belinda Mellor!

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A big WPRR welcome to Anya Forest

Kia ora,

Please welcome our latest victim guest, Anya Forest. On the metal plate suspended above that puddle by wires is a chocolate fish. Behave and the delicious pink marshmallow fish covered in chocolate won’t end up a goopy mess on the floor.

In the event of an earthquake/zombie plague/or random occupation – you’ll find emergency procedures taped to the bottom of your seat. Yes, just like a flotation device. You’ll also find a Glock 17 with a full magazine.
Remember you cannot reason with zombies and it’s a head shot every time.

Comfy?
Yep. I have my retriever Crockett supervising and the TV on.

Continue reading A big WPRR welcome to Anya Forest