Dolphins of Aotearoa

Dolphins of Aotearoa Living with New Zealand dolphins By Raewyn Peart Craig Potton Publishing ISBN: 9781877517983 Category: Conservation Of Wildlife & Habitats Aquatic Creatures RRP$59.99 (paperback) Craig Potton Publishing Facebook Dolphins of Aotearoa explores the ongoing relationship between humans and dolphins in New Zealand. Over this nation’s rich history, numerous people, both Maori and Pakeha, have sought out dolphins and significant numbers of dolphins have sought out people. For many, encountering dolphins has been a profound and lifechanging experience. This book tells the stories of many of these remarkable encounters, featuring all of the famous dolphins, such as Pelorus Jack from the early years of the 20th century, Opo in the 1950s, Maui and more recently Moko. In addition it chronicles the ultimately doomed attempts to keep dolphins in captivity in facilities such as Marineland in Napier. Importantly, Dolphins of Aotearoa also summarises the work of the dedicated scientists and researchers who over recent decades have learnt so much about our dolphins, and whose research has given great impetus to the conservation of these remarkable creatures. This is a beautiful book filled with stories, information and simply beautiful pictures of one of the most beautiful creatures in the world…..The Dolphin. It helps us to understand the work that has gone into enabling us to understand more about the dolphin while helping us to love them even more. NZ has many stories of dolphins and this book shares them with the reader, pulling them into their lives and our hearts.

The Teddy Bears Promise

The Teddy Bear’s Promise
By Diana Noonan
Craig Potton Publishing
ISBN: 9781877517792
Category: Childrens Book
RRP$19.99 (paperback)
Craig Potton Publishing Facebook

A long time ago,’ began Dad, ‘a bear met a little boy and, right away, it knew it loved him.’

When Dad discovers a mysterious, dusty box in Gran’s attic, and brings it home to Max, the scene is set for a poignant and intriguing family tale. What could be inside the box, and why is it so important that Max hear Dad’s story before he’s allowed to open it? As Max listens, it becomes apparent that the box contains a special treasure, one that only Max can breathe life into.

Once again, Craig Potton Publishing have bought to us a story that will touch our hearts while sharing pictures that illustrate that warm ‘fuzzy’ feeling we all get when we read such a sweet story to the little ones in our life.
I found the pictures to be lovely and soft which matched the story completely and I could see it being a bed time story for many many families out there.

If you would like the opportunity to have this as one of YOUR bedtime stories, then make sure you put your name forward to review this gorgeous book HERE

 

The Golden Door – Emily Rodda

Series – The Three Doors
Book 1 – The Golden Door
By Emily Rodda
Scholastic
ISBN: 9781862919129
Category: Fantasy Fiction
RRP$21.00 (paperback)
Scholastic Facebook

The walled city of Weld is under attack from ferocious flying creatures that raid in the night, bringing death and destruction. The Warden calls for Volunteers to find and destroy the Enemy sending the invaders, and the heroes of Weld answer the call one by one, never to return. Rye is officially too young to go, but his brothers are among the lost, and he must help them. What terrors await him beyond the wall?

 

 

Although yes I’m a ‘grown up’ I still love to read anything fantasy and Emily Rodda has long been an author that I will read by choice ANY time. Her books tend to be well written with GREAT story lines and characters, but not too indepth that it will go over the heads of  those younger readers who still want to read something that is going to hold their attention for more than 5 minutes.
This book for me ran along the lines of her previous Deltora Quest books (which I also own and love) with our hero being the one you would least expect in a story, but one who proves that it’s not always brute strength that will save the day, but  someone with HEART.
The story comes from Rye who is the youngest of 3 brothers and it shows his perception of his family change as he realises not only who he is as a person but who his older brothers are as well…..
Along the way he teams up with Sonya who for some reason I ‘feel’ is going to have a real impact in the future stories as we get further through the trilogy , but I have been wrong on other occasions so I can’t wait to find out what happens in Book 2 (The Silver Door) and Book 3 (The Third Door)

So on that note Emily Rodda receives a solid 9 out of 10 from me but now I need to embark on my own quest to find Book 2 and 3

 

Emperor of Thorns

Emperor of Thorns
By Mark Lawrence
HarperCollinsNZ
ISBN: 9780007439058
Category: Science Fiction / Fantasty
RRP$34.99 (paperback)
Available – 02/08/2013.
HarperCollins NZ Facebook

To reach the throne requires that a man journey. Even a path paved with good intentions can lead to hell, and my intentions were never good. The Hundred converge for Congression to politic upon the corpse of Empire, and while they talk the Dead King makes his move, and I make mine. The world is cracked, time has run through, leaving us clutching at the end days, the future so bright that those who see it are the first to burn. These are the days that have waited for us all our lives. These are my days. I will stand before the Hundred and they will listen. I will take the throne whoever seeks to thwart me, living or dead, and if I must be the last emperor then I will make of it such an ending. This is where the wise man turns away. This is where the holy kneel and call on God. These are the last miles, my brothers. Don’t look to me to save you. Don’t think I will not spend you. Run if you have the wit. Pray if you have the soul. Stand your ground if courage is yours. But don’t follow me. Follow me, and I will break your heart.

 

 

Secret Kingdom – Christmas Ballerina

Secret Kingdom – Christmas Ballerina
By Rosie Banks
Hachette NZ
ISBN: 9781408323366
Category: Children’s Fiction
RRP$16.99 (paperback)
Available – 08/10/2013.
Hachette NZ Facebook

Ellie, Summer and Jasmine are getting ready for their Christmas celebrations when the Magic Box summons them to the Secret Kingdom. Their old friend King Merry is in trouble again – his wicked sister Queen Malice has cast another of her horrible spells on him! Can the girls work together to break the spell, or will Christmas be ruined for everyone in the Secret Kingdom A bumper Christmas instalment in the gorgeous new series that’s tailor-made for little girls.

 

 

The Weather Machine

The Weather Machine
By Donovan Bixley
Hachette NZ
ISBN: 9781869713027
Category: Children’s Book
RRP$19.99 (paperback)
Available – 24/09/2013.
Hachette NZ Facebook

Once upon a time, in a world not so different to ours, a little blue man decides to create a machine to control the weather. It all goes terribly wrong.
With humour, subtlety and a sense of adventure, Donovan Bixley Author/Illustrator engaging illustrations capture both the hopefulness and naivety of human industry in this wordless book

With amazing colourful fun illustrations, this is going to be a book for children and adults alike

 

Crystal Venom – Steve Wheeler

Crystal Venom
By Steve Wheeler
HarperCollinsNZ
ISBN: 9780732293734
Category: Science Fiction / Fantasty
RRP$29.99 (paperback)
Available – 30/08/2013.
HarperCollins NZ Facebook

A superb space adventure from a fresh new voice. This is the second book in the Fury of Aces series and follows on from the action-packed BURNT ICE. In our future worlds the Administration rules the Sphere of Humankind, the Games Board sanctions and funds wars and conflicts, and the Haulers’ Collective roams the space routes like the caravanners of old. Political factions and galactic media moguls vie for power …and money.

 

The Scrivener’s Tale – Fiona McIntosh

The Scrivener’s Tale
By Fiona McIntosh
HarperCollinsNZ
ISBN: 9780732292461
Category: Fantasy Fiction
RRP$24.99 (paperback)
Available – 13/09/2013.
Hachette NZ Facebook

The story begins in Paris and moves swiftly into the otherworld of Morgravia. Gabe, a writer and bookseller living in Paris is asked by one of his customers, Rene — a psychiatrist — to use his writing skills to help mentor a young woman patient. Rene has been unable to help her and believes that her panic attacks, depression and inability to communicate can be helped through the writing process. When Angeline is under hypnosis, Gabe hears a frantic voice in his mind and realises it must be Angeline’s. Consequently, Gabe is the target of an attempt on his life …Angeline tells him he must kill her and absorb her spirit which will then enable her to take them through a portal to the dangerous lands of Morgravia. Only there can she prove that he is the scrivener who can interpret the language of the gods …and save a queen and a land from destruction.

 

New Zealand Baby Record Book

New Zealand Baby Record Book
By Hachette New Zealand
Hachette
ISBN: 9781869713041
Category: Gift Book
RRP$34.99, 
Available now.
Hachette NZ Facebook

Capture the essence of Kiwi babyhood with the New Zealand Baby Record Book. This gorgeous book enables parents to create a lasting memento of their child’s early development. As well as celebrating all the key milestones, there’s plenty of space to include special photos, a section for hand and foot prints and an envelope to store a lock of hair. Beautifully presented with a contemporary New Zealand look and a user-friendly design, the book is the perfect gift for new parents.

 

 

Having a brief look through this book before it was sent out, I was amazed by all the little ‘extra’s’ that it contained.
Our little ones don’t remain little for long, and the memories we create are precious. This book had me going ‘awww’ at every page and I know that whoever ends up with one of these books in their home is going to love filling it in and looking back through it over the years.
Thank you Hachette

 

Queen Alice’s Palaces

Queen Alice’s Palaces
By Juliette MacIver & Lucia Masciullo
ISBN:  9780733331022
Category: Picture Book/Child/Juvenile
Reading Age – 3+
Link to Harper Collins HERE

Queen Alice’s palace was guilded and grand…

Queen Alice has the best palace in the land.
But when cunning Sir Hugh plots to take one of Alice’s palaces (by means of a military coup!), will she be able to outwit him? A brilliantly funny rhyming text. Ages: 3+