Christchurch Photo Hunt 2014
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New and Recently Released!
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Ivan: The Remarkable True Story of the Shopping Mall Gorilla by Katherine Applegate; illustrated by G. Brian KarasThis poignant picture book presents the true story behind Katherine Applegate's Newbery Award-winning novel The One and Only Ivan. Captured by poachers as a baby, Ivan the gorilla was caged and put on display in a shopping mall, where he lived for 27 years until he was rescued and moved to a more comfortable home at Zoo Atlanta. Although the book includes some painful moments that may be emotionally challenging for young readers, Applegate's beautifully simple writing combines with G. Brian Karas' earthy artwork to describe Ivan's life with respect and sensitivity.
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Hug Machine
by
Scott Campbell
With his big eyes, striped shirt, and comically long arms, the human Hug Machine is an irresistible little guy -- both to readers and to the recipients of his embraces. Whether they need to be calmed down or cheered up, the Hug Machine is willing to hug anyone (including an unhappy baby, a spiky porcupine, and a giant whale) or anything (such as a rock, a mailbox, and an ice cream truck). But after a big day of hugging, the Hug Machine is tired…and ready to receive a loving squeeze from his mom. The Hug Machine's blend of sweet sincerity and deadpan goofiness is perfect for sharing with cuddle-loving kids.
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Draw! by Raúl ColónNo words are needed to tell this captivating tale of creativity and adventure. Depicted in textured, warm-hued illustrations, a bedridden little boy reads a book about African animals. When he picks up his sketchbook, the animals he draws come to life in his mind, and soon the boy is immersed in an imaginary safari full of wildlife to sketch and paint. After befriending an elephant, rescuing his art supplies from some crafty baboons, and narrowly escaping a charging rhinoceros, the boy returns to reality…with a stack of drawings to share. Children who enjoy the dynamic art and wordless drama of Draw! may also appreciate Bill Thomson's Chalk.
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Creature Features: Twenty-Five Animals Explain Why They Look the Way They Do by Steve Jenkins and Robin PageAn inviting question-and-answer format lends a relatable tone -- and plenty of quirky humour -- to this fascinating book in which 25 animals explain their unusual features. The information presented here (did you know that the star-nosed mole uses its snout tentacles to see in the dark? or that the deep-sea blobfish only looks so blobby when it's taken out of the water?) is just as attention-grabbing as the bold illustrations of outlandish creatures. Can't get enough weird animal facts and cunning cut-paper collages? Check out Robin Page and Steve Jenkins' other books, such as How Many Ways Can You Catch a Fly?
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It's an orange aardvark! by Michael HallWondering about an unusual noise they hear outside their tree stump, five carpenter ants imagine various possibilities before peering out of holes and seeing an astonishing rainbow of colors. By the best-selling creator of My Heart Is Like a Zoo.
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Presto Change-o! : A Book of Animal Magic
by Edouard Manceau
See the raccoon hiding in a magic cauldron? The owl pretending to be a clock? The lion masquerading as a flower? A rabbit hiding in a hot-air balloon? Kids will love working magic with just a few simple turns and a few rhyming verses that transform everyday objects into familiar creatures.
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Mix It Up! by Hervé Tullet; translated by Christopher FranceschelliHervé Tullet, author of the popular Press Here, is back with another inventive, engaging book that gives instructions directly to the reader. Focusing this time on colour, Mix It Up! begins with a series of primary-coloured dots. Readers are then encouraged to touch, smear, shake, and tilt the book in order to reveal new color combinations on every page. Tullet's minimal (but paint-spattered) illustrations are wonderfully tempting, vividly evoking the texture of actual wet paint. "Rivaling an iPad for its sheer fun and interactive elements" (School Library Journal), Mix It Up! is a mess-free way to teach kids about colour mixing…though it's sure to send them running for the real paints!
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Monsters Love Colours by Mike AustinMonsters love colours -- who knew? When an exuberant trio of primary-coloured monsters meets three gray monsters, they "scribble, scribble, mix, dance, and wiggle" until they create bright new colours for their friends. Kirkus Reviews calls this wild and energetic exploration of colour combination "groovy."
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Not very scary
by Carol Brendler
Loving surprises and fearing almost nothing, brave little monster Melly accepts her cousin's invitation to a big surprise and sees skittish skeletons, a coal-black cat and ghoulish goblins on her journey.
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Don't Call Me Sweet!
by Smriti Prasadam-Halls
I'm a giant monster, with sharp, sharp claws. I've got big, spiky teeth and loud, loud roars. Which is why I say, to everyone I meet call me scary don't call me sweet! Everyone thinks that little monsters are cute and cuddly, but this monster's grumpy and grouchy. Honest! He does real monster stuff, like stomping around and eating squishy, squelchy food like bug eye stew. He's brave, too he's not scared of anything. Not even big, hairy ogres. Wait, is that a big, hairy ogre? Help!
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Love Monster and the perfect present
by
Rachel Bright
A follow-up to Love Monster finds the furry hero hunting for a perfect Present Day gift for his special someone before coming up with an idea for a gift straight from his fuzzy heart.
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Jeremy Draws a Monster by Peter McCartyOne day, young Jeremy uses his fancy pen to draw a big monster. Little does he know that his drawing will turn out to be so pushy and rude! Soon Jeremy is busy sketching whatever the monster demands: a sandwich, a comfortable chair, a TV, a checkerboard, a hat, and more. Finally, the beleaguered boy takes charge -- and draws his unwelcome house guest a one-way bus ticket and a suitcase. Similar to Allan Ahlberg's The Pencil but shorter and less eccentric, this tale of a lonely boy's drawing-come-to-life is empowering, funny, and nicely understated.
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Contact your librarian for more great books!
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