72276 Website Reviews

As part of the requirements for our 72276 Children's & Young Peoples' paper, our third assignment asks us to review (in no more than 60 words) approximately 20 websites, and then post it on our blog.  So here is my final task of my final assignment of my final paper in my L5 Diploma in Information and Library Studies.  WooHoo!

Task 2:­ Bookmarking favourite websites and resources

Annotated List

This list of 19 websites has been separated into the following categories for easier referral:

• Reviews of literature and information resources for children and young people

• Awards

• Organisations involved in the promotion of reading and literature

• Publishers and booksellers

• Fiction reading and reviews for primary school children

• Fiction reading and reviews for teenagers

• Information resources for primary school children

• Information resources for teenagers

• Other websites I found interesting or useful.

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1)    Reviews of literature and information resources for children and young people – a New Zealand website and an overseas website

The Pulse/te Auaha. (n.d.). About the Pulse/te Auaha. Retrieved January 20, 2015 from http://thepulse.org.nz/About/

Overview

The Pulse is a website ‘by, for, and about young people living in New Zealand, but especially 13 to 18 year olds living in Christchurch and Canterbury’ (The Pulse/te Auaha, n.d., para. 1).  This service has been provided by Christchurch City Libraries and has the backing of the Canterbury District Health Board and City Council.  It provides information and links to all sorts of things relevant to teenagers from book reviews to courses, music to cooking and careers.  

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Books for keeps - the children’s book magazine online. (n.d.). Retrieved January 20, 2015 from http://booksforkeeps.co.uk/

Overview

This is a bi-monthly magazine that reviews children’s books, provides articles on all aspects of writing for children and focuses on a different author or illustrator each issue.  You can view the magazine in its entirety online or read the book reviews, which are split into age ranges, on the website.

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2)   Awards

Association for Library Services to Children: A division of the American Library Association. (2014). Book and Media Awards. Retrieved November 13, 2014 from http://www.ala.org/alsc/awardsgrants/bookmedia

Overview

This is the book and media awards page on the ALSC website.  It provides links to the ALSC awards that are announced every January, highlighting the current year’s winners, and providing information about the award and on past years winners.  Awards such as the Caldecott Medal, Newbery Medal and Geisel Award are among the listed. 

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Christchurch City Libraries : Nga Kete Wananga-o-Otautahi. (2015). Literary prizes and book awards. Retrieved January 20, 2015 from http://my.christchurchcitylibraries.com/literary-prizes/

Overview

The literary prizes and book awards page on the Christchurch City Libraries page links you to a vast selection of book awards, both national and international.  Awards are separated into categories within New Zealand and International.  This enables viewers to easily select the award they are after.  Books are also linked directly to the library catalogue search.

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3)   Organisations involved in the promotion of reading and literature

Booktrust. (2015). About Us. Retrieved January 21, 2015 from http://www.booktrust.org.uk/about-us/

Overview

Booktrust is an independent charity whose aim is ‘to create a society of people who are motivated to read and who see themselves as readers whatever level that might be’ (Booktrust, 2015, para. 3).  They have tips, programmes and news for parents, teachers and librarians.  Books can be searched by Title or Author and an advanced search is offered.  Information is categorised by sector or age group and there are links to research reports undertaken by Booktrust.

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International Digital Children’s Library - a library for the world’s children. (n.d.). Mission. Retrieved January 31, 2015 from http://en.childrenslibrary.org/about/mission.shtml  

Overview

The International Digital Children’s Library (ICDL) is a non-profit organisation whose aim is to provide free online access to over 10,000 children’s books from all over the world in more than 100 languages.   Their mission ‘is to support the world’s children in becoming effective members of the global community – who exhibit tolerance and respect for diverse cultures, languages and ideas – by making the best in children’s literature available online free of charge’ (The International Digital Children’s Library, n.d., ‘Mission Statement’).  The website has been designed with and by children to make finding and reading books child friendly.  There are also activities and resources for parents and teachers to promote a love of reading. 

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4)   Publishers and booksellers

The Children’s Bookshop. (2015). Welcome. Retrieved November 13, 2014 from https://childrensbookshop.circlesoft.net/pages/403-Welcome

Overview

There are so many great publishers’ websites, both nationally and internationally, and the booksellers in New Zealand are second to none. One fantastic bookseller is The Children’s Bookshop in Kilbirnie, Wellington.  John’s radio reviews are great to listen to, while their regular newsletter sent to schools is full of information on new and recent books along with a key message each time.

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Random House New Zealand. (n.d.). About. Retrieved January 31, 2015 from http://www.randomhouse.co.nz/about/

Overview

Random House New Zealand’s website provides access to book reviews, author information, news, events, competitions, games and the ability to purchase directly online.  The young reader’s selection is separated into kids, teens and teachers with further groupings in each to make finding books simple.  They have ‘a strong commitment to junior and young adult fiction, as well as non-fiction for young readers’ (Random House New Zealand, n.d., para. 3).

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5)   Fiction reading and reviews for primary school children

Ellis, S. (2015). Home. Retrieved January 31, 2015 from http://365picturebooksblog.wordpress.com/ 

Overview

#365PictureBooks is a blog by a local fellow-librarian (and ex primary school teacher) started with the intention of posting a picture book review a day for 2015.  The blog reviews new and old picture books that she has sourced from, predominantly, the local library.  These reviews are more relevant to an adult reader. 

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The Children’s Book Review. (2015). About. Retrieved February 1, 2015 from http://www.thechildrensbookreview.com/about

Overview

The Children’s Book Review is a US based website devoted to children’s literacy and was ‘named one of the ALSC (Association for Library Services to Children) Great Web Sites for Kids’ (The Children’s Book Review, 2015, para. 1).  Books are categorised by age and genre, and the reviews are more appropriate to an adult reader.  They have author spotlights, and interviews, giveaways and a link to their own bookshop.

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6)   Fiction reading and reviews for teenagers

Teen Reads. (2015). Home. Retrieved November 13, 2014 from http://www.teenreads.com/

Overview

This is an American website which has reviews for, and by, teenagers among other things.  The reviewers join the teen board for a period of 6 months.  There are also reading lists, regular features and review on books coming soon.  Reviews can be viewed by title, author, genre or date. 

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bookzone4boys. (n.d.). About Me. Retrieved November 13, 2014 from http://bookzone4boys.blogspot.co.nz/p/about-me.html

Overview

The Book Zone (For Boys) is a blog that reviews books that may appeal to boys.  The authors mission ‘is to raise awareness of the vast wealth of ‘boy-friendly’ books’ (bookzone4boys, n.d., ‘Welcome to the book zone’).  The blog also includes author interviews, guest posts and competitions. The author is based in the United Kingdom.

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7)   Information resources for primary school children

Britannica School. (n.d.) Primary Home. Retrieved January 31, 2015 from http://school.ebonline.co.nz/levels/primary

Overview

Britannica School Primary is a subscription based online encyclopaedia that is free to all schools in New Zealand, via EPIC on the Te Kete Ipurangi website.  The encyclopaedia is student friendly providing information on a variety of topics, and a student zone with activities that help reinforce skills in reading, writing and maths.  There is a teacher link that provides curriculum based tools and a user guide.

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Centre for Literacy in Primary Education. (2015). About Us. Retrieved February 1, 2015 from https://www.clpe.org.uk/page/5

Overview

The Centre for Literacy in Primary Education (CLPE) ‘emphasises the importance of children’s literature in enabling children to become confident and enthusiastic readers and writers’ (The Centre for Literacy in Primary Education, 2015, para. 1).  They are a UK based independent charity.   Their website provides resources and booklists for libraries, teachers and parents.  There is a lot of useful information on here for international schools, although the packs provided are only for UK based schools.

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8)   Information resources for teenagers

AnyQuestions.co.nz Uia Ngā Pātai.co.nz. (n.d.). Home. Retrieved January 31, 2015 from http://anyquestions.co.nz/

Overview

AnyQuestions.co.nz is a website that offers homework help to students during after-school hours.  Its aim is to provide guidance in finding the answers students need, rather than providing the actual answer to their question.  Uia Ngā Pātai.co.nz is the Te Reo Māori website for kura kaupapa.  It also provides a link to ManyAnswers.co.nz with commonly asked questions.

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New Zealand History Ngā korero a ipurangi o Aotearoa. (2014). Information about this website. Retrieved January 31, 2015 from http://www.nzhistory.net.nz/about-this-site

Overview

This is a useful website for research as it provides information and resources on our history.  There are four tabs providing information in a drill down style: Topics, Events, People and Places, and three broad themes highlight different aspects of ‘Culture and society’, ‘Politics and government’ and ‘War and society’.  There is a large image and media collection, biographies and a ‘today in history’ link.     

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9)   Other websites I found interesting or useful

School Library Association of New Zealand Aotearoa Te Puna Whare Mātauranga a Kura. (n.d.). Home. Retrieved 15 December, 2014 from http://www.slanza.org.nz/

Overview

The School Library Association of New Zealand Aotearoa Te Puna Whare Mātauranga a Kura (SLANZA) offers support to, and by, school and public librarians and staff around New Zealand.  Contact information for each region is available for anyone needing advice from the local representative.  The resources tab has relevant resources from SLANZA and other institutions.  Links are provided to other school library associations and journals.

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National Library of New Zealand Te Puna Mātauranga o Aotearoa: Services to Schools. (n.d.). About. Retrieved January 31, 2015 from http://schools.natlib.govt.nz/about

Overview

National Library is part of the Department of Internal Affairs and the ‘Services to Schools (S2S) provides resources, expertise, programmes and services to support literacy, learning, school libraries and their services’ (National Library of New Zealand Te Puna Mātauranga o Aotearoa: Services to Schools, n.d., para. 1).  They have an advisory service, a link to the National Library of New Zealand catalogue, access to images and videos, and an online community for networking and support.

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Gill, M., & Orman, L. (n.d.). Home. Retrieved December 27, 2014 from http://kidsbooksnz.blogspot.co.nz/

Overview

KidsBooksNZ is a blog that reviews and promotes children’s books written by New Zealand authors.  They also attempt to provide information on how the books fit into the school curriculum.  Maria is a primary school teacher, and Lorraine is a retired librarian and a book reviewer.

My Cat Likes to Hide in Boxes by Eve Sutton, illustrated by Lynley Dodd

Sutton, E., & Dodd, L. (1978). My Cat Likes to Hide in Boxes. London, UK: Picture Puffin.

ISBN: 9780140502428
Pages: 32
Age Level: Early Childhood 0-6
Genre: Picture Storybook / NZ Fiction
Rating: 5 stars

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‘Cats from many different countries may like to do all kinds of strange and exotic things, but my cat, an ordinary round-the-house cat, likes to hide in boxes’.

With simple rhymes and bright colourful illustrations, My Cat Likes to Hide in Boxes is an entertaining read for young children.  The rhymes are repeated with a new line being added to the start each time (much like The Twelve Days of Christmas) enabling children to quickly pick up on the repetition and ‘read along’ to the story. 

Lynley Dodd, a well-known New Zealand author and illustrator, depicts each cat in a soft pallet set in a bold and bright background.  The simple illustrations relate directly to the new rhyme and amusingly show each new cat in the traditional dress of their country.  The common refrain, ‘But MY cat likes to hide in boxes’, is accompanied by humorous illustrations of the cat hiding in a variety of different boxes.

My Cat Likes to Hide in Boxes is in the genre of a Picture Storybook, in that it is 32 pages long, and both the text and the illustrations tell the story.  Cat lovers and young children will love this book for the silly rhymes and the funny pictures.

English born, and moving to New Zealand in 1949, this is Eve Sutton’s only picture book, originally published in 1973, which she co-wrote with her cousin.

I got my copy of My Cat Likes to Hide in Boxes from my bookshelf. 

Check out other reviews of 'My Cat Likes to Hide in Boxes' on Goodreads.

The Rig by Joe Ducie

Ducie, J. (2013). The Rig. London, UK: Hot Key Books.

ISBN: 9781471402197
Pages: 368
Age Level: YA 12-18
Genre: Sci-Fantasy / Dystopia / Mystery / Thriller
Rating: 4 stars

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The Rig is an old oil rig, hundreds of miles from nowhere in the Arctic Ocean, which has been converted into a maximum security juvenile prison for the worst of the worst.  Surrounded by sharks and monitored around the clock, escape is impossible.

15 year-old Will Drake is a bit of an escape artist and loves a challenge.  He has escaped from every prison he has been put into.  There is no-where he can’t escape from, and he will stop at nothing to prove the warden wrong when he is transported onto the Rig.  However, not everything on the Rig is as it seems, from the reason Will has been incarcerated, to the use of the prison and how some inmates are different from the others – stronger and more aggressive!    

The Rig is a young adult, prison break story … but it’s really so much more than that.  It is science fiction, fantasy, thriller, adventure, and dystopia all rolled into one.  If you can suspend your disbelief about the futuristic vibe and harshness of the setting of this novel, which most young adults can do, then the plot and setting of this novel is realistic and believable.  It will make you question yourself, and humanity, and ask “What if?”  There are so many elements in this novel that make it a great young adult read.  


I got my copy of The Rig from my bookshelf. 

Check out other reviews of 'The Rig' on Goodreads.

Infinity Drake Bk1 The sons of Scarlatti by John McNally

McNally, J. (2014). Infinity Drake: The sons of Scarlatti. London, UK: HarperCollins. [Science Fiction]

ISBN: 9780007521593
Pages: 400
Age Level: Middle Childhood 7-12
Genre: Science-Fiction
Rating: 5 stars

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This is the first novel in an exciting new science-fiction series for readers age 9 and up.  Infinity Drake, Finn for short, is going off on holiday with his crazy mad-scientist uncle Al (mad in the ‘always coming up with amazing creations’ way, not in the ‘evil genius’ way).  Their holiday plans come unstuck when a lethal, genetically modified wasp, is released in the south east of England and Al is summoned to help the government.  A military team (Apache helicopter, personnel and gear) is going to be miniaturised to track and kill the wasp before its eggs hatch and they go on a killing spree.  The operation is sabotaged and Finn ends up shoved into the food supply container and shrunk to 9mm along with the military team.

The scientific fact and advanced technologies that this novel is based around, the action packed military scenes and the humour make for an exciting read that boys will be drawn to.  The character development and realistic settings make for an entirely believable read, and the elements of good versus evil is an age-old recipe that works time and again.  

 This is a fast-paced, edge-of-your-seat read.  It involves nano technology, crazy scientists (both kinds), military manoeuvres, teenagers who can out-smart the bad guys, lots of action and laughs, and one bad-ass grandmother that can scare anyone straight!  It is a fantastic and exciting start to a new series with a hero who is only 9mm tall. 

I got my copy of Infinity Drake: The Sons of Scarlatti from my bookshelf.

Check out other reviews of 'Infinity Drake: The sons of Scarlatti' on Goodreads.

What Children's Book Character Are You? NYPL

Thanks to our fellow 72276 class-mate Nikki for recommending this Quiz.

New York Public Library has come up with the ultimate quiz to help you determine which children's book character best describes you.  Are you game to find out who you really are??

Just go to the  NYPLs What Children's Book Character Are You? page.

Funnily enough Pippi Longstockings was my favourite book growing up, because she is independent, eccentric and happy to be herself ... AND she is friends with a horse and a monkey!  My results for the quiz are sooooo me :-)

You're Pippi Longstocking! Passionate and headstrong, you always have to get your way. You always want to have a child's sense of fun... and maybe get into a little bit of mischief, too. You're also incredibly, frighteningly strong. You go, girl.

Book info on my posts

I'm going to be including full bibliographic details at the start of my reviews in APA format ('cause that's what's required for my OP paper).  I'm also going to be including other information I think is relevant to viewers like the ISBN or ASIN #, book length, and intended reading age, rating (out of 5), along with an image or two whenever possible.

Reviews will be separated into four categories (at this stage): Fiction Reviews, Non-fiction Reviews, New Zealand Literature Reviews, and my #365PictureBooks challenge reviews.  Of course some of them may very well cross-contaminate :-) and a few adult books my slip in there sometimes.

Reading levels will be:

• 0-6 years: Early Childhood / Babies & Toddlers
• 7-12 years: Middle Childhood
• 12-18 years: Young Adults (YA) / Adolescence

For those of you unsure what an ISBN or AISN is:

• An ISBN is the International Standard Book Number, which is a unique commercial book identifier barcode, either 10 or 13 digits, generally printed on the back cover of a book.
• An ASIN is Amazon's Standard Identification Number, in unique blocks of 10 letters and/or numbers, that identifies the item.  I'll likely be using this number for the majority of eBooks.

Oh Yeah..... I love books in whatever format they come in, so I will be reviewing any and all kinds of books.  I love the tactility and scent of a physical book, but eBooks are so much more accessible after hours, and they don't need a suitcase of their own whenever I go on holiday like they used to.