The Plastic Bag Storm

GR Level 20
Environment and Conservation
Extending

A swirling storm of rubbish was causing problems in Jack's neighbourhood. 

Find out how Jack cleaned it up in The Plastic Bag Storm.

The Very Bright Light

GR Level 17
Environment and conservation
Transitional


Jack woke up one night with a bright light shining through his window.
Find out what he did in The Very Bright Light.

Staying Healthy

GR Levels 9-11
Keeping fit
Early

It's important to be fit and healthy.
Find out how to stay that way in Staying Healthy.

A Third Poetry Book

Black-and-white illustrations accompany a collection of poems, specially designed for children aged eight to eleven.

Mix-ups and Magic

1st pbk. ed
Felicity Wishes
On cover: With pop-ups and flaps

Felicity Wishes' friends are terribly down in the dumps. Polly has broken her arm pillow-lifting. Daisy lost her favourite pink rose in last night's snowstorm. And Holly's special hair-do for the Christmas Ball has gone horribly wrong! Felicity makes a wish for each of her unhappy friends, but her wishes are a little mixed-up...

The Journey Home

One day Wild and Woolly dig such a big hole in their sandpit that when they fall into it, they come out at the North Pole. One the journey home they visit the houses of some most intriguing characters.

The Piano Movers

New Zealand author; New Zealand illustrator
Summary: When Mrs McGee's piano makes no sound, she calls in the piano movers to take it away, but moving this piano is no easy task. It is full of things: a brush, a comb, a small hair dryer, some nails, a hammer, some old picture wire. But the biggest and best suprise is at the bottom of the heap. An illustrated story in rhyme

Maudie and Bear

Contents: The bike ride -- Home, sweet home -- The snack -- Making up -- Telling stories
Summary: Maudie's world revolves around Maudie. Bear's world also revolves around Maudie - he is as patient and solid as a rock. Maudie is so confident of Bear's love she makes little effort to deserve it. Bear's remedy for loving Maudie is to love her some more

Harry and the Dinosaurs First Sleepover

 Other Title: First sleepover
1st Australian ed

When Harry and his dinosaurs go on their first sleepover, they have so much fun there's no time to miss home. But when it gets dark and things go bump in the night, suddenly the dinosaurs are not so sure.

The Three Bears (sort of)

New Zealand author; New Zealand illustrator
Based on a traditional English folk tale collected by Robert Southey
Summary: An adult is trying to tell a child the story of Goldilocks and the Three Bears - but they keep on being interrupted. (Publisher)
Goldilocks and the three bears

(New Zealand Post Book Awards finalist - 2014)

Sirocco the Rock-Star Kakapo

Summary: Sirocco the kakapo is a superstar he has 10,000+ followers on Facebook and almost 4000 followers on Twitter. And you may have seen the incredible footage on Youtube of him trying to mate with a BBC presenter's head. Not only is he one of the last 131 of his species left on the planet, he has a very special role to play promoting the recovery of his kind and in conservation in general. This junior non-fiction book tells the story of the remarkable parrot who has become a worldwide sensation. The narrative follows Sirocco's journey from sick chick to conservation superstar, with sidebars of more specific information about the kakapo and the recovery programme. (Publisher)

Nic's Cookbook

Summary: A cookbook for children written by the ten-year-old winner of the TVNZ Good Morning Kids' Cook Off. Includes recipes for starters, light meals, main courses and desserts

The Terrible Suitcase

Summary: It's the first day of school and all the children have a special backpack, except one - she has a terrible suitcase. A story of how imagination can make magic out of anything. (From book cover)

Splat says Thank You!

Paperback edition
Summary: In this Thanksgiving themed story, Splat the Cat figures out how to let Seymour know that he's thankful for their friendship

The Silly Goat Gruff

Based on the tale by Peter Christen Asbjornsen

New Zealand author

Summary: A twist on the Three Billy Goats Gruff - Silly Goat Gruff can yodel and he knows kung-fu! A story in rhyme

Three billy goats Gruff

Millie's Marvellous Hat

Summary: Millie loves hats, but she has no money and can't afford to buy any of the lovely hats in town. But the man in the hat shop dares her to imagine the hat too beautiful to behold, but with the most perfect shape and colour imaginable. So Milly does dare

The Song of the Ship Rat

New Zealand author; New Zealand illustrator
Summary: About a rat that has spent its life aboard a ship that has travelled the world. It tells of far-off lands and dangerous encounters, in particular with the dockside cat Tom Strangler (which, it is implied, resulted in a mortal end for his friend Molly). The rat has now grown old and returned ashore for his last days - to realise that you can take the rat off the sea, but a ship rat he will always be. (Publisher)

Luther and the Cloud-Makers

New Zealand author; New Zealand illustrator
Summary: Story about a pristine village that one day experiences the impact of an old tractor, burning tyres and filterless chimneys on a factory. One of the villagers, Luther, goes to find the cause of these 'clouds' that have descended on the village, and convinces all of the 'cloud-makers' to clean up the way they do things. (Publisher)

Penguins can't fly

New Zealand author; New Zealand illustrator
Summary: Story about a pristine village that one day experiences the impact of an old tractor, burning tyres and filterless chimneys on a factory. One of the villagers, Luther, goes to find the cause of these 'clouds' that have descended on the village, and convinces all of the 'cloud-makers' to clean up the way they do things. (Publisher)

The Three Little Pigs

On title page: 2 in 1! Story + play
Summary: Mother Pig is fed up with her lazy, disrespectful TV addictive piglets. She gives away the TV, packs their bags and reminds them to take their man-banks on their way out. The wolf, a land agent, sells each pig materials to build a home and comes back for an after-sales service call. Includes a play for five participants at the end of the book
Loosely based on the tale collected by Joseph Jacobs
New Zealand author; New Zealand illustrator
Three little pigs

Are we there yet?

1st Australian ed
Summary:    When four little ducks become bored with swimming on the same little pond, Mother Duck takes them on a long journey filled with different sights

Far, Far From Home

Summary: The tiny little bug had been caught in a jar and this is his journey home to his loving family - he meets lots of night-time creatures along the way. A story in rhyme
New Zealand author; New Zealand illustrator

BOOK WEEK - Term Two - NZ Book Council - Visiting Author 2013

Melinda Szymanik

 

Favona Primary School students and teachers had the privilege of having Melinda Szymanik come and visit on the 1st July 2013 through 'Writers in Schools'  -- New Zealand Book Council.

 

Melinda talked to students about her ideas for the books she wrote and shared basic writing tips. Melinda also shared some of her stories she wrote to the students.

Melinda here sharing her story "The House That Went To Sea".

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Melinda here sharing her story "The Were-Nana (NOT a Bedtime Story)"



A wonderful day had by all!



Diary of a Sea Lion

New Zealand author; New Zealand illustrator
Summary: Ever wondered what goes on in the fictional life of a Hooker's sea lion? When you're a sea lion too scared to swim, you get a fair bit of teasing. So instead, the Wuss of the Waves makes up exciting stories of sealers, shipwrecks and castaways. But when she finds herself in real danger, will she be brave enough to escape? (Publisher)

Five run away together

70th anniversary ed
Summary: The Five run away to Kirrin Island. But who else has been there? And what is locked in the mysterious trunk hidden there? The Famous Five think they're on the trail of smugglers - until they hear a child scream
First published: 1944

Five go to Smuggler's Top

70th anniversary ed
First published: 1942
Summary: When the Five go to stay at the big, old house called Smuggler's Top, they soon search out the secret hiding places and underground tunnels. But someone else has discovered them, too. Are there still smugglers at work

Five go off in a caravan

70th anniversary ed
Summary: The Famous Five are on holiday in a horse-drawn caravan! Soon they catch up with a circus - but some of the circus people have more sinister plans than just clowning around
First published: 1942

Five go Adventuring Again

70th anniversary ed
Summary: A thief at Kirrin Cottage! Who can it be? The Famous Five think they know - but they need proof! Then they find an old map and an unusual hiding place
First published: 1943

Five on a Treasure Island

70th anniversary ed
Summary: There's a shipwreck off Kirrin Island - but where is the treasure? The Famous Five are on the trail but someone else has got the same idea. Who will get to the treasure first
First published: 1942

Diary of a Frog

New Zealand author; New Zealand illustrator
Summary: The hilarious diary of a young frog desperate to win the role of human princess in her school production of The Frog Prince. She's sure she's pretty enough (she has more warts than any other girls in class) -- but will she ever overcome her terrifying case of stage fright? (Publisher)

Gorilla Grab

Includes factual information
Summary: Mozz and Leo are off on another animal rescue mission. This time they've loaded the jet with vaccine darts to help protect gorillas in Africa. But before they locate all the primates and decide what to do with a seriously sick baby gorilla they'll have to battle ruthless poachers

Elephant Alert

Includes factual information
Summary: Mozz soars through the sky in a jet rescuing wild animals around the world. But when Elephant Island is under threat from a tsunami Mozz needs help urging the elephants to safety. Time is running out. Can she convince Leo, a boy who can talk to animals, to join her on a dangerous rescue mission

Tale of a Blond Puppy

New Zealand author
Summary: Scrap is a pup with an incredible ability to control sheep, but he doesn't know who he is or where he comes from. While Bill, the old sheep dog, teaches him to use his talent, Scrap searches desperately for his mother. He soon finds out what Bill is afraid to tell him. He's not like everyone else

Eddie Pipper

Summary: Eddie Pipper loves his penguin. He is not a real penguin. He is not allowed one of those. Eddie has to make do with his special paper-maiche penguin. But what do the other kids think of his penguin when he brings him to school for show and tell

Katie & The Leprechaun

 

Other Title: Katie and the leprechaun
Katie is surprised to discover a feisty leprechaun lurking in her local park. Together they go off on an adventure to hunt down the ideal footwear for a leprechaun shoemaker.

Gertie the Witch

Gertie is very pleased with herself. She has just returned the postman into a pig. However, the postman's two children are horrified. Their father now has trotters instead of hands! They are determined to break Gertie's spell.

The Mysterious Magical Shop

Summary: Even on ordinary days Hannah thought Mr McPherson's second-hand shop was somehow mysterious. But today, being Christmas Eve, it seemed even more so. And as she grasped the wooden doorknob and pushed open the door, she thought she heard the faint jingling of sleigh bells. What is the mystery behind the wee dancer trapped in the crystal ball? Could it be connected to her hunt for a Christmas tree fairy? (Publisher)
New Zealand author; New Zealand illustrator

Angry Birds : Side-splitting, rib-tickling Joke Book

 Other Title: Official Angry Birds side-splitting, rib-tickling joke book
Cover title: The official Angry Birds side-splitting, rib-tickling joke book
An upside-down, turn-around joke book
Tete-beche format
Contents: Cheep laughs -- Snoutrageous
Summary: A double-sided joke book packed with gags. One side stars the ever-conquering birds, then flip over to read more from their arch-nemesis - the pigs

A Winter's Day in 1939

New Zealand author
Summary: Adam is 13 years old and lives with his family on a small farm in rural Poland. It is 1939 and the war has just broken out. Russians invade Poland and confiscate Adam's family's house and farm. They are sent to live with another family nearby, but are then moved on and put on a train for a Russian labour camp as refugees, prisoners of Russia. (Publisher)