New books on the block

Lost in the Bush

By Lindy Kelly Published by HarperCollins RRP$24.99, Age 5+

Would you know what to do if you were lost in the bush?

Sam loves the amazing bush, but he knows he’s not to go into the bush alone. When Tuffy the dog escapes, though, Sam rushes in to save him . . . and before long, Sam realises he’s lost!

Suddenly, he remembers how dangerous the bush can be, especially when you’re alone. Lindy Kelly, with the help of New Zealand Land Search and Rescue, sets out the basic rules you should follow to help prevent getting lost. There are also guidelines on how to prepare for a tramp, and, if you are lost, how to keep yourself safe until help arrives.

Papa’s Jandals

By Kate Moetaua Published by Puffin PB RRP$18.99, Age 5+7

Junior is a cheeky brother with a huge smile and a wild crop of curly black hair. He also has enormous feet – nearly as big as his Papa’s.

But one day when he loses Papa’s favourite pair of jandals he has to work fast to get these back and nothing in his wildest imagination could prepare him for where he eventually find these. Papa’s Jandals is the second children’s book by author Kate Moetaua set in the Cook Island community.

All About Food

By Michèle Mira Pons Published by Gecko Press RRP$19.99, Age 7

What did our ancestors eat? How does the human body convert a steak into microscopic elements? Why do some people like to eat snakes, turtles and insects? Ever wondered how to make your own butter or yoghurt?

All these questions and more are answered in All About Food. The book explains food’s journey through the human body, its role, its history and why healthy eating is important.

Simple recipes for healthy snacks are provided and there are a number of simple experiments to follow.

Brave Bess and the ANZAC Horses

By Susan Brocker Published by HarperCollins RRP$19.99, Age 9+

Every ANZAC Day we celebrate our heroes, with many books written and stories told about the brave soldiers who fought and died in World War One.

Until now the story of the loyal horses who carried our troops in the desert war has remained untold. This is their story - and the story of Bess, the only horse to return to New Zealand from the Middle East.

Bess and her companions overcame their fear, standing by their masters in the battlefield, in harsh desert conditions. Brave Bess and the ANZAC Horses tells the tale of these valiant horses and the essential part they played in the war.

Zero Hour: The Anzacs on the Western Front

By Leon Davidson Published by Text Publishing RRP$25.00, Age 10+

The First World War was only meant to last six months.

When the Australians and New Zealanders arrived at the Western Front in 1916, the fighting had been going for a year and a half and there was no end in sight.

The Anzacs had sailed for France to fight a war the whole world was talking about. Few who came home ever spoke about it again. Zero Hour is the third book by Leon Davidson, author of the best-selling and multiaward-winning Scarecrow Army: The Anzacs at Gallipoli and Red Haze: Australians & New Zealanders in Vietnam.

The Adventure of Life

By Jean-Benoit Durand Published by Gecko Press RRP$19.99, Age 7+

As far as we can tell, the earth is the only planet in the solar system where life exists. It is home to around 1.7 million known species, all kinds of animals and plants…and over six billion people. But before people appeared on the scene, what was here? Even the earth itself did not always exist! And when it first appeared, it looked nothing like the earth you know…

The Adventure of Life is a great little book exploring all aspects of life on earth – from the Big Bang to evolution and reproduction, cosmology, geology and ecology.

With fun illustrations, a useful mini dictionary and a pop quiz to finish, this book is a great introduction to the biological sciences.

Recommend your favourite books & win

Share your positive teaching experiences by submitting a short review on your favourite recently published books and be in to win a selection of the books we’ve reviewed in the last two issues. Send your recommendations and reviews by email to editor@schoolnews.co.nz by April 1st to be in to win.