KPE Episode 253: "Captain Underpants..."

Toreka and Seini-Mino

"Captain Underpants and the Preposterous Plight of the Purple Potty People" - the eight epic novel by Dav Pilkey is one of those "must reads".

In this book George, Harold, Sulu and Crackers end up in an alternate universe where the whole world is the opposite of their normal world. Good is bad, smart is not at all intelligent, and heroes are villains. There they meet Captain Underpants's evil twin, Captain Blunderpants and evil versions of George and Harold. Sulu and Crackers are kidnapped by George and Harold's evil counterparts and are hypnotized to be evil. Sulu becomes evil and attacks the good George and Harold but Crackers on the other hand, saves them.  You could fid out more about the story here.

After you have listened to Toreka and Seini-Mino's podcast, why don't you tell them which is YOUR favourite Captain Underpants book....

Magic Eyes: I Spy New Zealand History

We were very excited when Coral Atkinson sent us a copy of her wonderful new book called "Magic Eyes: I Spy New Zealand History". The amazing graphics in this book were created by Tina Cooper and we have been told that this book was a collaborative project between these two talented women. It sounds a bit like when two us us create a podcast!

This time, instead of recording a podcast, we have created a Google Earth Lit Trip to help you explore this book further.

We recommend you get hold of the book to read for yourself, but to wet your appetite, why don't you go on our Google Lit Trip and explore all the places and events Coral writes about and Tina illustrates in the book.

If you have never done a Lit Trip before, then here are the intsructions:

Click on this image to download the Google Earth tour of "I Spy".

• Click on the Google Earth image
• Your computer will begin to download a file called a .kmz (it might ask your permission to do so first) If you have a flash computer it might ask you right now if it can open Google Earth. If not, go on to the next step....
• It will save the file somewhere eg on your desktop or in a downloads folder
• Look for the file. This one is called "I Spy by Coral Atkinson.kmz"
• When you find it, double click it and Google Earth should start up for you - it will probably look quite like the image you see here to begin with.
• Now you can explore the book on Google Earth
• Don't forget to tell us what you think!

KPE Episode 252: "Call of the Cruins"

Litia and Makerita, Room 15

Litia and Rita are Year 5 students in Room 15.  They have chosen to tell us about "Call of the Cruins" by Elizabeth Pulford for Episode 252 of KPE.  They not only discuss this very interesting story, but they also are able to share some of their learning because the whole class has been learning about the early European settlers to New Zealand.  If you visit the links to their blogs above you will find out a lot more by watching their movies and animations.

"Call of the Cruins" tells us about the realities of pioneering life in early New Zealand.  Emeline Malone (the main character) is a child of the 1880s and this story tells of her everyday life and responsibilities which are so very different to those faced by children today.   Life in a sealing community was difficult. In this book Emeline risks her life to save a baby seal.  Now she has the responsibility of ensuring its survival.  Her determination to keep her secret Cruin alive tests her resourcefulness and ingenuity. Life in a pioneering community, especially one that earns its living from the dangerous job of seal hunting, is harsh.  When her father and brother go missing in a boating disaster, Emeline and her family face a very dark future. 

Have a listen and tell them what you know about the life of the early settlers.....