KPE Episode 284: "A Can of Worms"

Vivienne and Heather from Room 15 bring us another Kiwi Bites favourite; "A Can of Worms" by Peter Bromhead. What would you do if you opened a can of spaghetti, expecting to see some yummy pasta, and instead you found it a writhing mass of worms?  That's what happened in this book and the story goes on from there.  Have a listen and tell them what you think of their podcast...

KPE Episode 283: "Fishing for Octopus"

"Fishing for Octopus" by Feana Tu'akoi is one of the stories in a school Journal that Kobe and Logan have been reading. This story is set in Tonga and we think the title gives you a pretty good idea what the story is about! Haven't these boys done well with their first podcast!

KPE Episode 282: "Grounded"

Raenan and Oshania have chosen a story from King McKinnon's collection "Tales from the Swamp" for their first podcast.  These students are both Year 5 from Room 15.  The story they have chosen, "Grounded" brings out some stories of their own as they talk about the book!  As part of the podcast they invite you to make some predictions about the conclusion.  Go ahead and leave them a comment....

KPE Episode 281: "Esther"

From time to time we have a real treat on KPE when family members choose to collaborate on a podcast. Episode 281 is brought to you by two sisters.
Sela from Room 20 and Seini-Mino from Room 17 share this book they have been reading at home. We are sure that many of our listeners will be familiar with the story!

KPE Episode 280: "Boots and All"

Matthew and Joshua have chosen an Aussie book about Rugby League for this podcast.  If you are thinking this is going to be a real boys' book, then you need to listen carefully here because a MAJOR character in this story is a girl. You will be quite surprised by the twist the author,  Sherryl Clark, brings to this sporting story.

Remember, you can visit the boys' own blogs by clicking the links on their names.....

KPE Episode 279: "The Tooth"

In this episode Angela and Selena from Room 17  bring us 

"The Tooth by Des Hunt.  

This is a novel about kids who find a dinosaur tooth.  A lot of people in New Zealand thought that we didn't have dinosaurs, but in this discussion you will learn a few surprising things from these girls and their research.

And don't forget to let them know what you think of their graphic art as well when you see their animation.  You can visit their presonal blogs too by clicking the links from their names.

KPE Episode 278: "No More Moas"

"No More Moas" by Duncan Scott is podcast by Cruz and Kayde from Room 17.

Through their podcast the boys share a lot of useful information about New Zealand birds and wildlife. They have used their artistic talents to include some animations in the podcast as well.
We know you will enjoy this one!

KPE Episode 277: "How the Kumara came to Aotearoa"

"How the Kumara came to Aotearoa" by Bea Hamer tells how Ruakapanga sent kumara across the sea from Hawaiiki and why he later sent pests to destroy them.

This book, which Cruz and Joe have chosen to podcast, is a retelling of a Maori legend based on a version of the story by Pine Taiapa. . You can see an excerpt of that below.

KPE Episode 276: "Duster"

Litia and Vivienne, Year 5 students from Room 15, have been reading "Duster" by Margaret Beames. This story will appeal to all dog lovers. "Fliss is playing softball at school with her friends when she finds a small, bedraggled dog by the boundary fence. It’s exhausted , hungry and responsive to the children’s attention. The name Duster is agreed on. The group of friends explore several possibilities for keeping their canine companion. They are reminded by the adults involved of the practical barriers to instant and unplanned dog ownership. A stopgap solution is found and Duster becomes involved in the school community, though not without unforeseen consequences."

KPE Episode 275: "Getting Board"

David Hill is a favourite author of Pt England readers and "Getting Board" - one of his Kiwi Bites books - is very popular. Even if you are not a fan of skateboarding we are sure you will like this book. Read this 'teaser' from the story... "Cody hit the ground sprawling. His skateboard lay upside down. 'You OK?' a voice asked. The voice was coming from his dog. Cody's eyes bulged."

Listen as Crusader and Gabriel talk about "Getting Board" for their very first podcast.

KPE Episode 274: "The Archway Arrow"

Shoal and Ashleigh from Room 15 share their latest book in this podcast : "The Archway Arrow" by Margaret Beames.

"Stefan and Colin have a problem. They want to enter the raft race and win a thousand dollars and prove that the kids from Archway School don't always come last."

KPE Episode 273: "Destination Disaster"

Matthew and Cruz from Room 17 have been enjoying another Fleur Beale book, "Destination Disaster"
"Who would have guessed that a simple fishing trip could end like this? Jem and his grandfather, 'Pa', are completely cut off from civilisation and their food is running out fast. Worst of all, Pa is in no condition to help.... If either of them are to survive the disasterous trip, Jem will have to think of something, and fast!"
Have a listen to this podcast as they tell us about the story and their own camping experiences....

KPE Episode 272: "Kapa Haka"

This is Aneisha's first podcast and along with Brooke she brings us "Kapa Haka" by Katerina Te Heikoko Mataira , giving us some insights into the importance of cultural performances.
We could find no information about this book on the internet, so we think this podcast may well be the very first published review online! Well done girls! They have done a great job of reviewing this story and you can find out more about this famous New Zealand author by clicking here.

KPE Episode 271: "Making Magic"

"Christmas Calamity and Other Stories" by Emma Thomson is Mubasshira's latest book and Toreka is her DJ for this podcast.

Felicity has started to count down to the most magical day of the year. At the top of her list of things to do is send Christmas cards to every fairy she has ever met! Felicity decides to organize a school pantomime for all her friends. But with only ten days to go until the end-of-term, will the show be a winter winner or a winter washout? The fairy friends are all set for their best ever Christmas. But disaster strikes when they are snowed in at the School of Nine Wishes. Will they make it home in time for Christmas?

 

KPE Episode 270: "Selina"

"Selina" - the cat who saw the sea... unintentionally - is written by a New Zealand author called Pauline Cartwright. 

This book is reviewed by Mubasshira and Selena (yes, the heroine's namesake, only with different spelling) is the DJ for this podcast.  Both of these girls are in Room 17.

KPE Episode 269: "Grandpa's Day"

"Grandpa's Day" by Ellena Ashley is a tale of a rugby playing grandfather.  Grandpa saves the day - and the game - when he scores the winning try for the rugby team. 
On the first Saturday in June, life stops in a small New Zealand town while the two best rugby teams are playing in the grand final.
When disaster strikes it seems that the fortunes of one team are reliant on an unlikely substitute - GRANDPA!
What will it take for him to save the day? 

Sylvia and Seini-Mino from Room 17 have chosen this book to podcast.

KPE Episode 268: "Captain Underpants and the Perilous...."

Seini-Mino and Toreka from Room 17 are on a roll with the Captain Underpants series.  This time they have chosen to podcast "Captain Underpants and the Perilous Plot of Professor Poopypants" by Dav Pilkey.  

Professor Pippy P. Poopypants may be the greatest scientific genius the world has ever known. Unfortunately, he has such a silly name that nobody takes him seriously. He's been laughed out of every major university in the world. If fact, the only place that'll hire him is Jerome Horwitz Elementary School. Hopefully, nobody at the school will laugh at his name (or make a comic book about him)... because if just one more person makes fun of Professor Pippy P. Poopypants, it might just drive him OFF THE DEEP END! This looks like a job for Captain Underpants!

KPE Episode 267: "Nanny Mihi's Birthday Surprise"

Aidan and Kayla from Room 17 have teamed up to podcast "Nanny Mihi's Birthday Surprise" by Melanie Drewery.  This book is another episode in the popular Nanny Mihi series. The story is about Nanny's birthday, a visit from her grandchildren and a present with a mind of it's own.

KPE Episode 266: "Lacey and the Drama Queens"

Hossanah and Tina from Room 16 are back in 2010 with their second podcast (remember this one in 2009?) and this time they are telling us about a book by Fleur Beale - "Lacey and the Drama Queens".

"Lacey’s got some good friends at school, but one of them, Vanessa, can be mean when she feels she’s not the centre of attention. Vanessa is certainly the leader of the drama queens. When Lacey dares to question the qualifications of their dancing tutor she experiences the silent treatment from Vanessa and most of her classmates. With Belinda, the new girl at school, she manages to turn the situation around and learns some good lessons about friends (and dancing) along the way."

You might like to check out another podcast of this book here...

KPE Episode 265: "Come Back Gizmo"

Selena and Mubasshira have chosen a book by one of Australia's favourite authors, Paul Jennings, to podcast for this next episode of KPE.  Room 17 students are reading the school library dry in their enthusiasm and are having to go on trips to the public library to get new books.  And this is one of the books they came back with!

The dog sniffs Jimmy's legs.
Jimmy sniffs the dog's legs.
The dog sniffs Jimmy's bottom.
Jimmy sniffs... aaargh.
Horrible, horrible, horrible.
It's a dog's life for Jimmy when the Gizmo gets really gross.

This is the third story in the "Gizmo" series and this one involves a mean-spirited hoodlum who - via a toilet seat getting stuck on his head - discovers compassion and becomes a hero.

 

KPE Episode 264: "Taiaha"

Chanel and Brooke from Room 17 have chosen "Taiaha" by Ian Trafford for their first podcast. If you don't know what a Taiaha is, we recommend you listen to this podcast and you will know all about it!