KPE Episode 451: "Beyond the River"

Brooklyn and Rita have been reading "Beyond the River" by Joy Cowley. 

This book is a collection of 12 short stories for young people. All are set in the South Pacific, some with very familiar locations in Aotearoa/New Zealand. Most use fantasy to create modern fairy tales about our surroundings and Brooklyn focuses on one of them.

KPE Episode 400: "Chicken Feathers"

This is an amazing event in the history of Korero Pt England -KPE has published 400 episodes today.

That means Pt Englanders have reviewed 400 books!

Ka pai Pt England kids!

Litia and Vivienne from Room 17 are the producers of this celebration podcast and have done us proud again.

They have chosen "Chicken Feathers" by Joy Cowley for this landmark episode, and we know you will enjoy their review. And check out the very cool photography while you listen...

Joshua lives with his parent on a farm with three thousand chickens. Joshua has been around chickens so long that he knows just about everything that there is to know about a chicken. But then Joshua meets Semolina who is quite different from any other chicken he’s ever seen.


Joshua’s father Tucker gives Semolina to his son one day. “She’s a character this one… Too old to lay, fights with the other chickens,” Tucker says. But Joshua likes the scruffy old chicken with ragged feathers nonetheless.


Then Joshua learns the truth about Semolina. The old chicken can talk just a like a human. Joshua tries to tell his parents but they don’t believe him.....

KPE Episode 330: "Scary Story"

Starford and Waata have enjoyed yet another of Joy Cowley's wonderful books written for New Zealand kids.  

Ross Beansack, the big hairy author, has been asked by young readers to write a story about ghosts. The very modern publisher is horrified when she hears of his plans. "We don't do ghosts," she says. "Go back home and save the rainforest." Ross Beansack sets off to do his own research in the local haunted house ...

KPE Episode 298: "Friends: Snake and Lizard"

Selena and Ala from Room 17 present "Friends: Snake and Lizard" by Joy Cowley and Gavin Bishop in this podcast for KPE.

"This is a new book of stories about the daily adventures of the popular Snake and Lizard. Snake is elegant and calm, and a little self-centred; Lizard is exuberant and irrepressible. In this book they meet a frog without its croak, a nosy porcupine and many other creatures of the desert – even human beings. Although Snake and Lizard argue a lot, they remain the best of friends."
 

KPE Episode 297: "The Wild West Gang"

Matthew and Joshua from Room 17 present "The Wild West Gang" by Joy Cowley.

This is the first book in a series about about Michael and his cousins known as the 'Wild Wests'.

 
"Michael is an only child of doting parents who believe that it is important to know the right people, say the right things and live in the right kind of house. They are not exactly enthusiastic when their relatives the Wests move into the next street but Michael can't wait to spend more time with Auntie Rosie, Uncle Leo and their five children who are known as the wild West gang. No one in the West family has ever heard of the word "tidy" and they all do exciting things that sometimes get them into trouble."

KPE Episode 289: "Snake and Lizard"

Aidan and Kobe from Room 17 tell us about "Snake and Lizard" by Joy Cowley in this episode of KPE.  They point out that we don't have snakes in New Zealand although we do have lizards and skinks. They have drawn some cool graphics to illustrate their podcast as well. Let them know what you think...

KPE Episode 285: "The Wild Wests and the Haunted Fridge"

"The Wild Wests and the Haunted Fridge" by Joy Cowley is podcast by Kayla and Sylvia from Room 17.  The Wild West series is a favourite with Kiwi school kids and this crazy book is another good one.

"Michael is an only child of doting parents who believe that it is important to know the right people, say the right things and live in the right kind of house. They are not exactly enthusiastic when their relatives the Wests move into the next street but Michael can't wait to spend more time with Auntie Rosie, Uncle Leo and their five children who are known as the wild West gang. No one in the West family has ever heard of the word "tidy" and they all do exciting things that sometimes get them into trouble. "

KPE Episode 246: "Captain Felonius"

Matthew and Lepa have read "Captain Felonius" by Joy Cowley. This book is such a favourite of kiwi kids that we think EVERYONE has read it. You probably have listened to one of our previous podcasts about "Happy Birthday Mrs Felonius" too.
Listen to their latest podcast and see if they have covered all your favourite parts of the story. And let them know what you think about the very interesting morals they concluded with.

KPE Episode 241: "Lucky Feather" by Joy Cowley

Like most New Zealand school kids, Lepa and Matthew from Room 15 have read
"Lucky Feather" by Joy Cowley.
Have a listen as they discuss this well known story and see if you agree with the message they have identified from this book.

KPE Episode 240: "Swimming For Gold" by Joy Cowley

This episode of KPE is another book of Joy Cowley's. This time the podcasters are Selena and Mubasshira from Room 15. Mubasshira tells us that this book is about a girl who uses a wheel chair to get about in on land, but is a very good swimmer. In fact she is a very good swimmer with a BIG heart. When disaster strikes and a boy lands up in the water, it is Esther who dives in and rescues him before the able bodied people around her do anything about it.
This sounds like a story of great courage and we think you will enjoy listening to the podcast below.

KPE Episode 239: "Drum" by Joy Cowley

Erene and Joshua have created a lively podcast to share the latest book they have been reading about a dog called "Drum" and it is written by Joy Cowley. Drum is a stray dog who turns up in a small town and becomes sort of a town pet. The book talks about some of the adventures the kids in the town have with Drum. And our podcasters recommend this story as a good read.

KPE Episode 224: "The Day of the Snow"

"The Day of the Snow" by Joy Cowley
Tanielu and Blessing review this very popular book by Joy Cowley. One of the reasons it is so popular with our students is because she wrote it about a school in Auckland, where we live. Two years ago Jordan and Pheonix also published a podcast about this book, so if you have iTunes on your computer we recommend you have a listen to their podcast as well (KPE Episode 67 on 28 May 2007). Tell us what you think of both reviews of this book.

KPE Episode 196 "Brodie" by Joy Cowley

"Brodie" by Joy Cowley
Karen and Robin chose to podcast this book because they really liked it when their teacher read it to the class. In this book everyone in the class knew that Brodie was sick, but they thought he'd get better. Maybe it was because he talked a lot about being a chopper pilot. Brodie was a really talented artist as well and he shared a lot of his dreams with them through his artwork. This book is a happy, funny, sad book that talks about how the class support a very sick friend when he is in hospital and how they cope when he passes away. We are sure you will enjoy their podcast and their discussion about how Karen felt last year when she was sick in the Starship.

KPE Episode 151 - "Beyond the River"

Beyond the River by Joy Cowley.

This book is a collection of short stories for young people aged 10 - 14 years.
These stories for young people are set firmly in the South Pacific. Most of the stories are from Aotearoa/New Zealand and most are fantasy. All of them are water stories, according to John who has been reading it. Matthew is DJ for this episode and he interviews John who is his classmate in Room 15. Both boys are in Year 5. John tells us all about one of the stories in the book called the "Sea of Peace". This story is set on a farm in New Zealand and is about a boy called Brian who is having his 18th birthday. He is going through a hard time because he failed his end of year exams and can't get a job. The boys recommend this book and think that you would enjoy reading it too.

KPE Episode 125 - "The Video Shop Sparrow"

"The Video Shop Sparrow" by Joy Cowley. Sean from Room 18 read this book and Tari is his DJ. This is a lovely story about two boys who discover a sparrow trapped in their local video shop over the New Year holidays. They have to go to great lengths to convince an adult to help them rescue the sparrow. They are surprised by how many adults tell them that 'sparrows don't matter' because there are so many of them. The beautiful illustrations are done by Gavin Bishop. Tell them what you think of their podcast...

KPE Episode 122 - "Happy Birthday Mrs Felonius"

"Happy Birthday Mrs Felonius" by Joy Cowley is presented by Caprice and Ramona from Room 15.
These girls are both in Year 5. What do you give a pirate for a birthday present? After you have listened to this podcast you will have plenty of ideas! In this story Captain Felonius grants his wife's birthday wish to go to Piratesville to see her grandchildren. But their voyage runs into problems - getting lost, storms and blizzards, hostile strangers, running aground, and pirates! Caprice says, "It was really funny, especially the ending. Mr and Mrs Felonius think the other ship is their enemy but it's their grandchildren coming to surprise them. It's really good to read. Big kids might find it really interesting and funny." Ramona says, " I really liked hearing about when they blasted the catapult because it was really funny. Caprice made it sound like an interesting book..." Tell them what you think of their podcast...

KPE Episode 121 - " The Screaming Mean Machine"

"The Screaming Mean Machine" by Joy Cowley.
Pheonix from Room 16 has been reading this story and Lorenz from Room 18 is his DJ. This is a story about a girl who loves going on the rides at an amusement park, but has had to wait until she grew tall enough to go on the roller coaster - which is something most kids can relate to. This is the year when she gets to ride on it and we hear about the fun and excitement of the ride.
Pheonix says: "I've been to Rainbow's End about 9 times and my favourite ride is the roller coaster. It was a great book to read because it brought back good memories..."
Lorenx says, "This would be a really great book for people to read. If you want to go to Rainbow's End in Year 6, keep on working hard."

KPE Episode 92 - "Tulevai and the Sea" by Joy Cowley

"Tulevai and the Sea" by Joy Cowley

Thomas has read this legend which is retold by one of New Zealand's best known children's authors. Folau acts as DJ in his first podcast. Both boys are Year 5 students from Room 16. Tulevai and the Sea, was written by Joy Cowley and illustrated by Manu Smith, (English and Maori editions). In this story a mother's love is greater than the sea. The sea wants the strong young boy who is fishing in his boat for itself; unable to lure him the sea enlists the help of the wind to sink his canoe. His mother's love is strong enough to push back the sea, revealing terrible monsters, before finding her son crying in a coral forest.
We know you will love the pictures in this story. Tell us what you think.

Pt England Podcasters

KPE Episode 82 - "Oscar in Danger" by Joy Cowley

KPE Episode 82 - "Oscar in Danger" by Joy Cowley. Tanisha and Matthew from Room 15 have both read this book and they share the story in this episode. They are both in Year 5 and this is their first podcast.

In this book the cat family has a visit from their friend Mr M Gull who has his wing in a sling. He needs a kindly paw and asks Oscar to go back to the city to help him for a few days. But what is Mr Gull's secret mission? What is his secret name? Little does Oscar know that there is something terrible waiting for him and all small animals who believe in Santa Claws...