KPE Episode 228: "The Christmas...Hiccup...Play"

"The Christmas...Hiccup...Play" by Elizabeth Pulford
Rachael interviews Shaniah in this episode of KPE about another book in the Kiwi Bites series. This book is about a girl called Abbey who was really excited because her wish had come true - she was going to be the Angel Gabriel in the school play. On the night of the performance she had a terrible fright and began to hiccup, and hiccup, and hiccup... In the story everyone offers ways of curing the hiccups and she tries them all.
Have you ever had the hiccups? What do you do to stop hiccuping? If you would like to listen to another podcast about this book that was published in 2006, you could click here to check it out too...

KPE Episode 227: "Akimbo and the Elephants"

"Akimbo and the Elephants" by Alexander McCall Smith
TeRangi interviews Rachael about this book, which they say is a story about bravery, doing the right thing and looking after animals.
In this book 10 year old Akimbo lives on a game preserve in Africa. His father is the head ranger, and Akimbo is keen to help him whenever he can—even if it means getting into some pretty dangerous situations. In Akimbo and the Elephants, ivory poachers are killing grown elephants for their tusks and leaving the calves to die. When the authorities can't find out who is doing this, Akimbo sets out to save the elephants by pretending to be a hunter himself.
These girls are in Room 18 and this is their first podcast together.

KPE Episode 226: "Grandma McGarvey Paints the Shed"

"Grandma McGarvey Paints the Shed" by Jenny Hessell is podcast by Sylvia and Mubasshira from Room 15.
This is another cool story about that crazy granny, Grandma McGarvey and we know you'll love it. When Grandma McGarvey decides to paint the shed, she does it with her own distinctive style! You'll never see a shed quite like this one! We know you will love this story, and if you want to listen to another story about her, try Grandma McGarvey Joins the Scrum...

KPE Episode 225: "The Immigrants"

"The Immigrants" by Alan Bagnall
In this podcast Ala tells Angela about a book set in 1856. You will learn a lot about what it was like for the early settlers who came to New Zealand during the Gold Rush. We are sure you will enjoy this lively discussion and you may well be inspired by this book about people who never give up. Tell us what you think...

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 223 :" Storm"

KPE Episode 223 :" Storm" by Margaret Beames

Shontal and Victoria from Room 18 discuss this book by another New Zealand author.

It is about a girl called Erin who has never had any doubt about what she wants to do when she leaves school. She wants to be a farmer like her father and mother. Erin loves being on her family farm for the school holidays. Trouble is, Erin gets stuck with the boring chores and her parents don't think she's capable of much else. Try as she will, Erin finds that the boring jobs around the farm don’t keep her from daydreaming and, as a result, neither of her parents has any confidence in her ability to concentrate and complete a job properly. Things, however, have a habit of changing and Erin has to call on all her concentration and resourcefulness to help her father after he has an accident on the farm.

We wonder if any of you have ever been on a farm? Did you like it? Tell us if you think you would like living on a farm....

KPE Episode 222: "Weaving Together"

"Weaving Together" by Dawn McMillan
Selena and Angela are Year 5 students who have made a great job of their very first podcast. They have chosen to share this wonderful New Zealand book about Jamie and her grandmother who are making a woven memory of all the wonderful and sad things that have happened in their lives. They choose colours that will remind them of special events. Soon it becomes more than a piece of art and Jamie realises that both her past and her future are part of the weaving.
As you listen to this podcast you will not only find out about the book, but also about some of the lovely memories these girls have shared with their Grandmothers.
Why don't you tell them about YOUR grandmother in return?

KPE 221: "A Can of Worms"

KPE Episode 221: "A Can of Worms" by Peter Bromhead

Cruz and Blessing talk to us about this incredible story about a boy called Angus who discovers something moving in a can of spaghetti he opens. He believes the spaghetti is alive but nobody else seems concerned at his amazing discovery! His mother is too busy to look and his sister thinks it’s just another practical joke. So Angus takes the spaghetti to school and tries to get help from the teachers. They can’t help so Angus consults rocket scientist Dr Von Brawn, who even rings up NASA, but no luck! An Italian chef and a worm farmer have a part in this story too.The book seems to have some pretty 'yuck' things in it from what we hear, but they really enjoyed reading it.
We wonder how many of you like eating spaghetti out of a can? Or do you prefer real spaghetti?

KPE 220: "Tom Thumb"

KPE Episode 220: "Tom Thumb" by Gavin Bishop

Ala and Toreka are publishing their very first podcast. These girls are Year 5 students and they are in Room 15. This book they have chosen to review is subtitled " The True History of Sir Thomas Thumb" and is written by a very popular New Zealand author at our school.
They tell us that this book is a collection of stories that Gavin Bishop has made up about the famous tiny fairy tale creature and they particularly like the one called "Tom Thumb and the Big Fish" and that is the one they tell us about. We hope you enjoy their podcast, and if you also like Gavin Bishop's books, we recommend you listen to 'Stay Awake Bear', 'Chicken Licken', 'Piano Rock', 'Bidibidi' and 'Kiwi Moon'.

KPE 219: "A Very Wicked Headmistress"

"A Very Wicked Headmistress" by Margaret Mahy
Helen and Destiney from Room 18 bring us another crazy story from Margaret Mahy.
When the wicked Miss Taffeta—notorious cheater at cards and blackmailer, and former trapeze artist and human cannonball—opens an exclusive boarding school for rich young ladies, everything seems perfectly normal. But when strange things begin to occur at the school the students become suspicious, and they begin to wonder just who Headmistress Taffeta really is. As well as taking on the roles of all the different teachers in the school, Miss Taffeta plots to gain control of a neighbouring farmer's fortune by marrying him!
We are pretty sure you will love this book and this podcast.