KPE Episode 453: The Talking Stick

Serena and Mateo are both year 7 students in room 22, and have recently read The Talking Stick by Dot Meharry.

A boy named Hohepa has a dream in which he is in the marae (meeting house) with his family waiting for the talking stick to be passed on to him, so he can tell his stories but it happens to be that there isn't one.
In an effort to keep in touch with his roots, Hohepa decides to make a talking stick for his family.

Take a Listen to this awesome podcast

KPE Episode 452: Cows In Action - The Moo-My's Curse

Tana has recently done a podcast with classmate, Tevita who has been reading Cows In Action, The Moo - My's Curse by Steve Cole.

Cows In Action is a series of books that follow star agents who happen to be cows. They must travel to several places in order to stop the bad guys! 
In this series Professor McMoo, Bo Vine and Pat must find out about the Moo - My's curse by going back in time and stop the evil bulls from messing up the Earth's history.
This is a great adventurous book and will have you wanting more.

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 450: Billie B Brown, The Little Lie

Cheyanne and Taeshell are both year 6 students in room 17, and  have come together to do a review on a book called Billie B Brown The Little Lie, written by Sally Rippen

Billie has just broken her arm, playing hunters and the arrow had accidentally landed on the roof, as she climbed up to retrieve the arrow, she fell and broke her arm.
But just to make the story more interesting Billie adds in a few crocodiles. As her little white lie isn't so little anymore, her friends aren't sure what to believe...



                              Check out this awesome podcast!

KPE Episode 449: Just Jack

Marvin and Melvin are both year 7 students in room 20, and have recently joined forces to create a podcast about a book Melvin has been reading called Just Jack by New Zealand author Adele Broadbent. 
This book was a 2012 NZ Posts Children's book awards FINALIST!

Wee Jack Baines is a 14 year old boy who lives on their family farm in Ormondville  under the shadow of his older brother Robert who excels in everything he does, but one thing he is good at is his gift with horses. Jack is very small for his age, and with his gift with horses his Uncle arranges a jockey apprenticeship in Hastings.

This was wee Jack's chance to prove himself to his family, especially his brother and rid of his nickname that he hates 'Wee Jack' and just be Jack.

 Jack quickly realises that its much harder than he anticipated and comes to terms that he is more like a stable boy and his chances of a jockey apprenticeship are slipping away from his grasp.  But with some help Jack soon finds a new position in Napier and is back on his way to becoming a winning jockey.

Until the ground begins to shake beneath him...

KPE Episode 448: The ANZAC Button

Faa'ao is a year 6 from room 17, who has recently interviewed one of her classmates Ane about The ANZAC Button by Judy Raymond.


" A long time ago, the button had been important. 
It was sewn carefully onto a khaki jacket 
and polished until it shone. 
Its shiny surface reflected the soldier's pride 
as he marched on parade"

Ella's grandfather was too a veteran of war and had once worn the khaki jacket and ANZAC button in battle. It in fact saved his life as a piece of shell hit him, but luckily hit the button first and bounced off. If it weren't for the button Ella realises she would not have been here today.

In memory of her Great Grandfather Ella wore his button on the parade once again.



April the 25th, marks the date when New Zealand and Australian troops landed in Gallipoli during the first World War, it was a very significant battle in both New Zealand and Australia. Every year on the 25th April we remember these soldiers who fought for our country and Dawn parades are held all over the country in honor if them.

                                 Take a listen to this fabulous podcast 

KPE Episode 447: Sid and the Slimeballs

Jonathan and Timoteo are both year 6 students in room 17. Jonathan has shared with Timoteo the details about Sid and the Slimeballs by Phil Cummings 

Sid was the school nerd who always got  teased at school, One day a girl named Jane approached Sid and handed him a radio and headphones, while he was minding his own business a boy took the radio and headphones off him.
But Sid's luck was about to change... the manager of the rockband Slimeballs which happens to be everyones favourite band discovered Sid and wanted him to perform at school.
After his performance the rest was history!




                                  Take a listen to this awesome podcast!!

KPE Episode 446: The Magicians Nephew

Gloria is a year 6 from room 17 has been reading The Magicians Nephew, by the great C.S Lewis. Lisia recently interviewed Gloria to find out about this wonderful book.

Want to know how Narnia was created ??

The Magicians Nephew is in fact the prequel to The Lion The Witch and the Wardrobe, and tells the tale of how Narnia came to be created.

This fantastical novel will have the audience gripping in anticipation, just like it had Gloria. It is a great read for anyone who loves a mix of fantasy, adventure and mystery. 

Whilst Digory and Polly are playing they stumble across Digory's uncle Andrew who tricks Polly in to touching a yellow ring in which she vanishes, He  explains to Digory that these rings allow you to travel between two worlds and he should go after Polly.

Digory is transported to a woodland that has several pools, he finds Polly nearby. The two friends realise that this in fact is not another world, but a 'Wood between the worlds'. They soon realise that the pools are actually 'doors' that lead to a separate universe. 

What will the pair find... Take a listen to this very detailed podcast and find out what adventures they come across

KPE Episode 445: EJ12 Rocky Road

Gloria has had the pleasure of interviewing Kaycee about the novel, EJ12 Rocky Road by Susannah McFarlane. These two girls are both year 6 in room 17 who have put together a fabulous podcast that will make you want to read the book for yourself.

Emma Jacks, is special agent EJ12 an is apart of the Shine agency. She can do pretty much anything, but when it comes to performing in a school talent show with her friends she becomes all shy and timid. 

When her agency hasn't had any messages from Shadow (the 'evil agency) lately. And they know that they're planning something.

It becomes Emma's mission to find out what there up to and put a stop to it 

EJ12 is yet another fabulous book apart of the amazing Girl Hero series that many of the students love to read. Take a listen to Kaycee and Gloria's podcast on their review of this book

KPE Episode 444: Blessu

Zyrin and Timoteo are both year 6 students in room 17. Timoteo had recently finished a book called Blessu by Dick King Smith and illustrated by Adriennne Kennaway To find out more about this book Zyrin interviewed him for some insight on what happens

When someone sneezes people around them normally respond by saying 'Bless you' right ?

So when a baby elephant sneezes for the first time his family says bless you, but the baby elephant does not understand why they are saying that to him, and assumes that this must be his name.

But the baby elephants reason for why he keeps sneezing is that he has hay fever, which is a common allergy that occurs when the baby elephant is walking amongst long grass, but when the grass stops flowering the baby elephant no longer sneezes. 

Timoteo has done an excellent review on Blessu and has even given us detailed information  that you may not have known before you listen to this awesome podcast.