Home
Blood Red Road Banner Ad
  • Home
  • Latest Issue
  • Past Issues
  • Authors & Artists
  • Articles
  • Reviews
  • News
  • Forums
  • Search

Books for Keeps 109 - the children's book magazine online

Digital version – browse, print or download

BfK Newsletter

Receive the latest news & reviews direct to your inbox!

BfK No. 109 - March 1998

Cover Story
This issue’s cover is from David McKee’s new picture book, Elmer Plays Hide-and-Seek. David McKee is interviewed by Julia Eccleshare. Thanks to Andersen Press and Random Century for help in producing this March cover.

BfK No. 109 Articles

Editorial - March 1998

News and comment from the Editor.
Elmer at Thirty

David McKee interviewed by Julia Eccleshare.
Volunteer Reading Help

Judy Taylor Hough on how Volunteer Reading Help can support young readers.
The History of Children’s Books, No.6: The Years of Challenge

John Rowe Townsend brings the story up to the present day.
Authorgraph No.109: Jill Paton Walsh

Jill Paton Walsh interviewed by Stephanie Nettell.
BfK Briefing - March 1998

News * Events * Best Seller Charts * Publications * Awards * Obituary
I Wish I’d Written... A Swarm in May

Jan Mark chooses William Mayne's A Swarm in May.
From the Beginning: How to Enjoy Books with Your Child

Myra Barrs and Sue Ellis suggest lots of practical ways for parents and carers to enjoy sharing books with young children.
Classics in Short No.8: Charlotte’s Web

Helen Levene on E B White's Charlotte's Web.

Editor's Choice

The Wise Doll
Hiawyn Oram
(Andersen Press Ltd)
5

A version of a traditional Russian tale, this powerful picture book tells how Too-Nice is sent by her sisters, Horrid and Very-Horrid, to fetch them a toad from the house of the witch, Baba Yaga. Fortunately for Too-Nice she has a wise doll,...

read more

New Talent

Come On, Daisy!
Jane Simmons
(Orchard Books)
4

What could be more dramatic and yet satisfying for a small child than a story about losing your mother only to find her again. Intensely curious, Daisy Duckling explores the world of water and reeds around her, only to lose sight of Mamma Duck....

read more

All Children's Book Reviews in BfK No. 109

  • Under 5s
  • Ages 5-8
  • Ages 8-10
  • Ages 10-14
  • Books About Children's Books

Under 5s

  • Travelling in Grandma's Day; School Life in Grandma's Day; Houses and Homes; School
    Faye Gardner
    Anne Callender
    5

  • Rub-a-Dub-Dub
    Ernest Henry
    5

  • This Little Pig; Incy Wincy Spider; The Elephant
    Colin Hawkins
    Jacqui Hawkins
    4

  • Fowl Play: the case of the vanishing chickens
    Jonathan Allen
    3

  • Spider School
    Francesca Simon
    3

Ages 5-8

  • Tales of Wonder and Magic
    5

  • The Wise Doll
    Hiawyn Oram
    5

  • Balloon Lagoon and the Magic Islands of Poetry
    Adrian Mitchell
    5

  • Why do Stars Twinkle? and other nighttime questions
    Catherine Ripley
    4

  • Do the Doors Open by Magic? and other supermarket questions; Why is Soap So Slippery? and other bathtime questions; Why is the Sky Blue? and other outdoor questions
    Catherine Ripley
    4

  • When People Die; Our New Baby
    Sarah Levete
    4

  • Little Swan; Louisa's Secret; Louisa in the Wings; Louisa and Phoebe
    Adèle Geras
    4

  • The Emperor's New Clothes
    Hans Christian Andersen
    4

  • Tea in the Sugar Bowl, Potato in My Shoe
    Michael Rosen
    4

  • Tidy Titch; Tiny Ted; Alfie's Alphabet; The Snow Angel; Two Monsters; Oscar got the blame
    Pat Hutchins
    4

  • The Red Fox Monster; Red Fox and the Baby Bunnies
    Alan Baron
    4

  • Come On, Daisy!
    Jane Simmons
    4

  • Yum-Yum!
    Mick Manning
    Brita Granström
    3

  • Aesop's Funky Fables
    Vivian French
    3

  • What's Up?
    Mick Manning
    Brita Granström
    1

Ages 8-10

  • Farm Boy
    Michael Morpurgo
    5

  • Lassie, Come-Home
    5

  • The Even More Amazing Science Pop-Up Book
    Jay Young
    4

  • How are Babies Made?; What Happens to your Food?; The Amazing Pull-Out Pop-Up Body in a Book
    Alastair Smith
    4

  • Aunty Dot's Incredible Adventure Atlas
    Eljay Yildirim
    4

  • The Orchard Book of Opera Stories
    4

  • Lord Fox and other spine chilling tales
    Robert Nye
    4

  • Dear Daniel: Letters from Antarctica; Amazon Diary: The Jungle Adventures of Alex Winters
    Sara Wheeler
    3

  • The Illustrated Book of Ballet Stories
    Barbara Newman
    3

  • Aquila
    Andrew Norriss
    3

  • The Horribly Haunted School
    Margaret Mahy
    3

  • My Granny's Great Escape
    Jeremy Strong
    3

  • Nutcracker
    E T A Hoffmann
    2

Ages 10-14

  • The Rise of the Nazis; The Holocaust
    Charles Freeman
    5

  • The voices of Danger
    Alick Rowe
    5

  • Chasing Redbird
    Sharon Creech
    5

  • In the Deep End
    Kate Cann
    5

  • The Other Side of Silence
    Margaret Mahy
    5

  • Selected Poems for Children
    Charles Causley
    5

  • The Beast of Whixall Moss
    Pauline Fisk
    5

  • Feminism for Teenagers
    Sophie Grillet
    4

  • The World in the Time of Leonardo da Vinci; The World in the Time of Marie Antoinette
    Fiona Macdonald
    4

  • Mixed Feelings
    4

  • Get Back, Pimple!
    John Agard
    4

  • No Roof in Bosnia
    Els De Groen
    4

  • Other Colours
    Catherine Johnson
    4

  • Poo You and The Potoroo's Loo; Brainbox
    David Bellamy
    4

  • The Concise Oxford School Dictionary; The Concise Oxford School Thesaurus
    4

  • The Knight and the Squire
    Terry Jones
    4

  • Smash!
    Robert Swindells
    4

  • Iron Heads
    Susan Gates
    4

  • Drugs; Drugs
    Anita Naik
    4

  • Don't Mess With Angels
    Susan Gates
    3

  • Mine
    Caroline Pitcher
    3

  • Roman Town; Egyptian Town
    Hazel Mary Martell
    3

  • In the Next Three Seconds; The World in One Day
    Rowland Morgan
    3

  • The Ashton Affair
    Ann Thwaite
    3

  • Roverandom
    J R R Tolkien
    3

Books About Children's Books

  • Signs of Childness in Children's Books
    Peter Hollindale
    4

  • Where was Wonderland? - A traveller's guide to the settings of classic children's books
    Frank Barrett
    2

BfK News

DICKENS AND CHILDHOOD CONFERENCE

Dickens and Childhood Conference and Symposium Monday 18 June

It is not too late to book places on this special one-day conference on Dickens and Childhood, which will include walks, lectures, readings, and parallel sessions on topics that will appeal to students, teachers, Dickens experts, and the ‘interested reader’.

Marcia Williams Dickens

read more...
Siobhan Dowd Trust launches competition to help encourage a love of reading

The Siobhan Dowd Trust launches competition to help encourage a love of reading

The Siobhan Dowd Trust is proud to announce that Michael Rosen, Poet and ex-Childrens’ Laureate will be on the judging panel of a schools campaign, which is asking teachers and librarians for their ideas about how they encourage a love of books in their schools. The Trust will use the entries to build up a database of ideas which can be shared and swapped… and the ten best or most innovative ideas will receive £1000 worth of books.

read more...
Maurice Sendak June 1928 – May 2012

Maurice Sendak, who has died at the age of 83 was one of the most important illustrators of the twentieth century. Joanna Carey assesses his career for Books for Keeps

read more...
2012 Branford Boase Shortlist

Branford Boase Award logoSeven authors are on the shortlist for the 2012 Branford Boase Award, announced today, Monday 30 April.

The Branford Boase Award is given annually to the author of an outstanding debut novel for children. Uniquely, it also honours the editor of the winning title and highlights the importance of the editor in nurturing new talent.

read more...
Riddell and Stewart Guest Speakers at IBBY UK AGM 2 May

Chris Riddell and Paul Stewart will be guest speakers at the IBBY UK AGM on Wednesday 2 May at Random House 20 Vauxhall Bridge Road, London SW1V 2SA, London. The meeting is free and non-members are welcome. Refreshments will be available from 6.30pm with Chris and Paul speaking at 7pm. Book sales and a signing will take place after the meeting. To book a place email bicarrington@nasuwt.net

read more...
2012 CILIP Carnegie and Kate Greenaway Medal Shortlists

2012 CILIP Carnegie and Kate Greenaway Medal Shortlists

The shortlists have been announced for the 2012 CILIP Carnegie and Kate Greenaway Medals, the oldest and most prestigious of all the UK’s children’s book awards.

There are eight books on each shortlist, two more than has been usual: a sign perhaps of the difficulty the judges had in making their final choice.

read more...
GUUS KUIJER TO RECEIVE THE ASTRID LINDGREN MEMORIAL AWARD 2012

The 2012 Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award is to be awarded to the Dutch author Guus Kuijer.

read more...
FIRST BRITISH EXHIBITION OF CHINESE PICTURE BOOK ILLUSTRATION

In April, London hosts the first exhibitions in Britain of Chinese children’s and picture book illustration. The exhibitions feature eighty individual illustrations by China’s most celebrated children’s illustrators, and is organised by the Zhejiang Publishing Group, the Publishers’ Association of China, Propeller TV, and the Chinese Board on Books for Young People (CBBY); with the cooperation of the UK section of the International Board on Books for Young People (IBBY UK).

read more...
NEW AWARD SHORTLISTS ANNOUNCED

As we wait for the announcement of the shortlists for this year’s CILIP Carnegie and Kate Greenaway Medals, two other interesting and unusual award shortlists have just been revealed.

read more...
Transfer for Once Upon A Wartime exhibition

The Once Upon A Wartime exhibition is now at IWM North Manchester, until 2 September 2012

Based on five war-based children’s novels, the exhibition explores the history of real life conflicts from 1914 to the present day through the eyes of fictional children.

Read Kate Agnew’s Books for Keeps review of the exhibition here.

read more...
more
  • About us
  • Contact us
  • Help/FAQ
  • My Account
website developed by purkiss