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Books for Keeps 117 - the children's book magazine online

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BfK No. 117 - July 1999

Cover Story
This issue’s cover is from J K Rowling's Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, the third book in what is already a classic new series. The first two titles were Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone and Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets. Thanks to Bloomsbury Children’s Books for their help. Cover image based on original artwork by Cliff Wright

BfK No. 117 Articles

Editorial – July 1999

News and comment from the Editor.
Life Cycles, Journeys and Historical Stories

Margaret Mallett on new narrative non-fiction.
The Harry Potter Phenomenon

Caroline Horn analyses a rip-roaring publishing success.
Giving Text a Context

Joanna Oldham and Kathryn Warder on book adaptations and print literacy.
Authorgraph No.117: Jean Adamson

Jean Adamson interviewed by Stephanie Nettell.
Single Volume Encyclopedias

John Farndon compares three new children's encyclopedias.
BfK Briefing – July 1999

News * Obituary * Publications * Events * Letters to the Editor * Best Seller Chart * Awards
Useful Organisations No.7: Film Education

Encourages the use of film and cinema in schools.
I Wish I’d Written… The Bird

Joyce Dunbar chooses Nicholas Allan's The Bird.
Good Reads: St Ronan’s National School, Dublin

Reviews from pupils of St Ronan's National School, Dublin.
Classics in Short No.16: Mistress Masham’s Repose

Brian Alderson on T H White's Mistress Masham's Repose.

Editor's Choice

Women in 19th Century America; Women in 19th Century Europe
Fiona Macdonald
(Belitha Press Ltd)
4

In 1792 Mary Wollstonecraft called on men on behalf of women to ‘snap our chains’. In 1999 there is still a dearth of books which discuss women’s contribute to history and social change. These two clearly written and well laid out books discuss...

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New Talent

Angus, Thongs and Full-Frontal Snogging
Louise Rennison
(Piccadilly Press Ltd)
3

Teenage fiction in diary form has been attempted many times but this uninhibited account of young adolescence is presented with laidback, witty veracity via its 14-year-old narrator. Jokes and plays on words abound creating the feel of an intense...

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All Children's Book Reviews in BfK No. 117

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

Under 5s

  • Borka; Cloudland; Courtney; Oi! Get off our Train; Simp; Time to get out of the bath, Shirley; Would you rather…
    John Burningham
    5

  • Prince Peter and the Teddy Bear
    David McKee
    5

  • The King with Dirty Feet and other stories
    5

  • Dexter Gets Dressed!
    Ken Wilson-Max
    5

  • A Cultivated Wolf
    5

  • Where are My Chicks?
    Sally Grindley
    4

  • The Usborne Book of Everyday Words
    Jo Litchfield
    4

  • The Badger's Bath; The Hedgehog's Balloon
    Nick Butterworth
    4

  • Dizzy's Walk; Marty Monster; Mum's Late; Rainbow House; Starlight; Zia the Orchestra
    Malorie Blackman
    3

  • Sun Slices, Moon Slices; Three Cheers, Charlie Dragon!
    Adèle Geras
    3

  • The Elves and the Shoemaker; Goldilocks and the Three Bears; The Runaway Chapati
    Susan Price
    3

  • Has Anyone Seen Jack?
    Tony Bradman
    3

  • Nighty-night; Wakey-wakey
    Dawn Apperley
    2

Ages 5-8

  • The Barn Owl; The Otter
    Sally Tagholm
    5

  • Big Head; Lady Long-Legs
    Jean Ure
    5

  • Discover Great Paintings
    Lucy Micklethwait
    5

  • Wild West Willy
    Daniel Postgate
    4

  • My Brother Sammy
    Becky Edwards
    4

  • Justin and the Big Fight
    Bernard Ashley
    4

  • I Feel Bullied; I'm Special
    Jen Green
    4

  • Can We Keep It, Dad?
    Gus Clarke
    4

  • Tiny the Terrier
    Linda Kempton
    3

  • Ballet Magic
    Harriet Castor
    3

  • The Computer Wizard
    Alex Shearer
    1

Ages 8-10

  • Elephant; Tiger
    Will Travers
    5

  • Women in 19th Century America; Women in 19th Century Europe
    Fiona Macdonald
    4

  • A Villain's Night Out
    Margaret Mahy
    4

  • Britain at War - Air Raids; Britain at War - Evacuation
    Martin Parsons
    4

  • Mummies and Tombs
    Salima Ikram
    3

  • Living with Blindness; Living with Deafness
    Patsy Westcott
    3

Ages 10-14

  • Wringer
    Jerry Spinelli
    5

  • Evolve or Die; Odious Oceans; Violent Volcanoes
    Phil Gates
    5

  • The New Way Things Work
    David Macaulay
    Neil Ardley
    5

  • The Kin
    Peter Dickinson
    5

  • Walking the Maze
    Margret Shaw
    4

  • Something Rich and Strange: a Treasury of Shakespeare's Verse
    4

  • Hangman
    Julia Jarman
    4

  • Face
    Benjamin Zephaniah
    4

  • William Shakespeare
    Stewart Ross
    3

  • Tibetans, The: Life in exile
    Carol Barker
    3

  • Soccer Stars
    Rob Childs
    3

  • Goal-getter; Hero; Hot News; Rapid
    Michael Hardcastle
    3

  • Limbo Lodge
    Joan Aiken
    3

  • Hurricane Hamish - The Calypso Cricketer; Hurricane Hamish - The Cricket World Cup
    Mark Jefferson
    3

  • Breaking the Rules
    Sandra Glover
    3

  • Annie's Game
    Narinder Dhami
    3

Ages 14+

  • War Poems; War Poems Teaching Resources
    Christopher Martin
    5

  • Shadow Man
    Cynthia D Grant
    5

  • A Message for the Media: Young Women Talk
    5

  • The Kingfisher Book of Poems About Love
    5

  • Racism: Changing Attitudes 1900-2000; Slavery Today; Women's Rights: Changing Attitudes 1900-2000
    R G Grant
    4

  • Tightrope
    Gillian Cross
    4

  • Hold My Hand and Run
    Margaret McAllister
    4

  • Film Making
    James Marsh
    4

  • The Dorling Kindersley Nature Encyclopedia
    4

  • Day of the Dead
    Anthony Masters
    4

  • Charities - do they work?
    Alison Brownlie
    4

  • Megan
    Mary Hooper
    3

  • Getting Somewhere
    Jenny Pausacker
    3

  • Angus, Thongs and Full-Frontal Snogging
    Louise Rennison
    3

Books About Children's Books

  • A World of Women
    Rosemary Auchmuty
    4

  • Everyone is a Reader: A Handbook to help Children with Reading Difficulties
    Beverley Mathias
    4

  • A Handbook on Death and Bereavement (2)
    3

BfK News

2019 ALCS EDUCATIONAL WRITERS’ AWARD SHORTLIST

Shortlist announced for the UK’s only award for creative educational writing

The Society of Authors and the Authors’ Licensing& Collecting Society have announced the shortlist for the 2019 ALCS Educational Writers’ Award, the UK’s only award for educational writing which stimulates and enhances the learning experience.

read more...
‘INSPIRING’: CONTENDERS FOR THE 2020 BLUE PETER BOOK AWARDS REVEALED

Blue Peter Book Award logo

Six books have made it onto the shortlists for the 2020 Blue Peter Book Awards. There are two categories: Best Story, and – in non-fiction November – Best Book with Facts.

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NOMINATIONS ANNOUNCED FOR THE 2020 CARNEGIE AND KATE GREENAWAY MEDALS

And we’re off… the nominations for the 2020 Carnegie and Kate Greenaway Medals are announced today, Monday 4th November.

read more...
2020 UKLA BOOK AWARDS THE LONGLISTS

UKLA Awards

A record number of submissions and a new category to highlight information books marks the 12th longlists for the UKLA Awards, the only national awards judged by active classroom teachers.

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JESSICA LOVE NAMED WINNER OF THE KLAUS FLUGGE PRIZE 2019 FOR JULIAN IS A MERMAID

Jessica Love

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LOLLIES 2020 SHORTLIST THE YEAR’S FUNNIEST CHILDREN’S BOOKS

Michael Rosen, children’s novelist, poet and former Children’s Laureate, has announced the shortlist for the 2020 Laugh Out Loud Awards (The Lollies), the awards that celebrate the funniest children’s books.

Lollies logo

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HOOD, RUNDELL AND REYNOLDS UKLA BOOK AWARD WINNERS 2019

Morag Hood, Katherine Rundell and Jason Reynolds have been announced as the winners of the UKLA Book Awards 2019 for I Am Bat, The Explorer and Long Way Down respectively.

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CATHERINE JOHNSON WINS LITTLE REBELS CHILDREN’S BOOK AWARD

The Alliance of Radical Booksellers (ARB) is delighted to announce that the winner of this year’s Little Rebels Children’s Book Award for Radical Fiction is Catherine Johnson for her book, Freedom (Scholastic 2018).

Catherine Johnsonn photo Andy Donohoe

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CRESSIDA COWELL ANNOUNCED AS NEW WATERSTONES CHILDREN’S LAUREATE

‘Books are transformative because of their unique ability to develop three key magical powers: intelligence, creativity and, most important of all, empathy. Words are power; let’s take magic seriously.’ Cressida Cowell, Waterstones Children’s Laureate

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STEVEN CAMDEN WINS CLiPPA 2019

Steven Camden photo by Ellie Kurttz

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