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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

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

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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.

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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

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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.

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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

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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.

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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.

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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).

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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.

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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.

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