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Books for Keeps 157 - the children's book magazine online

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BfK No. 157 - March 2006

Cover Story
This issue’s cover illustration is from John Burningham’s Edwardo. Edwardo is this issue's Editor’s Choice. Thanks to Random House Children’s Books for their help with this March cover.

BfK No. 157 Articles

Editorial - March 2006

News and comment from the Editor.

Retrospective: The Endless Imagination of Joan Aiken

Peter Hollindale explores her legacy.

Going Solo

Sue Unstead on helpful handbooks.

Ted Hughes: Collected Poems for Children

Helen Taylor on the relevance of his work.

Reading Aloud with Michael Rosen

Michael Rosen on ways to children and books together.

Authorgraph No.157: Linda Newbery

Linda Newbery interviewed by Kate Agnew.

Take 3: Children’s Librarians

Revelations from Annie Everall, Ian Dodds and Clive Barnes.

Hal’s Reading Diary - March 2006

Roger Mills on reading and memory.

I Wish I’d Written… Junk

Cathy Hopkins chooses Melvin Burgess' Junk.

Good Reads: Swanmead Middle School, Ilminster, Somerset

Reviews from Swanmead Middle School, Somerset.

BfK Briefing - March 2006

News * Awards * People * Obituaries * Publications * Letters to the Editor

Useful Organisations No.43: Teen Critic

Information on teen critic, Edward Malnick, and a critique on a selection of young adult books.

Classics in Short No.56: My Friend Mr Leakey

Brian Alderson on J B S Haldane's My Friend Mr Leakey.

Editor's Choice

Edwardo

John Burningham
(Jonathan Cape)
5

Edwardo is the roughest, noisiest, nastiest boy in the whole wide world and it is not until some of his misdeeds go wrong (eg he pushes a boy backwards inadvertently saving him from being crushed by a falling lamp) and he finds himself being...

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New Talent

The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas

John Boyne
(David Fickling Books)
3

Described by its author as a fable, this book chronicles events in the life of a nine-year-old Berliner, Bruno, from his own (often mystified) point of view. Bruno knows his father is an important man and that is why the family must leave Berlin...

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All Children's Book Reviews in BfK No. 157

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

Under 5s

  • While You Are Sleeping

    Alexis Deacon
    5
  • Shoe Baby

    Joyce Dunbar
    5
  • Little Daughter of the Snow

    Arthur Ransome
    5
  • Edwardo

    John Burningham
    5
  • The Toolbox

    Anne Rockwell
    Harlow Rockwell
    5
  • Smiley Shark

    Ruth Galloway
    4
  • Orange Pear Apple Bear

    Emily Gravett
    4
  • Big Black Dog

    Caroline Glicksman
    4
  • Hugs on the Wind

    Marsha Diane Arnold
    Vernise Elaine Pelzel
    4
  • The Very Clever Crocodile

    Jack Tickle
    3
  • Muddlewitch Does Magic Tricks

    Nick Sharratt
    3
  • Little Monkey's One Safe Place

    Richard Edwards
    3
  • Baby Brains Superstar

    Simon James
    3
  • Storytime: First Tales for Sharing

    Stella Blackstone
    3
  • Meerkat Mail

    Emily Gravett
    3
  • Cave-baby and the Mammoth : Sally Sails the Seas : The Sand Dragon : Squelch! : Not-So-Silly Sausage : Nick's Birthday : Out Went Sam : Yummy Scrummy : Countdown! : One Wet Welly : Albert Liked Ladders : Billy on the Ball

    Vivien French
    Lisa Williams
    3
  • Splash! : Zoom!

    Sarah Garland
    2
  • The Starlight Baby

    Gillian Shields
    2
  • How to Build a House : Pip Likes Snow : Bird Watch : Molly is New : A Head Full of Stories : Elephant Rides Again

    Nick Turpin
    Barbara Nascimbeni
    2

Ages 5-8

  • The Princess and the Pea

    Lauren Child
    5
  • Little Tim and the Brave Sea Captain

    Edward Ardizzone
    5
  • Dotty Inventions and Some Real Ones Too

    Roger McGough
    5
  • Ice Bear

    Nicola Davies
    5
  • The Boy Who Grew Flowers

    Jen Wojtowicz
    4
  • Dear Bunny

    Michaela Morgan
    4
  • Indian Myths: Stories from ancient civilisations

    Shahrukh Husain
    4
  • The Lonely Tree

    Nicholas Halliday
    3
  • Rita in the Deep Blue Sea

    Hilda Offen
    3
  • Moonlight Mischief (Witch-in-Training)

    Maeve Friel
    3
  • Fig's Giant

    Geraldine McCaughrean
    2
  • Alfie Green and a Sink Full of Frogs : Alfie Green and the Magical Gift

    Joe O'Brien
    2

Ages 8-10

  • The Art Book for Children

    Amanda Renshaw
    Gilda Williams Ruggi
    5
  • The Carnival of the Animals : Poems inspired by Saint-Saens' music

    4
  • Home Front Heroes

    Jon Blake
    Penny McKinlay
    4
  • The Secret Life of Jamie B Hero.Com

    Ceri Worman
    4
  • Spymice - The Black Paw

    Heather Vogel Frederick
    4
  • Pharoah's Egypt

    Mick Manning
    Brita Granström
    4
  • Egyptian Diary: the Journal of Nakht

    Richard Platt
    4
  • ABC USA

    Martin Jarrie
    3
  • Billy Bonkers

    Giles Andreae
    3
  • Molly Moon's Hypnotic Time-Travel Adventure

    Georgia Byng
    3
  • Muslims in Britain

    Fiona Macdonald
    3
  • A Faith Like Mine

    Laura Buller
    3
  • Drift House: The First Vovage

    Dale Peck
    1

Ages 10-14

  • Something Invisible

    Siobhan Parkinson
    5
  • The Survival Game

    Tim Wynne-Jones
    5
  • The Web of Fire

    Steve Voake
    5
  • Blown Away

    Patrick Cave
    5
  • A Single Shard

    Linda Sue Park
    4
  • The Mob (The Crow Chronicles trilogy, Part 1)

    Clem Martini
    4
  • Turbulence

    Jan Mark
    4
  • Spy Girl: The Dark Side of Midnight

    Carol Hedges
    4
  • Malvolio's Revenge

    Sophie Masson
    4
  • CloudWorld

    David Cunningham
    4
  • Storm Thief

    Chris Wooding
    4
  • The Diamond of Drury Lane

    Julia Golding
    4
  • North Child

    Edith Pattou
    4
  • Chill Factor

    Vincent McDonnell
    3
  • The Lady Grace Mysteries: Gold

    Janet Burchett
    Sara Vogler
    3
  • The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas

    John Boyne
    3
  • Powder Monkey

    Paul Dowswell
    3
  • House of Spies

    Griselda Gifford
    2
  • Ouch!

    Steve Cole
    2

Ages 14+

  • The Garden

    Elsie V Aidinoff
    5
  • Tamar

    Mal Peet
    5
  • The Magicians' Guild ; The Novice

    Trudi Canavan
    3

Books About Children's Books

  • Winning Books

    Ruth Allen
    3
  • Into the Wardrobe: C S Lewis and the Narnia Chronicles

    David C Downing
    3

BfK News

NATASHA FARRANT WINS 2020 COSTA CHILDREN’S BOOK AWARD

Natasha Farrant

Writer and literary scout Natasha Farrant has won the 2020 Costa Children’s Book Award for Voyage of the Sparrowhawk, a book which the judges described as ‘pure heavenly escapism and a purely joyful read.’

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ROBIN WALKER WINS THE 2020 ALCS EDUCATIONAL WRITERS’ AWARD FOR BLACK HISTORY MATTERS

The winner of the 2020 ALCS Educational Writers’ Award is Black History Matters: The Story of Black History, From African Kingdoms to Black Lives Matter. Written by acclaimed Black historian, Robin Walker, the 2020 judges praised this accessible, comprehensive and inspiring book which provides a timely introduction both to Black history and the Black Lives Matter movement.

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IBBY UK nominate Marcus Sedgwick and David McKee for the Hans Christian Andersen Award 2022

IBBY UK has announced that Marcus Sedgwick and David McKee will be the UK nominations for the 2022 Hans Christian Andersen Award.

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SHORTLIST FOR THE COSTA CHILDREN’S BOOK AWARD 2020

Debut authors Darren Charlton and Jenny Pearson join Natasha Farrant and Meg Rosoff on the shortlist for the 2020 Costa Children’s Book Award.

The shortlist for the 2020 Costa Children’s Book Award has been announced. No less than 146 books were submitted and from those the judges have chosen a shortlist of four. They are:

Wranglestone by Darren Charlton (Little Tiger)

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BOOKTRUST’S REPRESENTS INTERIM RESEARCH & CLPE REFLECTING REALITIES SURVEY 2020

CLPE Reflecting Realities Report 2020

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SHORTLIST FOR THE 2021 BLUE PETER BOOK AWARDS REVEALED

The six books shortlisted for the 2021 Blue Peter Book Awards have been announced.

Blue Peter Book Award logo

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Happy National Non-Fiction November 2020

It’s National Non-Fiction November! Organised by the Federation of Children’s Book Groups, National Non-Fiction November is an annual celebration of the power of non-fiction to inspire children and celebrate readers who have a passion for information and facts. 2020 is the 10th anniversary of National Non-Fiction November.

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JANE PORTER AND MAISIE PARADISE SHEARRING 2020 LITTLE REBELS AWARD WINNERS

Jane Porter and Maisie Paradise Shearring have won the 2020 Little Rebels Award for their picture book The Boy who Loved Everyone. They will share the £2000 prize.

Little Rebels logo 2020

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OU AND MACMILLAN CHILDREN’S BOOKS LAUNCH BOOK CHAT SCHEME

The Open University (OU) is launching Book Chat: Reading with your Child, a resource which comprises three short films and support materials to help parents, families and carers read books conversationally and creatively to children. Working with Macmillan Children’s Books, the films use a selection of their picture books and a poetry collection to support families with reading to different ages of children.

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TOM PALMER WINS THE CHILDREN’S BOOK AWARD 2020

Tom Palmer

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