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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

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Raising A Generation of Empathic Citizens

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JASBINDER BILAN WINS COSTA CHILDREN’S BOOK AWARD WITH HER DEBUT NOVEL

Jasbinder Bilan

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COSTA CHILDREN’S BOOK AWARD 2019: SHORTLIST FEATURES

Former Children’s Laureate Malorie Blackman and acclaimed author Jenny Downham are on the shortlist for the 2019 Costa Children’s Book Award alongside newcomers Jasbinder Bilan and Nicholas Downing.

Costa Book Awards logo

Click the links below to read new Books for Keeps feature articles on each of the shortlisted authors.

read more...
THE IBBY LIST OF OUSTANDING BOOKS FOR YOUNG PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES

Dr Rebecca Butler writes.

Readers of Books for Keeps will remember that IBBY (the International Board on Books for Young People) arranges every two years a competition to identify the very best books for young readers featuring disability or designed to be read by young people with disabilities. Last time this list was compiled in 2017/18 I was the coordinator for the UK section.

read more...
ALASTAIR HUMPHREYS’ GREAT ADVENTURERS WINS THE 2019 EDUCATIONAL WRITERS’ AWARD

The winner of the 2019 Educational Writers’ Award is Alastair Humphreys’ Great Adventurers: The Incredible Expeditions of 20 Explorers (Big Picture Press).

Alastair Humphreys Great Adventures

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BLACKMAN AND DOWNHAM ON SHORTLIST FOR 2019 COSTA CHILDREN’S BOOK AWARD

Former Children’s Laureate Malorie Blackman and acclaimed author Jenny Downham are on the shortlist for the 2019 Costa Children’s Book Award, which was announced today, 26th November 2020. Alongside them on the list are newcomers Jasbinder Bilan and Nicholas Downing, both of whom are published by Chicken House.

The 2019 Costa Children’s Award shortlist

read more...
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.

read more...
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.

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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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