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Books for Keeps 163 - the children's book magazine online

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BfK No. 163 - March 2007

Cover Story
This issue’s cover illustration is from Meg Rosoff’s Just In Case. Meg Rosoff is interviewed by Nicholas Tucker. Thanks to Penguin Books for their help with this March cover.

BfK No. 163 Articles

Editorial - March 2007

News and comment from the Editor.

Teenagers Promoting Books – A Novel Idea

Nicola Morgan on how her new novel was promoted.

The Best Books of 2006

Rosemary Stones discusses the books that came to the top.

The Oxford Encyclopedia of Children’s Literature

Brian Alderson assesses this new work of reference.

Windows into Illustration: Mairi Hedderwick

Mairi Hedderwick explains the thinking behind her illustration.

Authorgraph No.163: Meg Rosoff

Meg Rosoff interviewed by Nicholas Tucker.

‘Teaching’ Poems for Children: A Praise Poem

Robert Hull explores how to use a praise poem.

Take 3: Eponymous Imprints

David Fickling Books, Jane Nissen Books and Marion Lloyd Books.

Hal’s Reading Diary - March 2007

Roger Mills on Hal and thank you letters.

BfK Briefing - March 2007

News * Obituaries * Letter to the Editor

Cool to be Clever: Getting Boys to Read

Philip Wilkinson discusses boys and reading.

I Wish I’d Written... Warrior Scarlet

Stuart Hill chooses Rosemary Sutcliff's Warrior Scarlet.

Good Reads: Broadwater School, Godalming, Surrey

Reviews from Broadwater School, Godalming, Surrey.

Classics in Short No.62: The Battle of Bubble and Squeak

Brian Alderson on Philippa Pearce's The Battle of Bubble and Squeak.

The Oxford Encyclopedia of Children’s Literature - additional information

Brian Alderson discusses further.

Editor's Choice

Beware of the Storybook Wolves

Lauren Child
(Hodder Children's Books)
5

Too often, publishers impose the bells and whistles of paper engineering on stories because they can, rather than with any discernable purpose. Lauren Child’s Beware of the Storybook Wolves worked very well as a picture book...

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New Talent

Waves

Sharon Dogar
(Scholastic US)
4

A year has gone by since Charlie went surfing at night and was discovered the next morning lying on the rocks by her younger brother, 15-year-old Hal. It has been a year for the family of visiting Charlie in hospital where she lies in a coma. Is...

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All Children's Book Reviews in BfK No. 163

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

Under 5s

  • Follow the Swallow

    Julia Donaldson
    5
  • Rotten and Rascal: The Two Terrible Pterosaur Twins

    Paul Geraghty
    4
  • Elmer and the Lost Teddy

    David McKee
    4
  • Hello, Who's There?

    Satoshi Kitamura
    3
  • The Amazing Lift-The-Flap ABC

    Colin Hawkins
    Jacqui Hawkins
    3
  • Max Moves to Moscow

    Winifred Riser
    2

Ages 5-8

  • Mustard, Custard, Grumble Belly and Gravy

    Michael Rosen
    5
  • The Lost Happy Endings

    Carol Ann Duffy
    5
  • Beware of the Storybook Wolves

    Lauren Child
    5
  • The Barefoot Book of Classic Poems

    5
  • Uneversaurus

    Aidan Potts
    4
  • The Orchard Book of Goblins, Ghouls & Ghosts & Other Magical Stories

    Martin Waddell
    4
  • Amazing Bugs

    Richard Ferguson
    4
  • Actual Size

    Steve Jenkins
    4
  • Finding Fizz ¦ Nothing But Trouble ¦ On the Ghost Trail ¦ Scratch and Sniff ¦ Taking Flight ¦ The Thing in the Basement

    J Alexander
    3
  • That's Why!

    Babette Cole
    3
  • Sahir Goes to the Dentist

    Chris Petty
    3
  • Miss Fox

    Simon Puttock
    3
  • The Littlest Pirate and the Hammerheads

    Sherryl Clark
    3
  • I Very Really Miss You

    Jane Kemp
    Clare Walters
    3
  • The Courageous Cats Compete

    Steve Wood
    3
  • Tom and Sofia Start School

    Henriette Barkow
    2

Ages 8-10

  • The Adventures of Odysseus

    Hugh Lupton
    Daniel Morden
    5
  • Viking Longship

    Mick Manning
    Brita Granström
    4
  • Jake Jellicoe and the Dread Pirate Redbeard

    Joanna Nadin
    4
  • The Dragon Detective Agency: The Case of the Missing Cats

    Gareth Jones
    4
  • Clarice Bean, Don't Look Now

    Lauren Child
    4
  • Beware! Killer Tomatoes

    Jeremy Strong
    4
  • Sir Gadabout Goes to Knight School

    Martyn Beardsley
    3
  • The Silver Donkey

    Sonya Hartnett
    3
  • I Am a Tree

    Kaye Umansky
    3
  • Topaz on Ice ¦ Topaz Takes a Break ¦ Topaz Takes the Stage

    Helen Bailey
    2
  • 101 Things You Need To Know (… and Some You Don't!)

    Richard Horne
    Tracey Turner
    1

Ages 10-14

  • Weedflower

    Cynthia Kadohata
    5
  • The Thing with Finn

    Tom Kelly
    5
  • I Am the Great Horse

    Katherine Roberts
    5
  • Urgum the Axeman

    Kjartan Poskitt
    4
  • Kiss of Death

    Malcolm Rose
    4
  • The Hunchback of Notre-Dame

    Victor Hugo
    4
  • Catcall

    Linda Newbery
    4
  • Bec

    Darren Shan
    4
  • Amethyst

    Rebecca Lisle
    4
  • The Witches' Mark

    Donald Lightwood
    3
  • River Secrets

    Shannon Hale
    3
  • The Lurkers

    Charles Butler
    3
  • In the Nick of Time

    Robert Swindells
    3
  • I Don't Want an Avocado for an Uncle

    Chrissie Gittins
    3
  • I Am a Cloud, I Can Blow Anywhere

    Jonathan Tulloch
    Shirley Tulloch
    3
  • After the Death of Alice Bennett

    Rowland Molony
    3

Ages 14+

  • This Is All: The Pillow Book of Cordelia Kenn

    Aidan Chambers
    5
  • Finding Violet Park

    Jenny Valentine
    5
  • Dirty Work

    Julia Bell
    5
  • The Book Thief

    Markus Zusak
    5
  • Zenith

    Julie Bertagna
    4
  • Waves

    Sharon Dogar
    4
  • Life as We Knew It

    Susan Pfeffer
    4
  • Growing Yams in London

    Sophia Acheampong
    3
  • Inside the Mind of Gideon Rayburn

    Sarah Miller
    2

Books About Children's Books

  • The Invention of Childhood

    Hugh Cunningham
    Michael Morpurgo
    5
  • Universal Verse: Poetry for Children

    4

BfK News

LONGLISTS ANNOUNCED FOR 2021 CILIP CARNEGIE AND KATE GREENAWAY MEDALS

The longlist for the 2021 CILIP Carnegie and Kate Greenaway Medals have been announced.

CKG Logo

read more...
LONGLIST ANNOUNCED FOR 2021 KLAUS FLUGGE PRIZE

Klaus Flugge Prize logo

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NOW OPEN: 2021 HENRIETTA BRANFORD WRITING COMPETITION

Finish a story started by Branford Boase Award winner Liz Hyder

The Henrietta Branford Writing Competition, the annual competition for young people which runs in conjunction with the Branford Boase Award, is now open.

read more...
TWO UK ENTRIES ON IBBY LIST OF OUTSTANDING BOOKS FOR YOUNG PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES

Every two years, IBBY invites nominations for its international List of Outstanding Books for Young People with Disabilities. Nominations are made by IBBY national sections and the final list is selected from these by the IBBY Documentation Centre of Books for Young People with Disabilities, based in Toronto. Because of its international content, the list is unique in the children’s book world. It is a huge voluntary undertaking as every country is encouraged to submit up to twelve titles across the three categories.

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LONGLIST FOR THE 2021 BRANFORD BOASE AWARD

The longlist for the 2021 Branford Boase Award has been announced. Set up in memory of award-winning author Henrietta Branford and her editor Wendy Boase, one of the founders of Walker Books, the Branford Boase Award is given annually to the author of an outstanding debut novel for children.

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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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