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Books for Keeps 172 - the children's book magazine online

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BfK No. 172 - September 2008

Cover Story
This issue’s cover illustration by Mick Inkpen is from a new Kipper title, Hide Me, Kipper! (978 0 340 97045 4, £10.99 hbk). Mick Inkpen discusses his work here. Thanks to Hodder Children’s Books for their help with this September cover.

BfK No. 172 Articles

Editorial - September 2008

News and comment from the Editor.
Book to Screen

Julia Jarman on translating story into film.
Windows into Illustration: Mick Inkpen

Mick Inkpen explains the thinking behind his illustrations.
Proust and the Squid: The story and science of the reading brain

Henrietta Dombey explores Maryanne Wolf's application of neuroscience.
Authorgraph No.172: Anne Cassidy

Anne Cassidy interviewed by Julia Eccleshare.
Peter Dickinson and the Hazards of Storytelling

Brian Alderson assesses Dickinson's oeuvre.
Peter Dickinson: some information on his books for children

Brian Alderson provides further information on Dickinson's oeuvre.
BfK Briefing – September 2008

Awards
Obituary: David Self

Geraldine Brennan remembers David Self.
Hal’s Reading Diary – September 2008

Roger Mills is trying not to push Hal to read.
Good Reads: Holy Trinity CE Primary School, Cheltenham

Reviews from pupils of Holy Trinity CE Primary School, Cheltenham.
I Wish I’d Written… Coraline

Joanne Harris chooses Neil Gaiman's Coraline.
Laureate Log - September 2008

Michael Rosen meets DCSF Early Years people and goes on tour.
Classics in Short No.71: Anne of Green Gables

Brian Alderson on L M Montgomery's Anne of Green Gables.

Editor's Choice

Mr Pusskins and Little Whiskers
Sam Lloyd
(Orchard)
5

In this the second book about the relationship between Mr Pusskins and his owner Emily, peace and harmony are disturbed by the arrival of (from Mr P’s point of view) an unwelcome intruder. Emily presents Mr P with a ‘fabulous surprise’, a demure...

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New Talent

The Mysterious Benedict Society
Trenton Lee Stewart
(Chicken House)
4

‘Are you a gifted child looking for special opportunities?’ asks a newspaper advertisement. Many children apply. While written questions have to be answered, the exam also involves putting the children in situations which test them in ways...

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All Children's Book Reviews in BfK No. 172

  • Under 5s
  • Ages 5-8
  • Ages 8-10
  • Ages 10-14
  • Ages 14+

Under 5s

  • Not a Box
    Antoinette Portis
    5

  • Mr Pusskins and Little Whiskers
    Sam Lloyd
    5

  • Grumpy Cat
    Britta Teckentrup
    5

  • The Growing Story
    Ruth Krauss
    5

  • Emily Goes to Market
    William Mayne
    5

  • Elmer and the Big Bird
    David McKee
    5

  • Chicky Chicky Chook Chook
    Cathy MacLennan
    5

  • Wriggle Piggy Toes
    John Agard
    4

  • The Very Funny Fish
    Jack Tickle
    4

  • Tweedle Dee Dee
    Charlotte Voake
    4

  • Big Yellow Sunflower ¦ Little Green Frog
    Frances Barry
    4

  • Ha Ha, Baby!
    Kate Petty
    4

  • The Teazles' Baby Bunny
    Susan Bagnall
    3

  • The Smallest Samurai
    Fiona French
    3

  • I Love Korky
    Teddy Slater
    3

  • Darkness Slipped In
    Ella Burfoot
    3

  • Lulu's Shoes
    Camilla Reid
    2

Ages 5-8

  • Grandpa's Boat
    Michael Catchpool
    5

  • Aunt Nancy and the Bothersome Visitors
    Phyllis Root
    5

  • Ten Frogs: A book about counting in English and French
    Quentin Blake
    4

  • The Snow Leopard
    Jackie Morris
    4

  • Bubbles in the Bathroom ¦ Shadows in the Bedroom
    Susan Martineau
    4

  • Leon Spreads His Wings
    Wendy Lee
    4

  • The Faraway Island
    Dianne Hofmeyr
    4

  • Meggie Moon ¦ The Wish Cat
    Elizabeth Baguley
    3

  • Whizz-Bang Winnie
    Laura Owen
    3

  • Pirate Princess: Poppy
    Judy Brown
    3

  • The Land of the Dragon King and other Korean stories
    Gillian McClure
    3

  • Just One Peaceful Pond ¦ Just One Quiet Pine Tree
    Chris Butterworth
    3

  • Hansel and Gretel
    The Brothers Grimm
    3

  • Elfa and the Box of Memories
    Michelle Bell
    3

  • Can Anybody Hear Me?
    Jessica Meserve
    3

Ages 8-10

  • Space
    Carole Stott
    4

  • The Mysterious Benedict Society
    Trenton Lee Stewart
    4

  • Warrior King
    Sue Purkiss
    3

  • My Parents' Divorce
    Julia Cole
    3

  • Grk Smells a Rat!
    Joshua Doder
    3

  • Dinosaur Hunter
    Jen Green
    3

  • Angel Boy
    Bernard Ashley
    3

  • 101 Ways to Save the Earth
    David Bellamy
    3

Ages 10-14

  • The Ropes: poems to hold on to
    5

  • Before Green Gables
    Budge Wilson
    5

  • Young Samurai: The Way of the Warrior
    Chris Bradford
    4

  • Strange Hiding Place
    Graham Marks
    4

  • Show Me the Money
    Alvin Hall
    4

  • Ginger Snaps
    Cathy Cassidy
    4

  • Everything I Know About You
    Belinda Hollyer
    4

  • Atlas of Exploration
    Anita Ganeri
    Andrea Mills
    4

  • Vortex
    Chris Ryan
    3

  • Spy Girl: Dead Man Talking
    Carol Hedges
    3

  • The Roar
    Emma Clayton
    3

  • Puppet Master
    Joanne Owen
    3

  • One Small Step
    P B Kerr
    3

  • The Night of the Burning
    Linda Press Wulf
    3

  • Kid Swap
    Michael Lawrence
    3

  • The Fire Eternal
    Chris D'Lacey
    3

  • Eye of the Sun
    Dianne Hofmeyr
    2

  • Beijing
    Richard Platt
    2

Ages 14+

  • Rain
    Kate Le Vann
    5

  • The Ghost's Child
    Sonya Hartnett
    5

  • Red Spikes
    Margo Lanagan
    4

  • The Last Free Cat
    Jon Blake
    4

  • Hush: A Slave Princess' Tale
    Donna Jo Napoli
    4

  • From Somalia, with love
    Na'ima B Robert
    4

  • Creature of the Night
    Kate Thompson
    4

  • The Luxe
    Anna Godbersen
    3

  • Generation Dead
    Daniel Waters
    2

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

read more...
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.

read more...
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

read more...
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.

read more...
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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