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Books for Keeps 177 - the children's book magazine online

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BfK No. 177 - July 2009

Cover Story

This issue’s cover illustration features Kevin Brooks (photograph by Charles Shearn) and his latest book, Killing God. Kevin Brooks is interviewed by Brian Alderson. Thanks to Penguin Books for their help with this July cover.

BfK No. 177 Articles

Editorial – July 2009

News and comment from the Editor.

Last Laureate Log - July 2009

Michael Rosen reflects on his Laureateship.

Windows into Illustration: Emily Gravett

Emily Gravett explains the thinking behind her picture book, Dogs.

Ten of the Best Board Books for Babies

Rosemary Stones chooses ten outstanding titles.

Prehistory and the ‘Chronicles of Ancient Darkness’

Hannah Sackett on the impact of novels set in prehistoric times.

Authorgraph No.177: Kevin Brooks

Kevin Brooks interviewed by Brian Alderson

Forum: Helping the Teachers of Reading

Alison Kelly describes work with students at Roehampton University.

BfK Briefing – July 2009

Awards * Events * News.

Hal’s Reading Diary – July 2009

Roger Mills ponders on how to encourage tenacity in Hal.

I Wish I’d Written… Island of the Blue Dolphins

Caroline Lawrence chooses Scott O’Dell’s Island of the Blue Dolphins.

Good Reads: Woldingham School

Reviews from pupils of Woldingham School, Surrey.

Classics in Short No.76: Mind Your Own Business

Brian Alderson on Michael Rosen’s Mind Your Own Business.

Editor's Choice

John Burningham

John Burningham
(Jonathan Cape)
5

Children’s book illustration’s equivalent of the Three Tenors has long been the trio of Blake, Briggs and Burningham, three illustrators whose creative genius has been central in transforming picture books for children into works of art that...

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New Talent

Devil's Kiss

Sarwat Chadra
(Puffin)
4

Not being a fan of The Da Vinci Code I doubted whether I would enjoy a novel whose heroine, Billi SangGreal, is the first female member of the Knights Templar. Within a few pages, however, Chadda had swept me into the hidden and...

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All Children's Book Reviews in BfK No. 177

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

Under 5s

  • Baby Pie

    Tom MacRae
    5
  • First the Egg

    Laura Vaccaro Seeger
    5
  • I Don't Want a Cool Cat

    Emma Dodd
    4
  • Love Your World

    Dawn Sirett
    3
  • What Shall I Make?

    Nandini Nayar
    3
  • Where's the Bus?

    Eileen Browne
    James Croft
    3
  • SNAP!

    Margaret Mayo
    3
  • One More Hug for Nutmeg

    Caroline Jayne Church
    3
  • On Our Way Home

    Sebastien Braun
    2
  • Maisy Bakes a Cake

    Lucy Cousins
    2

Ages 5-8

  • A Little Guide to Trees

    Kate Petty
    Jo Elworthy
    5
  • Tales from around the World: A Classic Collection

    5
  • Flabby Cat and Slobby Dog

    Jeanne Willis
    4
  • Are You Sad, Little Bear?

    Rachel Rivett
    4
  • Being Angry

    Julie Johnson
    3
  • Pirates Ahoy!

    Sophie Smiley
    3
  • The Littlest Pirate

    Sherryl Clark
    3

Ages 8-10

  • Clementine

    Sara Pennypacker
    5
  • George's Secret Key to the Universe; George's Cosmic Treasure Hunt

    Lucy Hawking
    Stephen Hawking
    Christophe Galfard
    4
  • The Underneath

    Kathi Appelt
    4
  • Tales from the Keep: Wag and the King

    Joan Lennon
    4
  • Moon

    Stewart Ross
    3
  • Mohammed's Journey: A Refugee Diary

    Anthony Robinson
    Annemarie Young
    3
  • Seven Sorcerers

    Caro King
    3
  • 6 Feet Deep

    Rose Impey
    3
  • The Raven Mysteries, Book 1: Flood and Fang

    Marcus Sedgwick
    3
  • Bodyswap: the Boy who was 84

    L P Howarth
    3
  • A Bit of a Hero

    Gervase Phinn
    3
  • Tie Me Kangaroo Down, Sport

    3
  • The Easter Angels

    Bob Hartman
    3
  • Agent Amelia: Spooky Ballet!

    Michael Broad
    2

Ages 10-14

  • Greenpeace

    Sean Connolly
    5
  • Fever Crumb

    Philip Reeve
    5
  • Love Aubrey

    Suzanne LaFleur
    5
  • Evolution Revolution

    Robert Winston
    4
  • Are We Running Out of Energy?

    Christiane Dorion
    4
  • Skulduggery Pleasant: The Faceless Ones

    Derek Landy
    4
  • The Joshua Files: Ice Shock

    M G Harris
    4
  • The Vanishing of Katharina Linden

    Helen Grant
    4
  • Bloodline Rising

    Katy Moran
    4
  • Devil's Kiss

    Sarwat Chadra
    4
  • The Book of a Thousand Days

    Shannon Hale
    4
  • Tim, Defender of the Earth

    Sam Enthoven
    4
  • Gullstruck Island

    Frances Hardinge
    3
  • Tuck

    Stephen R Lawhead
    3
  • The Pickle King

    Rebecca Promitzer
    3
  • If You're Reading This, It's Too Late

    Pseudonymous Bosch
    3
  • Sharp Shot

    Jack Higgins
    Justin Richards
    3
  • A Lazlo Strangolov's Feather and Bone

    Lazlo Strangolov
    3
  • The Runaway

    Angela McAllister
    3
  • The Well Between the Worlds

    Sam Llewellyn
    2
  • The Secret Ministry of Frost

    Nick Lake
    2
  • Spartan Warrior: Legacy of Blood

    Michael Ford
    2

Ages 14+

  • Everything Beautiful

    Simmone Howell
    5
  • Bonechiller

    Graham McNamee
    4
  • The Forest of Hands and Teeth

    Carrie Ryan
    4
  • Dido

    Adèle Geras
    4
  • If I Stay

    Gayle Forman
    4
  • Iraq

    Geoff Barker
    3
  • The Ask and the Answer

    Patrick Ness
    3
  • Bye Bye Birdie

    Shirley Hughes
    3
  • Nicholas Dane

    Melvin Burgess
    2

Books About Children's Books

  • John Burningham

    John Burningham
    5
  • The Hidden Roads: A Memoir of Childhood

    Kevin Crossley-Holland
    3
  • Death, Gender and Sexuality in Contemporary Adolescent Literature

    Kathryn James
    3

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

read more...
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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