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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

HIP HOP ARTIST AND DEBUT POET KARL NOVA WINS CLIPPA 2018

Karl Nova at the CLiPPAPoet Karl Nova has been announced as the winner of CLiPPA 2018 (CLPE Poetry Award) for his debut collection, Rhythm and Poetry, published by Caboodle Books.

read more...
McCaughrean and Smith winners 2018 CILIP Carnegie and Kate Greenaway Medals

The winners of the CILIP Carnegie and Kate Greenaway Medals, the UK’s oldest children’s book awards, are announced today, Monday 18thJune.

read more...
LOLLIES 2018 SHORTLIST THE YEAR’S FUNNIEST CHILDREN’S BOOKS

Lollies logoMichael Rosen has announced the shortlist for the 2018 Laugh Out Loud Awards (The Lollies). This is the third year of The Lollies, created by Scholastic UK, to celebrate the funniest children’s books.

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ZANIB MIAN WINS 2018 LITTLE REBELS CHILDREN’S BOOK AWARD

The Alliance of Radical Booksellers (ARB) has announced that the winner of this year’s Little Rebels Children’s Book Award for Radical Fiction is Zanib Mian for her book, The Muslims, (Sweet Apple Books).

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SHORTLIST FOR THE 2018 KLAUS FLUGGE PRIZE

The shortlist for the 2018 Klaus Flugge Prize has been revealed. Set up to honour publisher Klaus Flugge, founder of Andersen Press and a key figure in children’s picture books, this important new award, now in its third year, is for the most promising and exciting newcomer to children’s picture book illustration.

read more...
THE 2018 LITTLE REBELS AWARD SHORTLIST ANNOUNCED

THE 2018 LITTLE REBELS AWARD SHORTLIST

Conflicts, Class and Youth Protest

Islamophobia, young people’s activism, the Syrian conflict, challenges to gendered occupations, the English class system and workers’ pay and conditions are just some of the subjects highlighted by the 8-strong shortlist for this year’s Little Rebels Award for Radical Children’s Fiction.

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DEBUT AUTHORS AND THEIR EDITORS ON 2018 BRANFORD BOASE AWARD SHORTLIST

The shortlist for the 2018 Branford Boase Award has been announced. 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.

BBA shortlist 2018

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CLiPPA 2018 SHORTLIST ANNOUNCED

The Centre for Literacy in Primary Education (CLPE) has announced the 2018 shortlist for the CLiPPA (Centre for Literacy in Primary Poetry Award). Established in 2003, the CLiPPA encourages and celebrates outstanding poetry published for children and has done a huge amount to encourage the publishing of children’s poetry.

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THE HATE U GIVE WINS WATERSTONES CHILDREN’S BOOK PRIZE 2018

Angie ThomasWCBP logo

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SHORTLISTS FOR 2018 CILIP CARNEGIE AND KATE GREENAWAY MEDALS ANNOUNCED

CILIP CKG logo

The shortlists for the 2018 CILIP Carnegie and Kate Greenaway Medals, the UK’s oldest book awards for children and young people, are announced today, Thursday 15th March.

read more...
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