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Books for Keeps 185 - the children's book magazine online

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BfK No. 185 - November 2010
BfK 185 November 2010

Cover Story
This issue’s cover illustration is from John Burningham and Helen Oxenbury’s There’s Going to be a Baby. This book, as well as an exhibition of John Burningham’s work, is discussed by Julia Eccleshare. Thanks to Walker Books for their help with this November cover.

Digital Edition
By clicking here you can view, print or download the fully artworked Digital Edition of BfK 185 November 2010

BfK No. 185 Articles

Editorial – November 2010

News and comment from the Editor.
Walter Crane: A revolution in nursery picture books

Lesley Delaney explains Crane’s revolutionary approach to learning to read.
Christmas Books for Giving

Rosemary Stones on books for younger readers.
To Kill a Mockingbird: 50th anniversary

Geraldine Brennan assesses its impact.
Ten of the Best: Graphic Novels

Clive Barnes chooses his top ten titles.
BfK Basics: Helping your child enjoy books and reading

Margaret Mallett suggests ways to start a home library.
Mr Gumpy and other Outings: John Burningham at Seven Stories, Newcastle

Julia Eccleshare discusses a Seven Stories exhibition on John Burningham.
Authorgraph No.185: Michelle Paver

Michelle Paver is interviewed by Nick Tucker.
Obituary: Hazel Townson

Hazel Townson: 1928–2010
Obituary: Lesley Agnew

Lesley Agnew: 1944–2010
Obituary: Eva Ibbotson

Eva Ibbotson: 1925 - 2010
BfK Briefing – November 2010

Awards * News
Useful Organisation No.53: The Faber Academy

A creative-writing programme based in the Bloomsbury offices of publisher Faber and Faber
Hal’s Reading Diary - November 2010

Roger Mills on how Hal dislikes loose ends in stories.
I Wish I’d Written… Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone

Linda Chapman chooses J K Rowling’s Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone.
Good Reads: Owl Academy, New Jersey, USA

Reviews from pupils of the Owl Academy, New Jersey, USA.
Classics in Short No.84: Don Quixote

Brian Alderson on Miguel de Cervantes’s Don Quixote.
Books for Anti-Bullying Week (15-19 November) and beyond

Books for Keeps Editor, Rosemary Stones offers a list of appropriate titles.
Bartimaeus and the Ring of Solomon

Extract from: Bartimaeus and the Ring of Solomon by Jonathan Stroud
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - the film - how good is it?

The film of ‘Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows’ has just been released.  Julia Eccleshare went to see it…
Christmas treats

Books for Keeps Editor, Rosemary Stones, recommends two handsome volumes for younger readers of about 5-8 that will be treasured.

Editor's Choice

Otto, the Autobiography of a Teddy Bear
Tomi Ungerer
(Phaidon Press)
5

In 1940 Ungerer’s native Alsace was annexed by the Nazis and the then 8-year-old Tomi subjected to Nazi indoctrination in school. This powerfully moving picture book tale of Otto the teddy bear is perhaps a riposte to that experience.

Told...

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New Talent

Unhooking the Moon
Gregory Hughes
(Quercus Children's Books)
5

12-year-old Canadian Bob doesn’t remember much about his mother who died when he was little. He lives with his father who drinks too much but is an excellent cook (French onion soup and olive bread soon get a mention) and his quirkily wayward...

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All Children's Book Reviews in BfK No. 185

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

Under 5s

  • Look Out Leon!
    Jez Alborough
    5

  • Iris and Isaac
    Catherine Rayner
    5

  • Ginger and the Mystery Visitor
    Charlotte Voake
    5

  • Fortunately, Unfortunately
    Michael Foreman
    5

  • Busy Boats
    Susan Steggall
    4

  • Winnie in Space
    Valerie Thomas
    4

  • Just Because
    Rebecca Elliott
    4

  • I'm Number One
    Michael Rosen
    4

  • Green Eggs and Ham
    Dr Seuss
    4

  • Out and About in My Boots
    Christina Goodings
    3

  • Sir Laughalot
    Tony Mitton
    3

  • Wake Up!
    Katie Cleminson
    3

  • Tinysaurus
    Sheryl Webster
    3

  • Bears on the Stairs
    Julia Jarman
    3

  • A Bit Lost
    Chris Haughton
    3

  • I Want to Do It by Myself!
    Tony Ross
    3

  • The Sticky Doll Trap

    Jessica Souhami
    3

  • Music
    Polly Goodman
    1

Ages 5-8

  • Eddie’s Toolbox: and How to Make and Mend Things
    Sarah Garland
    5

  • Lola and the Rent-a-Cat
    Ceseli Josephus Jitta
    5

  • Instructions
    Neil Gaiman
    4

  • Three by the Sea
    Mini Grey
    4

  • Firebird
    4

  • Madame Pamplemousse and the Enchanted Sweet Shop
    Rupert Kingfisher
    4

  • Hudson Hates School ¦ It’s Called Dyslexia
    Ella Hudson
    3

  • Mary’s Penny
    Tanya Landman
    3

  • Stories for a Fragile Planet
    Kenneth Steven
    3

  • The Heartless Robots
    Simon Bartram
    3

  • Wasim One Star ¦ Wasim’s Challenge
    Chris Ashley
    3

  • The Three Little Witches
    Georgie Adams
    3

Ages 8-10

  • Michael Rosen’s Big Book of Bad Things
    Michael Rosen
    5

  • Otto, the Autobiography of a Teddy Bear
    Tomi Ungerer
    5

  • Taff in the WAAF
    Mick Manning
    Brita Granström
    5

  • Animals at the Edge
    Jonathan Baillie
    Marilyn Baillie
    5

  • FArTHER
    Grahame Baker-Smith
    4

  • Doctor Bonkers!
    Jeremy Strong
    4

  • Dustbin Cat
    Ingrid Lee
    4

  • Worse Things Happen at Sea!
    Alan Snow
    4

  • A Boy Called M.O.U.S.E.
    Penny Dolan
    4

  • Frightfully Friendly Ghosties: Ghostly Holler-Day
    Daren King
    3

  • Swarf
    L P Howarth
    3

  • Fetlocks Hall: The Unicorn Princess ¦ Fetlocks Hall: The Ghostly Blinkers
    Babette Cole
    3

  • Wanted!
    Kate Thompson
    3

  • Philippa Fisher and the Stone Fairy’s Promise
    Liz Kessler
    3

  • Grow Your Own Monsters
    Nicola Davies
    Simon Hickmott
    3

Ages 10-14

  • Unhooking the Moon
    Gregory Hughes
    5

  • Forest Born
    Shannon Hale
    5

  • Dancing in the Dark
    Peter Prendergast
    4

  • The Ogre of Oglefort
    Eva Ibbotson
    4

  • Cherry Crush
    Cathy Cassidy
    4

  • Candor
    Pam Bachorz
    4

  • Wishful Thinking
    Ali Sparkes
    4

  • I Shall Wear Midnight
    Terry Pratchett
    4

  • The Mourning Emporium
    Michelle Lovric
    4

  • Flood and Fire
    Emily Diamand
    4

  • Loving Spirit

    Linda Chapman
    3

  • Shadow of the Ninja
    Andrew Matthews
    3

  • Trash
    Andy Mulligan
    3

  • A Most Improper Magick
    Stephanie Burgis
    3

  • The Double Life of Cassiel Roadnight
    Jenny Valentine
    3

  • Witch Breed
    Alan Gibbons
    3

  • What’s the Point of Being Green?
    Jacqui Bailey
    3

  • The Dead
    David Gatward
    2

  • The Cabinet of Curiosities
    Paul Dowswell
    2

  • Put Out the Light
    Terry Deary
    1

Ages 14+

  • Genesis
    Bernard Beckett
    5

  • The Radleys
    Matt Haig
    5

  • The Children of the Lost
    David Whitley
    5

  • Angel
    L A Weatherly
    4

  • Passing Strange
    Daniel Waters
    3

  • Almost True
    Keren David
    3

  • Dark Secrets 2: No Time to Die and The Deep of Fear
    Elizabeth Chandler
    3

  • The Cardturner
    Louis Sachar
    2

Books About Children's Books

  • Choosing and Using Fiction and Non-Fiction 3-11
    Margaret Mallett
    5

  • The Routledge Companion to Children’s Literature
    4

  • Storyteller: The Life of Roald Dahl
    Donald Sturrock
    3

BfK News

JESSICA LOVE NAMED WINNER OF THE KLAUS FLUGGE PRIZE 2019 FOR JULIAN IS A MERMAID

Jessica Love

read more...
LOLLIES 2020 SHORTLIST THE YEAR’S FUNNIEST CHILDREN’S BOOKS

Michael Rosen, children’s novelist, poet and former Children’s Laureate, has announced the shortlist for the 2020 Laugh Out Loud Awards (The Lollies), the awards that celebrate the funniest children’s books.

Lollies logo

read more...
HOOD, RUNDELL AND REYNOLDS UKLA BOOK AWARD WINNERS 2019

Morag Hood, Katherine Rundell and Jason Reynolds have been announced as the winners of the UKLA Book Awards 2019 for I Am Bat, The Explorer and Long Way Down respectively.

read more...
CATHERINE JOHNSON WINS LITTLE REBELS CHILDREN’S BOOK AWARD

The Alliance of Radical Booksellers (ARB) is delighted to announce that the winner of this year’s Little Rebels Children’s Book Award for Radical Fiction is Catherine Johnson for her book, Freedom (Scholastic 2018).

Catherine Johnsonn photo Andy Donohoe

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CRESSIDA COWELL ANNOUNCED AS NEW WATERSTONES CHILDREN’S LAUREATE

‘Books are transformative because of their unique ability to develop three key magical powers: intelligence, creativity and, most important of all, empathy. Words are power; let’s take magic seriously.’ Cressida Cowell, Waterstones Children’s Laureate

read more...
STEVEN CAMDEN WINS CLiPPA 2019

Steven Camden photo by Ellie Kurttz

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SLA School Librarian of the Year 2019 Announced

Ros Harding School Librarian of the Year

Ros Harding of The King’s School Chester has been awarded the honour of the School Librarian of the Year 2019. 2019 YA Book Prize winner Sara Barnard presented Ros Harding with her award at a special ceremony at the Millennium Gloucester Hotel, Kensington, London Kensington on 27 June.

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MUHAMMAD KHAN WINS 20TH BRANFORD BOASE AWARD

The winner of the 2019 Branford Boase Award for outstanding debut novel for children is Muhammad Khan for his YA novel I Am Thunder. Set up in memory of author Henrietta Branford and her editor Wendy Boase who both died in 1999, the award also recognizes his editor Lucy Pearse of Macmillan Children’s Books.

read more...
The Children's Book Award 2019

Earlier this month, Arree Chung was named overall winner of The Children’s Book Award 2019. His book Mixed, which he wrote and illustrated, also won the Books for Younger Children category before going on to win the overall prize.

read more...
WINNERS OF THE 2019 CILIP CARNEGIE AND KATE GREENAWAY MEDALS

The winners of the CILIP Carnegie and Kate Greenaway Medals have been announced at a ceremony at The British Library, hosted by broadcaster and writer Konnie Huq.

read more...
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