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Books for Keeps 191 - the children's book magazine online

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BfK No. 191 - November 2011
BfK 191 November 2011

This issue’s cover illustration is from The Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater. Thanks to Scholastic Children’s Books for their help with this November cover.

By clicking here you can view, print or download the fully artworked Digital Edition of BfK 191 November 2011.

BfK No. 191 Articles

Martin Scorsese’s film Hugo

Film critic and reviewer Laura Fraine finds Hugo ‘an almost perfect matinee movie’ for a family outing

Editorial 191

Editorial November 2011

Shirley Hughes: A Life Illustrating

Shirley Hughes interviewed by Catherine Swan.

Books for Giving

Rosemary Stones selects ideal gifts for young readers.

New Poetry Collections

Clive Barnes selects new poetry collections for Christmas giving.

Folk Tales for Giving

Neil Philip selects new collections with Christmas giving in mind.

Robert Ingpen Windows into Illustration

Robert Ingpen on his illustrations for Treasure Island

Books about Death

Books are about preparing for and recovering from death and loss.

Authorgraph 191: Maggie Stiefvater

Maggie Stiefvater interviewed by Julia Eccleshare.

Pigeon English – Suitable for Teenagers?

Geoff Fox on Pigeon English by Stephen Kelman

Briefing 191

Editor's briefing

Hal's Reading Diary 191

Hal is about to be eleven.

Marcus Sedgwick I Wish

Marcus Sedgwick on a book with the ‘creepiest ending’ he has ever read…

Good Reads 191

Good reads chosen by Year 7 (11-12 year-old) pupils from Forest Hill School, London

Classics in Short: Peepo!

Brian Alderson on everyone's favourite holey book.

Andy Mulligan: Winner of The Guardian Children’s Fiction Prize 2011

Julia Eccleshare talks to Andy Mulligan 2011 Guardian Award Winner

Brian Selznick on Scorsese, Hollywood - and moving meteorites

Brian Selznick interviewed

RUSSELL HOBAN

Russell Hoban, known both for his picture books and his novels, has died aged 86. Brian Alderson assesses the career of this prolific and original writer.

Ronald Searle 3 March 1920 – 30 December 2011

One of the UK’s major satirical draughtsmen of the second half of the 20th century, Ronald Searle has died at the age of 91. Australian writer/illustrator Leigh Hobbs pays tribute to the artist and the man.

Steven Spielberg’s War Horse

‘How on earth does one direct a film from a horse's point of view?’ asks Books for Keeps’ film critic Laura Fraine who finds that Spielberg’s adaptation of Morpurgo’s novel only lurches into gear when war breaks out…

Editor's Choice

VIII

H M Castor
(Templar)
5

What makes a tyrant? Henry V111 ruled with such self aggrandising despotism that his legacy was religious conflict, political isolation, debt and inflation, thousands killed in a foolhardy war against France and continuing war with Scotland. What...

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New Talent

My Bear Griz

Suzanne McGinness
(Frances Lincoln Children's Books)
3

Narrated in the first person, this handsomely produced landscape picture book is about the relationship between the narrator Billy, a small boy, and his best friend Griz, the Grizzly Bear. Griz’s bulk is such that the size differential between...

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All Children's Book Reviews in BfK No. 191

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

Under 5s

  • A House in the Woods

    Inga Moore
    5
  • Missing Mummy

    Rebecca Cobb
    5
  • Have You Ever Ever Ever

    Colin McNaughton
    5
  • I Want my Hat Back

    Jon Klassen
    5
  • Just Right

    Birdie Black
    5
  • Again!

    Emily Gravett
    5
  • Babbit

    Lydia Monks
    4
  • The Big Book of Words and Pictures

    Ole Konnecke
    4
  • My Bear Griz

    Suzanne McGinness
    3
  • When will it Snow?

    Kathryn White
    3
  • Big Blue Engine

    Ken Wilson-Max
    3
  • Creepy Monsters, Sleepy Monsters

    Jane Yolen
    3
  • Fluff and Billy

    Nicola Killen
    3

Ages 5-8

  • Grace at Christmas

    Mary Hoffman
    5
  • The Night Before Christmas

    Clement Clarke Moore
    5
  • The Big Snuggle Up

    Brian Patten
    5
  • Winnie Under the Sea

    Valerie Thomas
    4
  • Amazing Esme

    Tamara MacFarlane
    4
  • Knuffle Bunny Free

    Mo Willems
    4
  • Ready Steady Ghost!

    Elizabeth Baguley
    4
  • Let’s Make Some Great Art

    Marion Deuchars
    4
  • Rabbit Racer

    Tamsyn Murray
    3

Ages 8-10

  • Shake a Leg

    Boori Monty Pryor
    5
  • Muddle Earth Too

    Paul Stewart
    5
  • How to Steal a Dragon's Sword

    Cressida Cowell
    5
  • Little Manfred

    Michael Morpurgo
    5
  • Letters from an Alien Schoolboy: Cosmic Custard

    Ros Asquith
    5
  • Eight Keys

    Suzanne LaFleur
    4
  • The Haunting of Charity Delafield

    Ian Beck
    4
  • This is my Planet

    Jan Thornhill
    4
  • Extreme Adventures: Grizzly Trap

    Justin DAth
    3

Ages 10-14

  • VIII

    H M Castor
    5
  • Immortal War

    Justin Somper
    4
  • Bruised

    Siobhan Parkinson
    4
  • People's Republic

    Robert Muchamore
    4
  • Shelter

    Harlan Coben
    4
  • This Dark Endeavour

    Kenneth Oppel
    4
  • Mister Creecher

    Chris Priestley
    4
  • Heart of Resistance

    Sarah Tate
    4
  • Hartslove

    K M Grant
    4
  • The Loblolly Boy

    James Norcliffe
    4
  • Eight Keys

    Suzanne LaFleur
    3
  • Dark Inside

    Jeyn Roberts
    3
  • Words in the Dust

    Trent Reedy
    3
  • Emerald

    Karen Wallace
    2
  • Gamerunner

    B.R. Collins
    2
  • The Deserter

    Pedar O Guilin
    2

Ages 14+

  • Stealing Phoenix

    Joss Stirling
    5
  • Midwinterblood

    Marcus Sedgwick
    5
  • Naked

    Kevin Brooks
    4
  • Sektion 20

    Paul Dowswell
    4
  • Ashes

    Ilsa J Bick
    4
  • Dark Angel

    Eden Maguire
    3
  • Envy

    Gregg Olsen
    3
  • Bleeding Hearts

    Alyxandra Harvey
    3
  • Prized

    Caragh O’Brien
    2

Books About Children's Books

  • Through the Magic Door: Ursula Moray Williams, Gobbolino and the Little Wooden Horse

    Colin Davison
    3

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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