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Books for Keeps 193 - the children's book magazine online

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BfK No. 193 - March 2012
BfK 193 March 2012

This issue's cover illustration by David Wyatt is from C J Busby's Cauldron Spells (978 1 8487 7085 0, £5.99 pbk). Thanks to Templar Publishing for their help with this March cover.

Digital Edition
By clicking here you can view, print or download the fully artworked Digital Edition of BfK 193 March 2012 .

BfK No. 193 Articles

The Hunger Games: film review

How does the film of The Hunger Games stand up against Suzanne Collins' novel?

Editorial 193

Editorial

Introducing Dickens to Young Readers

Margaret Mallett suggests approaches

Katherine Roberts interviewed by Clive Barnes

Katherine Roberts interviewed by Clive Barnes.

The book as artefact: children’s responses to nursery rhymes

Virginia Lowe explains how children learn how a book works.

Windows into Illustration: David Mackintosh

David Mackintosh on how he went about illustrating The Frank Show

Why We Read: Stop What You’re Doing and Read This!

Geraldine Brennan discusses a new collection of essays.

30 Years of Adrian Mole

Clive Barnes assesses Sue Townsend's classic novel.

Ten of the Best: Picture Books on ‘Issues’

Pam Smy chooses her top ten.

The Big Green Bookshop Haringey

Welcome to the Big Green Bookshop Haringey

Briefing 193

Useful organisations, awards, news

Hal's Reading Diary 193

Roger Mills on Hal and Oedipal issues

I Wish I'd Written

Sally Grindley chooses a children's classic

Good Reads 193

Reviews from Stanchester Academy, Stoke-sub-Hamdon, Somerset

Classics in Short 193

Brian Alderson on Russell Hoban's A Mouse and His Child

Obituary: Leila Berg

Leila Berg, author and editor, has died aged 94.

Q and A with Jo Nesbo

Jo Nesbø talks about Doctor Proctor.

Josh Lacey on his book The Dragonsitter

Josh Lacey answers talks about his new book The Dragonsitter.

Sita Brahmachari interview

Sita Brahmachari interviewed.

Julia Green talks about her new novel Bringing the Summer

Julia Green talks about her new novel Bringing the Summer

Q&A with Teri Terry

Teri Terry answers questions on her debut novel Slated.

Changeling: Philippa Gregory’s First Novel for Teenagers

Philippa Gregory talks about Changeling her new novel for teenagers.

Editor's Choice

Croc and Bird

Alexis Deacon
(Hutchinson)
5

When two eggs hatch next to each other, the newborn creatures assume they are brothers and grow up together sharing and caring for each other. It isn’t until the river carries them to a lake populated by crocodiles and a flock of birds that they...

read more

New Talent

Hans and Matilda

Yokococo
(Templar)
4

Matilda the little cat is such a good girl, so sweet and thoughtful but Hans, another little cat, is noisy and naughty – even stealing some keys and releasing the animals from the zoo. ‘Naughty Hans!’ muses Matilda, thoughtfully as she observes...

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All Children's Book Reviews in BfK No. 193

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

Under 5s

  • Socks

    Nick Sharratt
    Elizabeth Lindsay
    5
  • Croc and Bird

    Alexis Deacon
    5
  • Zoe and Beans: The Magic Hoop!

    Mick Inkpen
    Chloë Inkpen
    5
  • Hans and Matilda

    Yokococo
    4
  • Little Nelly's Big Book

    Pippa Goodhart
    4
  • Cuddle Bear

    Claire Freedman
    4
  • Ella

    Alex T Smith
    4
  • Who Lives Here?

    Michael Terry
    4
  • Jump On Board the Animal Train

    Lynne Moore
    4
  • The Goggle-Eyed Goats

    Stephen Davies
    3
  • Wave the Flag and Blow the Whistle

    Ronda Armitage
    3
  • Babies Don't Bite

    David Bedford
    3

Ages 5-8

  • Dog Loves Drawing

    Louise Yates
    5
  • The Copper Tree

    Hilary Robinson
    4
  • Happiness is a Watermelon on your Head

    Daniel Hahn
    3
  • Alien Attack: Star Fighters

    max chase
    3
  • Thomas Has Autism

    Jillian Powell
    3
  • Grimm’s Household Tales

    Brothers Grimm
    2

Ages 8-10

  • The Flask

    Nicky Singer
    5
  • The Demon's Watch

    Conrad Mason
    4
  • My Tourist Guide to the Solar System and Beyond

    Lewis Dartnell
    4
  • The Court Painter’s Apprentice

    Richard Knight
    3
  • Spaceheadz Save the World

    Jon Scieszka
    2

Ages 10-14

  • Soonchild

    Russell Hoban
    5
  • The Great and Dangerous

    Chris Westwood
    4
  • The Look

    Sophia Bennett
    4
  • Signs of Love: Love Match

    Melody James
    4
  • The One Dollar Horse

    Lauren St John
    4
  • The 13th Horseman

    Barry Hutchison
    4
  • Twelve Minutes to Midnight

    Christopher Edge
    4
  • A Vicarage Family: A Biography of Myself

    Noel Streatfeild
    4
  • Everneath

    Brodi Ashton
    4
  • The Repossession

    Sam Hawksmoor
    4
  • Fever

    Dee Shulman
    4
  • Ash Mistry and the Savage Fortress

    Sarwat Chadda
    3
  • Brave New Girl

    Catherine Johnson
    3
  • Kiss Date Love Hate

    Luisa Plaja
    3
  • Tudor Rose

    Anne Perry
    2

Ages 14+

  • This is Not Forgiveness

    Celia Rees
    5
  • The Brides of Rollrock Island

    Margo Lanagan
    5
  • Arcadia Awakens

    Kai Meyer
    4
  • Secrets of the Henna Girl

    Sufiya Ahmed
    4
  • Wyrmeweald: Bloodhoney

    Paul Stewart
    4
  • Desert Angel

    Charlie Price
    4
  • Falling Fast

    Sophie McKenzie
    3
  • Fallen in Love

    Lauren Kate
    3
  • Socks Are Not Enough

    Mark Lowery
    3
  • Geekhood: Close Encounters of the Girl Kind

    Andy Robb
    3
  • The Future of Us

    Jay Asher
    Carolyn Mackler
    2

Books About Children's Books

  • Children's Picturebooks: The art of visual storytelling

    Martin Salisbury
    Morag Styles
    4

BfK News

DANIEL MORDEN WINS 2013 TIR NA N-OG ENGLISH AWARD

The Welsh Books Council has announced Daniel Morden as winner of the 2013 Tir na n-Og English Award for his collection of stories Tree of Leaf and Flame (Pont Books).

Morden’s first book, Weird Tales from the  Storyteller, was shortlisted for the Tir
na n-Og English-language award in 2004 and he won the award in 2007 for Dark Tales from the Woods.

read more...
ROYAL SOCIETY YOUNG PEOPLE’S BOOK PRIZE 2013 SHORTLIST

The Royal Society has announced the shortlist for their 2013 Young People’s Book Prize, naming the six books the judges consider best communicate science to young people.

Professor John Goodby FRS, Chair of the judges described the shortlist as eclectic, but enthralling.

The six books shortlisted by the judges are:

Build the Human Body by Richard Walker (Templar Publishing)

In the judges’ words: ‘A hands on, fun kit to help learn about the human body, accompanied by a well-illustrated, concise, clear book.’

read more...
SARAH GARLAND WINS INAUGURAL LITTLE REBELS CHILDREN’S BOOK AWARD

Sarah Garland has won the first Little Rebels Children’s Book Award for Azzi in Between, which tells the story of a family forced to fell their homeland and settle in a strange and unfamiliar country. The book is based on the author’s own experience of working among refugee families and is endorsed by Amnesty International.

read more...
2013 BRANFORD BOASE AWARD: THE SHORTLIST

‘Seven outstanding debuts, eight really interesting authors, doing really interesting things’

The shortlist for the 2013 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.

read more...
2013 CLPE Poetry Award: Winner

CLPE AwardThe 2013 CLPE Poetry Award has been won by George Szirtes for  In the Land of the Giants, illustrated by Helen Szirtes (Salt Publishing). Szirtes was presented with the award by last year’s winner Rachel Rooney at a ceremony at CLPE on the evening of Tuesday 30 April.

read more...
THE 2013 CLPE POETRY AWARD SHORTLIST

Weight of WaterFour outstanding poetry books are shortlisted for the 2013 CLPE Poetry Award. Established in 2003, the annual Poetry Award encourages and celebrates outstanding new children’s poetry.

 

 

 

 

 

The four books on the shortlist are:

read more...
2013 ENGLISH 4 – 11 PICTURE BOOK AWARDS: THE WINNERS

The winners of the 2013 English 4 – 11 Picture Book Awards have been announced. Established in 1995, the awards are presented annually to the best picture books of the previous year, in four categories, Fiction 4 – 7 and 7 – 11 years, and Non-Fiction 4 – 7 and 7 – 11 years.

From a 15 strong shortlist, the winners are:

Fiction 4 – 7 years

Hippospotamus by Jeanne Willis illustrated by Tony Ross (Andersen Press)

Fiction 7 – 11 years

read more...
IBBY Announces the 2014 Hans Christian Andersen Award Nominees

The nominees for the 2014 Hans Christian Andersen Award have been announced.

The Hans Christian Andersen Award is the highest international distinction given to authors and illustrators of children's books. Awarded every other year by IBBY, the award recognizes lifelong achievement and is given to an author and an illustrator whose complete works have made an important, lasting contribution to children's literature.

For the 2014 Awards 29 authors and 31 illustrators have been nominated from 34 countries. They are:

read more...
New Little Rebels Children’s Book Award: Shortlist Announced

The shortlist has been announced for The Little Rebels Children’s Book Award, a new award for radical children’s fiction.

The Little Rebels Children’s Book Award recognises fiction for ages 0-12 which promotes or celebrates social justice and equality. It is awarded by the Alliance of Radical Booksellers (ARB) and administered by Letterbox Library. Wendy Cooling, Bookstart co-founder & editor and author Elizabeth Laird are both judges.

The four books on the inaugural shortlist are:

read more...
School Library Association Information Book Award 2013 Short List Announcement

The School Library Association has announce the shortlist for the 2013 prize. The Information Book Award is an annual event, in its third year its aim is to reinforce the importance of non-fiction whilst highlighting the high standard of resources available.

The judges - a panel of experienced librarians, SLA board members and a member of Peters Bookselling Services - have produced what they describe as ‘a strong and very varied selection of titles for the shortlist’. These are

Under 7s

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