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Books for Keeps 201 - the children's book magazine online

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BfK No. 201 - July 2013
BfK 201 July 2013

This issue’s cover illustration is from The Knowhow Book of Spycraft by Falcon Travis and Judy Hindley, illustrated by Colin King. Thanks to Usborne Children’s Books for their help with this July cover and to Walker Books for their support of the Authorgraph interview with Petr Horacek.

Digital Edition
By clicking here you can view, print or download the fully artworked Digital Edition of BfK 201 July 2013 .

BfK No. 201 Articles

Editorial 201

Editorial: Ferelith Hordon
Inclusive Minds: working to include ALL children in books

Inclusive Minds: working to include ALL children in books
Ten of the Best Books to Make Reading Irresistible

Irresistible reads for reluctant readers chosen by Marilyn Brocklehurst
Windows into Illustration: Nicola Bayley

Windows into Illustration Nicola Bayley on the methods that create her jewel-like illustrations
Choosing and Using Activity Books

Choosing and Using Activity Books Margaret Mallet on the best activity books
Authorgraph interview Petr Horacek

Authorgraph No. 201 illustrator Petr Horacek interviewed by Carol Thompson.
The Phoenix – a gateway to reading

The Phoenix Comic introduced by David Fickling
Publishing for the long-term: something to celebrate

Laura Fraine finds out what publishers have to celebrate
Jon Klassen interview

Julia Eccleshare interviews the creator of I Want my Hat Back
BfK's Brilliant Libraries

The Summer Reading Challenge in Essex Libraries
Good Reads the Carnegie Shadowing Group Stanway School Essex

The Carnegie Shadowing group at the Stanway School, Colchester, Essex choose their Good Reads.
I Wish I'd Written by Simon Mason

Simon Mason on Winnie the Pooh
Briefing 201

Awards and News
Classics in Short The Water Babies

Brian Alderson examines Charles Kingsley’s fantasy The
Water Babies
ANGEL DELIGHT: An Interview with LA Weatherly

Angel author LA Weatherly interviewed by Caroline Sanderson
Keeping it thrilling by C.J. Daugherty

Night School author C.J. Daugherty chooses her favourite YA thriller.

Editor's Choice

It Wasn't Me
Oliver Jeffers
(HarperCollinsChildren'sBooks)
5

The Hueys (The New Jumper) are given another brilliant airing by Oliver Jeffers. Here, five of the six egg shaped friends or siblings are arguing and late-comer Gillespie tries to find out what it’s about, only to be caught up in...

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New Talent

Bob and Rob
Sue Pickford
(Frances Lincoln Children's Books)
4

Bling is Rob’s thing – preferably of the stolen variety, for Rob’s occupation is burgling. Indeed, he’s a really bad burglar who loves to torment unsuspecting victims. In complete contrast, Bob, his dog is a thoroughly good sort, baking cakes and...

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All Children's Book Reviews in BfK No. 201

  • Under 5s
  • Ages 5-8
  • Ages 8-10
  • Ages 10-14
  • Ages 14+

Under 5s

  • Time for Bed
    Petr Horácek
    5

  • The Book of Dreams
    Shirin Adl
    5

  • Look Back!
    Trish Cooke
    4

  • Can I Come Too?
    Brian Patten
    4

  • My Busy Being Bella Day
    Rebecca Patterson
    4

  • No!
    Tracey Corderoy
    4

  • Robot Rumpus
    Sean Taylor
    4

  • Dominic Grows Sweetcorn
    Mandy Ross
    3

  • Never Ever
    Jo Empson
    3

  • Smallman Bear's Big Bottom
    Steve Smallman
    3

Ages 5-8

  • Max the Champion
    Alexandra Strick
    Sean Stockdale
    5

  • It Wasn't Me
    Oliver Jeffers
    5

  • Look Back!
    Trish Cooke
    4

  • The Royal Nappy
    Nicholas Allan
    4

  • Bob and Rob
    Sue Pickford
    4

  • Pittipat’s Saucer of Moon
    Geraldine McCaughrean
    4

  • The Very Noisy House
    Julie Rhodes
    4

  • Drat that Cat!
    Tony Ross
    4

  • Small Knight and George and the Pirates
    Rhonda Armitage
    4

  • Too Many Hats
    Hilda Offen
    3

Ages 8-10

  • The Many Worlds of Albie Bright
    Christopher Edge
    5

  • The Great Ice-Cream Heist
    Elen Caldecott
    4

  • The Butterfly Heart
    Paula Leyden
    4

  • Hide! The Tiger's Mouth is Open Wide!
    Adam Frost
    4

  • Space in 30 Seconds
    Clive Gifford
    4

  • Off By Heart
    3

  • Maisie Hitchins: The Case of the Stolen Sixpence
    Holly Webb
    3

  • Anton and Piranha
    Milena Baisch
    3

  • 4F for Freaks
    Leigh Hobbs
    3

  • Plague: A Cross on the Door
    Ann Turnbull
    3

  • Stan Stinky
    Hannah Shaw
    3

  • Oliver Fibbs and the Giant Boy-Munching Bugs
    Steve Hartley
    3

  • Hot Air
    Sandrine Dumas Roy
    3

Ages 10-14

  • Alex, the dog and the unopenable door
    Ross Montgomery
    5

  • The Interactive Art Book
    Ron Van Der Meer
    Frank Whitford
    5

  • Keep Your Cool : How to deal with life’s worries and stress
    Aaron Balick
    5

  • The Many Worlds of Albie Bright
    Christopher Edge
    5

  • Chasing the Dark
    Sam Hepburn
    4

  • The Diaries of Bluebell Gadsby: After Iris
    Natasha Farrant
    4

  • The Boy with Two Heads
    Andy Mulligan
    4

  • Just Peachy
    Jean Ure
    4

  • The Arabian Nights
    Brian Alderson
    4

  • In a Glass Grimmly
    Adam Gidwitz
    4

  • Doll Bones
    Holly Black
    4

  • Ethan's Story
    Rachel Carter
    4

  • Nowhere
    Jon Robinson
    4

  • The Princess and Curdie
    George Macdonald
    4

  • Kite Spirit
    Sita Brahmachari
    4

  • A Tale without a Name
    Penelope S Delta
    3

  • Itch Rocks
    Simon Mayo
    3

  • Mysterium: The Black Dragon
    Julian Sedgwick
    3

  • Jack and the German Spy
    Bernard Ashley
    3

  • The Year of Big Dreams
    Karen McCombie
    3

Ages 14+

  • Only Ever Always
    Penni Russon
    5

  • Noble Conflict
    Malorie Blackman
    4

  • The Lucy Variations
    Sara Zarr
    4

  • Tales from the Tower: The Wilful Eye
    4

  • Yellow Cake
    Margo Lanagan
    3

BfK News

2019 ALCS EDUCATIONAL WRITERS’ AWARD SHORTLIST

Shortlist announced for the UK’s only award for creative educational writing

The Society of Authors and the Authors’ Licensing& Collecting Society have announced the shortlist for the 2019 ALCS Educational Writers’ Award, the UK’s only award for educational writing which stimulates and enhances the learning experience.

read more...
‘INSPIRING’: CONTENDERS FOR THE 2020 BLUE PETER BOOK AWARDS REVEALED

Blue Peter Book Award logo

Six books have made it onto the shortlists for the 2020 Blue Peter Book Awards. There are two categories: Best Story, and – in non-fiction November – Best Book with Facts.

read more...
NOMINATIONS ANNOUNCED FOR THE 2020 CARNEGIE AND KATE GREENAWAY MEDALS

And we’re off… the nominations for the 2020 Carnegie and Kate Greenaway Medals are announced today, Monday 4th November.

read more...
2020 UKLA BOOK AWARDS THE LONGLISTS

UKLA Awards

A record number of submissions and a new category to highlight information books marks the 12th longlists for the UKLA Awards, the only national awards judged by active classroom teachers.

read more...
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

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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

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STEVEN CAMDEN WINS CLiPPA 2019

Steven Camden photo by Ellie Kurttz

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