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Books for Keeps 203 - the children's book magazine online

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BfK No. 203 - November 2013
BfK 203

This issue’s cover illustration is from Song of the Golden Hare by Jackie Morris. Thanks to Frances Lincoln 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 203 November 2013 .

BfK No. 203 Articles

Windows into Illustration: Charlotte Voake

Charlotte Voake on drawing Lear's Owl and the Pussy-cat
Editorial 203
A dark tale for Christmas from Geraldine McCaughrean

What fairy tales are really for.
The best books for giving Christmas 2013

Editor Ferelith Hordon's choice
Books of the Year 2013

Outstanding books of 2013
Michael Morpurgo: a celebration

An appreciation by Kate Agnew
Authorgraph interview 203: Anthony McGowan

Anthony McGowan interviewed by Caroline Sanderson
Ten of the Best: Books that help introduce children to the First World War

Books about World War One.
Gendered marketing of children’s books

It's not what kids want.
Books for Keeps Brilliant Bookshops: Tales on Moon Lane

Tales on Moon Lane
Mackenzie Crook I Wish I'd Written

Mackenzie Crook marvels at Dahl
Good Reads November 2013

Chosen by readers at St Paul’s Community College, Waterford, Republic of Ireland
Robert Leeson (31 March 1928-29 September 2013)

Robert Leeson remembered by Dennis Hamley
Illustrated books in a digital age

Templar launch Big Picture Press.
Classic in Short No. 102

The Night Before Christmas
Jim Kay Q and A

Jim Kay on illustrating Harry Potter.
GOTHIC REVIVAL: AN INTERVIEW WITH COSTA CHILDREN’S BOOK AWARD WINNER CHRIS RIDDELL

Chris Riddell interviewed by Damian Kelleher.
Mission Telemark 2013 style

Amanda Mitchison meets someone who is, very nearly, a character out of one of her own novels.

Editor's Choice

Silver Buttons
Bob Graham
(Walker)
5

A new picture book from Bob Graham is always a treat and this is no exception. As always with Graham, the narrative is both simple and subtle. Silver Buttons takes one moment in time and details individual actions that take place...

read more

New Talent

Missing Ellen
Natasha Mac a Bhaird
(O'Brien Press Ltd)
4

Maggie and Ellen are best friends and have been since the age of four.  It’s the opposites attract kind of friendship. Maggie is drawn to Ellen for her confidence, energy and passion for life. In fact, Ellen wins everyone over, even the...

read more

All Children's Book Reviews in BfK No. 203

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

Under 5s

  • The Lion and the Mouse (Turn and Tell Tales)
    Jenny Broom
    5

  • The Bear in the Book
    Kate Banks
    5

  • Silver Buttons
    Bob Graham
    5

  • Enormouse
    Angie Morgan
    5

  • Billy the Goat’s Big Breakfast
    Jez Alborough
    4

  • Spider Sandwiches
    Claire Freedman
    4

  • Do You Speak English, Moon?
    Francesca Simon
    4

  • What Can You Stack on the Back of a Yak?
    Alison Green
    4

  • Gobble You Up
    Gita Wolf
    Sunita
    4

  • Animal Opposites
    Nicola Killen
    4

  • Upside Down Babies
    Jeanne Willis
    4

  • Ding Dong Gorilla!
    Michelle Robinson
    3

  • Yeti and the Bird
    Nadia Shireen
    3

  • Snowflakes
    Cerrie Burnell
    3

  • How to lose a Lemur
    Frann Preston-Gannon
    3

Ages 5-8

  • What If…?
    Anthony Browne
    5

  • Troll and the Oliver
    Adam Stower
    5

  • Captain Cat
    Inga Moore
    5

  • Lollipop and Grandpa and the Christmas Baby
    Penelope Harper
    4

  • That is NOT a Good Idea!
    Mo Willems
    4

  • Winter's Child
    Angela McAllister
    4

  • Song of the Golden Hare
    Jackie Morris
    4

  • The Tiny King
    Taro Miura
    4

  • A Letter for Bear
    David Lucas
    3

Ages 8-10

  • Let’s Celebrate! Festival Poems From Around the World
    5

  • The Little Ghost
    Otfried Preussler
    4

  • The Reindeer Girl
    Holly Webb
    4

  • The Worst Witch and the Wishing Star
    Jill Murphy
    4

  • Let’s Play!
    Debjani Chatterjee
    4

  • Bugs
    George McGavin
    4

  • The River Singers
    Tom Moorhouse
    4

  • The Dragon with a Big Nose
    Kathy Henderson
    4

  • The Ghost Prison
    Joseph Delaney
    4

  • I Am a Poetato
    John Hegley
    4

  • Ruby Redfort: Catch Your Death
    Lauren Child
    4

  • The Dragonsitter’s Castle
    Josh Lacey
    4

Ages 10-14

  • The Future King: The Waking World
    Tom Huddleston
    5

  • Frost Hollow Hall
    Emma Carroll
    4

  • Gabriel’s Clock
    Hilton Pashley
    4

  • Dead Boys’ Club
    Geoffrey Malone
    4

  • The Lost Gods
    Francesca Simon
    4

  • War Dog
    Chris Ryan
    4

  • A Horse called Hero
    Sam Angus
    4

  • Eva and the Hidden Diary
    Judi Curtin
    4

  • Geek Girl - model misfit
    Holly Smale
    4

  • Wormwood Gate
    Katherine Farmar
    4

  • The Jade Boy
    Cate Cain
    3

  • The Falconer
    Elizabeth May
    3

  • Dark Satanic Mills
    Marcus Sedgwick
    Julian Sedgwick
    3

  • Sawbones
    Catherine Johnson
    3

  • Stay Where You Are and then Leave
    John Boyne
    3

Ages 14+

  • Love in Revolution
    B R Collins
    5

  • More Than This
    Patrick Ness
    4

  • The Killing Woods
    Lucy Christopher
    4

  • How to Love
    Katie Cotugno
    4

  • Missing Ellen
    Natasha Mac a Bhaird
    4

  • Tinder
    Sally Gardner
    4

  • Weirdos vs. Quimboids
    Natasha Desborough
    3

  • Red Rain
    R L Stine
    2

Books About Children's Books

  • A Sneetch is a Sneetch and other philosophical discoveries
    Thomas E Wartenberg
    2

BfK News

2015 HENRIETTA BRANFORD WRITING COMPETITION FOR YOUNG PEOPLE

bba LOGOThe Henrietta Branford Writing Competition, the annual competition for young people which runs in conjunction with the Branford Boase Award, is now open.

read more...
WINNERS OF THE RED HOUSE CHILDREN’S BOOK AWARD 2015

RHCBA logo 2015The winners of Red House Children’s Book Award 2015 were announced today (Saturday 21 February) in a celebratory awards ceremony at the Queen Elizabeth Hall Southbank as part of the Imagine Festival.

read more...
MOVE OVER NANCY DREW: ADVENTURE STORIES DOMINATE WATERSTONES CHILDREN’S BOOK PRIZE SHORTLIST

Waterstones Children's Book Prize logoThe shortlist for the Waterstones Children’s Book Prize has been announced and features a preponderance of traditional adventure stories for children.

read more...
LONGLISTS FOR 2015 CILIP CARNEGIE AND KATE GREENAWAY MEDALS

CILIP CKG logoThe longlists for the CILIP Carnegie and Kate Greenaway Medals have been revealed. 20 books are on each longlist, contenders for the awards, often described as the most prestigious of the UK children’s books awards.

read more...
A PLACE AT THE TABLE

Wednesday 28 January 2015 saw children’s book publishers coming together with booksellers, teachers, librarians and other key partners for a unique event aimed at turning discussions around inclusion and diversity
into action.

Author Pippa Goodhart has particular interest and experience in the subject and took part in the event. Here she reports on it for Books for Keeps.

read more...
THE BRANFORD BOASE AWARD 2015: THE LONGLIST

Branford Boase AwardThe longlist for the 2015 Branford Boase Award is announced today (Tuesday 27th January 2015). 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...
GENE KEMP 1926 – 2015

Books for Keeps is saddened to hear of the death of Gene Kemp. Best known for The Turbulent Term of Tyke Tyler, which won both the Other Award and the Carnegie Medal, she wrote over 30 books for children. A full obituary appears in issue 210.

read more...
THE MARSH AWARD FOR CHILDREN’S LITERATURE IN TRANSLATION 2015 SHORTLIST

Six books are on the 2015 shortlist for The Marsh Award for Children’s Literature in Translation. Awarded biennially since 1996, the Award was initiated by the National Centre for Research in Children’s Literature at Roehampton University and founded by the Marsh Christian Trust to celebrate the best translation of a children’s book from a foreign language into English.

read more...
NEW WORLD BOOK DAY AWARD: WIN CASH TO SPEND ON YOUR SCHOOL LIBRARY

WOBOD AwardA new World Book Day Award launches today, Friday 9 January 2015, offering schools the chance to win money to spend on books for their libraries. Bestselling author and philanthropist James Patterson has donated £50,000 to fund the prize over two years.

 

read more...
KATE SAUNDERS WINS THE 2014 COSTA CHILDREN’S BOOK AWARD

Kate SaundersKate Saunders has won the 2014 Costa Children’s Book Award for her novel Five Children on the Western Front, a moving sequel to E Nesbit’s Five Children and It, which transplants the main characters into the trenches of World War I.

read more...
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