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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...

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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

  • Silver Buttons
    Bob Graham
    5

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

  • The Bear in the Book
    Kate Banks
    5

  • Enormouse
    Angie Morgan
    5

  • Animal Opposites
    Nicola Killen
    4

  • Do You Speak English, Moon?
    Francesca Simon
    4

  • Gobble You Up
    Gita Wolf
    Sunita
    4

  • Billy the Goat’s Big Breakfast
    Jez Alborough
    4

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

  • Upside Down Babies
    Jeanne Willis
    4

  • Spider Sandwiches
    Claire Freedman
    4

  • Snowflakes
    Cerrie Burnell
    3

  • Ding Dong Gorilla!
    Michelle Robinson
    3

  • Yeti and the Bird
    Nadia Shireen
    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

  • That is NOT a Good Idea!
    Mo Willems
    4

  • Winter's Child
    Angela McAllister
    4

  • The Tiny King
    Taro Miura
    4

  • Song of the Golden Hare
    Jackie Morris
    4

  • Lollipop and Grandpa and the Christmas Baby
    Penelope Harper
    4

  • A Letter for Bear
    David Lucas
    3

Ages 8-10

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

  • The River Singers
    Tom Moorhouse
    4

  • I Am a Poetato
    John Hegley
    4

  • The Dragonsitter’s Castle
    Josh Lacey
    4

  • The Reindeer Girl
    Holly Webb
    4

  • The Worst Witch and the Wishing Star
    Jill Murphy
    4

  • Bugs
    George McGavin
    4

  • The Ghost Prison
    Joseph Delaney
    4

  • Ruby Redfort: Catch Your Death
    Lauren Child
    4

  • The Little Ghost
    Otfried Preussler
    4

  • Let’s Play!
    Debjani Chatterjee
    4

  • The Dragon with a Big Nose
    Kathy Henderson
    4

Ages 10-14

  • The Future King: The Waking World
    Tom Huddleston
    5

  • The Lost Gods
    Francesca Simon
    4

  • Eva and the Hidden Diary
    Judi Curtin
    4

  • Frost Hollow Hall
    Emma Carroll
    4

  • Gabriel’s Clock
    Hilton Pashley
    4

  • A Horse called Hero
    Sam Angus
    4

  • Geek Girl - model misfit
    Holly Smale
    4

  • Dead Boys’ Club
    Geoffrey Malone
    4

  • War Dog
    Chris Ryan
    4

  • Wormwood Gate
    Katherine Farmar
    4

  • Stay Where You Are and then Leave
    John Boyne
    3

  • Sawbones
    Catherine Johnson
    3

  • The Jade Boy
    Cate Cain
    3

  • Dark Satanic Mills
    Marcus Sedgwick
    Julian Sedgwick
    3

  • The Falconer
    Elizabeth May
    3

Ages 14+

  • Love in Revolution
    B R Collins
    5

  • Missing Ellen
    Natasha Mac a Bhaird
    4

  • Tinder
    Sally Gardner
    4

  • More Than This
    Patrick Ness
    4

  • The Killing Woods
    Lucy Christopher
    4

  • How to Love
    Katie Cotugno
    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

EMPATHYLAB ANNOUNCES 2020 READ FOR EMPATHY BOOK COLLECTION

Raising A Generation of Empathic Citizens

Empathy Day logo

read more...
JASBINDER BILAN WINS COSTA CHILDREN’S BOOK AWARD WITH HER DEBUT NOVEL

Jasbinder Bilan

read more...
COSTA CHILDREN’S BOOK AWARD 2019: SHORTLIST FEATURES

Former Children’s Laureate Malorie Blackman and acclaimed author Jenny Downham are on the shortlist for the 2019 Costa Children’s Book Award alongside newcomers Jasbinder Bilan and Nicholas Downing.

Costa Book Awards logo

Click the links below to read new Books for Keeps feature articles on each of the shortlisted authors.

read more...
THE IBBY LIST OF OUSTANDING BOOKS FOR YOUNG PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES

Dr Rebecca Butler writes.

Readers of Books for Keeps will remember that IBBY (the International Board on Books for Young People) arranges every two years a competition to identify the very best books for young readers featuring disability or designed to be read by young people with disabilities. Last time this list was compiled in 2017/18 I was the coordinator for the UK section.

read more...
ALASTAIR HUMPHREYS’ GREAT ADVENTURERS WINS THE 2019 EDUCATIONAL WRITERS’ AWARD

The winner of the 2019 Educational Writers’ Award is Alastair Humphreys’ Great Adventurers: The Incredible Expeditions of 20 Explorers (Big Picture Press).

Alastair Humphreys Great Adventures

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BLACKMAN AND DOWNHAM ON SHORTLIST FOR 2019 COSTA CHILDREN’S BOOK AWARD

Former Children’s Laureate Malorie Blackman and acclaimed author Jenny Downham are on the shortlist for the 2019 Costa Children’s Book Award, which was announced today, 26th November 2020. Alongside them on the list are newcomers Jasbinder Bilan and Nicholas Downing, both of whom are published by Chicken House.

The 2019 Costa Children’s Award shortlist

read more...
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...
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