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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...

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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

LONGLISTS ANNOUNCED FOR 2021 CILIP CARNEGIE AND KATE GREENAWAY MEDALS

The longlist for the 2021 CILIP Carnegie and Kate Greenaway Medals have been announced.

CKG Logo

read more...
LONGLIST ANNOUNCED FOR 2021 KLAUS FLUGGE PRIZE

Klaus Flugge Prize logo

read more...
NOW OPEN: 2021 HENRIETTA BRANFORD WRITING COMPETITION

Finish a story started by Branford Boase Award winner Liz Hyder

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

read more...
TWO UK ENTRIES ON IBBY LIST OF OUTSTANDING BOOKS FOR YOUNG PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES

Every two years, IBBY invites nominations for its international List of Outstanding Books for Young People with Disabilities. Nominations are made by IBBY national sections and the final list is selected from these by the IBBY Documentation Centre of Books for Young People with Disabilities, based in Toronto. Because of its international content, the list is unique in the children’s book world. It is a huge voluntary undertaking as every country is encouraged to submit up to twelve titles across the three categories.

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LONGLIST FOR THE 2021 BRANFORD BOASE AWARD

The longlist for the 2021 Branford Boase Award has been announced. Set up in memory of award-winning author Henrietta Branford and her editor Wendy Boase, one of the founders of Walker Books, the Branford Boase Award is given annually to the author of an outstanding debut novel for children.

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NATASHA FARRANT WINS 2020 COSTA CHILDREN’S BOOK AWARD

Natasha Farrant

Writer and literary scout Natasha Farrant has won the 2020 Costa Children’s Book Award for Voyage of the Sparrowhawk, a book which the judges described as ‘pure heavenly escapism and a purely joyful read.’

read more...
ROBIN WALKER WINS THE 2020 ALCS EDUCATIONAL WRITERS’ AWARD FOR BLACK HISTORY MATTERS

The winner of the 2020 ALCS Educational Writers’ Award is Black History Matters: The Story of Black History, From African Kingdoms to Black Lives Matter. Written by acclaimed Black historian, Robin Walker, the 2020 judges praised this accessible, comprehensive and inspiring book which provides a timely introduction both to Black history and the Black Lives Matter movement.

read more...
IBBY UK nominate Marcus Sedgwick and David McKee for the Hans Christian Andersen Award 2022

IBBY UK has announced that Marcus Sedgwick and David McKee will be the UK nominations for the 2022 Hans Christian Andersen Award.

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SHORTLIST FOR THE COSTA CHILDREN’S BOOK AWARD 2020

Debut authors Darren Charlton and Jenny Pearson join Natasha Farrant and Meg Rosoff on the shortlist for the 2020 Costa Children’s Book Award.

The shortlist for the 2020 Costa Children’s Book Award has been announced. No less than 146 books were submitted and from those the judges have chosen a shortlist of four. They are:

Wranglestone by Darren Charlton (Little Tiger)

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BOOKTRUST’S REPRESENTS INTERIM RESEARCH & CLPE REFLECTING REALITIES SURVEY 2020

CLPE Reflecting Realities Report 2020

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