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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

  • Enormouse
    Angie Morgan
    5

  • 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

  • Animal Opposites
    Nicola Killen
    4

  • Upside Down Babies
    Jeanne Willis
    4

  • 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

  • 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

  • Song of the Golden Hare
    Jackie Morris
    4

  • The Tiny King
    Taro Miura
    4

  • 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

  • A Letter for Bear
    David Lucas
    3

Ages 8-10

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

  • Ruby Redfort: Catch Your Death
    Lauren Child
    4

  • The Dragonsitter’s Castle
    Josh Lacey
    4

  • 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

Ages 10-14

  • The Future King: The Waking World
    Tom Huddleston
    5

  • Geek Girl - model misfit
    Holly Smale
    4

  • Wormwood Gate
    Katherine Farmar
    4

  • 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

  • Stay Where You Are and then Leave
    John Boyne
    3

  • The Jade Boy
    Cate Cain
    3

  • The Falconer
    Elizabeth May
    3

  • Dark Satanic Mills
    Marcus Sedgwick
    Julian Sedgwick
    3

  • Sawbones
    Catherine Johnson
    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

KATHERINE RUNDELL WINS 10TH WATERSTONES CHILDREN’S BOOK PRIZE

Katherine RundellKatherine Rundell has been awarded the 2014 Waterstones Childrens Book Prize for her second novel, Rooftoppers.

read more...
BOOKTRUST ANNOUNCES SHORTLIST FOR BEST BOOK AWARDS WITH AMAZON KINDLE

BBA Award logoReading charity Booktrust has announced the books shortlisted for its inaugural Booktrust Best Book Awards with Amazon Kindle.

read more...
SCHOOL LIBRARY ASSOCIATION INFORMATION BOOK AWARD 2014: SHORTLIST ANNOUNCED

The School Library Association (SLA) has announced the shortlist for the 2014 Information Book Award. The award is an annual event and is now in its fourth year. It is designed to support school libraries and to reinforce the importance of non-fiction whilst highlighting the high standard of resources available.

The judges looked at a wide field of nominations and have produced a strong and varied selection of titles for the shortlist, which follows in full.

Under 7s

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NAHOKO UEHASHI AND ROGER MELLO: WINNERS OF THE 2014 HANS CHRISTIAN ANDERSEN AWARD

HCA AwardThe Hans Christian Andersen Award Jury of the International Board on Books for Young People (IBBY) has named Nahoko Uehashi from Japan winner of the 2014 Hans Christian Andersen Author Award, and Roger Mello from Brazil winner of the 2014 Hans Christian Andersen Illustrator Award.

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2014 CILIP CARNEGIE AND KATE GREENAWAY MEDALS: SHORTLISTS ANNOUNCED

CKG Award logo

March is Awards season, and the shortlists for the CILIP Carnegie and Kate Greenaway Medals, the most prestigious of the UK book awards, now routinely described as ‘the ones authors want to win’, are announced today.

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JOHN BURNINGHAM SHORTLISTED FOR THE 2014 HANS CHRISTIAN ANDERSEN AWARD

John BurninghamJohn Burningham is one of six illustrators shortlisted for the 2014 Hans Christian Andersen Award.

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UKLA Book Award Shortlists 2014

UKLA AwardThe shortlists for the UKLA (United Kingdom Literacy Association) have been announced. The UKLA Book Award is unique as it is the only national book award selected by teachers from both the primary and secondary sectors and this year the shortlists have been drawn up by teachers, 55 of them, from schools in Sussex.

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Rick Yancey wins the 2014 Red House Children’s Book Award

Rick Yancey has won the 2014 Red House Children’s Book Award with The 5th Wave, his gripping alien invasion adventure story. 

Yancey winner

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2014 Henrietta Branford Writing Competition for young people now open

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

The Branford Boase Award recognises a debut children’s author and their editor and was set up in memory of the outstanding children’s writer Henrietta Branford and the gifted editor, Wendy Boase, Editorial Director of Walker Books.

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10th Waterstones Children’s Book Prize: shortlist announced

The shortlist for the 2014 Waterstones Children’s Book Prize has been announced.

Weasels

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