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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.

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

  • Gobble You Up
    Gita Wolf
    Sunita
    4

  • 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

  • Yeti and the Bird
    Nadia Shireen
    3

  • Snowflakes
    Cerrie Burnell
    3

  • How to lose a Lemur
    Frann Preston-Gannon
    3

  • Ding Dong Gorilla!
    Michelle Robinson
    3

Ages 5-8

  • Captain Cat
    Inga Moore
    5

  • What If…?
    Anthony Browne
    5

  • Troll and the Oliver
    Adam Stower
    5

  • Winter's Child
    Angela McAllister
    4

  • 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

  • A Letter for Bear
    David Lucas
    3

Ages 8-10

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

  • 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

  • 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

Ages 10-14

  • The Future King: The Waking World
    Tom Huddleston
    5

  • 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

  • Frost Hollow Hall
    Emma Carroll
    4

  • Gabriel’s Clock
    Hilton Pashley
    4

  • Dead Boys’ Club
    Geoffrey Malone
    4

  • The Lost Gods
    Francesca Simon
    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

  • Tinder
    Sally Gardner
    4

  • 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

  • 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

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

read more...
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.

read more...
10th Waterstones Children’s Book Prize: shortlist announced

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

Weasels

read more...
CILIP CARNEGIE AND KATE GREENAWAY MEDALS 2014: LONGLISTS ANNOUNCED

In a new, staggered countdown to the announcement of the 2014 CILIP Carnegie and Kate Greenaway Medals, longlists for both awards are announced today, Tuesday 4th February, as part of the celebrations leading up to National Libraries Day (Saturday 8th February).

read more...
Branford Boase Award 2014 – the longlist

BBA logoOut of more than 60 books submitted, 29 debut novels have made it onto the longlist for the 2014 Branford Boase Award.

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...
Chris Riddell wins the Costa Children’s Book Award 2013 for Goth Girl and the Ghost of a Mouse

C Riddell

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Nuts and Losers win the Roald Dahl Funny Prize 2013

Roald Dahl logo

read more...
MOLECULE MAYHEM! WINS EDUCATIONAL WRITERS’ AWARD

MOLECULE MAYHEM! WINS EDUCATIONAL WRITERS’ AWARD

Educ Writers Award

Molecule Mayhem! Pop-Up Chemistry Chaos, written by Tom Adams and illustrated
by Thomas Flintham is the winner of the 2013 ALCS Educational Writers’ Award.

read more...
Jim Kay to illustrate Harry Potter

Jim Kay Harry P

Bloomsbury is to publish all seven of J K Rowling’s Harry Potter books with full-colour illustrations by illustrator Jim Kay.

The first in the series, an illustrated Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone, will be released in September 2015.

read more...
2013 Educational Writers’ Award Shortlist Announced

Four books have been shortlisted for the 2013 ALCS Award for Educational Writing, ‘outstanding examples of non-fiction books for readers aged 5-11 years’. They are:

Molecule Mayhem! Pop-Up Chemistry Chaos by Tom Adams, illus Thomas Flintham, Templar

World Atlas by Nick Crane, illus David Dean, Barefoot Books

How the Weather Works: A Hands-On Guide to our Changing Skies and Climate by Christine Dorian, illus Beverly Young, Templar

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