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Books for Keeps 137 - the children's book magazine online

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BfK No. 137 - November 2002

Cover Story
This issue's cover illustration is from Lian Hearn's Across the Nightingale Floor which is discussed by Clive Barnes. Thanks to Pan Macmillan for their help with this November cover.

BfK No. 137 Articles

Editorial - November 2002

News and comment from the Editor.
Is Across the Nightingale Floor a Crossover Title?

Clive Barnes on an epic novel with broad appeal.
Christmas Delights

Stephanie Nettell on books with a Christmas theme.
Giving a Book at Christmas

Fiona Waters on new gift anthologies.
Recent Poetry for Children

Peter Hollindale assesses new titles.
Authorgraph No.137: Eoin Colfer

Eoin Colfer interviewed by Robert Dunbar.
Drawn from Life: Shirley Hughes and Quentin Blake

Joanna Carey on accounts of drawing lives.
Hal’s Reading Diary - November 2002

Roger Mills on his son Hal at 20 months.
BfK Briefing - November 2002

News * Events * Publications * Awards * Obituary
Useful Organisations No.24: The Children's Books History Society

Promotes an appreciation of children's books via newsletters, publications, meetings and talks.
I Wish I’d Written... Sabriel

James Riordan chooses Garth Nix's Sabriel.
Good Reads: Homefield School

Reviews from pupils of Homefield School, Sutton, Surrey.
Classics in Short No.36: Hobberdy Dick

Brian Alderson on Katharine Briggs's Hobberdy Dick.

Editor's Choice

The Smartest GIANT in Town
Julia Donaldson
(Macmillan Children's Books)
5

George the genial giant kits himself out with a smart new outfit only to find that the animals he meets on his way home all need his help. His new shirt becomes a sail, a new shoe a house for some mice, his sock a sleeping bag, and so forth....

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New Talent

Molly Moon's Incredible Book of Hypnotism
Georgia Byng
(Macmillan Children's Books)
4

Orphan Molly lives at Hardwick House orphanage under the far from benevolent care of Miss Adderstone. Her only escape from bullying and deprivation is in daydreams or the occasional visit from Mrs Trinklebury, the kind vilage woman who looked...

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All Children's Book Reviews in BfK No. 137

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

Under 5s

  • The Smartest GIANT in Town
    Julia Donaldson
    5

  • I Want a Cuddle!
    Malorie Blackman
    5

  • Handa's Hen
    Eileen Browne
    5

  • The Moon Jumpers
    Janice May Udry
    4

  • Poochie-Poo
    Helen Stephens
    4

  • Race Day!
    Gwen Grant
    4

  • Mimi's Book of Counting; Mimi's Book of Opposites
    Emma Chichester Clark
    4

  • Hush Little Ones
    John Butler
    3

  • The Lion Storyteller Book of Animal Tales
    Bob Hartman
    3

  • The Witch's Children
    Ursula Jones
    3

  • Max and the Rainbow Rain Hat
    Gus Clarke
    3

  • No Trouble at All
    Sally Grindley
    3

  • Crispin and the Three Little Piglets
    Ted Dewan
    3

  • Elmer and the Lost Teddy
    David McKee
    3

  • I Know a Rhino
    Charles Fuge
    3

  • Louie's BIG BOOK of Words
    Yves Got
    3

  • Hat off, Baby!
    Jan Ormerod
    2

Ages 5-8

  • Notso Hotso
    Anne Fine
    5

  • S.W.A.L.K.
    Colin McNaughton
    5

  • The Earth from the Air for Children
    Yann Arthus-Bertrand
    4

  • The Secret Life of Ms Wiz
    Terence Blacker
    4

  • The Adventures of a Nose
    Viviane Schwarz
    4

  • Princesses Are Not Quitters!
    Kate Lum
    4

  • Horrid Henry and the Bogey Babysitter
    Francesca Simon
    3

  • George and the Dragon and other saintly stories
    Richard Brassey
    3

  • Little Old Mrs Pepperpot / Mrs Pepperpot Again
    Alf Prøysen
    2

Ages 8-10

  • Look! Zoom in on Art!
    Gillian Wolfe
    5

  • The Greeks on Stage
    Geraldine McCaughrean
    4

  • Molly Moon's Incredible Book of Hypnotism
    Georgia Byng
    4

  • The Worlds of Chrestomanci
    Diana Wynne Jones
    4

  • The Yellow Star: The Legend of King Christian X of Denmark
    Carmen Agra Deedy
    4

  • Growing up in the Seventies; Growing up in the Eighties
    Kathryn Walker
    3

  • The Secret Summer of Daniel Lyons
    Roy Apps
    3

  • Dan's Angel
    Alexander Sturgis
    2

  • Into the Lion's Den; Dear Ms; Something Slimy on Primrose Drive; The Ramsbottom Rumble
    Terry Deary
    2

Ages 10-14

  • Why are Castles Castle-Shaped?; The Archaeolgist's Handbook
    5

  • The Thief Lord
    Cornelia Funke
    5

  • Dovey Coe
    Frances O'Roark Dowell
    5

  • The Alchemist's Apprentice
    Kate Thompson
    5

  • The African-American Slave Trade; South Africa Since Apartheid
    R G Grant
    4

  • Waking Dream
    Rhiannon Lassiter
    4

  • The Dark Horse
    Marcus Sedgwick
    4

  • The Worm in the Well
    William Mayne
    4

  • Star Dragon; Resistance; Young Dracula; Mad Iris
    Douglas Hill
    4

  • Advertising; Film; Internet; Newspapers and Magazines
    Julian Petley
    3

  • Carwash
    Lesley Howarth
    3

  • Branded
    M E Allen
    3

  • Jim Davis
    John Masefield
    2

Ages 14+

  • The Shell House
    Linda Newbery
    4

  • Who is Jesse Flood?
    Malachy Doyle
    4

  • Bright Angel
    Carol Hedges
    3

  • Weetzie Bat
    Francesca Lia Block
    3

Books About Children's Books

  • Beatrix Potter to Harry Potter: portraits of children's writers; Magic Pencil: children's book illustration today
    Julia Eccleshare
    3

  • A Guide to the Harry Potter Novels
    Julia Eccleshare
    3

  • British Folk-Tales and Legends: a sampler; Stories and Tales
    Katharine Briggs
    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.

read more...
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.’

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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.

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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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