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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

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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