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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

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...
JESSICA LOVE NAMED WINNER OF THE KLAUS FLUGGE PRIZE 2019 FOR JULIAN IS A MERMAID

Jessica Love

read more...
LOLLIES 2020 SHORTLIST THE YEAR’S FUNNIEST CHILDREN’S BOOKS

Michael Rosen, children’s novelist, poet and former Children’s Laureate, has announced the shortlist for the 2020 Laugh Out Loud Awards (The Lollies), the awards that celebrate the funniest children’s books.

Lollies logo

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HOOD, RUNDELL AND REYNOLDS UKLA BOOK AWARD WINNERS 2019

Morag Hood, Katherine Rundell and Jason Reynolds have been announced as the winners of the UKLA Book Awards 2019 for I Am Bat, The Explorer and Long Way Down respectively.

read more...
CATHERINE JOHNSON WINS LITTLE REBELS CHILDREN’S BOOK AWARD

The Alliance of Radical Booksellers (ARB) is delighted to announce that the winner of this year’s Little Rebels Children’s Book Award for Radical Fiction is Catherine Johnson for her book, Freedom (Scholastic 2018).

Catherine Johnsonn photo Andy Donohoe

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CRESSIDA COWELL ANNOUNCED AS NEW WATERSTONES CHILDREN’S LAUREATE

‘Books are transformative because of their unique ability to develop three key magical powers: intelligence, creativity and, most important of all, empathy. Words are power; let’s take magic seriously.’ Cressida Cowell, Waterstones Children’s Laureate

read more...
STEVEN CAMDEN WINS CLiPPA 2019

Steven Camden photo by Ellie Kurttz

read more...
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