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Books for Keeps 141 - the children's book magazine online

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BfK No. 141 - July 2003

Cover Story
This issue’s cover illustration is from Terry Deary’s The Thief, the Fool and the Big Fat King, illustrated by Helen Flook, from A & C Black’s ‘Tudor Tales’ series. Terry Deary is discussed by Sue Unstead. Thanks to A & C Black for their help with this July cover.

BfK No. 141 Articles

Editorial - July 2003

News and comment from the Editor.
BfK Profile: Terry Deary

Sue Unstead on the UK's leading writer of non-fiction, Terry Deary.
Giving Something Back - the St Lucia Libraries Project

Anne Marley on the St Lucia libraries project.
The Carnegie and Greenaway Medals

Jan Mark and Martin Salisbury on the shortlisted titles.
Authorgraph No.141: Hilary McKay

Hilary McKay interviewed by Stephanie Nettell.
Ways of Being Male

Margaret Meek on masculinities in children's fiction and films.
Hal’s Reading Diary - July 2003

Roger Mills on his son Hal at 28 months.
Signal 1970-2003

Peter Hollindale on 100 Signal issues.
Hans Magnus Enzensberger

The author in conversation with Nicholas Tucker.
BfK Briefing - July 2003

News * Awards * Obituaries
Useful Organisations No.28: Book Aid International

UK support for libraries in sub-Saharan Africa.
I Wish I’d Written... Dear Diary

Allan Ahlberg chooses Sara Fanelli's Dear Diary.
Good Reads: Carnegie Medal Shadowing Schools 2003

Reviews from the Carnegie Shadowing Groups.
Classics in Short No.40: A Swarm in May

Brian Alderson on William Mayne's A Swarm in May.

Editor's Choice

The Little Red Hen: A Deliciously Funny Flap Book
Jonathan Allen
(Corgi Childrens)
5

Allen's dynamically vibrant line and crosshatching together with his vibrant palette convey character and mood with seemingly effortless aplomb in this witty flap book. The sloth, suspicion, greed and selfishness of the Little Red Hen's farmyard...

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New Talent

Inventing Elliot
Graham Gardner
(Orion Childrens)
5

A victim of bullying at his old school, Elliot is determined to reinvent himself at his new school, Holminster. The coolly self-contained mask he presents to the world is so convincing that he is invited to join the Guardians, a sinister group of...

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All Children's Book Reviews in BfK No. 141

  • Under 5s
  • Ages 5-8
  • Ages 8-10
  • Ages 10-14
  • Ages 14+

Under 5s

  • Nico's Octopus
    Caroline Pitcher
    5

  • Cow
    Malachy Doyle
    5

  • The Little Red Hen: A Deliciously Funny Flap Book
    Jonathan Allen
    5

  • A Chick Called Saturday
    Joyce Dunbar
    5

  • The Wolf who cried Boy
    Bob Hartman
    4

  • Drat That Fat Cat!
    Pat Thomson
    4

  • Marvin Wanted MORE!
    Joseph Theobald
    4

  • My Best Friend, Bob
    Georgie Ripper
    4

  • Blue and Square; Yellow and Round
    Hervé Tulley
    4

  • Imagine you are a Dolphin ¦ Imagine you are a Crocodile ¦ Imagine you are a Tiger
    Karen Wallace
    3

  • Little Lamb: A Soft-to-Touch Book
    Piers Harper
    3

Ages 5-8

  • Bob Robber and Dancing Jane
    Andrew Matthews
    5

  • Ben's Magic Telescope
    Brian Patten
    5

  • The Pea and the Princess
    Mini Grey
    5

  • The Moses Basket
    Jenny Koralek
    4

  • Alfie's Angels
    Henriette Barkow
    3

Ages 8-10

  • Haven't you grown! Poems about families
    5

  • Who was William Shakespeare?; Who was Florence Nightingale?; Who was David Livingstone?
    Rupert Christiansen
    4

  • Badger; Fox
    Michael Leach
    4

  • The Silver Bead
    Helen Dunmore
    4

  • Death and the Arrow
    Chris Priestley
    4

  • Marc Chagall; Georgia O'Keeffe
    Jude Welton
    3

  • Favourite Classic Writers; Favourite Classic Poets
    Nikki Gamble
    3

  • Goodbye, Tommy Blue; Wicked Chickens; The Beast of Crowsfoot Cottage
    Adèle Geras
    3

  • The Unholy Grail
    Anthony Horowitz
    3

  • Eye of the Wolf
    Daniel Pennac
    3

  • Ragweed
    Avi
    2

  • The Adventures of Pinocchio: the story of a puppet
    Carlo Collodi
    2

Ages 10-14

  • The Divide
    Elizabeth Kay
    5

  • Inventing Elliot
    Graham Gardner
    5

  • Encyclopedia of the Human Body
    Richard Walker
    4

  • Stikky Night Skies
    Laurence Holt
    4

  • Fat Boy Swim
    Catherine Forde
    4

  • Hands Up!
    Paul Magrs
    4

  • Something in the Air
    Jan Mark
    4

  • Rocket Science
    Jeanne Willis
    4

  • Bud, Not Buddy
    Christopher Paul Curtis
    3

  • Three Blind Eyes
    Alison Prince
    3

  • Facing the Dark; Carried Away
    Michael Harrison
    3

  • Waiting for Mermaids
    Sue Welford
    3

  • One River Many Creeks: Poems from all around the world
    2

  • Shadow of the Wolf
    Andrew Matthews
    2

Ages 14+

  • Follow Me Down
    Julie Hearn
    5

  • Green Angel
    Alice Hoffman
    5

  • Sexually Transmitted Diseases; Eating Disorders
    Jo Whelan
    4

  • Poison
    Chris Wooding
    4

  • Lola Rose
    Jacqueline Wilson
    4

  • Coming of Age
    Valerie Mendes
    4

  • You
    Sandra Glover
    4

  • The Crew
    Bali Rai
    3

  • Love, Shelley
    Kate Saksena
    3

BfK News

BRANFORD BOASE AWARD 2020: LONGLIST ANNOUNCED

Branford Boase Award logo

read more...
EMPATHYLAB ANNOUNCES 2020 READ FOR EMPATHY BOOK COLLECTION

Raising A Generation of Empathic Citizens

Empathy Day logo

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JASBINDER BILAN WINS COSTA CHILDREN’S BOOK AWARD WITH HER DEBUT NOVEL

Jasbinder Bilan

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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.

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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

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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.

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‘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...
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