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Books for Keeps 163 - the children's book magazine online

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BfK No. 163 - March 2007

Cover Story
This issue’s cover illustration is from Meg Rosoff’s Just In Case. Meg Rosoff is interviewed by Nicholas Tucker. Thanks to Penguin Books for their help with this March cover.

BfK No. 163 Articles

Editorial - March 2007

News and comment from the Editor.

Teenagers Promoting Books – A Novel Idea

Nicola Morgan on how her new novel was promoted.

The Best Books of 2006

Rosemary Stones discusses the books that came to the top.

The Oxford Encyclopedia of Children’s Literature

Brian Alderson assesses this new work of reference.

Windows into Illustration: Mairi Hedderwick

Mairi Hedderwick explains the thinking behind her illustration.

Authorgraph No.163: Meg Rosoff

Meg Rosoff interviewed by Nicholas Tucker.

‘Teaching’ Poems for Children: A Praise Poem

Robert Hull explores how to use a praise poem.

Take 3: Eponymous Imprints

David Fickling Books, Jane Nissen Books and Marion Lloyd Books.

Hal’s Reading Diary - March 2007

Roger Mills on Hal and thank you letters.

BfK Briefing - March 2007

News * Obituaries * Letter to the Editor

Cool to be Clever: Getting Boys to Read

Philip Wilkinson discusses boys and reading.

I Wish I’d Written... Warrior Scarlet

Stuart Hill chooses Rosemary Sutcliff's Warrior Scarlet.

Good Reads: Broadwater School, Godalming, Surrey

Reviews from Broadwater School, Godalming, Surrey.

Classics in Short No.62: The Battle of Bubble and Squeak

Brian Alderson on Philippa Pearce's The Battle of Bubble and Squeak.

The Oxford Encyclopedia of Children’s Literature - additional information

Brian Alderson discusses further.

Editor's Choice

Beware of the Storybook Wolves

Lauren Child
(Hodder Children's Books)
5

Too often, publishers impose the bells and whistles of paper engineering on stories because they can, rather than with any discernable purpose. Lauren Child’s Beware of the Storybook Wolves worked very well as a picture book...

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New Talent

Waves

Sharon Dogar
(Scholastic US)
4

A year has gone by since Charlie went surfing at night and was discovered the next morning lying on the rocks by her younger brother, 15-year-old Hal. It has been a year for the family of visiting Charlie in hospital where she lies in a coma. Is...

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All Children's Book Reviews in BfK No. 163

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

Under 5s

  • Follow the Swallow

    Julia Donaldson
    5
  • Rotten and Rascal: The Two Terrible Pterosaur Twins

    Paul Geraghty
    4
  • Elmer and the Lost Teddy

    David McKee
    4
  • Hello, Who's There?

    Satoshi Kitamura
    3
  • The Amazing Lift-The-Flap ABC

    Colin Hawkins
    Jacqui Hawkins
    3
  • Max Moves to Moscow

    Winifred Riser
    2

Ages 5-8

  • Mustard, Custard, Grumble Belly and Gravy

    Michael Rosen
    5
  • The Lost Happy Endings

    Carol Ann Duffy
    5
  • Beware of the Storybook Wolves

    Lauren Child
    5
  • The Barefoot Book of Classic Poems

    5
  • Uneversaurus

    Aidan Potts
    4
  • The Orchard Book of Goblins, Ghouls & Ghosts & Other Magical Stories

    Martin Waddell
    4
  • Amazing Bugs

    Richard Ferguson
    4
  • Actual Size

    Steve Jenkins
    4
  • Finding Fizz ¦ Nothing But Trouble ¦ On the Ghost Trail ¦ Scratch and Sniff ¦ Taking Flight ¦ The Thing in the Basement

    J Alexander
    3
  • That's Why!

    Babette Cole
    3
  • Sahir Goes to the Dentist

    Chris Petty
    3
  • Miss Fox

    Simon Puttock
    3
  • The Littlest Pirate and the Hammerheads

    Sherryl Clark
    3
  • I Very Really Miss You

    Jane Kemp
    Clare Walters
    3
  • The Courageous Cats Compete

    Steve Wood
    3
  • Tom and Sofia Start School

    Henriette Barkow
    2

Ages 8-10

  • The Adventures of Odysseus

    Hugh Lupton
    Daniel Morden
    5
  • Viking Longship

    Mick Manning
    Brita Granström
    4
  • Jake Jellicoe and the Dread Pirate Redbeard

    Joanna Nadin
    4
  • The Dragon Detective Agency: The Case of the Missing Cats

    Gareth Jones
    4
  • Clarice Bean, Don't Look Now

    Lauren Child
    4
  • Beware! Killer Tomatoes

    Jeremy Strong
    4
  • Sir Gadabout Goes to Knight School

    Martyn Beardsley
    3
  • The Silver Donkey

    Sonya Hartnett
    3
  • I Am a Tree

    Kaye Umansky
    3
  • Topaz on Ice ¦ Topaz Takes a Break ¦ Topaz Takes the Stage

    Helen Bailey
    2
  • 101 Things You Need To Know (… and Some You Don't!)

    Richard Horne
    Tracey Turner
    1

Ages 10-14

  • Weedflower

    Cynthia Kadohata
    5
  • The Thing with Finn

    Tom Kelly
    5
  • I Am the Great Horse

    Katherine Roberts
    5
  • Urgum the Axeman

    Kjartan Poskitt
    4
  • Kiss of Death

    Malcolm Rose
    4
  • The Hunchback of Notre-Dame

    Victor Hugo
    4
  • Catcall

    Linda Newbery
    4
  • Bec

    Darren Shan
    4
  • Amethyst

    Rebecca Lisle
    4
  • The Witches' Mark

    Donald Lightwood
    3
  • River Secrets

    Shannon Hale
    3
  • The Lurkers

    Charles Butler
    3
  • In the Nick of Time

    Robert Swindells
    3
  • I Don't Want an Avocado for an Uncle

    Chrissie Gittins
    3
  • I Am a Cloud, I Can Blow Anywhere

    Jonathan Tulloch
    Shirley Tulloch
    3
  • After the Death of Alice Bennett

    Rowland Molony
    3

Ages 14+

  • This Is All: The Pillow Book of Cordelia Kenn

    Aidan Chambers
    5
  • Finding Violet Park

    Jenny Valentine
    5
  • Dirty Work

    Julia Bell
    5
  • The Book Thief

    Markus Zusak
    5
  • Zenith

    Julie Bertagna
    4
  • Waves

    Sharon Dogar
    4
  • Life as We Knew It

    Susan Pfeffer
    4
  • Growing Yams in London

    Sophia Acheampong
    3
  • Inside the Mind of Gideon Rayburn

    Sarah Miller
    2

Books About Children's Books

  • The Invention of Childhood

    Hugh Cunningham
    Michael Morpurgo
    5
  • Universal Verse: Poetry for Children

    4

BfK News

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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SHORTLIST FOR THE 2021 BLUE PETER BOOK AWARDS REVEALED

The six books shortlisted for the 2021 Blue Peter Book Awards have been announced.

Blue Peter Book Award logo

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Happy National Non-Fiction November 2020

It’s National Non-Fiction November! Organised by the Federation of Children’s Book Groups, National Non-Fiction November is an annual celebration of the power of non-fiction to inspire children and celebrate readers who have a passion for information and facts. 2020 is the 10th anniversary of National Non-Fiction November.

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JANE PORTER AND MAISIE PARADISE SHEARRING 2020 LITTLE REBELS AWARD WINNERS

Jane Porter and Maisie Paradise Shearring have won the 2020 Little Rebels Award for their picture book The Boy who Loved Everyone. They will share the £2000 prize.

Little Rebels logo 2020

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OU AND MACMILLAN CHILDREN’S BOOKS LAUNCH BOOK CHAT SCHEME

The Open University (OU) is launching Book Chat: Reading with your Child, a resource which comprises three short films and support materials to help parents, families and carers read books conversationally and creatively to children. Working with Macmillan Children’s Books, the films use a selection of their picture books and a poetry collection to support families with reading to different ages of children.

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TOM PALMER WINS THE CHILDREN’S BOOK AWARD 2020

Tom Palmer

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