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Books for Keeps 164 - the children's book magazine online

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BfK No. 164 - May 2007

Cover Story
This issue’s cover is from Philip Reeve’s Here Lies Arthur. Philip Reeve is interviewed by Geoff Fox. Thanks to Scholastic Children’s Books for their help with this May cover.

BfK No. 164 Articles

Editorial - May 2007

News and comment from the Editor.
BfK Profile: Julia Golding

Stephanie Nettell on the 'Cat Royal' trilogy.
The Depiction of the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict in Contemporary Children’s Fiction: Part 1

Professor Fouad Moughrabi discusses Lynne Reid Banks' Broken Bridge.
‘Teaching’ Poems for Children: A Chinese Poem

Robert Hull explores how to use a Chinese poem.
Authorgraph No.164: Philip Reeve

Philip Reeve interviewed by Geoff Fox.
Turning Young Readers on to the Classics

Peter Hollindale looks at editions aimed at young readers.
An Innovative Publisher: Tara Books

Nicky Potter meets the peole behind the imprint.
I Wish I’d Written… The Outsiders

Justin Somper chooses S E Hinton's The Outsiders.
Hal’s Reading Diary - May 2007

Roger Mills is read to by Hal.
Useful Organisations No.49: Children’s Book Sequels

Ever wondered ‘What comes next?’ when you’re reading a really good book?
BfK Briefing - May 2007

News * Letter to the Editor * Event
Good Reads: Hitchin Boys’ School

Reviews from Hitchin Boys’ School, Hertfordshire.

Classics in Short No.63: English Fairy Tales

Brian Alderson on Joseph Jacobs's English Fairy Tales and More English Fairy Tales.

Editor's Choice

Ottoline and the Yellow Cat
Chris Riddell
(Macmillan Children's Books)
5

Told in a seamless combination of words and line drawings, this story introduces Ottoline and her small hairy companion Mr Munroe whom Ottoline’s explorer parents found in a bog in Norway. Ottoline lives in what looks like a New York skyscraper...

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New Talent

The Inventors
Alexander Gordon Smith
Jamie Webb
(Faber & Faber)
3

Nate and Cat love inventing and although things often go wrong (a mechanical dresser makes great gashes in Nate’s bedroom wall) the friends’ passion for creating gadgets is undiminished. They make a good team as Nate is the one who comes up with...

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All Children's Book Reviews in BfK No. 164

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

Under 5s

  • Monkey and Me
    Emily Gravett
    5

  • The Little Fish who cried Shark!
    Trish Phillips
    4

  • How Do Dinosaurs Say Good Night?
    Jane Yolen
    4

  • Elmer's First Counting Book ¦ Elmer's Opposites
    David McKee
    4

  • Piglet and Papa
    Margaret Wild
    3

  • Lulu loves the Library
    Anna McQuinn
    3

Ages 5-8

  • The Wild Girl
    Chris Wormell
    5

  • The Tale of Tales
    Tony Mitton
    5

  • Home Now
    Lesley Beake
    5

  • Trains
    Robert Crowther
    4

  • The Saddest King
    Chris Wormell
    4

  • The Enchanted Lake
    Leena Jamil
    4

  • Wizzbang Wizard: Dragon Danger/Grasshopper Glue
    Scoular Anderson
    3

  • Weather
    Penelope Arlon
    3

  • Victoria's Day
    Maria De Fatima Campos
    3

  • Sharks and other dangers of the deep
    Simon Mugford
    3

  • Milo Mouse and the Scary Monster
    Louis Baum
    3

  • Fox Tale
    Michael Foreman
    3

  • Handa's Surprising Day
    Eileen Browne
    2

  • Brave Charlotte
    Anu Stohner
    2

Ages 8-10

  • Ottoline and the Yellow Cat
    Chris Riddell
    5

  • Beauty and the Beast
    5

  • How to Cheat a Dragon's Curse by Hiccup Horrendous Haddock III
    Cressida Cowell
    4

  • Dragonsdale
    Salamanda Drake
    4

  • Circus Shoes
    Noel Streatfeild
    4

  • Christophe's Story
    Nicki Cornwell
    4

  • Chaucer's Canterbury Tales
    4

  • Young Gardener
    Stefan Buczacki
    Beverley Buczacki
    3

  • The Inventors
    Alexander Gordon Smith
    Jamie Webb
    3

  • Arts and Crafts of Ancient China ¦ China
    Ting Morris
    3

Ages 10-14

  • Tug of War
    Catherine Forde
    5

  • Silverhorse
    Lene Kaaberbol
    5

  • Jacky Daydream
    Jacqueline Wilson
    5

  • I was a Schoolboy Bridegroom
    Alex Shearer
    5

  • Here Lies Arthur
    Philip Reeve
    5

  • Blart II: The Boy Who Was Wanted Dead or Alive - or Both
    Dominic Barker
    5

  • The Wind Eye
    Robert Westall
    4

  • A Thief in the House of Memory
    Tim Wynne-Jones
    4

  • Slave Girl
    Jackie French
    4

  • The Killing Sea
    Richard Lewis
    4

  • Give Me Shelter
    4

  • Emil and Karl
    Yankev Glatshteyn
    4

  • The Dream Quake
    Elizabeth Knox
    4

  • Shark!; Thing
    Michaela Morgan
    3

  • The Starlight Conspiracy
    Steve Voake
    3

  • Rubies in the Snow
    Kate Hubbard
    3

  • Resistance
    Craig Simpson
    3

  • Kate
    Siobhan Parkinson
    3

  • The Highwayman's Footsteps
    Nicola Morgan
    3

  • Chasing the Sun: Stories from Africa
    3

  • Being
    Kevin Brooks
    3

  • Un Lun Dun
    China Mieville
    2

  • Castle
    Richard Platt
    2

Ages 14+

  • Set in Stone
    Linda Newbery
    5

  • The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing, Traitor to the Nation, Vol I: The Pox Party
    M T Anderson
    5

  • Specials
    Scott Westerfeld
    4

  • Red Tears
    Joanna Kenrick
    4

  • Are We There Yet?
    David Levithan
    4

  • Star-Crossed
    Rachael Wing
    3

  • Slut?
    Kerry Cohen Hoffmann
    3

  • Ophelia
    Lisa Klein
    3

  • Finding Grace
    Alyssa Brugman
    3

  • Across the Wall: A Tale of the Abhorsen and Other Stories
    Garth Nix
    3

  • The Raven Queen
    Pauline Francis
    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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