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Books for Keeps 172 - the children's book magazine online

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BfK No. 172 - September 2008

Cover Story
This issue’s cover illustration by Mick Inkpen is from a new Kipper title, Hide Me, Kipper! (978 0 340 97045 4, £10.99 hbk). Mick Inkpen discusses his work here. Thanks to Hodder Children’s Books for their help with this September cover.

BfK No. 172 Articles

Editorial - September 2008

News and comment from the Editor.

Book to Screen

Julia Jarman on translating story into film.

Windows into Illustration: Mick Inkpen

Mick Inkpen explains the thinking behind his illustrations.

Proust and the Squid: The story and science of the reading brain

Henrietta Dombey explores Maryanne Wolf's application of neuroscience.

Authorgraph No.172: Anne Cassidy

Anne Cassidy interviewed by Julia Eccleshare.

Peter Dickinson and the Hazards of Storytelling

Brian Alderson assesses Dickinson's oeuvre.

Peter Dickinson: some information on his books for children

Brian Alderson provides further information on Dickinson's oeuvre.

BfK Briefing – September 2008

Awards

Obituary: David Self

Geraldine Brennan remembers David Self.

Hal’s Reading Diary – September 2008

Roger Mills is trying not to push Hal to read.

Good Reads: Holy Trinity CE Primary School, Cheltenham

Reviews from pupils of Holy Trinity CE Primary School, Cheltenham.

I Wish I’d Written… Coraline

Joanne Harris chooses Neil Gaiman's Coraline.

Laureate Log - September 2008

Michael Rosen meets DCSF Early Years people and goes on tour.

Classics in Short No.71: Anne of Green Gables

Brian Alderson on L M Montgomery's Anne of Green Gables.

Editor's Choice

Mr Pusskins and Little Whiskers

Sam Lloyd
(Orchard Books)
5

In this the second book about the relationship between Mr Pusskins and his owner Emily, peace and harmony are disturbed by the arrival of (from Mr P’s point of view) an unwelcome intruder. Emily presents Mr P with a ‘fabulous surprise’, a demure...

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New Talent

The Mysterious Benedict Society

Trenton Lee Stewart
(Chicken House)
4

‘Are you a gifted child looking for special opportunities?’ asks a newspaper advertisement. Many children apply. While written questions have to be answered, the exam also involves putting the children in situations which test them in ways...

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All Children's Book Reviews in BfK No. 172

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

Under 5s

  • Not a Box

    Antoinette Portis
    5
  • Mr Pusskins and Little Whiskers

    Sam Lloyd
    5
  • Grumpy Cat

    Britta Teckentrup
    5
  • The Growing Story

    Ruth Krauss
    5
  • Emily Goes to Market

    William Mayne
    5
  • Elmer and the Big Bird

    David McKee
    5
  • Chicky Chicky Chook Chook

    Cathy MacLennan
    5
  • Wriggle Piggy Toes

    John Agard
    4
  • The Very Funny Fish

    Jack Tickle
    4
  • Tweedle Dee Dee

    Charlotte Voake
    4
  • Big Yellow Sunflower ¦ Little Green Frog

    Frances Barry
    4
  • Ha Ha, Baby!

    Kate Petty
    4
  • The Teazles' Baby Bunny

    Susan Bagnall
    3
  • The Smallest Samurai

    Fiona French
    3
  • I Love Korky

    Teddy Slater
    3
  • Darkness Slipped In

    Ella Burfoot
    3
  • Lulu's Shoes

    Camilla Reid
    2

Ages 5-8

  • Grandpa's Boat

    Michael Catchpool
    5
  • Aunt Nancy and the Bothersome Visitors

    Phyllis Root
    5
  • Ten Frogs: A book about counting in English and French

    Quentin Blake
    4
  • The Snow Leopard

    Jackie Morris
    4
  • Bubbles in the Bathroom ¦ Shadows in the Bedroom

    Susan Martineau
    4
  • Leon Spreads His Wings

    Wendy Lee
    4
  • The Faraway Island

    Dianne Hofmeyr
    4
  • Meggie Moon ¦ The Wish Cat

    Elizabeth Baguley
    3
  • Whizz-Bang Winnie

    Laura Owen
    3
  • Pirate Princess: Poppy

    Judy Brown
    3
  • The Land of the Dragon King and other Korean stories

    Gillian McClure
    3
  • Just One Peaceful Pond ¦ Just One Quiet Pine Tree

    Chris Butterworth
    3
  • Hansel and Gretel

    The Brothers Grimm
    3
  • Elfa and the Box of Memories

    Michelle Bell
    3
  • Can Anybody Hear Me?

    Jessica Meserve
    3

Ages 8-10

  • Space

    Carole Stott
    4
  • The Mysterious Benedict Society

    Trenton Lee Stewart
    4
  • Warrior King

    Sue Purkiss
    3
  • My Parents' Divorce

    Julia Cole
    3
  • Grk Smells a Rat!

    Joshua Doder
    3
  • Dinosaur Hunter

    Jen Green
    3
  • Angel Boy

    Bernard Ashley
    3
  • 101 Ways to Save the Earth

    David Bellamy
    3

Ages 10-14

  • The Ropes: poems to hold on to

    5
  • Before Green Gables

    Budge Wilson
    5
  • Young Samurai: The Way of the Warrior

    Chris Bradford
    4
  • Strange Hiding Place

    Graham Marks
    4
  • Show Me the Money

    Alvin Hall
    4
  • Ginger Snaps

    Cathy Cassidy
    4
  • Everything I Know About You

    Belinda Hollyer
    4
  • Atlas of Exploration

    Anita Ganeri
    Andrea Mills
    4
  • Vortex

    Chris Ryan
    3
  • Spy Girl: Dead Man Talking

    Carol Hedges
    3
  • The Roar

    Emma Clayton
    3
  • Puppet Master

    Joanne Owen
    3
  • One Small Step

    P B Kerr
    3
  • The Night of the Burning

    Linda Press Wulf
    3
  • Kid Swap

    Michael Lawrence
    3
  • The Fire Eternal

    Chris D'Lacey
    3
  • Eye of the Sun

    Dianne Hofmeyr
    2
  • Beijing

    Richard Platt
    2

Ages 14+

  • Rain

    Kate Le Vann
    5
  • The Ghost's Child

    Sonya Hartnett
    5
  • Red Spikes

    Margo Lanagan
    4
  • The Last Free Cat

    Jon Blake
    4
  • Hush: A Slave Princess' Tale

    Donna Jo Napoli
    4
  • From Somalia, with love

    Na'ima B Robert
    4
  • Creature of the Night

    Kate Thompson
    4
  • The Luxe

    Anna Godbersen
    3
  • Generation Dead

    Daniel Waters
    2

BfK News

LONGLISTS ANNOUNCED FOR 2021 CILIP CARNEGIE AND KATE GREENAWAY MEDALS

The longlist for the 2021 CILIP Carnegie and Kate Greenaway Medals have been announced.

CKG Logo

read more...
LONGLIST ANNOUNCED FOR 2021 KLAUS FLUGGE PRIZE

Klaus Flugge Prize logo

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NOW OPEN: 2021 HENRIETTA BRANFORD WRITING COMPETITION

Finish a story started by Branford Boase Award winner Liz Hyder

The Henrietta Branford Writing Competition, the annual competition for young people which runs in conjunction with the Branford Boase Award, is now open.

read more...
TWO UK ENTRIES ON IBBY LIST OF OUTSTANDING BOOKS FOR YOUNG PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES

Every two years, IBBY invites nominations for its international List of Outstanding Books for Young People with Disabilities. Nominations are made by IBBY national sections and the final list is selected from these by the IBBY Documentation Centre of Books for Young People with Disabilities, based in Toronto. Because of its international content, the list is unique in the children’s book world. It is a huge voluntary undertaking as every country is encouraged to submit up to twelve titles across the three categories.

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LONGLIST FOR THE 2021 BRANFORD BOASE AWARD

The longlist for the 2021 Branford Boase Award has been announced. Set up in memory of award-winning author Henrietta Branford and her editor Wendy Boase, one of the founders of Walker Books, the Branford Boase Award is given annually to the author of an outstanding debut novel for children.

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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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