Home
  • Home
  • Latest Issue
  • Past Issues
  • Authors & Artists
  • Articles
  • Reviews
  • News
  • Forums
  • Search

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

  • View
  • Rearrange

Digital version – browse, print or download

Can't see the preview?
Click here!

How to print the digital edition of Books for Keeps: click on this PDF file link - click on the printer icon in the top right of the screen to print.

BfK Newsletter

Receive the latest news & reviews direct to your inbox!

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...

read more

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...

read more

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

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)

read more...
BOOKTRUST’S REPRESENTS INTERIM RESEARCH & CLPE REFLECTING REALITIES SURVEY 2020

CLPE Reflecting Realities Report 2020

read more...
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

read more...
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.

read more...
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

read more...
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.

read more...
TOM PALMER WINS THE CHILDREN’S BOOK AWARD 2020

Tom Palmer

read more...
CILIP CARNEGIE AND KATE GREENAWAY SHADOWERS’ CHOICE AWARDS TO DEAN ATTA AND KADIR NELSON

The winners of the CILIP Carnegie and Kate Greenaway Shadowers’ Choice Awards, voted for by children and young people, have been announced.

The Black Flamingo

read more...
Zaro Weil wins 2020 CLiPPA (CLPE Children’s Poetry Award)

Poet Zaro Weil was today announced the winner of the annual poetry award, CLiPPA (Centre for Literacy in Primary Poetry Award) for her collection of nature poems, Cherry Moon, published by ZaZaKids Books/ Troika Books and illustrated by Junli Song.

CLiPPA winner

read more...
LONGLISTS ANNOUNCED FOR 2021 UKLA BOOK AWARDS

UKLA award

read more...
more
  • About us
  • Contact us
  • Help/FAQ
  • My Account