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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.

read more...
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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