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Books for Keeps 193 - the children's book magazine online

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BfK No. 193 - March 2012
BfK 193 March 2012

This issue's cover illustration by David Wyatt is from C J Busby's Cauldron Spells (978 1 8487 7085 0, £5.99 pbk). Thanks to Templar Publishing for their help with this March cover.

Digital Edition
By clicking here you can view, print or download the fully artworked Digital Edition of BfK 193 March 2012 .

BfK No. 193 Articles

The Hunger Games: film review

How does the film of The Hunger Games stand up against Suzanne Collins' novel?
Editorial 193

Editorial
Introducing Dickens to Young Readers

Margaret Mallett suggests approaches
Katherine Roberts interviewed by Clive Barnes

Katherine Roberts interviewed by Clive Barnes.
The book as artefact: children’s responses to nursery rhymes

Virginia Lowe explains how children learn how a book works.
Windows into Illustration: David Mackintosh

David Mackintosh on how he went about illustrating The Frank Show
Why We Read: Stop What You’re Doing and Read This!

Geraldine Brennan discusses a new collection of essays.
30 Years of Adrian Mole

Clive Barnes assesses Sue Townsend's classic novel.
Ten of the Best: Picture Books on ‘Issues’

Pam Smy chooses her top ten.
The Big Green Bookshop Haringey

Welcome to the Big Green Bookshop Haringey
Briefing 193

Useful organisations, awards, news
Hal's Reading Diary 193

Roger Mills on Hal and Oedipal issues
I Wish I'd Written

Sally Grindley chooses a children's classic
Good Reads 193

Reviews from Stanchester Academy, Stoke-sub-Hamdon, Somerset
Classics in Short 193

Brian Alderson on Russell Hoban's A Mouse and His Child
Obituary: Leila Berg

Leila Berg, author and editor, has died aged 94.
Q and A with Jo Nesbo

Jo Nesbø talks about Doctor Proctor.
Josh Lacey on his book The Dragonsitter

Josh Lacey answers talks about his new book The Dragonsitter.
Sita Brahmachari interview

Sita Brahmachari interviewed.
Julia Green talks about her new novel Bringing the Summer

Julia Green talks about her new novel Bringing the Summer
Q&A with Teri Terry

Teri Terry answers questions on her debut novel Slated.
Changeling: Philippa Gregory’s First Novel for Teenagers

Philippa Gregory talks about Changeling her new novel for teenagers.

Editor's Choice

Croc and Bird
Alexis Deacon
(Hutchinson (RHCP))
5

When two eggs hatch next to each other, the newborn creatures assume they are brothers and grow up together sharing and caring for each other. It isn’t until the river carries them to a lake populated by crocodiles and a flock of birds that they...

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New Talent

Hans and Matilda
Yokococo
(Templar)
4

Matilda the little cat is such a good girl, so sweet and thoughtful but Hans, another little cat, is noisy and naughty – even stealing some keys and releasing the animals from the zoo. ‘Naughty Hans!’ muses Matilda, thoughtfully as she observes...

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All Children's Book Reviews in BfK No. 193

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

Under 5s

  • Zoe and Beans: The Magic Hoop!
    Mick Inkpen
    Chloë Inkpen
    5

  • Socks
    Nick Sharratt
    Elizabeth Lindsay
    5

  • Croc and Bird
    Alexis Deacon
    5

  • Cuddle Bear
    Claire Freedman
    4

  • Ella
    Alex T Smith
    4

  • Hans and Matilda
    Yokococo
    4

  • Who Lives Here?
    Michael Terry
    4

  • Jump On Board the Animal Train
    Lynne Moore
    4

  • Little Nelly's Big Book
    Pippa Goodhart
    4

  • Babies Don't Bite
    David Bedford
    3

  • The Goggle-Eyed Goats
    Stephen Davies
    3

  • Wave the Flag and Blow the Whistle
    Ronda Armitage
    3

Ages 5-8

  • Dog Loves Drawing
    Louise Yates
    5

  • The Copper Tree
    Hilary Robinson
    4

  • Thomas Has Autism
    Jillian Powell
    3

  • Happiness is a Watermelon on your Head
    Daniel Hahn
    3

  • Alien Attack: Star Fighters
    max chase
    3

  • Grimm’s Household Tales
    Brothers Grimm
    2

Ages 8-10

  • The Flask
    Nicky Singer
    5

  • My Tourist Guide to the Solar System and Beyond
    Lewis Dartnell
    4

  • The Demon's Watch
    Conrad Mason
    4

  • The Court Painter’s Apprentice
    Richard Knight
    3

  • Spaceheadz Save the World

    Jon Scieszka
    2

Ages 10-14

  • Soonchild
    Russell Hoban
    5

  • A Vicarage Family: A Biography of Myself

    Noel Streatfeild
    4

  • Everneath
    Brodi Ashton
    4

  • The Great and Dangerous
    Chris Westwood
    4

  • The Look
    Sophia Bennett
    4

  • The One Dollar Horse
    Lauren St John
    4

  • The 13th Horseman
    Barry Hutchison
    4

  • The Repossession
    Sam Hawksmoor
    4

  • Signs of Love: Love Match
    Melody James
    4

  • Twelve Minutes to Midnight
    Christopher Edge
    4

  • Fever
    Dee Shulman
    4

  • Brave New Girl
    Catherine Johnson
    3

  • Ash Mistry and the Savage Fortress

    Sarwat Chadda
    3

  • Kiss Date Love Hate
    Luisa Plaja
    3

  • Tudor Rose
    Anne Perry
    2

Ages 14+

  • This is Not Forgiveness
    Celia Rees
    5

  • The Brides of Rollrock Island
    Margo Lanagan
    5

  • Wyrmeweald: Bloodhoney
    Paul Stewart
    4

  • Desert Angel
    Charlie Price
    4

  • Arcadia Awakens
    Kai Meyer
    4

  • Secrets of the Henna Girl
    Sufiya Ahmed
    4

  • Falling Fast
    Sophie McKenzie
    3

  • Socks Are Not Enough
    Mark Lowery
    3

  • Geekhood: Close Encounters of the Girl Kind

    Andy Robb
    3

  • Fallen in Love
    Lauren Kate
    3

  • The Future of Us
    Jay Asher
    Carolyn Mackler
    2

Books About Children's Books

  • Children's Picturebooks: The art of visual storytelling
    Martin Salisbury
    Morag Styles
    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

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.

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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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