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Books for Keeps 203 - the children's book magazine online

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Books for Keeps is packed with articles, interviews comment and, of course, reviews.

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BfK No. 203 - November 2013
BfK 203

This issue’s cover illustration is from Song of the Golden Hare by Jackie Morris. Thanks to Frances Lincoln for their help with this November cover.

Digital Edition
By clicking here you can view, print or download the fully artworked Digital Edition of BfK 203 November 2013 .

BfK No. 203 Articles

Windows into Illustration: Charlotte Voake

Charlotte Voake on drawing Lear's Owl and the Pussy-cat
Editorial 203
A dark tale for Christmas from Geraldine McCaughrean

What fairy tales are really for.
The best books for giving Christmas 2013

Editor Ferelith Hordon's choice
Books of the Year 2013

Outstanding books of 2013
Michael Morpurgo: a celebration

An appreciation by Kate Agnew
Authorgraph interview 203: Anthony McGowan

Anthony McGowan interviewed by Caroline Sanderson
Ten of the Best: Books that help introduce children to the First World War

Books about World War One.
Gendered marketing of children’s books

It's not what kids want.
Books for Keeps Brilliant Bookshops: Tales on Moon Lane

Tales on Moon Lane
Mackenzie Crook I Wish I'd Written

Mackenzie Crook marvels at Dahl
Good Reads November 2013

Chosen by readers at St Paul’s Community College, Waterford, Republic of Ireland
Robert Leeson (31 March 1928-29 September 2013)

Robert Leeson remembered by Dennis Hamley
Illustrated books in a digital age

Templar launch Big Picture Press.
Classic in Short No. 102

The Night Before Christmas
Jim Kay Q and A

Jim Kay on illustrating Harry Potter.
GOTHIC REVIVAL: AN INTERVIEW WITH COSTA CHILDREN’S BOOK AWARD WINNER CHRIS RIDDELL

Chris Riddell interviewed by Damian Kelleher.
Mission Telemark 2013 style

Amanda Mitchison meets someone who is, very nearly, a character out of one of her own novels.

Editor's Choice

Silver Buttons
Bob Graham
(Walker)
5

A new picture book from Bob Graham is always a treat and this is no exception. As always with Graham, the narrative is both simple and subtle. Silver Buttons takes one moment in time and details individual actions that take place...

read more

New Talent

Missing Ellen
Natasha Mac a Bhaird
(O'Brien Press Ltd)
4

Maggie and Ellen are best friends and have been since the age of four.  It’s the opposites attract kind of friendship. Maggie is drawn to Ellen for her confidence, energy and passion for life. In fact, Ellen wins everyone over, even the...

read more

All Children's Book Reviews in BfK No. 203

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

Under 5s

  • Silver Buttons
    Bob Graham
    5

  • The Lion and the Mouse (Turn and Tell Tales)
    Jenny Broom
    5

  • The Bear in the Book
    Kate Banks
    5

  • Enormouse
    Angie Morgan
    5

  • Animal Opposites
    Nicola Killen
    4

  • Do You Speak English, Moon?
    Francesca Simon
    4

  • Gobble You Up
    Gita Wolf
    Sunita
    4

  • Billy the Goat’s Big Breakfast
    Jez Alborough
    4

  • What Can You Stack on the Back of a Yak?
    Alison Green
    4

  • Upside Down Babies
    Jeanne Willis
    4

  • Spider Sandwiches
    Claire Freedman
    4

  • Snowflakes
    Cerrie Burnell
    3

  • Ding Dong Gorilla!
    Michelle Robinson
    3

  • Yeti and the Bird
    Nadia Shireen
    3

  • How to lose a Lemur
    Frann Preston-Gannon
    3

Ages 5-8

  • What If…?
    Anthony Browne
    5

  • Troll and the Oliver
    Adam Stower
    5

  • Captain Cat
    Inga Moore
    5

  • That is NOT a Good Idea!
    Mo Willems
    4

  • Winter's Child
    Angela McAllister
    4

  • The Tiny King
    Taro Miura
    4

  • Song of the Golden Hare
    Jackie Morris
    4

  • Lollipop and Grandpa and the Christmas Baby
    Penelope Harper
    4

  • A Letter for Bear
    David Lucas
    3

Ages 8-10

  • Let’s Celebrate! Festival Poems From Around the World
    5

  • The River Singers
    Tom Moorhouse
    4

  • I Am a Poetato
    John Hegley
    4

  • The Dragonsitter’s Castle
    Josh Lacey
    4

  • The Reindeer Girl
    Holly Webb
    4

  • The Worst Witch and the Wishing Star
    Jill Murphy
    4

  • Bugs
    George McGavin
    4

  • The Ghost Prison
    Joseph Delaney
    4

  • Ruby Redfort: Catch Your Death
    Lauren Child
    4

  • The Little Ghost
    Otfried Preussler
    4

  • Let’s Play!
    Debjani Chatterjee
    4

  • The Dragon with a Big Nose
    Kathy Henderson
    4

Ages 10-14

  • The Future King: The Waking World
    Tom Huddleston
    5

  • The Lost Gods
    Francesca Simon
    4

  • Eva and the Hidden Diary
    Judi Curtin
    4

  • Frost Hollow Hall
    Emma Carroll
    4

  • Gabriel’s Clock
    Hilton Pashley
    4

  • A Horse called Hero
    Sam Angus
    4

  • Geek Girl - model misfit
    Holly Smale
    4

  • Dead Boys’ Club
    Geoffrey Malone
    4

  • War Dog
    Chris Ryan
    4

  • Wormwood Gate
    Katherine Farmar
    4

  • Stay Where You Are and then Leave
    John Boyne
    3

  • Sawbones
    Catherine Johnson
    3

  • The Jade Boy
    Cate Cain
    3

  • Dark Satanic Mills
    Marcus Sedgwick
    Julian Sedgwick
    3

  • The Falconer
    Elizabeth May
    3

Ages 14+

  • Love in Revolution
    B R Collins
    5

  • Missing Ellen
    Natasha Mac a Bhaird
    4

  • Tinder
    Sally Gardner
    4

  • More Than This
    Patrick Ness
    4

  • The Killing Woods
    Lucy Christopher
    4

  • How to Love
    Katie Cotugno
    4

  • Weirdos vs. Quimboids
    Natasha Desborough
    3

  • Red Rain
    R L Stine
    2

Books About Children's Books

  • A Sneetch is a Sneetch and other philosophical discoveries
    Thomas E Wartenberg
    2

BfK News

CRESSIDA COWELL LAUNCHES NEW LAUREATE INITIATIVE IN SUPPORT OF SCHOOL LIBRARIES AND CALLS ON PM TO ACT

‘How can a child become a reader for pleasure if their parents or carers cannot afford books, and their primary school has no library, or that library is woefully insufficient?’

Life-changing Libraries logo

read more...
SHORTLISTS ANNOUNCED FOR THE 2021 UKLA BOOK AWARDS

UKLA Book Awards logo

read more...
ALL STORIES, A NEW MENTORSHIP PROGRAMME FOR UNDERREPRESENTED CHILDREN’S BOOK WRITERS

A new mentorship scheme for underrepresented authors launches today, 30 March. All Stories offers fourteen mentorships delivered by expert children’s book editors.

All Stories logo

read more...
2021 SHORTLISTS ANNOUNCED FOR CILIP CARNEGIE AND KATE GREENAWAY MEDALS

CKG Logo

The shortlists for the prestigious CILIP Carnegie and Kate Greenaway Medals are announced today, 18 March. The awards are the UK’s oldest for children and young people.

This year’s judges praised their shortlists for ‘offering hope and escapism during lockdown’ through explorations of freedom, the great outdoors and journeys through the natural world.

read more...
INAUGURAL LONGLIST ANNOUNCED FOR THE JHALAK CHILDREN’S AND YOUNG ADULT PRIZE

The Jhalak Prize has announced the longlist for the inaugural Jhalak Children’s & Young Adult Prize.

Jhalak Prize logo

read more...
ONJALI RAÚF BECOMES WRITER IN RESIDENCE FOR BOOKTRUST

Award-winning author and activist, Onjali Raúf takes up the post as the new Writer in Residence for BookTrust, today, International Women’s Day. She takes over from Smriti Halls.

Onjali Q Raúf

read more...
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

read more...
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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