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Books for Keeps 168 - the children's book magazine online

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BfK No. 168 - January 2008

Cover Story
This issue’s cover illustration by Andy Bridge is from Sally Grindley’s Broken Glass. Sally Grindley is interviewed by Clive Barnes. Thanks to Bloomsbury for their help with this January cover.

BfK No. 168 Articles

Editorial - January 2008

News and comment from the Editor.
Ethical Book Production

Caroline Horn investigates environmental and social issues.
Reading in the Middle Years (9-11): Texts and choices: reading non-fiction in the middle years

Suzanne Maile explores the role of non-fiction.
Teachers as Readers

Teresa Cremin, Eve Bearne, Prue Goodwin and Marilyn Mottram report on their research.
Why Do We Really Tell Stories?

Neil Philip challenges the notion of seven basic plots.
Authorgraph No.168: Sally Grindley

Sally Grindley interviewed by Clive Barnes.
Laureate Log - January 2008

Michael Rosen reports on his laureateship.
Hal’s Reading Diary - January 2008

Roger Mills on tactics to help Hal enjoy reading.
Classics in Short No.67: A Traveller in Time

Brian Alderson on Alison Uttley's A Traveller in Time

Editor's Choice

The Snow Goose
Paul Gallico
(Hutchinson (RHCP))
5

Gallico’s The Snow Goose was first published in 1941 and culminates in the death of its hero, the ‘hunchback’ artist Philip Rhayader, at the evacuation of Dunkirk after many successful forays to lift men off the beaches. It’s a...

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New Talent

The Mousehunter
Alex Milway
(Faber & Faber)
3

Illustrated with his own line drawings, Milway’s The Mousehunter is a first novel of the most ambitious scope (and length). Incident is heaped upon incident as the plot becomes more and more convoluted and what seemed to make...

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All Children's Book Reviews in BfK No. 168

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

Under 5s

  • Wendel's Workshop
    Chris Riddell
    5

  • The Life of a Car
    Susan Steggall
    4

  • I Love You, Sleepyhead
    Claire Freedman
    4

  • The 108th Sheep
    Ayano Imai
    4

  • "The Trouble with Dogs"
    Bob Graham
    4

  • Ted, Bo and Diz: The First Adventure
    Jason Chapman
    3

  • Small Knight and George
    Ronda Armitage
    3

  • Perky Little Penguins
    Tony Mitton
    3

  • Patrick Paints a Picture
    Saviour Pirotta
    3

  • Happy Birthday, Winnie!
    Valerie Thomas
    3

  • Butterfly Girl
    Simon Puttock
    3

  • Shine Moon Shine
    David Conway
    2

Ages 5-8

  • See How It's Made
    Penny Smith
    Lorrie Mack
    5

  • Peter Pan and Wendy
    J M Barrie
    4

  • One Well
    Rochelle Strauss
    4

  • Mungo and the Spiders from Space
    Timothy Knapman
    4

  • Lila and the Secret of Rain
    David Conway
    4

  • Leonardo the Terrible Monster
    Mo Willems
    4

  • Baby Brains and Robomum
    Simon James
    4

  • Around the World in 80 Tales
    Saviour Pirotta
    4

  • Tales of Enchantment
    Lucy Coats
    3

  • Sir Gadabout Out of Time
    Martyn Beardsley
    3

  • Princess Grace
    Mary Hoffman
    3

  • Happy Birthday x 3
    Libby Gleeson
    3

  • Freckleface Strawberry
    Julianne Moore
    3

  • Boobela and the Belching Giant
    Joe Friedman
    3

Ages 8-10

  • The Worst Witch to the Rescue
    Jill Murphy
    5

  • This is the Blackbird
    John Mole
    5

  • The Snow Goose
    Paul Gallico
    5

  • Forever Rose
    Hilary McKay
    5

  • Dog Lost
    Ingrid Lee
    5

  • Cleopatra
    Adèle Geras
    4

  • Born to Run
    Michael Morpurgo
    4

  • Trolls on Hols
    Alan MacDonald
    3

  • My Hindu Community
    Kate Taylor
    Henna Parekh
    3

  • The Mousehunter
    Alex Milway
    3

  • A Farming Almanac
    Chris S Stephens
    3

  • Waste and Recycling
    Carol Inskipp
    2

  • Stardust from Space
    Monica Grady
    2

Ages 10-14

  • Red, Cherry Red
    Jackie Kay
    5

  • Outcast
    Michelle Paver
    5

  • Holocaust
    Angela Gluck Wood
    5

  • The Gallow Glass
    Brian Keaney
    5

  • The December Boys
    Michael Noonan
    5

  • The Witness
    James Jauncey
    4

  • Wilderness
    Roddy Doyle
    4

  • 'Luuurve is a many trousered thing…'
    Louise Rennison
    4

  • Kaï-ro
    Graham Marks
    4

  • The H-Bomb Girl
    Stephen Baxter
    4

  • Feasting the Wolf
    Susan Price
    4

  • The Chimera's Curse
    Julia Golding
    4

  • The Wrong Boy
    Anna-Louise Weatherley
    3

  • Thora and the Incredible Crystals
    Gillian Johnson
    3

  • this is what I did:
    Ann Dee Ellis
    3

  • Memoirs of a Teenage Amnesiac
    Gabrielle Zevin
    3

  • Lucky Star
    Cathy Cassidy
    3

  • Jack Flint and the Redthorn Sword
    Jack Donnelly
    3

  • The Great Escape
    Natalie Haynes
    3

  • The Cure
    Michael Coleman
    3

  • The City of Spirits
    Paul Bajoria
    3

  • Cat O'Nine Tails
    Julia Golding
    3

  • The Beggar of Volubilis
    Caroline Lawrence
    3

  • Battle Fleet
    Paul Dowswell
    3

  • African and Caribbean Communities in Britain
    Hakim Adi
    3

  • Wicked Lovely
    Melissa Marr
    2

  • Religious Freedom
    Sean Connolly
    2

  • The Geat: The story of Beowulf and Grendel
    2

Ages 14+

  • Slam
    Nick Hornby
    5

  • Before I Die
    Jenny Downham
    4

  • Ruby Red
    Linzi Glass
    2

  • The Declaration
    Gemma Malley
    0

Books About Children's Books

  • Irish Children's Writers and Illustrators 1986-2006: A Selection of Essays
    4

  • Beatrix Potter: Sources of her Inspiration
    3

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

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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

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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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