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BfK No. 212 - May 2015
BfK 212 May 2015

COVER STORY
This issue’s cover illustration is from Dara Palmer's Major Drama by Emma Shevah. Thanks to Chicken House for their help with this May cover.

Digital Edition
By clicking here you can view, print or download the fully artworked Digital Edition of BfK 212 May 2015.

BfK No. 212 Articles

Editorial 212

Editorial

Books that Go Bump in the Night

Imogen Russell Williams on the new wave of teen horror

Accelerated Reader in East Lothian Libraries

Susan Boylan of East Lothian Libraries explains how the scheme works for them

Radicals and Readers

Kimberley Reynolds on the Little Rebels Children’s Book Award

Windows into illustration: Mick Manning and Brita Granström

Mick Manning and Brita Granström on their innovative approach to information books

Ten of the Best: Books to Introduce Children to their Human Rights

Ten of the Best: books to get children thinking about human rights, a Magna Carta inspired list chosen by Margaret Mallett

Authorgraph 212: Frances Hardinge

Frances Hardinge interviewed by Philip Womack

Values and themes in the CILIP Carnegie Medal shortlist 2015

The 2015 Carnegie Medal shortlist: appraised by Nicholas Tucker

On First Light, an anthology in celebration of the work of Alan Garner

First Light a celebration of the work of Alan Garner by Erica Wagner

I Wish I’d Written: Phil Earle

The author of Demolition Dad and Being Billy chooses

Good Reads 212

Chosen by pupils at Hexthorpe Primary School, Doncaster

Obituary: Fritz Wegner

Fritz Wegner remembered by Ian Beck

Miffy, the Giraffe and Rebecca

by Virginia Lowe

Chicken House: 15 years on and still clucking!

Barry Cunningham and his team are celebrating!

Classics in Short No.111

Uncle Lubin and the first sighting of Heath Robinson Contraptions

The Sweet Smell of Failure: Stephan Pastis interview

The creator of Timmy Failure talks to Damian Kelleher

An interview with Michael Byrne

Geraldine Brennan talks to the author of Lottery Boy

An introduction to Blood & Ink by Stephen Davies

Read the background to this impressive new novel.

AN INTERVIEW WITH 2015 KATE GREENAWAY MEDAL WINNER WILLIAM GRILL

The creator of Shackleton's Journey interviewed.

A CONVERSATION WITH 2015 CILIP CARNEGIE MEDAL WINNER TANYA LANDMAN

The winning author of Buffalo Soldier in conversation with her agent.

THE CAKE AND BAKE DAY OF AN IMPY KID

An original story by Penny Dolan

VALENTINE’S DAY: AN INTERVIEW WITH THE AUTHOR OF FINDING VIOLET PARK AND FIRE COLOUR ONE

Jenny Valentine interviewed by Joy Court

Editor's Choice

The Wizardling

Binette Schroeder
(Little Island)
5

Wizzo has been warned: keep away from Dragon Rock. Of course he doesn't and meets Dradru, the little dragon-girl and Little Red Riding Hood. It is fun showing off but what about the Big Bad Wolf?

Binette Schroeder’s colour rich...

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New Talent

Other Girl

Nicole Burstein
(Andersen Press)
5

Louise has a task in life: it is up to her to train and develop the superhero skills of her best friend Erica. The goal is to engineer Erica’s discovery by the Vigilants. In the meantime there are exams – and the gorgeous Jay – to cope with. And...

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All Children's Book Reviews in BfK No. 212

  • Under 5s
  • Ages 5-8
  • Ages 8-10
  • Ages 10-14
  • Ages 14+

Under 5s

  • The Giant of Jum

    Elli Woollard
    5
  • Pat-a-Cake Baby

    Joyce Dunbar
    5
  • Swimmy

    Leo Lionni
    5
  • Ice in the Jungle

    Ariane Hofmann-Maniyar
    5
  • Blown Away

    Rob Biddulph
    5
  • This Is My Rock

    David Lucas
    4
  • Daddy’s Sandwich

    Pip Jones
    4
  • Nobody’s Perfect

    David Elliott
    4
  • Where, Oh Where Is Rosie’s Chick?

    Pat Hutchins
    3
  • Follow That Car

    Lucy Feather
    3

Ages 5-8

  • Where’s the Elephant?

    Barroux
    5
  • The First Slodge

    Jeanne Willis
    5
  • Miss Hazeltine’s Home for Shy and Fearful Cats

    Alicia Potter
    5
  • The Seeds of Friendship

    Michael Foreman
    5
  • Who Is King?

    Beverley Naidoo
    5
  • Mr Mistoffeles: The Conjuring Cat

    T S Eliot
    5
  • Blue Balloons and Rabbit Ears

    Hilda Offen
    4
  • The Boy Who Cried Wolf

    Mahni Tazhibi
    4
  • The King and the Sea

    Heinz Janisch
    4
  • You Can’t Take an Elephant on the Bus

    Patricia Cleveland-Peck
    3
  • The Clever Mouse

    Anahita Teymorian
    3

Ages 8-10

  • Where’s the Elephant?

    Barroux
    5
  • The Disappearing Children: Prime Minister Father and Son 1

    Lars Joachim Grimstad
    5
  • The Imagination Box

    Martyn Ford
    5
  • The Key that Swallowed Joey Pigza

    Jack Gantos
    5
  • Blue Balloons and Rabbit Ears

    Hilda Offen
    4
  • Hercufleas

    Sam Gayton
    4
  • Demolition Dad

    Phil Earle
    4
  • How to Speak Spook (and stay alive)

    Ally Kennen
    4
  • The Accidental Prime Minister

    Tom McLaughlin
    4
  • The Unlikely Adventures of Mabel Jones

    Will Mabbitt
    4
  • Fennymore and the Brumela

    Kirsten Reinhardt
    4
  • The Leaky Battery Sets Sail: Adventures of the Steampunk Pirates

    Gareth P Jones
    3

Ages 10-14

  • Pike

    Anthony McGowan
    5
  • Other Girl

    Nicole Burstein
    5
  • Where’s the Elephant?

    Barroux
    5
  • Oxford Illustrated Shakespeare Dictionary

    David Crystal
    Ben Crystal
    5
  • Five Things They Never Told Me

    Rebecca Westcott
    5
  • Game Changer

    Tim Bowler
    5
  • We Are All Made of Molecules

    Susin Nielsen
    4
  • Joe All Alone

    Joanna Nadin
    4
  • The Water Horse

    Holly Webb
    4
  • The Endless Trials of Tabitha Baird

    Arabella Weir
    4
  • Only Eva

    Judi Curtin
    4
  • Phoenix Rising

    Bryony Pearce
    4
  • One Of Us

    Jeannie Waudby
    4
  • If You Find This

    Matthew Baker
    4
  • An Island of Our Own

    Sally Nicholls
    3
  • Lost on Mars

    Paul Magrs
    3
  • Dog Ears

    Anne Booth
    3
  • The Territory

    Sarah Govett
    3
  • The Wordsmith

    Patricia Forde
    3
  • The Disappearance of Tom Pile

    Ian Beck
    3

Ages 14+

  • Conversion

    Katherine Howe
    5
  • Liberty's Fire

    Lydia Syson
    5
  • Oxford Illustrated Shakespeare Dictionary

    David Crystal
    Ben Crystal
    5
  • Devil You Know

    Catherine MacPhail
    5
  • What Was Never Said

    Emma Craigie
    4
  • Nobody Saw No One

    Steve Tasane
    4
  • Love Hurts

    4
  • Love, Tanya

    Tanya Burr
    3
  • It’s About Love

    Steven Camden
    3
  • Remix

    Non Pratt
    3
  • Playlist for the Dead

    Michelle Falkoff
    3
  • The Shadow Cabinet: A Shades of London novel

    Maureen Johnson
    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.

read more...
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

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

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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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