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Books for Keeps 167 - the children's book magazine online

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BfK No. 167 - November 2007

Cover Story
This issue’s cover illustration by Polly Dunbar is from David Almond’s My Dad’s a Birdman. David Almond writes about his new book. Thanks to Walker Books for their help with this November cover.

BfK No. 167 Articles

Editorial – November 2007

News and comment from the Editor.
My Dad’s a Birdman

David Almond on his new novel.
A Hundred Years of Oxford University Press Children’s Books

Ron Heapy traces the history of Oxford University Press.
Reading in the Middle Years (9-11): Novels in the Middle Years

Fiona Collins explores the importance of novels.
The 2007 Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award: Banco del Libro

Julia Eccleshare discusses this year's winner, Banco del Libro.
Authorgraph No.167: Mini Grey

Mini Grey interviewed by Joanna Carey.
Laureate Log – November 2007

Michael Rosen reports on his laureateship.
Letter to the Editor - November 2007

James Riordan defends his novel, Rebel Cargo.
Hal’s Reading Diary - November 2007

Roger Mills on Hal's frustration with his literacy homework.
Good Reads: Trafalgar Junior School, Twickenham

Reviews from Trafalgar Junior School, Twickenham.
Classics in Short No.66: The Tailor of Gloucester

Brian Alderson on Beatrix Potter's The Tailor of Gloucester.

Editor's Choice

Scaredy Squirrel Makes a Friend
Melanie Watt
(Catnip Publishing)
4

This square, small format picture book exudes energy and confidence and is full of pictorial jokes. At the same time, it is an understanding depiction, a self help manual almost, for small children who are scared to venture out into the world and...

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New Talent

Dirty Angels
Andrew Glover
(Hodder Children's Books)
3

Narrated in the first person by 14-year-old Colin, this urban fantasy is set in multi-racial Hackney. Colin, who is 4’ 10” and sounds like a girl, has a hard time with his peers. Every trip to school has to be planned like a military operation –...

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All Children's Book Reviews in BfK No. 167

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

Under 5s

  • Wings, Horns, & Claws: A Dinosaur Book of Epic Proportions
    Chris Wormell
    5

  • Penguin
    Polly Dunbar
    5

  • Shoo!
    Michael Rosen
    4

  • Nail Soup
    Eric Maddern
    4

  • Tickly Octopus
    Ruth Galloway
    3

  • Noko's Surprise Party
    Fiona Moodie
    3

  • Here Comes Cadi
    Viv Sayer
    3

  • I Want My Light On!
    Tony Ross
    3

  • I Spy: Colours in Art
    Lucy Micklethwait
    3

  • The Very Greedy Bee
    Steve Smallman
    3

  • Elephants Never Forget!
    Anushka Ravishankar
    3

  • Hello! Is that Grandma?
    Ian Whybrow
    2

  • Miaow!
    Mick Inkpen
    2

Ages 5-8

  • Seaside Scientist
    Mick Manning
    Brita Granström
    5

  • Little Grey and the Great Mystery
    Rachel Rivett
    5

  • King Ocean's Flute
    Lucy Coats
    5

  • The Gooey, Chewy, Rumble, Plop Book
    Steve Alton
    5

  • Scaredy Squirrel Makes a Friend
    Melanie Watt
    4

  • Pippi Longstocking
    Astrid Lindgren
    4

  • Wasim the Wanderer
    Chris Ashley
    3

  • Too Ghoul for School: 1. Terror in Cubicle Four; Too Ghoul for School: 2. The Bubonic Builders; Too Ghoul for School: 3. Silent But Deadly; Too Ghoul for School: 4. The In-Spectres Call
    B Strange
    3

  • The Story of Bear
    Hilary McKay
    3

  • Not Like Me
    Marguerite Hann-Syme
    3

  • Class Two at the Zoo
    Julia Jarman
    3

  • Cat
    Victoria Huseby
    3

Ages 8-10

  • Uncle Montague's Tales of Terror
    Chris Priestley
    5

  • A School Like Mine
    Penny Smith
    Zahavit Shalev
    5

  • Ninnyhammer
    Dick King-Smith
    5

  • My Dad's a Birdman
    David Almond
    5

  • Jamie and Angus Together
    Anne Fine
    5

  • Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows
    J K Rowling
    5

  • Eggs
    Jerry Spinelli
    5

  • Warriors
    James Harpur
    4

  • Through Georgia's Eyes
    Rachel Rodriguez
    4

  • Thanks for Telling Me, Emily
    Deirdre Madden
    4

  • The Oxford Book of Children's Poetry
    Michael Harrison
    Christopher Stuart-Clark
    4

  • Mr Gum and the Goblins
    Andy Stanton
    4

  • The Ladybird Code
    Caroline Juskus
    4

  • Igraine the Brave
    Cornelia Funke
    4

  • The World's Bellybutton
    Tanya Landman
    3

  • The Shadow World
    Jane Johnson
    3

  • Secret Agent Jack Stalwart: Peril at the Grand Prix (Italy)
    Elizabeth Singer Hunt
    3

  • The Robe of Skulls
    Vivian French
    3

  • Operation Ward Ten
    Sian Pattenden
    3

  • Minna's Quest
    K M Peyton
    3

  • It's Elementary!
    Robert Winston
    3

  • A Special Assembly
    Debjani Chatterjee
    2

  • Dick Turpin: Legends and Lies; Escape from Colditz; The Last Duel
    Terry Deary
    1

Ages 10-14

  • Time of the Eagle
    Sherryl Jordan
    4

  • The Stuff of Nightmares
    Malorie Blackman
    4

  • The Spook's Battle; The Spook's Secret
    Joseph Delaney
    4

  • The Slave-girl from Jerusalem
    Caroline Lawrence
    4

  • The Rule of Claw
    John Brindley
    4

  • Kiss
    Jacqueline Wilson
    4

  • High Crag Linn
    Margaret McAllister
    4

  • Fearless
    Tim Lott
    4

  • Energy
    Chris Oxlade
    4

  • Campaigners for Change
    Ann Kramer
    4

  • Hazel
    Julie Hearn
    3

  • Dirty Angels
    Andrew Glover
    3

  • Biomass Power
    Isabel Thomas
    3

  • Bad Blood
    Rhiannon Lassiter
    3

  • At the House of the Magician
    Mary Hooper
    3

  • The Sticky Rock Café
    Susie Cornfield
    2

  • Scientists and their Discoveries
    Christine Hatt
    2

Ages 14+

  • Unzipped: A Toolkit for Life
    Matt Whyman
    5

  • Sight
    A M Vrettos
    4

  • The Highwayman's Curse
    Nicola Morgan
    4

  • Omega Place
    Graham Marks
    3

  • Looking Forward
    3

  • The Boys Who Saved the World
    Sam Mills
    3

Books About Children's Books

  • Stories, Pictures and Reality: Two children tell
    Virginia Lowe
    4

  • Reading Round Edinburgh: A Guide to Children's Books of the City
    4

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

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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.

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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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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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