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Books for Keeps 191 - the children's book magazine online

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BfK No. 191 - November 2011
BfK 191 November 2011

This issue’s cover illustration is from The Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater. Thanks to Scholastic Children’s Books for their help with this November cover.

By clicking here you can view, print or download the fully artworked Digital Edition of BfK 191 November 2011.

BfK No. 191 Articles

Martin Scorsese’s film Hugo

Film critic and reviewer Laura Fraine finds Hugo ‘an almost perfect matinee movie’ for a family outing
Editorial 191

Editorial November 2011
Shirley Hughes: A Life Illustrating

Shirley Hughes interviewed by Catherine Swan.
Books for Giving

Rosemary Stones selects ideal gifts for young readers.
New Poetry Collections

Clive Barnes selects new poetry collections for Christmas giving.
Folk Tales for Giving

Neil Philip selects new collections with Christmas giving in mind.
Robert Ingpen Windows into Illustration

Robert Ingpen on his illustrations for Treasure Island
Books about Death

Books are about preparing for and recovering from death and loss.
Authorgraph 191: Maggie Stiefvater

Maggie Stiefvater interviewed by Julia Eccleshare.
Pigeon English – Suitable for Teenagers?

Geoff Fox on Pigeon English by Stephen Kelman
Briefing 191

Editor's briefing
Hal's Reading Diary 191

Hal is about to be eleven.
Marcus Sedgwick I Wish

Marcus Sedgwick on a book with the ‘creepiest ending’ he has ever read…
Good Reads 191

Good reads chosen by Year 7 (11-12 year-old) pupils from Forest Hill School, London
Classics in Short: Peepo!

Brian Alderson on everyone's favourite holey book.
Andy Mulligan: Winner of The Guardian Children’s Fiction Prize 2011

Julia Eccleshare talks to Andy Mulligan 2011 Guardian Award Winner
Brian Selznick on Scorsese, Hollywood - and moving meteorites

Brian Selznick interviewed
RUSSELL HOBAN

Russell Hoban, known both for his picture books and his novels, has died aged 86. Brian Alderson assesses the career of this prolific and original writer.
Ronald Searle 3 March 1920 – 30 December 2011

One of the UK’s major satirical draughtsmen of the second half of the 20th century, Ronald Searle has died at the age of 91. Australian writer/illustrator Leigh Hobbs pays tribute to the artist and the man.
Steven Spielberg’s War Horse

‘How on earth does one direct a film from a horse's point of view?’ asks Books for Keeps’ film critic Laura Fraine who finds that Spielberg’s adaptation of Morpurgo’s novel only lurches into gear when war breaks out…

Editor's Choice

VIII
H M Castor
(Templar)
5

What makes a tyrant? Henry V111 ruled with such self aggrandising despotism that his legacy was religious conflict, political isolation, debt and inflation, thousands killed in a foolhardy war against France and continuing war with Scotland. What...

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New Talent

My Bear Griz
Suzanne McGinness
(Frances Lincoln Children's Books)
3

Narrated in the first person, this handsomely produced landscape picture book is about the relationship between the narrator Billy, a small boy, and his best friend Griz, the Grizzly Bear. Griz’s bulk is such that the size differential between...

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All Children's Book Reviews in BfK No. 191

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

Under 5s

  • Have You Ever Ever Ever
    Colin McNaughton
    5

  • Again!
    Emily Gravett
    5

  • A House in the Woods
    Inga Moore
    5

  • I Want my Hat Back
    Jon Klassen
    5

  • Missing Mummy
    Rebecca Cobb
    5

  • Just Right
    Birdie Black
    5

  • The Big Book of Words and Pictures
    Ole Konnecke
    4

  • Babbit
    Lydia Monks
    4

  • My Bear Griz
    Suzanne McGinness
    3

  • Creepy Monsters, Sleepy Monsters
    Jane Yolen
    3

  • Fluff and Billy
    Nicola Killen
    3

  • When will it Snow?
    Kathryn White
    3

  • Big Blue Engine
    Ken Wilson-Max
    3

Ages 5-8

  • The Big Snuggle Up
    Brian Patten
    5

  • Grace at Christmas
    Mary Hoffman
    5

  • The Night Before Christmas
    Clement Clarke Moore
    5

  • Amazing Esme
    Tamara MacFarlane
    4

  • Ready Steady Ghost!
    Elizabeth Baguley
    4

  • Winnie Under the Sea
    Valerie Thomas
    4

  • Knuffle Bunny Free
    Mo Willems
    4

  • Let’s Make Some Great Art
    Marion Deuchars
    4

  • Rabbit Racer
    Tamsyn Murray
    3

Ages 8-10

  • How to Steal a Dragon's Sword
    Cressida Cowell
    5

  • Letters from an Alien Schoolboy: Cosmic Custard
    Ros Asquith
    5

  • Shake a Leg
    Boori Monty Pryor
    5

  • Muddle Earth Too
    Paul Stewart
    5

  • Little Manfred

    Michael Morpurgo
    5

  • The Haunting of Charity Delafield
    Ian Beck
    4

  • Eight Keys
    Suzanne LaFleur
    4

  • This is my Planet
    Jan Thornhill
    4

  • Extreme Adventures: Grizzly Trap
    Justin DAth
    3

Ages 10-14

  • VIII
    H M Castor
    5

  • Hartslove
    K M Grant
    4

  • Shelter
    Harlan Coben
    4

  • This Dark Endeavour
    Kenneth Oppel
    4

  • Mister Creecher
    Chris Priestley
    4

  • The Loblolly Boy
    James Norcliffe
    4

  • Bruised
    Siobhan Parkinson
    4

  • Heart of Resistance
    Sarah Tate
    4

  • Immortal War
    Justin Somper
    4

  • People's Republic
    Robert Muchamore
    4

  • Eight Keys
    Suzanne LaFleur
    3

  • Dark Inside
    Jeyn Roberts
    3

  • Words in the Dust
    Trent Reedy
    3

  • The Deserter
    Pedar O Guilin
    2

  • Emerald
    Karen Wallace
    2

  • Gamerunner
    B.R. Collins
    2

Ages 14+

  • Midwinterblood
    Marcus Sedgwick
    5

  • Stealing Phoenix
    Joss Stirling
    5

  • Ashes
    Ilsa J Bick
    4

  • Naked
    Kevin Brooks
    4

  • Sektion 20
    Paul Dowswell
    4

  • Envy
    Gregg Olsen
    3

  • Dark Angel
    Eden Maguire
    3

  • Bleeding Hearts
    Alyxandra Harvey
    3

  • Prized
    Caragh O’Brien
    2

Books About Children's Books

  • Through the Magic Door: Ursula Moray Williams, Gobbolino and the Little Wooden Horse
    Colin Davison
    3

BfK News

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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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.’

read more...
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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