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Books for Keeps 106 - the children's book magazine online

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BfK No. 106 - September 1997

Cover Story
This issue's cover is from Lynne Reid Banks' novel Angela and Diabola, discussed by Stephanie Nettell. The artwork is by Klaus Verplanke. Thanks to HarperCollins for their help in producing this September cover.

BfK No. 106 Articles

Editorial – September 1997

News and comment from the Editor.
Boys Read Less Than Girls: True or False?

Deborah Maby examines gender preferences in relation to reading.
Authorgraph No.106: Brian Jacques

Brian Jacques interviewed by Julia Eccleshare.
Going for Gold

Brian Alderson looks at the Carnegie Medal's track record in its Diamond Jubilee year.
Angela and Diabola

Stephanie Nettell investigates Lynne Reid Banks' new novel about good and evil.
Publishing Profiles No.5: The Publicity Director

Liz Attenborough goes behind the scenes in publishing.
The History of Children’s Books, No.3: Eminent Victorians

John Rowe Townsend examines the period from the mid-nineteenth century onwards.
BfK Briefing – September 1997

News * Best Seller Charts * Publications * Awards * Letters to the Editor
Good Reads: Kowloon Junior School, Hong Kong

Reviews from pupils of Kowloon Junior School, Kowloon, Hong Kong.
Classics in Short No.5: Tom’s Midnight Garden

Helen Levene on Philippa Pearce's Tom's Midnight Garden.

Editor's Choice

Romanichal Gypsies
Thomas Acton
David Gallant
(Wayland)
5

The Romanichals (descendents of the gypsies who left North India about 1,000 years ago and the local travelling craftspeople who survived the persecution of 1550-1650 in England) make up more than half of the whole Traveller population in Britain...

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New Talent

All Children's Book Reviews in BfK No. 106

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

Under 5s

  • John Joe and the Big Hen
    Martin Waddell
    5

  • The Lighthouse Keeper's Cat
    Ronda Armitage
    David Armitage
    5

  • Baba
    Ruth Brown
    5

  • Nearly But Not Quite
    Paul Rogers
    5

  • Pigs Aplenty, Pigs Galore!
    David McPhail
    5

  • Connie Came to Play
    Jill Paton Walsh
    5

  • It Takes Two; How Did I Begin?
    Karen Wallace
    Ross Collins
    4

  • Big Machines on the Farm; Big Machines in Town
    Steve Cox
    4

  • My Pony Ride
    Lisa Kopper
    4

  • Loving
    Ann Morris
    4

  • There Might Be Giants
    Hilda Offen
    4

  • Jack and the Beanstalk
    4

  • The Topsy-Turvies
    Francesca Simon
    4

  • Nothing but trouble
    Gus Clarke
    4

  • Sonny's Wonderful Wellies
    Lisa Stubbs
    3

  • Dinosaur Roar!
    Paul Stickland
    Henrietta Stickland
    3

Ages 5-8

  • Tex the Cowboy
    Sarah Garland
    5

  • Master Track's Train
    Allan Ahlberg
    André Amstutz
    5

  • How's Harry?
    Steve May
    4

  • Dog on a Broomstick
    Jan Page
    4

  • Mr Bear and the Bear
    Frances Thomas
    Ruth Brown
    4

  • Sam's Duck
    Michael Morpurgo
    4

  • Michael
    Tony Bradman
    Tony Ross
    4

  • Scaly and Snappy; Colourful and Bright; Strong and Stripy; Swift and Silent; Brown and Furry; Big and Bulky
    Moira Butterfield
    3

  • A First Bible Story Book
    3

  • Little Mouse Grandma; Tricky Tricky Twins
    Julia Jarman
    3

  • Jackomoora and the King of Ireland's Son
    Bryan MacMahon
    3

  • The Magnificent Mummies; Mouse Flute; Owl in the House; Delilah Digs for Treasure; Runaway Fred; Keeping Secrets
    Tony Bradman
    2

  • The Bad Good Manners Book; A Pig's Book of Manners
    Babette Cole
    2

Ages 8-10

  • Incredible Plants
    Barbara Taylor
    5

  • Being Friends; Feeling Shy; Telling the Truth; Feeling Angry
    Althea
    4

  • Pop-o-Mania
    Barbara Valenta
    4

  • The Dragon Upstairs
    Geraldine Kaye
    4

  • Delilah Alone
    Jenny Nimmo
    4

  • The Dad Library
    Dennis Whelehan
    4

  • Spider Pie
    Anne Cassidy
    4

  • Matthew's Goals; Biker; The Listener; Otherworld; Captain Hawk and the Stone of Destiny; Roller Madonnas
    Michael Hardcastle
    4

  • A Family from Bosnia; A Family from Ethiopia
    Julia Waterlow
    3

  • Barley Hall: A Day in a Medieval Town House; Fishbourne: A Day in a Roman Palace
    Charles Kightly
    3

  • Tales of St Patrick
    Eileen Dunlop
    3

  • Forever Amber Brown
    Paula Danziger
    3

  • Grandfather's Old Bruk-a-Down Car
    John Agard
    3

  • Alice's Birthday Pig; Alice's World Record
    Tim Kennemore
    3

  • Viking at School; Pirate Pandemonium
    Jeremy Strong
    3

  • William Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream
    2

Ages 10-14

  • Telling It Like It Is: Young Asian Women Talk
    5

  • The School Bag
    5

  • Freedom of Speech; Workers' Rights; Freedom of Belief; Rights in the Home
    Philip Steele
    5

  • Romanichal Gypsies
    Thomas Acton
    David Gallant
    5

  • The Closing March
    Lynne Markham
    5

  • The Lottie Project
    Jacqueline Wilson
    5

  • A Girl Named Disaster
    Nancy Farmer
    4

  • Lizzie's Leaving
    Joan Lingard
    4

  • Slavery from Africa to the Americas
    Christine Hatt
    4

  • Chandra
    Frances Mary Hendry
    4

  • Music on the Bamboo Radio
    Martin Booth
    4

  • Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone
    J K Rowling
    4

  • Water Wings
    Morris Gleitzman
    4

  • Boys behaving Badly!
    Jeremy Daldry
    3

  • Help! My Family is Driving Me Crazy!
    Kathryn Lamb
    3

  • Which way is home?
    Ian Strachan
    3

  • Bullies Don't Hurt; Charlie's Story
    Anthony Masters
    3

  • A Short Stay in Purgatory
    Alan Durant
    3

  • The Dorling Kindersley Illustrated Family Bible
    3

  • Eastern Europe; Israel
    Patrick Burke
    3

  • Spring Break; The Carver
    Barbara Steiner
    3

  • The Swap and Other Stories
    George Layton
    3

  • A History of Ships from Log Rafts to Luxury Liners; A History of Inventions from Abacus to Atomic Power
    Fiona Macdonald
    2

  • The Sea Serpent
    Frankie Calvert
    2

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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