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Books for Keeps 223 - the children's book magazine online

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BfK No. 223 - March 2017
BfK 223 March 2017

This issue’s cover illustration features a selection of books by Jane Ray. Thanks to Boxer Books, Hachette Children’s Books and Walker Books for their help with this March cover.
Digital Edition
By clicking here you can view, print or download the fully artworked Digital Edition of BfK 223 March 2017.

BfK No. 223 Articles

Editorial 223

Editorial comment

Drawn to Reading: the importance of pictures and visual literacy

by Mairi Kidd of Barrington Stoke

Now or Neverland: Peter Pan and the Myth of Eternal Youth

Nicolette Jones on the boy who never grows old.

Windows into Illustration: Meg McLaren

Meg McLaren on Pigeon P.I.

Authorgraph 223 Jane Ray

Jane Ray interviewed by Clive Barnes

Ten of the Best Utopias in Children’s Literature

Utopian children’s fiction chosen by Imogen Russell Williams

EmpathyLab - building empathy through stories

A report by founders Miranda McKearney and Sarah Mears

Obituary Dick Bruna

Nicholas Tucker remembers the creator of Miffy

Obituary Dahlov Ipcar

The influential illustrator remembered by Nicholas Tucker

Two Children Tell: Nicholas and Raymond Briggs

Nicholas discovers Raymond Briggs

Spotlight on Matt Griffin

In the Spotlight: Matt Griffin

A brand new life for Mr Toad

Tom Moorhouse and Holly Swain reinvigorate a favourite character

Good Reads 223

Chosen by pupils at Cambourne Village College, Cambridgeshire

I Wish I’d Written: Lyn Gardner

Lyn Gardner chooses

Classics in Short No. 121: Maria Edgeworth

Brian Alderson on Maria Edgeworth

AN INTERVIEW WITH L A WEATHERLY

The author discusses her Broken trilogy.

A DAY IN THE WRITING LIFE OF DAN WALKER

The author of Sky Thieves takes us through his writing day.

AN INTERVIEW WITH HELEN PETERS

Helen Peters interviewed about her new book Evie's Ghost

Editor's Choice

A Village Is a Busy Place

V Geetha
(Tara Books)
5

This village is a very busy place as it prepares to celebrate a wedding. However, everyday life must also go on; there is grain to be cleaned, bread baked, rice planted or perhaps a train to catch. The place is a hive of activity even as night...

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New Talent

The Elephant Thief

Jane Kerr
(Chicken House)
5

This is storytelling at its best.  From the vivid and dramatic opening scene, the reader is gripped by the amazing story of orphan pickpocket Danny who in 1872 rode an elephant from Edinburgh to Manchester.

The novel is based on the...

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All Children's Book Reviews in BfK No. 223

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

Under 5s

  • I’m in Charge!

    Jeanne Willis
    5
  • Nanette’s Baguette

    Mo Willems
    5
  • The Elephant's Umbrella

    Laleh Jaffari
    4
  • Dave’s Rock

    Frann Preston-Gannon
    4
  • My Pictures after the Storm

    Eric Veille
    4
  • When Grandad Was a Penguin

    Morag Hood
    3
  • Frog and Beaver

    Simon James
    3

Ages 5-8

  • The Everywhere Bear

    Julia Donaldson
    5
  • The Island and the Bear

    Louise Greig
    5
  • A Village Is a Busy Place

    V Geetha
    5
  • Jamal’s Journey

    Michael Foreman
    4
  • Adelaide’s Secret World

    Elise Hurst
    4
  • Swashbuckle Lil The Secret Pirate

    Elli Woollard
    4
  • Mr Bunny’s Chocolate Factory

    Elys Dolan
    4
  • When Grandad Was a Penguin

    Morag Hood
    3

Ages 8-10

  • The Elephant Thief

    Jane Kerr
    5
  • Seeking Refuge

    Irene N.Watts
    5
  • The Bookshop Girl

    Sylvia Bishop
    5
  • How to Be a Tiger

    George Szirtes
    5
  • Frogkisser

    Garth Nix
    5
  • The Dragon with a Chocolate Heart

    Stephanie Burgis
    4
  • Cass and the Bubble Street Gang The Clubhouse Mystery

    Erika McGann
    4
  • Hilo: The Boy who crashed to Earth

    Judd Winick
    4
  • His Royal Whiskers

    Sam Gayton
    4
  • Sky Thieves

    Dan Walker
    4
  • Lots

    Marc Martin
    3

Ages 10-14

  • Fish Boy

    Chloe Daykin
    5
  • When Morning Comes

    Arushi Raina
    5
  • A Dangerous Crossing

    Jane Mitchell
    5
  • Who Let the Gods Out?

    Maz Evans
    4
  • Rose Campion and the Curse of the Doomstone

    Lyn Gardner
    4
  • Optimists Die First

    Susin Nielsen
    4
  • The Liar’s Handbook

    Keren David
    4
  • What Not to Do if You Turn Invisible

    Ross Welford
    4
  • Exploring Space

    Martin Jenkins
    4
  • The Spiral Path

    Matt Griffin
    4

Ages 14+

  • Mind the Gap

    Phil Earle
    5
  • When Morning Comes

    Arushi Raina
    5
  • We Come Apart

    Sarah Crossan
    Brian Conaghan
    5
  • Whisper to Me

    Nick Lake
    5
  • Optimists Die First

    Susin Nielsen
    4
  • Open: A Toolkit for how magic and messed up life can be

    Gemma Cairney
    4
  • Room Empty

    Sarah Mussi
    4
  • Goodbye Days

    Jeff Zentner
    4

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.’

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.

read more...
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

read more...
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

read more...
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.

read more...
TOM PALMER WINS THE CHILDREN’S BOOK AWARD 2020

Tom Palmer

read more...
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