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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...

read more

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

LOLLIES 2020 SHORTLIST THE YEAR’S FUNNIEST CHILDREN’S BOOKS

Michael Rosen, children’s novelist, poet and former Children’s Laureate, has announced the shortlist for the 2020 Laugh Out Loud Awards (The Lollies), the awards that celebrate the funniest children’s books.

Lollies logo

read more...
HOOD, RUNDELL AND REYNOLDS UKLA BOOK AWARD WINNERS 2019

Morag Hood, Katherine Rundell and Jason Reynolds have been announced as the winners of the UKLA Book Awards 2019 for I Am Bat, The Explorer and Long Way Down respectively.

read more...
CATHERINE JOHNSON WINS LITTLE REBELS CHILDREN’S BOOK AWARD

The Alliance of Radical Booksellers (ARB) is delighted to announce that the winner of this year’s Little Rebels Children’s Book Award for Radical Fiction is Catherine Johnson for her book, Freedom (Scholastic 2018).

Catherine Johnsonn photo Andy Donohoe

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CRESSIDA COWELL ANNOUNCED AS NEW WATERSTONES CHILDREN’S LAUREATE

‘Books are transformative because of their unique ability to develop three key magical powers: intelligence, creativity and, most important of all, empathy. Words are power; let’s take magic seriously.’ Cressida Cowell, Waterstones Children’s Laureate

read more...
STEVEN CAMDEN WINS CLiPPA 2019

Steven Camden photo by Ellie Kurttz

read more...
MUHAMMAD KHAN WINS 20TH BRANFORD BOASE AWARD

The winner of the 2019 Branford Boase Award for outstanding debut novel for children is Muhammad Khan for his YA novel I Am Thunder. Set up in memory of author Henrietta Branford and her editor Wendy Boase who both died in 1999, the award also recognizes his editor Lucy Pearse of Macmillan Children’s Books.

read more...
SLA School Librarian of the Year 2019 Announced

Ros Harding School Librarian of the Year

Ros Harding of The King’s School Chester has been awarded the honour of the School Librarian of the Year 2019. 2019 YA Book Prize winner Sara Barnard presented Ros Harding with her award at a special ceremony at the Millennium Gloucester Hotel, Kensington, London Kensington on 27 June.

read more...
The Children's Book Award 2019

Earlier this month, Arree Chung was named overall winner of The Children’s Book Award 2019. His book Mixed, which he wrote and illustrated, also won the Books for Younger Children category before going on to win the overall prize.

read more...
WINNERS OF THE 2019 CILIP CARNEGIE AND KATE GREENAWAY MEDALS

The winners of the CILIP Carnegie and Kate Greenaway Medals have been announced at a ceremony at The British Library, hosted by broadcaster and writer Konnie Huq.

read more...
BRANFORD BOASE AWARD SHORTLIST 2019

The children’s authors to watch: shortlist for the 2019 Branford Boase Award announced

Branford Boase Award shortlist 2019

read more...
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