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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

SHORTLIST ANNOUNCED FOR THE 2020 KLAUS FLUGGE PRIZE

The shortlist for the Klaus Flugge Prize has been announced. 2020 is the fifth year of the prize, which was set up to honour Klaus Flugge, founder of Andersen Press and an extremely influential figure in children’s picture books. It is awarded to the most promising and exciting newcomer to children’s picture book illustration.

read more...
SHORTLIST FOR THE 2020 BRANFORD BOASE AWARD ANNOUNCED

BBA logo

read more...
UKLA BOOK AWARDS THE SHORTLISTS 2020

UKLA BOOK AWARDS THE SHORTLISTS 2020

read more...
SHORTLISTS FOR THE 2020 CILIP CARNEGIE AND KATE GREENAWAY MEDALS ANNOUNCED

CILIP CKG logo

The shortlists for the CILIP Carnegie and Kate Greenaway Medals, the UK’s oldest book awards for children and young people, have been announced. Selected by Youth Librarians from the 20 strong longlists there are eight books on each of the two lists.

read more...
SHORTLIST ANNOUNCED FOR THE CHILDREN’S BOOK AWARD 2020

Children's Book Award

The shortlist for the Children’s Book Award 2020 has been announced. This is the award’s 40th Anniversary year and it remains the only national award for children’s books that is voted for entirely by children. To mark the award’s 40th Anniversary, a new category on the shortlist celebrates the most popular books for teens.

read more...
NEW FUNDING FOR THE LITTLE REBELS AWARD

The Little Rebels Award for Radical Children’s Fiction has been boosted thanks to £3,500 in new funding from the Barry Amiel and Norman Melburn Trust, bringing the award’s prize money up to £2,000.

Little Rebels logo

read more...
LONGLISTS ANNOUNCED FOR 2020 CILIP CARNEGIE AND KATE GREENAWAY MEDALS

CKG logo

The longlists for the CILIP Carnegie and Kate Greenaway Medals, the UK’s oldest book awards for children and young people, have been announced.

read more...
LONGLIST ANNOUNCED FOR THE 2020 KLAUS FLUGGE PRIZE

The longlist for the 2020 Klaus Flugge Prize has been announced. Now in its fifth year, the Klaus Flugge Prize is awarded to the most promising and exciting newcomer to children’s picture book illustration. It honours Klaus Flugge, founder of publisher Andersen Press and a supremely influential figure in picture books.

Look Up!

read more...
WHO WON THE LAUGH OUT LOUD BOOK AWARDS?

The winners of the Laugh Out Loud Book Awards 2020 have just been announced.

read more...
BRANFORD BOASE AWARD 2020: LONGLIST ANNOUNCED

Branford Boase Award logo

read more...
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