Books for Keeps

This issue’s cover illustration is from The Weather Weaver by Tamsin Mori, illustration by David Dean. Thanks to Uclan Publishing for their help with this March cover.

Lovereading4kids has been created by book loving experts to help you select the best books for your children. It is the ultimate children's online independent bookstore where every eatured title is read and reviewed by one of our editorial experts. You can also visit Lovereading4kids to view free Opening Extracts of thousands and thousands of childrens books, both contemporary and classic.

Illustrating It Starts with a Seed

Jennie Webber illustrating It Stars with a Seed

Jennie Webber describes and demonstrates her unique etching technique and her inspiration for It Starts with a Seed.

Books for Keeps is the UK’s leading, independent children’s book magazine. It was launched in 1980 and ever since has been reviewing hundreds of new children’s books each year and publishing articles on every aspect of writing for children. There are over 12,500 reviews on our new website and more than 2,000 articles including interviews with the top children’s authors and illustrators.

“The best scholars, reviewers, authors and critics write for Books for Keeps. We hold a mirror up to the children’s book world and reflects back its output, issues and preoccupations with intelligence, scholarship and wit.”

Book of the week

The Three Happy Lions (Under 5s Pre-School/Nursery/Infant)

Louise Fatio

32pp, PICTURE BOOK, 978-1912650712

The Happy Lion introduced in the book of the same name, has even more reason to be happy in this story. He has a partner he loves, and now they have a cub.

Latest Reviews

Sequin and Stitch (8-10 Junior/Middle)

Laura Dockrill
(Barrington Stoke)

104pp, 978-1781129319, RRP £6.99, Paperback

Laura Dockrill is already well known for her lively writing in prose and poetry. This is typical of her writing, and the concise prose required by Barrington Stoke suits her style. A story to delight all.

Jan Mark
(Roffo Court Press)

368pp, ANTHOLOGY, 978-0993547324, RRP £10.00, Paperback

At least half of these domestic stories though are injected with mystery – inexplicable ghost stories.

Leila Rasheed
(Scholastic)

208pp, INFORMATION STORY, 978-1407191393, RRP £6.99, Paperback

This is an addition to the Voices series which aims to bring history alive through the immediate voice of their protagonists.

A. M. Howell
(Usborne Publishing Ltd)

336pp, FICTION, 978-1474959568, RRP £6.99, Paperback

In Edwardian Cambridge, Helena, her beloved pet parrot Orbit and her father, recently bereaved after the loss of Helena’s mother, begin a new life in the home of the enigmatic Mr Westcott.

Books for Keeps Feature

Jonathan Stroud’s latest series takes us off down the Thames on a journey of adventure. But this trip is fraught with danger, as Damian Kelleher discovers.

BfK Newsletter

Receive the latest news & reviews direct to your inbox!

Latest News

SHORTLIST ANNOUNCED FOR THE 2021 BRANFORD BOASE AWARD

Branford Boase Award logo

The shortlist for the 2021 Branford Boase Award is announced today, Thursday 29April 2021. Established in 2000, the Branford Boase is awarded annually to the author of an outstanding debut novel for children. Uniquely, it also honours the editor of the winning title and highlights the importance of the editor in nurturing new talent.

more >

CRESSIDA COWELL LAUNCHES NEW LAUREATE INITIATIVE IN SUPPORT OF SCHOOL LIBRARIES AND CALLS ON PM TO ACT

Life-changing Libraries logo

Waterstones Children’s Laureate, Cressida Cowell MBE, has sent an open letter to the Prime Minister calling on him to reverse the spiralling inequality in education by putting primary school libraries at the heart of the country’s long-term response to the pandemic with a ring fenced, yearly investment of £100m.

more >

SHORTLISTS ANNOUNCED FOR THE 2021 UKLA BOOK AWARDS

The shortlists for the 2021 UKLA Book Awards are announced today, 12 April. The awards are unique in being the only children’s book awards judged solely by teachers.

more >

2021 SHORTLISTS ANNOUNCED FOR CILIP CARNEGIE AND KATE GREENAWAY MEDALS

CKG Logo

The shortlists for the prestigious CILIP Carnegie and Kate Greenaway Medals are announced today, 18 March. The awards are the UK’s oldest for children and young people.

This year’s judges praised their shortlists for ‘offering hope and escapism during lockdown’ through explorations of freedom, the great outdoors and journeys through the natural world.

more >

NOW OPEN: 2021 HENRIETTA BRANFORD WRITING COMPETITION

photo angelina-litvin

The Henrietta Branford Writing Competition, the annual competition for young people which runs in conjunction with the Branford Boase Award, is now open.

more >