Home
  • Home
  • Latest Issue
  • Past Issues
  • Authors & Artists
  • Articles
  • Reviews
  • News
  • Forums
  • Search

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

  • View
  • Rearrange

Digital version – browse, print or download

Books for Keeps is packed with articles, interviews comment and, of course, reviews.

You can read the whole issue online here, for free!

How to print the digital edition of Books for Keeps: click on this PDF file link - click on the printer icon in the top right of the screen to print.

BfK Newsletter

Receive the latest news & reviews direct to your inbox!

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...

read more

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

ALL STORIES, A NEW MENTORSHIP PROGRAMME FOR UNDERREPRESENTED CHILDREN’S BOOK WRITERS

A new mentorship scheme for underrepresented authors launches today, 30 March. All Stories offers fourteen mentorships delivered by expert children’s book editors.

All Stories logo

read 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.

read more...
INAUGURAL LONGLIST ANNOUNCED FOR THE JHALAK CHILDREN’S AND YOUNG ADULT PRIZE

The Jhalak Prize has announced the longlist for the inaugural Jhalak Children’s & Young Adult Prize.

Jhalak Prize logo

read more...
ONJALI RAÚF BECOMES WRITER IN RESIDENCE FOR BOOKTRUST

Award-winning author and activist, Onjali Raúf takes up the post as the new Writer in Residence for BookTrust, today, International Women’s Day. She takes over from Smriti Halls.

Onjali Q Raúf

read more...
LONGLISTS ANNOUNCED FOR 2021 CILIP CARNEGIE AND KATE GREENAWAY MEDALS

The longlist for the 2021 CILIP Carnegie and Kate Greenaway Medals have been announced.

CKG Logo

read more...
LONGLIST ANNOUNCED FOR 2021 KLAUS FLUGGE PRIZE

Klaus Flugge Prize logo

read more...
NOW OPEN: 2021 HENRIETTA BRANFORD WRITING COMPETITION

Finish a story started by Branford Boase Award winner Liz Hyder

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

read more...
TWO UK ENTRIES ON IBBY LIST OF OUTSTANDING BOOKS FOR YOUNG PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES

Every two years, IBBY invites nominations for its international List of Outstanding Books for Young People with Disabilities. Nominations are made by IBBY national sections and the final list is selected from these by the IBBY Documentation Centre of Books for Young People with Disabilities, based in Toronto. Because of its international content, the list is unique in the children’s book world. It is a huge voluntary undertaking as every country is encouraged to submit up to twelve titles across the three categories.

read more...
LONGLIST FOR THE 2021 BRANFORD BOASE AWARD

The longlist for the 2021 Branford Boase Award has been announced. Set up in memory of award-winning author Henrietta Branford and her editor Wendy Boase, one of the founders of Walker Books, the Branford Boase Award is given annually to the author of an outstanding debut novel for children.

read more...
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...
more
  • About us
  • Contact us
  • Help/FAQ
  • My Account