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

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BfK No. 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
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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)

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...

The Elephant Thief

Jane Kerr

(Chicken House)

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...

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

UKLA BOOK AWARD WINNERS 2020

The winners of the 2020 UKLA Book Awards have been announced.

UKLA award

The UKLA Book Awards are the only awards to be judged entirely by teachers and highlight texts that can ‘enhance all aspects of literacy learning’.

CHILDREN READING MORE IN LOCKDOWN

Silly Squad Laura Ellen Anderson

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.

BBA logo

UKLA BOOK AWARDS THE SHORTLISTS 2020

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

Digital version – browse, print or download

BfK Newsletter

BfK No. 223 Articles

Editor's Choice

A Village Is a Busy Place

New Talent

The Elephant Thief

All Children's Book Reviews in BfK No. 223

Under 5s

I’m in Charge!

Nanette’s Baguette

The Elephant's Umbrella

Dave’s Rock

My Pictures after the Storm

When Grandad Was a Penguin

Frog and Beaver

Ages 5-8

The Everywhere Bear

The Island and the Bear

A Village Is a Busy Place

Jamal’s Journey

Adelaide’s Secret World

Swashbuckle Lil The Secret Pirate

Mr Bunny’s Chocolate Factory

When Grandad Was a Penguin

Ages 8-10

The Elephant Thief

Seeking Refuge

The Bookshop Girl

How to Be a Tiger

Frogkisser

The Dragon with a Chocolate Heart

Cass and the Bubble Street Gang The Clubhouse Mystery

Hilo: The Boy who crashed to Earth

His Royal Whiskers

Sky Thieves

Lots

Ages 10-14

Fish Boy

When Morning Comes

A Dangerous Crossing

Who Let the Gods Out?

Rose Campion and the Curse of the Doomstone

Optimists Die First

The Liar’s Handbook

What Not to Do if You Turn Invisible

Exploring Space

The Spiral Path

Ages 14+

Mind the Gap

When Morning Comes

We Come Apart

Whisper to Me

Optimists Die First

Open: A Toolkit for how magic and messed up life can be

Room Empty

Goodbye Days

BfK News