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Books for Keeps 241 - the children's book magazine online

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BfK No. 241 - March 2020
BfK 241 March 2020

This issue’s cover illustration is from Sequin and Stitch written by Laura Dockrill and illustrated by Sara Ogilvie. Thanks to Barrington Stoke 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 241 March 2020.

BfK No. 241 Articles

Editorial 241

Happy World Book Day
The Importance of Play

Make believe is crucial says Gill Lewis
Ten Essential Children’s Books chosen by Patrice Lawrence

Ten essential books for young readers chosen by Patrice Lawrence
Windows into Illustration Frann Preston-Gannon

Windows into Illustration: Frann Preston-Gannon
Authorgraph 241: Catherine Johnson

Authorgraph: Catherine Johnson interviewed by Andrea Reece
Bringing Stories to Life

Director Tish Francis guides us round Oxford’s refurbished Story Museum
Everything Ends Up in the Rubbish

Neil Philip on Hans Christian Andersen’s unhappy endings
Beyond the Secret Garden: Classic Literature and Classic Mistakes

Classic literature and classic mistakes
I Wish I'd Written

Muhammad Khan chooses
Friends, Romans and Countrymen...

What have stories about the Romans done for us, asks Tony Bradman
Good Reads 241

Empathy-inspiring reads chosen by pupils at St Matthews CE Primary School Birmingham
Book Clubs in Schools: Why and How?

Dr Rebecca Butler provides the answers
Albert Uderzo 1927 - 2020

Nicholas Tucker remembers the man who illustrated Asterix.
Classics in Short No 140: Topsys and Turvys on parade

Topsys and Turvys on Parade
A Q&A INTERVIEW WITH VICTORIA CASSANELL

Victoria Cassanell introduces her deubut picture book The Gizzly Itch
AN INTERVIEW WITH MICHELLE PAVER

Philip Womack talks to Michelle Paver about her new adventure, Viper's Daughter
AN INTERVIEW WITH LUCY WORSLEY

Lucy Worsley talks about The Austen Girls, her new novel for young people.
Malory Towers: now on your TV screen

Rebecca Butler reviews the new BBC series.
A Q&A INTERVIEW WITH ROBERT MUCHAMORE

Robert Muchamore answers our questions about Robin Hood.
A Q&A INTERVIEW WITH JENNI SPANGLER

Jenni answers our questions about The Vanishing Trick

Editor's Choice

The Last Paper Crane A Tale from Hiroshima
Kerry Drewery
(Hot Key Books)
5

Ichiro is looking out of the window. His friend Hiro is tidying the mess left by his little sister, Keiko who will now be in her Kindergarten class. Then it happens; a blinding whiteness – and the world changes. This is Hiroshima, 6th...

read more

New Talent

The Grizzly Itch
Victoria Cassanell
(Macmillan Children's Books)
4

A bear and a beaver star in Victoria Cassanell’s debut picture book, which celebrates teamwork, friendship and the great outdoors. Bear wakes up from his long winter sleep with an unBEARable itch, a GRIZZLY itch that’s impossible to reach. He...

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All Children's Book Reviews in BfK No. 241

  • Under 5s
  • Ages 5-8
  • Ages 8-10
  • Ages 10-14
  • Ages 14+

Under 5s

  • A Story about Afiya
    James Berry
    5

  • Love from Alfie McPoonst
    Dawn McNiff
    5

  • The Grizzly Itch
    Victoria Cassanell
    4

  • Karate Kids
    Holly Sterling
    4

  • Would You Like a Banana?
    Yasmeen Ismail
    4

  • A Fox Called Herbert
    Margaret Sturton
    4

  • Birdsong
    Julie Flett
    4

  • The Extraordinary Gardener
    Sam Boughton
    4

  • I Am Brown
    Ashok Banker
    4

  • Pug Hug
    Zehra Hicks
    3

  • Rhinocorn Rules
    Matt Carr
    3

Ages 5-8

  • Boundless Sky
    Amanda Addison
    5

  • Incredible You
    Rhys Brisenden
    5

  • Felix After the Rain
    Dunja Jogan
    5

  • Agent Weasel and the Abominable Dr Snow
    Nick East
    5

  • Too Small Tola
    Atinuke
    5

  • The Last Tree
    Emily Haworth-Booth
    4

  • The Problem with Problems
    Rachel Rooney
    4

  • The Paper Bag Princess
    Robert Munsch
    4

  • A Hat for Mr Mountain
    Soojin Kwak
    4

  • Karate Kids
    Holly Sterling
    4

  • All the Dear Little Animals
    Ulf Nilsson
    4

  • Ori's Stars
    Kristyna Litten
    4

  • The Day The Banana Went Bad
    Michelle Robinson
    3

Ages 8-10

  • The Highland Falcon Thief (Adventures on Trains)
    M.G. Leonard
    Sam Sedgman
    5

  • The House of One Hundred Clocks
    A. M. Howell
    5

  • The Pear Affair
    Judith Eagle
    5

  • The Magic of Mums
    Justin Coe
    5

  • The Ice Bear Miracle
    Cerrie Burnell
    4

  • Ghoul Scouts Welcome to Camp Croak!
    Taylor Dolan
    4

  • Sequin and Stitch
    Laura Dockrill
    4

  • Poems Aloud
    Joseph Coelho
    4

  • Max and the Midknights
    Lincoln Peirce
    4

  • Viking Voyagers
    Jack Tite
    4

  • Empire's End: A Roman Story
    Leila Rasheed
    4

  • Scribble Witch
    Inky Willis
    4

  • Otto Tattercoat and the Forest of Lost Things
    Matilda Woods
    4

  • Agent Zaiba Investigates: The Missing Diamonds
    Annabelle Sami
    4

  • Mickey and the Animal Spies
    Anne Miller
    3

  • Mark Anchovy
    William Goldsmith
    3

  • The Girl Who Stole an Elephant
    Nizrana Farook
    3

Ages 10-14

  • The Last Paper Crane A Tale from Hiroshima
    Kerry Drewery
    5

  • A Cake for the Gestapo
    Jacqueline King
    5

  • This Book Is Anti-Racist
    Tiffany Jewell
    5

  • The Threads of Magic
    Alison Croggon
    5

  • The Unstoppable Letty Pegg
    Iszi Lawrence
    4

  • The One that Got Away
    Jan Mark
    4

  • Here in the Real World
    Sara Pennypacker
    4

  • Lost Ele Fountain
    Ele Fountain
    4

  • This Book will help Cool the Climate
    Isabel Thomas
    4

  • Lalani of the Distant Sea
    Erin Entrada Kelly
    3

Ages 14+

  • Hold Back the Tide
    Melinda Salisbury
    4

  • Pretty Funny
    Rebecca Elliott
    4

  • And the Stars Were Burning Brightly
    Danielle Jawando
    4

BfK News

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...
ROBIN WALKER WINS THE 2020 ALCS EDUCATIONAL WRITERS’ AWARD FOR BLACK HISTORY MATTERS

The winner of the 2020 ALCS Educational Writers’ Award is Black History Matters: The Story of Black History, From African Kingdoms to Black Lives Matter. Written by acclaimed Black historian, Robin Walker, the 2020 judges praised this accessible, comprehensive and inspiring book which provides a timely introduction both to Black history and the Black Lives Matter movement.

read more...
IBBY UK nominate Marcus Sedgwick and David McKee for the Hans Christian Andersen Award 2022

IBBY UK has announced that Marcus Sedgwick and David McKee will be the UK nominations for the 2022 Hans Christian Andersen Award.

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

Debut authors Darren Charlton and Jenny Pearson join Natasha Farrant and Meg Rosoff on the shortlist for the 2020 Costa Children’s Book Award.

The shortlist for the 2020 Costa Children’s Book Award has been announced. No less than 146 books were submitted and from those the judges have chosen a shortlist of four. They are:

Wranglestone by Darren Charlton (Little Tiger)

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BOOKTRUST’S REPRESENTS INTERIM RESEARCH & CLPE REFLECTING REALITIES SURVEY 2020

CLPE Reflecting Realities Report 2020

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SHORTLIST FOR THE 2021 BLUE PETER BOOK AWARDS REVEALED

The six books shortlisted for the 2021 Blue Peter Book Awards have been announced.

Blue Peter Book Award logo

read more...
Happy National Non-Fiction November 2020

It’s National Non-Fiction November! Organised by the Federation of Children’s Book Groups, National Non-Fiction November is an annual celebration of the power of non-fiction to inspire children and celebrate readers who have a passion for information and facts. 2020 is the 10th anniversary of National Non-Fiction November.

read more...
JANE PORTER AND MAISIE PARADISE SHEARRING 2020 LITTLE REBELS AWARD WINNERS

Jane Porter and Maisie Paradise Shearring have won the 2020 Little Rebels Award for their picture book The Boy who Loved Everyone. They will share the £2000 prize.

Little Rebels logo 2020

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OU AND MACMILLAN CHILDREN’S BOOKS LAUNCH BOOK CHAT SCHEME

The Open University (OU) is launching Book Chat: Reading with your Child, a resource which comprises three short films and support materials to help parents, families and carers read books conversationally and creatively to children. Working with Macmillan Children’s Books, the films use a selection of their picture books and a poetry collection to support families with reading to different ages of children.

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TOM PALMER WINS THE CHILDREN’S BOOK AWARD 2020

Tom Palmer

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