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Books for Keeps 210 - the children's book magazine online

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

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BfK No. 210 - January 2015
BfK 210 January 2015

COVER STORY
This issue’s cover illustration is from The Farm Beneath the Water by Helen Peters. Thanks to Nosy Crow for their help with this cover.

Digital Edition
By clicking here you can view, print or download the fully artworked Digital Edition of BfK 210 January 2015 .

BfK No. 210 Articles

The 13-Storey Treehouse PDF extract
Editorial 210

New Year editorial
2015 from the Horse’s Mouth

2015: a preview from leading children's books editors
Windows into Illustration: Kitty Crowther

Kitty Crowther introduces Poka and Mia
Ten of the Best Books to Introduce Children to the Holocaust

Madelyn Travis chooses.
Authorgraph 210: Gill Lewis

Gill Lewis interviewed by Joy Court
Why your school needs a patron of reading

The new Patron of Reading scheme
Worth their Weight in Words: Author Visits

Caroline Sanderson on why the hard work is worth it
Nick Lake Interview

Nicholas Tucker interviews author Nick Lake
Weekly comics: what’s what

Weekly comics reviewed by Imogen Russell Williams
I Wish I'd Written: Joseph Delaney

Joseph Delaney chooses Skellig
Good Reads 210

Chosen by pupils at Weatherfield Academy, Dunstable.
Obituary Gene Kemp

Gene Kemp remembered by Philippa Milnes-Smith
Quentin Blake at the House of Illustration

Brian Alderson on Quentin Blake's new book, and the House of Illustration that will house his archive.
Lost in Translation?

Kevin Crossley-Holland praises the Marsh Award for Children's Literature in Translation
The Ladybird Story: Children’s Books for Everyone

Rosemary Stones reviews a book that tells the story behind the little books that shaped so many people’s childhoods.
Classics in Short No.109

Divine Songs for Children by Isaac Watts
AN INTERVIEW WITH VANESSA CURTIS

On Holocaust Memorial Day, the author talks about her new book
Q&A interview with Andy Griffiths, author of The 13-Storey Treehouse

Andy Griffiths taks about the best-selling books created with Terry Denton.
Q&A interview with Catherine Doyle, author of Vendetta

Debut author Catherine Doyle answers our questions.
Q&A INTERVIEW WITH ALLAN STRATTON, AUTHOR OF THE DOGS

Allan Stratton answers questions on his new book.
Q&A INTERVIEW WITH BERLIE DOHERTY ON FAR FROM HOME

Berlie Doherty on the sequel to Street Child.

Editor's Choice

The Farm Beneath the Water
Helen Peters
(Nosy Crow)
5

The Secret Hen House Theatre, Helen Stephen’s debut, is one of my favourite books of recent years: though set on a beautifully described traditional...

read more

New Talent

15 Things Not to Do with a Baby
Margaret McAllister
(Frances Lincoln Children's Books)
5

What happens when a new brother or sister arrives in the family? Anxiety, anticipation and jealousy are likely reactions from the older sibling. There are a number of books addressing this situation - the lovely Burningham/Oxenbury collaboration...

read more

All Children's Book Reviews in BfK No. 210

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

Under 5s

  • 15 Things Not to Do with a Baby
    Margaret McAllister
    5

  • Wanted! Ralfy Rabbit, Book Burglar
    Emily Mackenzie
    5

  • The Crocodile Under the Bed
    Judith Kerr
    5

  • Max's Bath
    Barbro Lindgren
    4

  • Esther’s Rainbow
    Kim Kane
    4

  • Tad-cu’s Bobble Hat
    Malachy Doyle
    4

  • Mine!
    Jerome Keane
    4

  • Where is Pim?
    Lena Landstrom
    3

  • This Little Piggy Went Dancing
    Margaret Wild
    3

  • Bears Don't Read!
    Emma Chichester Clark
    0

Ages 5-8

  • Sir Charlie Stinky Socks: The Pirate's Curse
    Kristina Stephenson
    5

  • The Pet Person
    Jeanne Willis
    5

  • The Wonder by Faye Hanson
    Faye Hanson
    5

  • Happy Birthday Madame Chapeau
    Andrea Beaty
    4

  • Dog on Stilts
    James Thorp
    4

  • The Dinner that Cooked Itself
    J.C.Hsyu
    4

  • The Deep Dark Wood
    Algy Craig Hall
    3

  • Sparky’s Bad Spell
    Ruby Nash
    3

  • Mortimer Keene: Dino Danger
    Tim Healey
    3

Ages 8-10

  • The Parent Trap
    Erich Kastner
    5

  • The Deadly 7
    Garth Jennings
    5

  • Here I Am
    Patti Kim
    5

  • The Story of Britain
    Mick Manning
    Brita Granström
    5

  • I Am Henry Finch
    Alexis Deacon
    5

  • The Imaginary
    A.F. Harrold
    5

  • The Brockenspectre
    Linda Newbery
    4

  • Romans on the Rampage!
    Jeremy Strong
    4

  • Stonebird
    Mike Revell
    4

  • The 13-Storey Treehouse
    Andy Griffiths
    4

  • The Wrong Side of the Galaxy
    Jamie Thomson
    3

Ages 10-14

  • The Deadly 7
    Garth Jennings
    5

  • The Farm Beneath the Water
    Helen Peters
    5

  • The Door That Led to Where
    Sally Gardner
    5

  • Awful Auntie
    David Walliams
    5

  • The Apple Tart of Hope
    Sarah Moore Fitzgerald
    4

  • Seven Days
    Eve Ainsworth
    4

  • Get Happy
    Mary Amato
    4

  • All Fall Down Embassy Row
    Ally Carter
    4

  • Crog
    Amanda Mitchison
    4

  • Let in the Stars: New Poetry for Children
    3

  • Shine Izzy Shine
    Ellie Daines
    3

  • Song of the Slums
    Richard Harland
    3

Ages 14+

  • Unforgotten
    Tohby Riddle
    5

  • The Art of Being Normal
    Lisa Williamson
    5

  • The Devil’s Angel
    Kevin Brooks
    5

  • Gracefully, Grayson
    Ami Polonsky
    5

  • All the Bright Places
    Jennifer Niven
    5

  • There Will Be Lies
    Nick Lake
    5

  • Jekyll's Mirror
    William Hussey
    4

  • The Here and Now
    Ann Brashares
    4

  • Frozen Charlotte
    Alex Bell
    4

  • The Dogs by Allan Stratton
    Allan Stratton
    4

BfK News

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

‘How can a child become a reader for pleasure if their parents or carers cannot afford books, and their primary school has no library, or that library is woefully insufficient?’

Life-changing Libraries logo

read more...
SHORTLISTS ANNOUNCED FOR THE 2021 UKLA BOOK AWARDS

UKLA Book Awards logo

read more...
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

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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.

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