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

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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...

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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

EMPATHYLAB ANNOUNCES 2020 READ FOR EMPATHY BOOK COLLECTION

Raising A Generation of Empathic Citizens

Empathy Day logo

read more...
JASBINDER BILAN WINS COSTA CHILDREN’S BOOK AWARD WITH HER DEBUT NOVEL

Jasbinder Bilan

read more...
COSTA CHILDREN’S BOOK AWARD 2019: SHORTLIST FEATURES

Former Children’s Laureate Malorie Blackman and acclaimed author Jenny Downham are on the shortlist for the 2019 Costa Children’s Book Award alongside newcomers Jasbinder Bilan and Nicholas Downing.

Costa Book Awards logo

Click the links below to read new Books for Keeps feature articles on each of the shortlisted authors.

read more...
THE IBBY LIST OF OUSTANDING BOOKS FOR YOUNG PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES

Dr Rebecca Butler writes.

Readers of Books for Keeps will remember that IBBY (the International Board on Books for Young People) arranges every two years a competition to identify the very best books for young readers featuring disability or designed to be read by young people with disabilities. Last time this list was compiled in 2017/18 I was the coordinator for the UK section.

read more...
ALASTAIR HUMPHREYS’ GREAT ADVENTURERS WINS THE 2019 EDUCATIONAL WRITERS’ AWARD

The winner of the 2019 Educational Writers’ Award is Alastair Humphreys’ Great Adventurers: The Incredible Expeditions of 20 Explorers (Big Picture Press).

Alastair Humphreys Great Adventures

read more...
BLACKMAN AND DOWNHAM ON SHORTLIST FOR 2019 COSTA CHILDREN’S BOOK AWARD

Former Children’s Laureate Malorie Blackman and acclaimed author Jenny Downham are on the shortlist for the 2019 Costa Children’s Book Award, which was announced today, 26th November 2020. Alongside them on the list are newcomers Jasbinder Bilan and Nicholas Downing, both of whom are published by Chicken House.

The 2019 Costa Children’s Award shortlist

read more...
2019 ALCS EDUCATIONAL WRITERS’ AWARD SHORTLIST

Shortlist announced for the UK’s only award for creative educational writing

The Society of Authors and the Authors’ Licensing& Collecting Society have announced the shortlist for the 2019 ALCS Educational Writers’ Award, the UK’s only award for educational writing which stimulates and enhances the learning experience.

read more...
‘INSPIRING’: CONTENDERS FOR THE 2020 BLUE PETER BOOK AWARDS REVEALED

Blue Peter Book Award logo

Six books have made it onto the shortlists for the 2020 Blue Peter Book Awards. There are two categories: Best Story, and – in non-fiction November – Best Book with Facts.

read more...
NOMINATIONS ANNOUNCED FOR THE 2020 CARNEGIE AND KATE GREENAWAY MEDALS

And we’re off… the nominations for the 2020 Carnegie and Kate Greenaway Medals are announced today, Monday 4th November.

read more...
2020 UKLA BOOK AWARDS THE LONGLISTS

UKLA Awards

A record number of submissions and a new category to highlight information books marks the 12th longlists for the UKLA Awards, the only national awards judged by active classroom teachers.

read more...
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