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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...

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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

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.’

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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.

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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.

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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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