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Books for Keeps 214 - 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. 214 - September 2015
BfK 214 September 2014

This issue’s cover illustration is from One by Sarah Crossan. Thanks to Bloomsbury Children’s Books for their help with this September cover.

Digital Edition
By clicking here you can view, print or download the fully artworked Digital Edition of BfK 214 September 2015.

BfK No. 214 Articles

Editorial 214

Comment from the editor.
Where Have all the Stories Gone?

asks Prue Goodwin
Ten of the Best: Books to Introduce Children to Philosophy

John Newman chooses books to initiate philosophical discussion
Windows into Illustration: Kristjana S Williams

Kristjana S Williams on The Wonder Garden and working with old Victorian engravings
Heartsong: the creation of a story book duet

Jane Ray, Kevin Crossley-Holland and Antonio Vivaldi in harmony
Authorgraph 214: Sarah Crossan

The author of One and Apple and Rain interviewed by Clive Barnes.
Michael Foreman: Painting with Rainbows

Michael Foreman talks to Nick Tucker about his Seven Stories exhibition.
Reading Pictures: An Introduction to Visual Literacy

Part one in a new mini-series by Piet Grobler.
Good Reads 214

Good Reads chosen by the Chatterbooks group at Explore Acomb Library
I Wish I'd Written: Angie Sage

The author of the Septimus Heap and PathFinder series chooses.
Comics Across the Curriculum

Hannah Sackett on putting comics to work in the classroom.
Author and editor in conversation

David Fickling talks to Jenny Downham about her new novel Unbecoming
Two Children Tell: Nick and the Crazy Cowboy

by Virginia Lowe
Dorothy Butler Obituary

Dorothy Butler remembered.
Classics in Short No.113: Tommy Thumb's Pretty Song-Book

Little Tommy Thumb with his Pipe and his Drum
AN INTERVIEW WITH KATHERINE RUNDELL

Katherine Rundell talks wolves and wildernesses with Imogen Russell Williams.
AN INTERVIEW WITH ANNABEL PITCHER

Annabel Pitcher interviewed by Philip Womack
MEETING MAC BARNETT: AN INTERVIEW

The award-winning US author interviewed by Ferelith Hordon.
A Q&A INTERVIEW WITH NICK SHARRATT ON HIS BOOK VIKINGS IN THE SUPERMARKET

Nick Sharratt answers questions on his new book
A Q&A INTERVIEW WITH RHIAN IVORY ABOUT HER BOOK THE BOY WHO DREW THE FUTURE

The author discusses her haunting new novel.
A Q&A INTERVIEW WITH HORATIO CLARE ABOUT HIS BOOK THE TERRIBLE YOOT

Horatio Clare answers questions about his first book for children, Aubrey and the Terrible Yoot.
AUTHOR AND TRANSLATOR: AN INTERVIEW WITH BERNARDO ATXAGA AND MARGARET JULL COSTA

Daniel Hahn talks to the award-winning author and translator.

Editor's Choice

The White Book
Silvia Borando
(Walker Books)
5

The little boy is all alone. He stands holding a paint roller surrounded by white; the reader will remember though, that we have just passed a pot of pink paint. So the quest begins, going through the colours to find someone who will stay to play...

read more

New Talent

Longbow Girl
Linda Davies
(Chicken House Ltd)
4

Merry loves her home, Nanteos Farm, in the middle of Wales. It has been in her family for centuries and she is steeped in its history and traditions. Above all there is the tradition that the Owens of Nanteos would always provide an archer...

read more

All Children's Book Reviews in BfK No. 214

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

Under 5s

  • The White Book
    Silvia Borando
    5

  • Lovely Old Lion
    Julia Jarman
    Susan Varley
    5

  • Give and Take
    Lucy Felix
    5

  • I’m a Girl!
    Yasmeen Ismail
    5

  • This Orq (he cave boy)
    David Elliott
    4

  • Let’s Go Outside
    Katja Spitzer
    4

  • My Stinky New School
    Rebecca Elliott
    4

  • My Alien and Me
    Smriti Prasadam-Halls
    4

  • Crunch!
    3

Ages 5-8

  • Mango & Bambang: The Not a Pig
    Polly Faber
    5

  • I Don’t Like Snakes
    Nicola Davies
    5

  • Whatever Happened to My Sister?
    Simona Ciraolo
    5

  • Are You the Pirate Captain?
    Gareth P Jones
    5

  • I Wish I Had a Pirate Hat
    Roger Stevens
    4

  • Katie McGinty Wants a Pet!
    Jenna Harrington
    4

  • How the Library (Not the Prince) Saved Rapunzel
    Wendy Meddour
    4

  • A Big Day for Migs!
    Jo Hodgkinson
    4

  • The Only Pupil in the School
    Liu Hsukung
    3

Ages 8-10

  • Flo of the Somme
    Hilary Robinson
    5

  • Cities Unfolded: London Through Time
    Angela McAllister
    4

  • Catsup High Detective Agency
    Margaret Ryan
    4

  • Notebooks of a Middle-School Princess
    Meg Cabot
    4

  • Meet at the Ark at Eight
    Ulrich Hub
    4

  • Poppy Pym and the Pharaoh’s Curse
    Laura Wood
    4

  • Aubrey and the Terrible Yoot
    Horatio Clare
    4

  • Future Ratboy and the Attack of the Killer Grannies
    Jim Smith
    3

Ages 10-14

  • Only We Know
    Simon Packham
    5

  • Wild Song
    Janis Mackay
    5

  • Fuzzy Mud
    Louis Sachar
    5

  • One
    Sarah Crossan
    5

  • Katy
    Jacqueline Wilson
    5

  • The Secrets of the Wild Wood
    Tonke Dragt
    5

  • The Lie Tree
    Frances Hardinge
    5

  • The Butterfly Shell
    Maureen White
    4

  • The Boy Who Drew the Future
    Rhian Ivory
    4

  • Longbow Girl
    Linda Davies
    4

  • My Name’s Not Friday
    Jon Walter
    4

  • Sophie Someone
    Hayley Long
    4

  • Gorilla Dawn
    Gill Lewis
    4

  • Madame Tussaud’s Apprentice
    Kathleen Benner Duble
    4

  • The Blackthorn Key
    Kevin Sands
    4

  • Poppy Pym and the Pharaoh’s Curse
    Laura Wood
    4

  • Here Be Dragons
    Sarah Mussi
    4

  • The Secret Dog
    Joe Friedman
    3

  • The Wolf Wilder
    Katherine Rundell
    3

Ages 14+

  • The Rest of Us Just Live Here
    Patrick Ness
    5

  • Girl on a Plane
    Miriam Moss
    5

  • One
    Sarah Crossan
    5

  • These Shallow Graves
    Jennifer Donnelly
    5

  • Lorali
    Laura Dockrill
    5

  • Fire Colour One
    Jenny Valentine
    5

  • Almost Grace
    Rosie Rowell
    4

  • The Butterfly Shell
    Maureen White
    4

  • The Secret Fire
    C.J. Daugherty
    Carina Rozenfeld
    4

  • Liquidator
    Andy Mulligan
    4

  • When I was Me
    Hilary Freeman
    4

  • The Curious Tale of the Lady Caraboo
    Catherine Johnson
    4

  • Monsters Emerald Fennell
    Emerald Fennell
    4

  • My Second Life
    Faye Bird
    4

  • The Edge of the Shadows
    Elizabeth George
    3

  • Drop
    Katie Everson
    3

  • The Accident Season
    3

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

read more...
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.

read more...
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