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Books for Keeps 225 - the children's book magazine online

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BfK No. 225 - July 2017
BfK 225

This issue’s cover illustration is from Poppy and the Blooms by Fiona Woodcock. Thanks to Simon and Schuster for their help with this July cover.
Digital Edition
By clicking here you can view, print or download the fully artworked Digital Edition of BfK 225 July 2017.

BfK No. 225 Articles

Editorial 225

Guest editorial: Chris Riddell reflects on his time as Children’s Laureate
Hopeful Activism … because what we DO as well as what we say matters

A piece of passion from Sita Brahmachari
Hip Hip Hooray for Harry

Imogen Russell Williams considers Harry Potter at twenty.
Windows into Illustration: Guy Parker-Rees

Guy Parker-Rees on drawing Dylan
Authorgraph 225 Chris Priestley

Chris Priestley interviewed by Philip Womack
Ten of the Best Audiobooks for Children

Summer listening chosen by Nicolette Jones
‘The pictures are better’: audio books explained

Thoughts from Nicholas Jones of Strathmore about what an audio producer does.
The Art of Submitting for BIB

Piet Grobler on the art of submitting for BIB, the Biennial of Illustrations Bratislava 2107
AN INTERVIEW WITH DAVID MACKINTOSH

David Mackintosh interviewed by Robyn Sheahan-Bright
Making Room for Children, Swedish-style

Ferelith Hordon explores a new Southbank library
An Interview with Philip Pullman

Philip Pullman interviewed by Nicholas Tucker
Ron Heapy – An Appreciation

David Fickling remembers the great children’s editor Ron Heapy
Two Children and Dick Bruna: a Tribute

Two Children Tell: a tribute to Dick Bruna
I Wish I’d Written: Liz Flanagan

Liz Flanagan chooses
Good Reads 225

chosen by pupils at Worth School, West Sussex
Classics in Short No. 124:The King of the Golden River

Classics in Short No. 124 Climate Change by courtesy of John Ruskin and The King of the Golden River
JACQUELINE WILSON AT THE FOUNDLING MUSEUM

Rebecca Butler talks to Jacqueline Wilson about the new Hetty Feather exibition at the Foundling Museum.
THE EXPLORER: AN INTERVIEW WITH KATHERINE RUNDELL

Imogen Russell Williams interviews Katherine Rundell about her new book The Explorer.
AN INTERVIEW WITH E. LOCKHART

The author of We Were Liars talks about her new book.
AN INTERVIEW WITH A. F. HARROLD

An interview with the author of The Imaginary and the Fizzlebert Stump books.

Editor's Choice

The Pond
Nicola Davies
(Graffeg Limited)
5

How to deal with death and grief? This is the theme of Nicola Davies’ latest book. There is nothing mawkish or sentimental. The young narrator does not hide the anger that grief can bring, both in young and old. The death of the father leaves a...

read more

New Talent

Moon Juice
Kate Wakeling
(The Emma Press)
5

A collection of poems by a new voice writing for children is an event to be celebrated. Moon Juice by the poet, Kate Wakeling is just such an event. However, these are not poems created to grab the attention with the quick laugh...

read more

All Children's Book Reviews in BfK No. 225

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

Under 5s

  • Say Zoop
    Hervé Tulley
    5

  • Never Take a Bear to School
    Mark Sperring
    4

  • My Daddy is a Silly Monkey
    Dianne Hofmeyr
    4

  • The Bad Bunnies’ Magic Show
    Mini Grey
    4

  • Poppy and the Blooms
    Fiona Woodcock
    4

  • Monster Baby
    Sarah Dyer
    3

Ages 5-8

  • My Name is Not Refugee
    Kate Milner
    5

  • Storm Whale
    Sarah Brennan
    5

  • Everybody’s Welcome
    Patricia Hegarty
    5

  • Six Blind Mice and an Elephant
    Jude Daly
    5

  • Big Brown Bear’s Cave
    Yuval Zommer
    5

  • The Bad Bunnies’ Magic Show
    Mini Grey
    4

  • The Legend of Rock, Paper, Scissors
    Drew Daywalt
    4

  • Dino Diggers, Digger Disaster
    Rose Impey
    4

  • Norman the Norman from Normandy
    Philip Ardagh
    3

Ages 8-10

  • The Boy, the Bird & the Coffin Maker
    Matilda Woods
    5

  • Moon Juice
    Kate Wakeling
    5

  • The Pond
    Nicola Davies
    5

  • The Last Duchess
    Laura Powell
    4

  • Travels with My Sketchbook
    Michael Foreman
    4

  • The City of Secret Rivers
    Jacob Sager Weinstein
    4

  • The Earth Book
    Jonathan Litton
    4

  • King of the Sky
    Nicola Davies
    4

  • You Can’t Make Me Go to Witch School
    Em Lynas
    4

  • Knighthood for Beginners
    Elys Dolan
    3

  • Help! I’m a Genius
    Jo Franklin
    3

  • The Amber Pendant
    Imogen White
    3

Ages 10-14

  • Moon Juice
    Kate Wakeling
    5

  • Walking Mountain
    Joan Lennon
    5

  • The Incredible Billy Wild
    Joanna Nadin
    5

  • The Evil Within
    Catherine MacPhail
    5

  • Rook Anthony McGowan
    Anthony McGowan
    4

  • The Last Duchess
    Laura Powell
    4

  • Being Miss Nobody
    Tamsin Winter
    4

  • Letters From the Lighthouse
    Emma Carroll
    4

  • Never Say Die
    Anthony Horowitz
    4

  • Defender of the Realm
    Mark Huckerby
    4

  • The Guggenheim Mystery
    Robin Stevens
    Siobhan Dowd
    3

Ages 14+

  • Like Other Girls
    Claire Hennessy
    5

  • Encounters
    Jason Wallace
    5

  • A Berlin Love Song
    Sarah Matthias
    5

  • No Filter
    Orlagh Collins
    4

  • Forgetting Foster
    Dianne Touchell
    4

  • Goodnight, Boy
    Nikki Sheehan
    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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