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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.

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...

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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...

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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

  • Mr Darcy the Dancing Duck
    Alex Field
    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

  • 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

BfK News

Winner announced for CLiPPA 2017 (CLPE Children’s Poetry Award)

CLiPPA winner Kate WakelingKate Wakeling has won the CLiPPA 2017 for her first collection for children, Moon Juice, illustrated by Elīna Brasliņa, published by The Emma Press.

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M.G. LEONARD WINS 2017 BRANFORD BOASE AWARD

M.G. LeonardM.G.

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UKLA BOOK AWARD WINNERS 2017

UKLA Book Awards logoThe winners of the 2017 UKLA Book Awards have been announced. The awards are the only ones to be judged entirely by teachers.

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ADA TWIST, SCIENTIST AND WINNER OF THE LITTLE REBELS CHILDREN’S BOOK AWARD

Little Rebels logo 2017The Alliance of Radical Booksellers (ARB) has announced that the winners of this year’s Little Rebels Children’s Book Award are Andrea Beaty and David Roberts for their book, Ada Twist, Scientist (Abrams & Chronicle Books).

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RUTA SEPETYS AND LANE SMITH NAMED WINNERS IN CARNEGIE GREENAWAY ANNIVERSARY YEAR

The winners of the 2017 CILIP Carnegie and Kate Greenaway Medals are announced today, Monday 19 June. In its 80th year, Ruta Sepetys was named winner of the Carnegie Medal for her book Salt to the Sea, while Lane Smith was awarded the 60th Kate Greenaway Medal for his picture book There is a Tribe of Kids.

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HAPPY EMPATHY DAY, 13 JUNE

EmpathyLab illus

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CHILDREN’S BOOK AWARD WINNERS 2017

Children's Book Award logoMichael Morpurgo

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LAUREN CHILD ANNOUNCED AS 10th WATERSTONES CHILDREN’S LAUREATE

Lauren Child, artist and author and illustrator of the award-winning Charlie and Lola and Clarice Bean picture books and Ruby Redfort novels, is the 10th Waterstones Children’s Laureate.

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SCHOLASTIC UK ANNOUNCE LOLLIES 2017 SHORTLIST

Lollies 2017 logoSCHOLASTIC UK ANNOUNCE LOLLIES 2017 SHORTLIST: FUNNIEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR

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UK ENTRANTS FOR BIB, THE BIENNIAL OF ILLUSTRATIONS BRATISLAVA 2107 ANNOUNCED

The International Centre for the Picture Book in Society based at Worcester University and IBBY UK (International Board of Books for Young People) are delighted to announce a collaboration to select UK illustrators for the Biennial of Illustrations Bratislava (BIB) 2017.

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