Editorial 249: July 2021

Welcome to the July issue of Books for Keeps, number 249 no less – and to our brand new website.

Thank you to everyone who contributed to our fundraising campaign and helped make this possible. We are particularly grateful to Richard and Angie Hill and to Geoff and Pam Fox for their extremely generous donations.

We hope you like the new website and find it easier to navigate. The new search functions should make it much quicker to find reviews, articles and author interviews.

Please take a moment to let us know what you think. The website is still something of a work in progress, and we welcome your comments and suggestions. You can send them to enquiries@booksforkeeps.co.uk.

Please note too that we are still working to upload the archive – with forty years’ worth of content to add, that’s quite some task.

With additional funds we will be able to speed up the process and are still inviting donations to ensure the future of Books for Keeps.

Our aims remain the same and are worth restating:

To review as authoritatively as possible the broadest possible range of contemporary children’s books, actively seeking out the work of independent publishers and community publishers as well as the work of mainstream houses

To reflect the nature of our society by reviewing work and dealing with issues relevant to diversity and disability

To improve standards in reviewing, especially with regard to illustrated books

To nurture the creativity of writers and illustrators by maintaining the highest critical standards

To draw attention to new authors and illustrators, giving them necessary critical attention and exposure

To re-examine our cultural heritage by featuring classic children’s books from the past

To remain as accessible as possible to specialists and non-specialists alike and to remain at the forefront of new thinking about children’s literature.

Forty years since its inception, with serious review space for children’s books squeezed more than ever, Books for Keeps is more important than it ever has been. Please help us by making a donation.