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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

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...
LONGLIST FOR THE 2021 BRANFORD BOASE AWARD

The longlist for the 2021 Branford Boase Award has been announced. Set up in memory of award-winning author Henrietta Branford and her editor Wendy Boase, one of the founders of Walker Books, the Branford Boase Award is given annually to the author of an outstanding debut novel for children.

read more...
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.

read more...
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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