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Books for Keeps 235 - the children's book magazine online

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BfK No. 235 - March 2019
BfK 235 March 2019

This issue’s cover illustration features The Curious Science Quest series by Julia Golding with Andrew Briggs and Roger Wagner, illustrated by Brett Hudson. Thanks to Lion Children’s Books for their help with this March cover.
Digital Edition
By clicking here you can view, print or download the fully artworked Digital Edition of BfK 235 March 2019.

BfK No. 235 Articles

Editorial 235

Guest Editorial by former Waterstones Children’s Laureate Anne Fine
EmpathyLab 2019

An update from EmpathyLab founder Miranda McKearney
The LGBTQI+ Novel Comes Of Age

Michael Lee Richardson celebrates the best new writing for young LGBTQI+ readers.
Authorgraph 235: Julia Golding

Julia Golding interviewed by Imogen Russell Williams
Twenty-Seven of the Best: A Personal Reading Journey

Daniel Hahn takes a personal reading journey round Europe

Windows into Illustration: Laura Hughes

Laura Hughes

Beyond the Secret Garden Protest and the British Children’s Book

Darren Chetty and Karen Sands-O’Connor find rebellion and riot in children’s literature.
I Wish I’d Written: Matt Brown

Matt Brown chooses
Good Reads 235

Chosen by Cannon Park Primary School, Coventry
Two Children Tell: Rebecca and Nicholas recognise an illustrator’s style

Rebecca and Nicholas and Lucy and Tom
Happy Anniversary to The Blue Balloon

Mick Inpen is celebrating!
Classics in Short No. 134 The strange fate of Rip Van Winkle

Brian Alderson contemplates Rip Van Winkle’s unlucky encounter with the fairies.
AN INTERVIEW WITH DANNY WALLACE

Comedian Danny Wallace explains why Brexit helped inspire the ultimate threat in his brand new book.
A Q&A INTERVIEW WITH NADINE WILD-PALMER

The author Nadine Wild-Palmer answers our questions on her debut children's novel, The Tunnels Below.

Editor's Choice

Wisp: A Story of Hope
Zana Fraillon
(Orchard Books)
5

Idris’s home is surrounded by barbed wire, a place where people have retreated into themselves. When the Wisp arrives, blown in on the wind, it is only Idris who sees it and feels its need - a need to unlock the memories of the people who have...

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New Talent

Little Badman and the Invasion of the Killer Aunties
Humza Arshad
Henry White
(Puffin)
5

Humza Khan is a 12-year-old ninja-rapper-gangster with huge plans for his future. Unfortunately, he also suffers from debilitating stage fright and has the ‘greatest cricket coach Pakistan has ever known’ for a father, which means that his...

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All Children's Book Reviews in BfK No. 235

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

Under 5s

  • The Truth About Old People
    Elina Ellis
    4
  • Aalfred and Aalbert

    Aalfred and Aalbert
    Morag Hood
    4
  • The Green Giant

    The Green Giant
    Katie Cottle
    4
  • All the Ways to Be Smart

    All the Ways to be Smart
    Davina Bell
    4
  • Bear Moves

    Bear Moves
    Ben Bailey Smith
    4
  • Rosie is my Best Friend

    Rosie is my Best Friend
    Ali Pye
    4

  • Me and My Sister
    Rose Robbins
    4

  • Maisie’s Scrapbook
    Samuel Narh
    4

Ages 5-8

  • Wisp: A Story of Hope
    Zana Fraillon
    5

  • Two Sides
    Polly Ho-Yen
    5

  • Goldilocks (A Hashtag Cautionary Tale)
    Jeanne Willis
    5

  • Harold Snipperpot’s Best Disaster Ever
    Beatrice Alemagna
    4

  • Mummy’s Suitcase
    Pip Jones
    4

  • Me and My Sister
    Rose Robbins
    4

  • Maisie’s Scrapbook
    Samuel Narh
    4

  • Wishing for a Dragon
    Becky Cameron
    4
  • The Dinosaur Department Store

    The Dinosaur Department Store
    Lily Murray
    Richard Merrit
    3

  • Little Rabbit’s Big Surprise
    Swapna Haddow
    3

Ages 8-10

  • The Midnight Hour
    Benjamin Read
    Laura Trinder
    5

  • The Steam Whistle Theatre Company
    Vivian French
    5

  • Little Badman and the Invasion of the Killer Aunties
    Humza Arshad
    Henry White
    5

  • The Day I Was Erased
    Lisa Thompson
    4

  • When We Were Warriors
    Emma Carroll
    4

  • The Boy Who Flew
    Fleur Hitchcock
    4

Ages 10-14

  • The Midnight Hour
    Benjamin Read
    Laura Trinder
    5

  • Now or Never-a Dunkirk Story
    Bali Rai
    5

  • Ghost
    Jason Reynolds
    4

  • Girl 38 Finding a Friend
    Ewa Jozefkowicz
    4

  • She Wolf
    Dan Smith
    3

  • Halo Moon
    Sharon Cohen
    3

Ages 14+

  • Shadowscent: The Darkest Bloom
    P.M. Freestone
    5

  • Proud
    Various Authors
    5

  • Joe Quinn’s Poltergeist
    David Almond
    5
  • Tales from the Inner City

    Tales from the Inner City
    Shaun Tan
    5

  • Outside
    Sarah Ann Juckes
    4

  • All the Invisible Things
    Orlagh Collins
    4

BfK News

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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SHORTLIST FOR THE 2021 BLUE PETER BOOK AWARDS REVEALED

The six books shortlisted for the 2021 Blue Peter Book Awards have been announced.

Blue Peter Book Award logo

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Happy National Non-Fiction November 2020

It’s National Non-Fiction November! Organised by the Federation of Children’s Book Groups, National Non-Fiction November is an annual celebration of the power of non-fiction to inspire children and celebrate readers who have a passion for information and facts. 2020 is the 10th anniversary of National Non-Fiction November.

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JANE PORTER AND MAISIE PARADISE SHEARRING 2020 LITTLE REBELS AWARD WINNERS

Jane Porter and Maisie Paradise Shearring have won the 2020 Little Rebels Award for their picture book The Boy who Loved Everyone. They will share the £2000 prize.

Little Rebels logo 2020

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OU AND MACMILLAN CHILDREN’S BOOKS LAUNCH BOOK CHAT SCHEME

The Open University (OU) is launching Book Chat: Reading with your Child, a resource which comprises three short films and support materials to help parents, families and carers read books conversationally and creatively to children. Working with Macmillan Children’s Books, the films use a selection of their picture books and a poetry collection to support families with reading to different ages of children.

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TOM PALMER WINS THE CHILDREN’S BOOK AWARD 2020

Tom Palmer

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CILIP CARNEGIE AND KATE GREENAWAY SHADOWERS’ CHOICE AWARDS TO DEAN ATTA AND KADIR NELSON

The winners of the CILIP Carnegie and Kate Greenaway Shadowers’ Choice Awards, voted for by children and young people, have been announced.

The Black Flamingo

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Zaro Weil wins 2020 CLiPPA (CLPE Children’s Poetry Award)

Poet Zaro Weil was today announced the winner of the annual poetry award, CLiPPA (Centre for Literacy in Primary Poetry Award) for her collection of nature poems, Cherry Moon, published by ZaZaKids Books/ Troika Books and illustrated by Junli Song.

CLiPPA winner

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LONGLISTS ANNOUNCED FOR 2021 UKLA BOOK AWARDS

UKLA award

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