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Books for Keeps 243 - the children's book magazine online

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BfK No. 243 - July 2020
BfK 243 July 2020

This issue’s cover illustration is from Hello! A Counting Book of Kindnesses written by Hollis Kurman and illustrated by Barroux. Thanks to Otter-Barry Books 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 243 July 2020.

BfK No. 243 Articles

BOOKS FOR KEEPS: AN APPEAL

Make a contribution and help us develop the website and preserve the unique Books for Keeps archive.
How to be an anti-racist librarian

Zoey Dixon has ways to make your library anti-racist.
Ten Essential Books for Children

Ten essential books for young readers chosen by Carnegie Medal winner Anthony McGowan
Windows into Illustration: Catherine Rayner

Catherine Rayner on the making of Arlo
Authorgraph: Joshua Seigal

Joshua Seigal interviewed by Liz Brownlee
Light and Shade: the books on the shortlist for the 2020 Klaus Flugge Prize

The books on the shortlist for the Klaus Flugge Prize appraised by Derek Brazell
Sharing Tales from the Inner City

Kate Greenaway Medal winner Shaun Tan interviewed by Jake Hope
What MORE Is There To Say About 'Alice'?

Peter Hunt reflects on writing another book about Lewis Carroll’s Alice books
Beyond the Secret Garden: Life and Literature in Lockdown

What does it mean to be a writer of colour during a pandemic and a global movement protesting systemic racism?
School Book Clubs Gone Virtual

Rebecca Butler has advice
I Wish I’d Written Michelle Robinson

Michelle Robinson chooses
Navigating the Information Jungle

Susan Martineau asks how we can equip children to deal with ‘fake news’
In close-up: the Bloomsbury Readers series

Discover the new Bloomsbury Readers list
From Sports Journalism to Children’s Fiction

Sports journalist Joe Wilson reflects on writing his first novel for children.
Classics in Short No 142: Walkabouts in the Australian Desert

Walkabout by James Vance Marshall
A Q&A INTERVIEW WITH JULIA GREEN

Julia Green answers our questions on her new novel, The Children of Swallow Fell.
A Q&A INTERVIEW WITH ALEX ENGLISH

The author of Sky Pirates: Echo Quickthorn and the Great Beyond answers our questions.
A Q&A INTERVIEW WITH AISHA BUSHBY

Aisha Bushby answers our questions on her new book, Moonchild.
AN INTERVIEW WITH HARRIET MUNCASTER

The creator of Isadora Moon introduces her new character, Mirabelle.
AN INTERVIEW WITH LAURA DOCKRILL

The author and poet interviewed about her new book, Butterfly Brain.
AN INTERVIEW WITH KATIE AND KEVIN TSANG

An interview with the authors of Dragon Mountain
AN INTERVIEW WITH BRANFORD BOASE AWARD WINNER LIZ HYDER

An interview with the winner of the 2020 Branford Boase Award.

Editor's Choice

Hello! A Counting Book of Kindnesses
Hollis Kurman
5

This is a counting book with a difference. The opening pages reveal a family escaping war and danger. We are invited to imagine what this might be like and reassured all will be well - because of the kindness of...

read more

New Talent

Dangerous Remedy
Kat Dunn
4

France, during the revolution is a very dangerous place and fortunes can change in the blinking of an eye. A small group of young people, led by a girl named Camille have set themselves the task of rescuing people from the guillotine. They are a...

read more

All Children's Book Reviews in BfK No. 243

  • Under 5s
  • Ages 5-8
  • Ages 8-10
  • Ages 10-14
  • Ages 14+
  • Books About Children's Books

Under 5s

  • Hello! A Counting Book of Kindnesses
    Hollis Kurman
    5

  • My Nana's Garden
    Dawn Casey
    5

  • Nervous Nigel
    Bethany Christou
    4

  • Arlo the Lion Who Couldn't Sleep
    Catherine Rayner
    4

  • Wild
    Sam Usher
    4

  • Tiny Ant
    Claire Freedman
    4

  • Big Green Crocodile: Rhymes to Say and Play
    Jane Newberry
    4

  • Like the Moon Loves the Sky
    Hena Khan
    4

  • Mrs Noah's Garden
    Jackie Morris
    4

  • Bloom (Hope in a Scary World)
    Anne Booth
    4

  • My Friend Earth
    Patricia MacLachlan
    4

  • Everybody Has a Body
    Jon Burgerman
    3

  • Samuel and the Monster
    3

Ages 5-8

  • Where Happiness Begins
    Eva Eland
    5

  • The Longest Strongest Thread
    Inbal Leitner
    5

  • Say Goodbye, Say Hello
    Cori Doerrfeld
    5

  • The Perfect Shelter
    Clare Helen Welsh
    5

  • Child of Galaxies
    Blake Nuto
    5

  • The Walloos' Big Adventure
    Anuska Allepuz
    5

  • Meet the Grumblies
    John Kelly
    5

  • Meesha Makes Friends
    Tom Percival
    5

  • It's OK to Cry
    Molly Potter
    4

  • Nervous Nigel
    Bethany Christou
    4

  • Mirabelle Gets up to Mischief
    Harriet Muncaster
    4

  • Albert Talbot: Master of Disguise
    Ben Manley
    4

  • The Wishing Star
    Emma Beswetherick
    4

  • A New Green Day

    Antoinette Portis
    4

  • Rex the Rhinoceros Beetle
    M.G. Leonard
    4

Ages 8-10

  • Saving Winslow
    Sharon Creech
    5

  • Mirabelle Gets up to Mischief
    Harriet Muncaster
    4

  • A Climate in Chaos
    Neal Layton
    4

  • You Can Write Awesome Stories

    Joanne Owen
    4

  • Once Upon an Atom: Questions of Science
    James Carter
    4

  • Agent Asha: Mission Shark Bytes
    Sophie Deen
    4

  • The Time Traveller and the Tiger
    Tania Unsworth
    4

  • What Stars Are Made Of
    Sarah Allen
    3

Ages 10-14

  • Time Travel Diaries Adventures in Athens
    Caroline Lawrence
    5

  • The Arrow of Apollo
    Philip Womack
    5

  • The Short Knife
    Elen Caldecott
    5

  • The Book of Mysteries
    J R Wallis
    5

  • Wonderscape

    Jennifer Bell
    5

  • Night Forever
    Ali Sparkes
    4

  • Midnight's Twins
    Holly Race
    4

  • Viper's Daughter
    Michelle Paver
    4

  • The Super Miraculous Journey of Freddie Yates
    Jenny Pearson
    4

  • Storm
    Nicola Skinner
    4

  • Dragon Mountain
    Katie Tsang
    Kevin Tsang
    4

  • The Thirteenth Home of Noah Bradley
    Amber Lee Dodd
    3

Ages 14+

  • The Enigma Game
    Elizabeth Wein
    5

  • The Great Godden
    Meg Rosoff
    5

  • Eight Pieces of Silva
    Patrice Lawrence
    5

  • Dangerous Remedy
    Kat Dunn
    4

Books About Children's Books

  • The Making of Lewis Carroll's Alice and the Invention of Wonderland
    Peter Hunt
    4

BfK News

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.’

read more...
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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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

read more...
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.

read more...
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

read more...
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.

read more...
TOM PALMER WINS THE CHILDREN’S BOOK AWARD 2020

Tom Palmer

read more...
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