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Books for Keeps 222 - the children's book magazine online

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Books for Keeps is packed with articles, interviews comment and, of course, reviews.

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BfK No. 222 - January 2017
BfK 222 January 2017

This issue’s cover illustration is from Margot and Me by Juno Dawson. Thanks to Hot Key Books for their help with this January cover.
Digital Edition
By clicking here you can view, print or download the fully artworked Digital Edition of BfK 222 January 2017.

BfK No. 222 Articles

Editorial 222

Predictions for the year ahead from those in education, children's books and libraries

What to read in 2017

Leading children’s editors share their recommendations

What to read in 2017 continued

Leading children’s editors share their recommendations

The books to read in 2017 continued

Leading children’s editors share their recommendations

Windows into Illustration: Laura Carlin

Laura Carlin on The Promise

Authorgraph 222 Juno Dawson

Juno Dawson interviewed by Michelle Pauli

Ten of the Best Children's Books written as Diaries

Children’s books written as diaries chosen by Nikki Gamble

Dissecting Frogs

Elys Dolan on being funny in pictures

Two Children Tell: In Which Pooh Is Introduced To Rebecca And Nicholas

The latest in Virginia Lowe's series on children, literature and language

I Wish I’d Written: Cathryn Constable

The best-selling author of The Wolf Princess and The White Tower series chooses a book that still entrances.

The Bone Sparrow: a contemporary tragedy

An interview with Zana Fraillon

Good Reads 222

Good Reads selected by pupils at Southbrook School, Devon

The evolution of the children’s mystery story

Imogen Russell Williams plays detective

A Carey Variorum

Brian Alderson on Ronald Welch’s action-packed series

AN INTERVIEW WITH ELIZABETH LAIRD

Elizabeth Laird talks about her new book Welcome to Nowhere

Babette Cole Obituary

Nicholas Tucker remembers the creator of Princess Smartypants and Hair in Funny Places

A Q&A INTERVIEW WITH AMY WILSON

An interview with the author of A Girl Called Owl

Classics in Short No. 120 Bevis

Bevis the Story of a Boy

AN INTERVIEW WITH AWARD WINNING TRANSLATOR HELEN WANG

Daniel Hahn interviews Helen Wang, winner of the 2017 Marsh Award for Literature in Translation

Q&A INTERVIEW WITH STEPHANIE BURGIS

The author answers questions on The Dragon with a Chocolate Heart

AN INTERVIEW WITH CHRISTOPHER EDGE

The author talks about his new book The Jamie Drake Equation.

Editor's Choice

Bone Gap

Laura Ruby
(Faber & Faber)
5

Bone Gap is an astonishing, complex and captivating read. It’s one of those books that’s difficult to put down; you just want to keep reading, savouring the story, to find out what happens.  Set in a tiny village in Illinois...

read more

New Talent

Wing Jones

Katherine Webber
(Walker Books)
4

Wing idolises her brother Marcus. He is the star of the school football team and destined for a scholarship. She herself is a mouse, bullied at school for her mixed race convinced she is no good and longing to be noticed by Aaron. Then tragedy...

read more

All Children's Book Reviews in BfK No. 222

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

Under 5s

  • Home in the rain

    Bob Graham
    5
  • Time Now to Dream

    Timothy Knapman
    5
  • A Dot in the Snow

    Corinne Averiss
    4
  • Macavity’s Not There!

    T S Eliot
    4
  • Little Monkey

    Marta Altés
    4
  • Topsy Turvy Animals

    Wes Magee
    3

Ages 5-8

  • A Visit to City Farm

    Verna Wilkins
    5
  • Du Iz Tak?

    Carson Ellis
    5
  • The Journey

    Francesca Sanna
    5
  • Three Little Monkeys

    Quentin Blake
    5
  • The Liszts

    Kyo Maclear
    4
  • Where’s the Baboon?

    Michaël Escoffier
    4
  • Trouble Next Door

    Chris Higgins
    4
  • Zoo Boy and the Jewel Thieves

    Sophie Thompson
    3
  • This Bear, That Bear

    Sian Wheatcroft
    3

Ages 8-10

  • The Stone Age: Hunters, Gatherers and Woolly Mammoths

    5
  • A Year Full of Stories

    Angela McAllister
    5
  • Caleb’s Cab

    Sally Chomet
    5
  • The Amazing Adventures of Freddie Whitemouse

    Elizabeth Jane Howard
    4
  • How to Catch a Witch

    Abie Longstaff
    4
  • Sherlock Holmes and the Disappearing Diamond

    Sam Hearn
    4
  • Trouble Next Door

    Chris Higgins
    4
  • The Fox and the Ghost King

    Michael Morpurgo
    3

Ages 10-14

  • Wed Wabbit

    Lissa Evans
    5
  • The Girl with No Nose

    Georgia Byng
    5
  • Welcome to Nowhere

    Elizabeth Laird
    4
  • Wing Jones

    Katherine Webber
    4
  • Animal! Knowledge Encyclopedia

    John Woodward
    4
  • Life In A Fishbowl

    4
  • The Goldfish Boy

    Lisa Thompson
    4
  • A Girl Called Owl

    Amy Wilson
    4

Ages 14+

  • Girl Detached

    Manuela Salvi
    5
  • Bone Gap

    Laura Ruby
    5
  • A Quiet Kind of Thunder

    Sara Barnard
    5
  • The One Memory of Flora Banks

    Emily Barr
    5
  • Orangeboy

    Patrice Lawrence
    4
  • Our Chemical Hearts

    Krystal Sutherland
    4
  • And a happy New Year?

    Holly Bourne
    4
  • Unconventional

    Maggie Harcourt
    3

BfK News

CRESSIDA COWELL LAUNCHES NEW LAUREATE INITIATIVE IN SUPPORT OF SCHOOL LIBRARIES AND CALLS ON PM TO ACT

‘How can a child become a reader for pleasure if their parents or carers cannot afford books, and their primary school has no library, or that library is woefully insufficient?’

Life-changing Libraries logo

read more...
SHORTLISTS ANNOUNCED FOR THE 2021 UKLA BOOK AWARDS

UKLA Book Awards logo

read more...
ALL STORIES, A NEW MENTORSHIP PROGRAMME FOR UNDERREPRESENTED CHILDREN’S BOOK WRITERS

A new mentorship scheme for underrepresented authors launches today, 30 March. All Stories offers fourteen mentorships delivered by expert children’s book editors.

All Stories logo

read more...
2021 SHORTLISTS ANNOUNCED FOR CILIP CARNEGIE AND KATE GREENAWAY MEDALS

CKG Logo

The shortlists for the prestigious CILIP Carnegie and Kate Greenaway Medals are announced today, 18 March. The awards are the UK’s oldest for children and young people.

This year’s judges praised their shortlists for ‘offering hope and escapism during lockdown’ through explorations of freedom, the great outdoors and journeys through the natural world.

read more...
INAUGURAL LONGLIST ANNOUNCED FOR THE JHALAK CHILDREN’S AND YOUNG ADULT PRIZE

The Jhalak Prize has announced the longlist for the inaugural Jhalak Children’s & Young Adult Prize.

Jhalak Prize logo

read more...
ONJALI RAÚF BECOMES WRITER IN RESIDENCE FOR BOOKTRUST

Award-winning author and activist, Onjali Raúf takes up the post as the new Writer in Residence for BookTrust, today, International Women’s Day. She takes over from Smriti Halls.

Onjali Q Raúf

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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.

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