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Books for Keeps 237 - the children's book magazine online

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BfK No. 237 - July 2019
BfK 237 July 2019

This issue’s cover illustration is from Grumpycorn by Sarah McIntyre, designed by Strawberrie Donnelly. Thanks to Scholastic UK 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 237 July 2019.

BfK No. 237 Articles

Guest editorial by Sian Williams of the Children’s Bookshow

Guest Editorial by Children’s Bookshow founder Sian Williams

Cressida Cowell Children’s Laureate 2019 – 2021

The new Children’s Laureate Cressida Cowell shares her plans with Nicholas Tucker

A Rich Alchemy: Jake Hope interviews with Kate Greenaway Medal winner Jackie Morris.

Kate Greenaway winner Jackie Morris interviewed by Jake Hope

Ten of the Best: Books about the Moon

Ten of the Best: Ann Lazim of CLPE goes moongazing

Authorgraph 237: Adam Stower

Adam Stower interviewed by Michelle Pauli

Windows into Illustration: Sarah McIntyre

Windows into Illustration: our cover artist Sarah McIntyre

20 years of Summer Reading Fun

Anne Sarrag looks back over 20 years of the Summer Reading Challenge

And the CLiPPA goes to …

Steven Camden, aka Polarbear, interviewed by Charlotte Hacking

Beyond the Secret Garden: Outside, Over There

Outside, Over There – diversity and prizes

The World Needs More Empathy

A report on Empathy Day 2019 by those involved

I Wish I’d Written: Rob Biddulph chooses a picture book classic.

Rob Biddulph chooses

Good Reads 237

Good Reads chosen by chosen by pupils at Wycombe Abbey, Buckinghamshire

Classics in Short No 136: Poor Huggermuggers, Gone Before their Time

Huggermuggers remembered

AN INTERVIEW WITH KATE HINDLEY

A trip down Treacle Street with author Kate Hindley

AN INTERVIEW WITH KONNIE HUQ

Konnie Huq introduces Cookie, star of her new series

Good Strong Women: Malory Towers on Stage

Rebecca Butler reviews the new musical version of her favourite series.

A Q&A INTERVIEW WITH PAULA HARRISON

Paula Harrison introduces her new character, Kitty.

Editor's Choice

Migrations: Open Hearts Open Borders

Various Authors
(Otter-Barry Books)
5

To migrate – to move from one place to another in response to adverse or seasonal conditions; animals and birds migrate in rhythm with their environment and across history human beings have migrated from once place to another in search of a...

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New Talent

The Secret Starling

Judith Eagle
Kim Geyer
(Faber & Faber)
4

Clara is alone. Her home a dilapidated mansion on the Yorkshire Moors, her life governed by the rules of her Uncle. Then her Uncle abandons her. For the first time Clara experiences freedom - and when Peter turns up on the doorstep, friendship....

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All Children's Book Reviews in BfK No. 237

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

Under 5s

  • B is for Baby

    Atinuke
    5
  • Alphonse, There's Mud on the Ceiling!

    Daisy Hirst
    5
  • Amazing

    Steve Antony
    5
  • Astro Girl

    Ken Wilson-Max
    4
  • The Light in the Night

    Marie Voigt
    4
  • I Don't Want to Be Small

    Laura Ellen Anderson
    4
  • Umbrella

    Elena Arevalo Melville
    4
  • How to Be on the Moon

    Viviane Schwarz
    4
  • Marcel's Parcels

    Kate Hindley
    4
  • Humperdink Our Elephant Friend

    Sean Taylor
    Claire Alexander
    3

Ages 5-8

  • Mighty Min

    Melissa Castrillõn
    5
  • Nell & the Circus of Dreams

    Nell Gifford
    Briony May Smith
    5
  • Hummingbird

    Nicola Davies
    5
  • The Suitcase

    Chris Naylor-Ballesteros
    5
  • Joseph's Cradle

    Jude Daly
    5
  • The Missing Bookshop

    Katie Clapham
    Kirsti Beautyman
    5
  • Brian the Brave

    Paul Stewart
    Jane Porter
    5
  • Where is Your Sister?

    Puck Koper
    4
  • Me and Mrs Moon

    Helen Bate
    4
  • The Climbers

    Ali Standish
    Alette Straathof
    4
  • The Sleeping Giant

    Marie-Louise Fitzpatrick
    4
  • The Runaway Pea

    Kjartan Poskitt
    Alex Willmore
    4
  • The Way to Treasure Island

    Lizzy Stewart
    4
  • Stefano the Squid Hero of the Deep

    Wendy Meddour
    Duncan Beedie
    4
  • Why Are There So Many Books About Bears?

    Kristina Stephenson
    3
  • The Happy Lion

    Louise Fatio
    Roger Duvoisin
    2

Ages 8-10

  • Diver's Daughter: A Tudor Story

    Patrice Lawrence
    5
  • The Phoenix of Persia

    Sally Pomme Clayton
    Amin Hassanzedeh Sharif
    5
  • I Have an Idea!

    Hervé Tulley
    5
  • The Butterfly Circus

    Francesca Armour-Chelu
    4
  • The Secret Starling

    Judith Eagle
    Kim Geyer
    4
  • Boot: Small Robot, Big Adventure

    Shane Hegarty
    Ben Mantle
    4
  • The Butterfly House

    Katy Flint
    Alice Patullo
    4
  • Evie and the Animals

    Matt Haig
    Emily Gravett
    4
  • The Dragon in the Library

    Louie Stowell
    David Ortu
    3
  • Milton the Mighty: the Teeniest Superhero

    Emma Read
    2

Ages 10-14

  • Runaway Robot

    Frank Cottrell Boyce
    5
  • Migrations: Open Hearts Open Borders

    Various Authors
    5
  • The Dog Runner

    Bren MacDibble
    4
  • The Butterfly Circus

    Francesca Armour-Chelu
    4
  • Lily and the Rockets

    Rebecca Stevens
    4
  • Secret Suffragette

    Barbara Mitchelhill
    4
  • The Garden of Lost Secrets

    A. M. Howell
    4
  • The Last Spell Breather

    Julie Pike
    4
  • Tulip Taylor

    Anna Mainwaring
    4
  • Malamander

    Thomas Taylor
    4
  • Lampie and the Children of the Sea

    Laura Watkinson
    Annet Schaap
    4
  • Good Boy

    Mal Peet
    Emma Shoard
    4
  • The House of Light

    Julia Green
    4
  • One Shot

    Tanya Landman
    4
  • Jemima Small Versus the Universe

    Tamsin Winter
    4
  • D-Day

    Michael Noble
    Alexander Mostov
    3
  • High Rise Mystery

    Sharna Jackson
    3
  • The Good Thieves

    Katherine Rundell
    2

Ages 14+

  • We Are Blood and Thunder

    Kesia Lupo
    5
  • What's a Girl Gotta Do?

    Holly Bourne
    5
  • Meat Market

    Juno Dawson
    5
  • Under a Dancing Star

    Laura Wood
    4
  • The Starlight Watchmaker

    Lauren James
    4
  • I Will Not Be Erased

    gal-dem
    4
  • Catching Teller Crow

    Ambelin Kwaymullina
    Ezekiel Kwaymullina
    4
  • All the Things We Never Said

    Yasmin Rahman
    4
  • Beauty Sleep

    Kathryn Evans
    3

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.’

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)

read more...
BOOKTRUST’S REPRESENTS INTERIM RESEARCH & CLPE REFLECTING REALITIES SURVEY 2020

CLPE Reflecting Realities Report 2020

read more...
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