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Books for Keeps 212 - the children's book magazine online

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BfK No. 212 - May 2015
BfK 212 May 2015

COVER STORY
This issue’s cover illustration is from Dara Palmer's Major Drama by Emma Shevah. Thanks to Chicken House for their help with this May cover.

Digital Edition
By clicking here you can view, print or download the fully artworked Digital Edition of BfK 212 May 2015.

BfK No. 212 Articles

Editorial 212

Editorial
Books that Go Bump in the Night

Imogen Russell Williams on the new wave of teen horror

Accelerated Reader in East Lothian Libraries

Susan Boylan of East Lothian Libraries explains how the scheme works for them
Radicals and Readers

Kimberley Reynolds on the Little Rebels Children’s Book Award
Windows into illustration: Mick Manning and Brita Granström

Mick Manning and Brita Granström on their innovative approach to information books
Ten of the Best: Books to Introduce Children to their Human Rights

Ten of the Best: books to get children thinking about human rights, a Magna Carta inspired list chosen by Margaret Mallett
Authorgraph 212: Frances Hardinge

Frances Hardinge interviewed by Philip Womack

Values and themes in the CILIP Carnegie Medal shortlist 2015

The 2015 Carnegie Medal shortlist: appraised by Nicholas Tucker
On First Light, an anthology in celebration of the work of Alan Garner

First Light a celebration of the work of Alan Garner by Erica Wagner
I Wish I’d Written: Phil Earle

The author of Demolition Dad and Being Billy chooses
Good Reads 212

Chosen by pupils at Hexthorpe Primary School, Doncaster
Obituary: Fritz Wegner

Fritz Wegner remembered by Ian Beck
Miffy, the Giraffe and Rebecca

by Virginia Lowe
Chicken House: 15 years on and still clucking!

Barry Cunningham and his team are celebrating!
Classics in Short No.111

Uncle Lubin and the first sighting of Heath Robinson Contraptions
The Sweet Smell of Failure: Stephan Pastis interview

The creator of Timmy Failure talks to Damian Kelleher
An interview with Michael Byrne

Geraldine Brennan talks to the author of Lottery Boy
An introduction to Blood & Ink by Stephen Davies

Read the background to this impressive new novel.
AN INTERVIEW WITH 2015 KATE GREENAWAY MEDAL WINNER WILLIAM GRILL

The creator of Shackleton's Journey interviewed.
A CONVERSATION WITH 2015 CILIP CARNEGIE MEDAL WINNER TANYA LANDMAN

The winning author of Buffalo Soldier in conversation with her agent.
THE CAKE AND BAKE DAY OF AN IMPY KID

An original story by Penny Dolan
VALENTINE’S DAY: AN INTERVIEW WITH THE AUTHOR OF FINDING VIOLET PARK AND FIRE COLOUR ONE

Jenny Valentine interviewed by Joy Court

Editor's Choice

The Wizardling
Binette Schroeder
(Little Island)
5

Wizzo has been warned: keep away from Dragon Rock. Of course he doesn't and meets Dradru, the little dragon-girl and Little Red Riding Hood. It is fun showing off but what about the Big Bad Wolf?

Binette Schroeder’s colour rich...

read more

New Talent

Other Girl
Nicole Burstein
(Andersen Press)
5

Louise has a task in life: it is up to her to train and develop the superhero skills of her best friend Erica. The goal is to engineer Erica’s discovery by the Vigilants. In the meantime there are exams – and the gorgeous Jay – to cope with. And...

read more

All Children's Book Reviews in BfK No. 212

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

Under 5s

  • The Giant of Jum
    Elli Woollard
    5

  • Pat-a-Cake Baby
    Joyce Dunbar
    5

  • Swimmy
    Leo Lionni
    5

  • Ice in the Jungle
    Ariane Hofmann-Maniyar
    5

  • Blown Away
    Rob Biddulph
    5

  • This Is My Rock
    David Lucas
    4

  • Daddy’s Sandwich
    Pip Jones
    4

  • Nobody’s Perfect
    David Elliott
    4

  • Where, Oh Where Is Rosie’s Chick?
    Pat Hutchins
    3

  • Follow That Car
    Lucy Feather
    3

Ages 5-8

  • Where’s the Elephant?
    Barroux
    5

  • The First Slodge
    Jeanne Willis
    5

  • Miss Hazeltine’s Home for Shy and Fearful Cats
    Alicia Potter
    5

  • The Seeds of Friendship
    Michael Foreman
    5

  • Who Is King?
    Beverley Naidoo
    5

  • Mr Mistoffeles: The Conjuring Cat
    T S Eliot
    5

  • Blue Balloons and Rabbit Ears
    Hilda Offen
    4

  • The Boy Who Cried Wolf
    Mahni Tazhibi
    4

  • The King and the Sea
    Heinz Janisch
    4

  • You Can’t Take an Elephant on the Bus
    Patricia Cleveland-Peck
    3

  • The Clever Mouse
    Anahita Teymorian
    3

Ages 8-10

  • Where’s the Elephant?
    Barroux
    5

  • The Disappearing Children: Prime Minister Father and Son 1
    Lars Joachim Grimstad
    5

  • The Imagination Box
    Martyn Ford
    5

  • The Key that Swallowed Joey Pigza
    Jack Gantos
    5

  • Blue Balloons and Rabbit Ears
    Hilda Offen
    4

  • Hercufleas
    Sam Gayton
    4

  • Demolition Dad
    Phil Earle
    4

  • How to Speak Spook (and stay alive)
    Ally Kennen
    4

  • The Accidental Prime Minister
    Tom McLaughlin
    4

  • The Unlikely Adventures of Mabel Jones
    Will Mabbitt
    4

  • Fennymore and the Brumela
    Kirsten Reinhardt
    4

  • The Leaky Battery Sets Sail: Adventures of the Steampunk Pirates
    Gareth P Jones
    3

Ages 10-14

  • Pike
    Anthony McGowan
    5

  • Other Girl
    Nicole Burstein
    5

  • Where’s the Elephant?
    Barroux
    5

  • Oxford Illustrated Shakespeare Dictionary
    David Crystal
    Ben Crystal
    5

  • Five Things They Never Told Me
    Rebecca Westcott
    5

  • Game Changer
    Tim Bowler
    5

  • We Are All Made of Molecules
    Susin Nielsen
    4

  • Joe All Alone
    Joanna Nadin
    4

  • The Water Horse
    Holly Webb
    4

  • The Endless Trials of Tabitha Baird
    Arabella Weir
    4

  • Only Eva
    Judi Curtin
    4

  • Phoenix Rising
    Bryony Pearce
    4

  • One Of Us
    Jeannie Waudby
    4

  • If You Find This
    Matthew Baker
    4

  • An Island of Our Own
    Sally Nicholls
    3

  • Lost on Mars
    Paul Magrs
    3

  • Dog Ears
    Anne Booth
    3

  • The Territory
    Sarah Govett
    3

  • The Wordsmith
    Patricia Forde
    3

  • The Disappearance of Tom Pile
    Ian Beck
    3

Ages 14+

  • Conversion
    Katherine Howe
    5

  • Liberty's Fire
    Lydia Syson
    5

  • Oxford Illustrated Shakespeare Dictionary
    David Crystal
    Ben Crystal
    5

  • Devil You Know
    Catherine MacPhail
    5

  • What Was Never Said
    Emma Craigie
    4

  • Nobody Saw No One
    Steve Tasane
    4

  • Love Hurts
    4

  • Love, Tanya
    Tanya Burr
    3

  • It’s About Love
    Steven Camden
    3

  • Remix
    Non Pratt
    3

  • Playlist for the Dead
    Michelle Falkoff
    3

  • The Shadow Cabinet: A Shades of London novel
    Maureen Johnson
    3

BfK News

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

read more...
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...
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