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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...

read more

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....

read more

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

  • 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

ALASTAIR HUMPHREYS’ GREAT ADVENTURERS WINS THE 2019 EDUCATIONAL WRITERS’ AWARD

The winner of the 2019 Educational Writers’ Award is Alastair Humphreys’ Great Adventurers: The Incredible Expeditions of 20 Explorers (Big Picture Press).

Alastair Humphreys Great Adventures

read more...
BLACKMAN AND DOWNHAM ON SHORTLIST FOR 2019 COSTA CHILDREN’S BOOK AWARD

Former Children’s Laureate Malorie Blackman and acclaimed author Jenny Downham are on the shortlist for the 2019 Costa Children’s Book Award, which was announced today, 26th November 2020. Alongside them on the list are newcomers Jasbinder Bilan and Nicholas Downing, both of whom are published by Chicken House.

The 2019 Costa Children’s Award shortlist

read more...
2019 ALCS EDUCATIONAL WRITERS’ AWARD SHORTLIST

Shortlist announced for the UK’s only award for creative educational writing

The Society of Authors and the Authors’ Licensing& Collecting Society have announced the shortlist for the 2019 ALCS Educational Writers’ Award, the UK’s only award for educational writing which stimulates and enhances the learning experience.

read more...
‘INSPIRING’: CONTENDERS FOR THE 2020 BLUE PETER BOOK AWARDS REVEALED

Blue Peter Book Award logo

Six books have made it onto the shortlists for the 2020 Blue Peter Book Awards. There are two categories: Best Story, and – in non-fiction November – Best Book with Facts.

read more...
NOMINATIONS ANNOUNCED FOR THE 2020 CARNEGIE AND KATE GREENAWAY MEDALS

And we’re off… the nominations for the 2020 Carnegie and Kate Greenaway Medals are announced today, Monday 4th November.

read more...
2020 UKLA BOOK AWARDS THE LONGLISTS

UKLA Awards

A record number of submissions and a new category to highlight information books marks the 12th longlists for the UKLA Awards, the only national awards judged by active classroom teachers.

read more...
JESSICA LOVE NAMED WINNER OF THE KLAUS FLUGGE PRIZE 2019 FOR JULIAN IS A MERMAID

Jessica Love

read more...
LOLLIES 2020 SHORTLIST THE YEAR’S FUNNIEST CHILDREN’S BOOKS

Michael Rosen, children’s novelist, poet and former Children’s Laureate, has announced the shortlist for the 2020 Laugh Out Loud Awards (The Lollies), the awards that celebrate the funniest children’s books.

Lollies logo

read more...
HOOD, RUNDELL AND REYNOLDS UKLA BOOK AWARD WINNERS 2019

Morag Hood, Katherine Rundell and Jason Reynolds have been announced as the winners of the UKLA Book Awards 2019 for I Am Bat, The Explorer and Long Way Down respectively.

read more...
CATHERINE JOHNSON WINS LITTLE REBELS CHILDREN’S BOOK AWARD

The Alliance of Radical Booksellers (ARB) is delighted to announce that the winner of this year’s Little Rebels Children’s Book Award for Radical Fiction is Catherine Johnson for her book, Freedom (Scholastic 2018).

Catherine Johnsonn photo Andy Donohoe

read more...
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