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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.

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
Summer with Meg

Meg Rosoff interviewed by Nicolette Jones
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.
AN INTERVIEW WITH HARRIET MUNCASTER

The creator of Isadora Moon introduces her new character, Mirabelle.

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

  • The Wild Way Home
    Sophie Kirtley
    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

  • The Children of Swallow Fell
    Julia Green
    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

  • The Unadoptables
    Hana Tooke
    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

NEW CROWD-FUNDED CHILDREN’S BOOK TO RETELL BRITAIN’S OLDEST STORIES

Children’s Laureate of Wales, Eloise Williams and author Matt Brown have launched a new crowdfunded project, The Mab.

The Mab

read more...
LOOK UP! WINNERS OF THE WATERSTONES CHILDREN’S BOOK PRIZE 2020 NAMED

WCBP logo 2020

read more...
THE 2020 LITTLE REBELS AWARD SHORTLIST

The shortlist for the 2020 Little Rebels Award has been announced. The Little Rebels Award celebrates children’s fiction which challenges stereotypes, promotes social justice and advocates for a more peaceful and fairer world.

Little Rebels logo 2020

read more...
UKLA BOOK AWARD WINNERS 2020

The winners of the 2020 UKLA Book Awards have been announced.

UKLA award

The UKLA Book Awards are the only awards to be judged entirely by teachers and highlight texts that can ‘enhance all aspects of literacy learning’.

read more...
WINNERS OF THE 2020 CARNEGIE AND KATE GREENAWAY MEDALS ANNOUNCED

Carnegie Greenaway logo

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CHILDREN READING MORE IN LOCKDOWN

Silly Squad Laura Ellen Anderson

read more...
SHORTLIST ANNOUNCED FOR THE 2020 KLAUS FLUGGE PRIZE

The shortlist for the Klaus Flugge Prize has been announced. 2020 is the fifth year of the prize, which was set up to honour Klaus Flugge, founder of Andersen Press and an extremely influential figure in children’s picture books. It is awarded to the most promising and exciting newcomer to children’s picture book illustration.

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SHORTLIST FOR THE 2020 BRANFORD BOASE AWARD ANNOUNCED

BBA logo

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UKLA BOOK AWARDS THE SHORTLISTS 2020

UKLA BOOK AWARDS THE SHORTLISTS 2020

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SHORTLISTS FOR THE 2020 CILIP CARNEGIE AND KATE GREENAWAY MEDALS ANNOUNCED

CILIP CKG logo

The shortlists for the CILIP Carnegie and Kate Greenaway Medals, the UK’s oldest book awards for children and young people, have been announced. Selected by Youth Librarians from the 20 strong longlists there are eight books on each of the two lists.

read more...
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