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Books for Keeps 241 - the children's book magazine online

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BfK No. 241 - March 2020
BfK 241 March 2020

This issue’s cover illustration is from Sequin and Stitch written by Laura Dockrill and illustrated by Sara Ogilvie. Thanks to Barrington Stoke for their help with this March cover.
Digital Edition
By clicking here you can view, print or download the fully artworked Digital Edition of BfK 241 March 2020.

BfK No. 241 Articles

Editorial 241

Happy World Book Day
The Importance of Play

Make believe is crucial says Gill Lewis
Ten Essential Children’s Books chosen by Patrice Lawrence

Ten essential books for young readers chosen by Patrice Lawrence
Windows into Illustration Frann Preston-Gannon

Windows into Illustration: Frann Preston-Gannon
Authorgraph 241: Catherine Johnson

Authorgraph: Catherine Johnson interviewed by Andrea Reece
Bringing Stories to Life

Director Tish Francis guides us round Oxford’s refurbished Story Museum
Everything Ends Up in the Rubbish

Neil Philip on Hans Christian Andersen’s unhappy endings
Beyond the Secret Garden: Classic Literature and Classic Mistakes

Classic literature and classic mistakes
I Wish I'd Written

Muhammad Khan chooses
Friends, Romans and Countrymen...

What have stories about the Romans done for us, asks Tony Bradman
Good Reads 241

Empathy-inspiring reads chosen by pupils at St Matthews CE Primary School Birmingham
Book Clubs in Schools: Why and How?

Dr Rebecca Butler provides the answers
Albert Uderzo 1927 - 2020

Nicholas Tucker remembers the man who illustrated Asterix.
Classics in Short No 140: Topsys and Turvys on parade

Topsys and Turvys on Parade
A Q&A INTERVIEW WITH VICTORIA CASSANELL

Victoria Cassanell introduces her deubut picture book The Gizzly Itch
AN INTERVIEW WITH MICHELLE PAVER

Philip Womack talks to Michelle Paver about her new adventure, Viper's Daughter
AN INTERVIEW WITH LUCY WORSLEY

Lucy Worsley talks about The Austen Girls, her new novel for young people.
Malory Towers: now on your TV screen

Rebecca Butler reviews the new BBC series.
A Q&A INTERVIEW WITH ROBERT MUCHAMORE

Robert Muchamore answers our questions about Robin Hood.
A Q&A INTERVIEW WITH JENNI SPANGLER

Jenni answers our questions about The Vanishing Trick

Editor's Choice

The Last Paper Crane A Tale from Hiroshima
Kerry Drewery
(Hot Key Books)
5

Ichiro is looking out of the window. His friend Hiro is tidying the mess left by his little sister, Keiko who will now be in her Kindergarten class. Then it happens; a blinding whiteness – and the world changes. This is Hiroshima, 6th...

read more

New Talent

The Grizzly Itch
Victoria Cassanell
(Macmillan Children's Books)
4

A bear and a beaver star in Victoria Cassanell’s debut picture book, which celebrates teamwork, friendship and the great outdoors. Bear wakes up from his long winter sleep with an unBEARable itch, a GRIZZLY itch that’s impossible to reach. He...

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All Children's Book Reviews in BfK No. 241

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

Under 5s

  • A Story about Afiya
    James Berry
    5

  • Love from Alfie McPoonst
    Dawn McNiff
    5

  • The Grizzly Itch
    Victoria Cassanell
    4

  • Karate Kids
    Holly Sterling
    4

  • Would You Like a Banana?
    Yasmeen Ismail
    4

  • A Fox Called Herbert
    Margaret Sturton
    4

  • Birdsong
    Julie Flett
    4

  • The Extraordinary Gardener
    Sam Boughton
    4

  • I Am Brown
    Ashok Banker
    4

  • Pug Hug
    Zehra Hicks
    3

  • Rhinocorn Rules
    Matt Carr
    3

Ages 5-8

  • Boundless Sky
    Amanda Addison
    5

  • Incredible You
    Rhys Brisenden
    5

  • Felix After the Rain
    Dunja Jogan
    5

  • Agent Weasel and the Abominable Dr Snow
    Nick East
    5

  • Too Small Tola
    Atinuke
    5

  • The Last Tree
    Emily Haworth-Booth
    4

  • The Problem with Problems
    Rachel Rooney
    4

  • The Paper Bag Princess
    Robert Munsch
    4

  • A Hat for Mr Mountain
    Soojin Kwak
    4

  • Karate Kids
    Holly Sterling
    4

  • All the Dear Little Animals
    Ulf Nilsson
    4

  • Ori's Stars
    Kristyna Litten
    4

  • The Day The Banana Went Bad
    Michelle Robinson
    3

Ages 8-10

  • The Highland Falcon Thief (Adventures on Trains)
    M.G. Leonard
    Sam Sedgman
    5

  • The House of One Hundred Clocks
    A. M. Howell
    5

  • The Pear Affair
    Judith Eagle
    5

  • The Magic of Mums
    Justin Coe
    5

  • The Ice Bear Miracle
    Cerrie Burnell
    4

  • Ghoul Scouts Welcome to Camp Croak!
    Taylor Dolan
    4

  • Sequin and Stitch
    Laura Dockrill
    4

  • Poems Aloud
    Joseph Coelho
    4

  • Max and the Midknights
    Lincoln Peirce
    4

  • Viking Voyagers
    Jack Tite
    4

  • Empire's End: A Roman Story
    Leila Rasheed
    4

  • Scribble Witch
    Inky Willis
    4

  • Otto Tattercoat and the Forest of Lost Things
    Matilda Woods
    4

  • Agent Zaiba Investigates: The Missing Diamonds
    Annabelle Sami
    4

  • Mickey and the Animal Spies
    Anne Miller
    3

  • Mark Anchovy
    William Goldsmith
    3

  • The Girl Who Stole an Elephant
    Nizrana Farook
    3

Ages 10-14

  • The Last Paper Crane A Tale from Hiroshima
    Kerry Drewery
    5

  • A Cake for the Gestapo
    Jacqueline King
    5

  • This Book Is Anti-Racist
    Tiffany Jewell
    5

  • The Threads of Magic
    Alison Croggon
    5

  • The Unstoppable Letty Pegg
    Iszi Lawrence
    4

  • The One that Got Away
    Jan Mark
    4

  • Here in the Real World
    Sara Pennypacker
    4

  • Lost Ele Fountain
    Ele Fountain
    4

  • This Book will help Cool the Climate
    Isabel Thomas
    4

  • Lalani of the Distant Sea
    Erin Entrada Kelly
    3

Ages 14+

  • Hold Back the Tide
    Melinda Salisbury
    4

  • Pretty Funny
    Rebecca Elliott
    4

  • And the Stars Were Burning Brightly
    Danielle Jawando
    4

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

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.

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