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Books for Keeps 215 - the children's book magazine online

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BfK No. 215 - November 2015
Latest cover image as BfK 215 November 2015

This issue’s cover illustration is from Hare by Zoe Greaves illustrated by Leslie Sadleir. Thanks to Old Barn Books for their help with this Christmas cover.

Digital Edition
By clicking here you can view, print or download the fully artworked Digital Edition of BfK 215 November 2015.

BfK No. 215 Articles

Editorial 215

by Ferelith Hordon
Writing contemporary YA in the age of the internet

Is social media a threat to story telling? asks author Keren David
Authorgraph 215 Oliver Jeffers

Oliver Jeffers interviewed by Joanna Carey
Windows into Illustration: Benji Davies

Benji Davies takes us round Grandad’s Island
Books of the Year 2015

Books of the Year chosen by Books for Keeps contributors
Ten of the Best Books to Introduce Children to the Theatre

Geraldine Brennan chooses the best children’s books on the theatre
Books for Giving Christmas 2015

Andrea Reece plays Santa
Book list Books for Giving 2015

Detials for all the books featured in our Christmas Gift Guide
Award Winning Comics

recent winners highlighted by Hannah Sackett
Classics Wonderland

Classics for Christmas chosen by Imogen Russell Williams
Good Reads 215

Good Reads chosen by pupils at St Paul's CBS Secondary School, Dublin

I wish I’d Written: Sam Gayton

Sam Gayton chooses
Book Aid International – Inspiring Readers

Jenny Hayes on this vital programme
Two Children Tell: Rebecca and Nicholas Upside Down

Rebecca and Nicholas upside down
Classics in Short No.114

Alice Under Ground
A Q&A INTERVIEW WITH NATASHA CARTHEW

The author of Winter Damage and The Light That Gets Lost
AN INTERVIEW WITH COSTA SHORTLISTED AUTHOR SALLY NICHOLLS

Sally Nicholls talks about her acclaimed new novel An Island of Our Own.
AN INTERVIEW WITH COSTA SHORTLISTED AUTHOR HAYLEY LONG

Martyn Bedford talks to Costa shortlisted author Hayley Long about Sophie Someone.
AN INTERVIEW WITH COSTA SHORTLISTED AUTHOR FRANCES HARDINGE

The author speaks to her editor Rachel Petty.
COSTA SHORTLISTED AUTHOR ANDREW NORRISS ON WRITING JESSICA’S GHOST

Author Andrew Norriss on the writing of his Costa shortlisted book Jessica's Ghost

Editor's Choice

The Crossover
Kwame Alexander
(Andersen Press)
5

Josh and Jordan are twins and both passionate about basketball; a passion inherited from their father who played professionally. But when Alexis arrives on the scene, their relationship starts to unravel.

The themes that run through this...

read more

New Talent

The Bear and the Piano
David Litchfield
(Frances Lincoln Children's Books)
5

What happens when a small bear finds a piano in the forest? He learns to play it, is discovered and whisked off to fame and fortune. But is this enough?

In this debut picture book, David Litchfield takes a theme that will have a resonance...

read more

All Children's Book Reviews in BfK No. 215

  • Under 5s
  • Ages 5-8
  • Ages 8-10
  • Ages 10-14
  • Ages 14+
  • Books About Children's Books

Under 5s

  • Vikings in the Supermarket
    Nick Sharratt
    5

  • The Bear and the Piano
    David Litchfield
    5

  • Super Magic Happy Forest
    Matty Long
    5

  • Achoo!
    Virginie Morgand
    5

  • What’s Up Mumu?
    David Mackintosh
    5

  • Max at Night
    Ed Vere
    5

  • Elmer and the Flood
    David McKee
    4

  • The Snow Beast
    Chris Judge
    4

  • The Lion Inside
    Rachel Bright
    4

Ages 5-8

  • Vikings in the Supermarket
    Nick Sharratt
    5

  • Imaginary Fred
    Eoin Colfer
    Oliver Jeffers
    5

  • The Day the Crayons Came Home
    Drew Daywalt
    5

  • Leo: A Ghost Story
    Mac Barnett
    5

  • Mister Cleghorn’s Seal
    Judith Kerr
    5

  • The Prince and the Porker
    Peter Bently
    5

  • Home by Carson Ellis
    Carson Ellis
    5

  • The Lion and the Bird
    Marianne Dubuc
    5

  • Harper and the Scarlet Umbrella
    Cerrie Burnell
    5

  • Take Away the A
    Michaël Escoffier
    4

  • Hare
    Zoë Greaves
    4

  • The Colour Monster
    Anna Llenas
    4

  • Dog on a Train: The Special Delivery
    Kate Prendergast
    4

Ages 8-10

  • Imaginary Fred
    Eoin Colfer
    Oliver Jeffers
    5

  • Once Upon a Place
    5

  • How to Fight a Dragon’s Fury
    Cressida Cowell
    5

  • The Wonder Garden
    Kristjana S Williams
    5

  • The Boy Who Fell Off the Mayflower
    P J Lynch
    5

  • City Atlas
    Georgia Cherry
    5

  • The Doldrums: A Badly Planned Adventure
    Nicholas Gannon
    4

  • The Secret Dinosaur Giants Awake!
    N.S. Blackman
    4

  • Precious and the Zebra Necklace
    Alexander McCall Smith
    4

  • Pugs of the Frozen North
    Philip Reeve
    Sarah McIntyre
    4

  • Evil Emperor Penguin
    Laura Ellen Anderson
    4

  • The Snow Sister
    Emma Carroll
    4

  • Nelly and the Quest for Captain Peabody
    Roland Chambers
    3

Ages 10-14

  • The School of Art

    The School of Art
    Teal Triggs
    5

  • Once Upon a Place
    5

  • The Crossover
    Kwame Alexander
    5

  • National Theatre: All About Theatre
    Marina McIntyre
    5

  • Lockwood and Co The Hollow Boy
    Jonathan Stroud
    5

  • Railhead
    Philip Reeve
    5

  • The Edge of Me
    Jane Brittan
    4

  • The Boy Who Sailed the Ocean in an Armchair
    Lara Williamson
    4

  • An Eagle in the Snow
    Michael Morpurgo
    4

  • First Class Murder
    Robin Stevens
    4

  • A Slice of the Moon
    Sandi Toksvig
    4

  • The Boy at the Top of the Mountain
    John Boyne
    3

Ages 14+

  • The Shepherd’s Crown
    Terry Pratchett
    5

  • Night Owls
    Jenn Bennett
    5

  • Railhead
    Philip Reeve
    5

  • The Big Lie
    Julie Mayhew
    5

  • The Edge of Me
    Jane Brittan
    4

  • Dangerous Lies
    Becca Fitzpatrick
    4

  • Bad Bones
    Graham Marks
    4

  • Thirteen Days of Midnight
    Leo Hunt
    4

  • Black Cairn Point
    Claire McFall
    4

  • The Light That Gets Lost
    Natasha Carthew
    4

  • All Sorts of Possible
    Rupert Wallis
    3

  • Dark Room
    Tom Becker
    3

Books About Children's Books

  • 100 Great Children’s Picture Books
    Martin Salisbury
    5

BfK News

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...
SHORTLIST FOR THE 2021 BLUE PETER BOOK AWARDS REVEALED

The six books shortlisted for the 2021 Blue Peter Book Awards have been announced.

Blue Peter Book Award logo

read more...
Happy National Non-Fiction November 2020

It’s National Non-Fiction November! Organised by the Federation of Children’s Book Groups, National Non-Fiction November is an annual celebration of the power of non-fiction to inspire children and celebrate readers who have a passion for information and facts. 2020 is the 10th anniversary of National Non-Fiction November.

read more...
JANE PORTER AND MAISIE PARADISE SHEARRING 2020 LITTLE REBELS AWARD WINNERS

Jane Porter and Maisie Paradise Shearring have won the 2020 Little Rebels Award for their picture book The Boy who Loved Everyone. They will share the £2000 prize.

Little Rebels logo 2020

read more...
OU AND MACMILLAN CHILDREN’S BOOKS LAUNCH BOOK CHAT SCHEME

The Open University (OU) is launching Book Chat: Reading with your Child, a resource which comprises three short films and support materials to help parents, families and carers read books conversationally and creatively to children. Working with Macmillan Children’s Books, the films use a selection of their picture books and a poetry collection to support families with reading to different ages of children.

read more...
TOM PALMER WINS THE CHILDREN’S BOOK AWARD 2020

Tom Palmer

read more...
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