@BooksForKeeps

Books for Keeps “the most important periodical in the world of children’s books”. Taking children's books seriously since 1980. New issue published bi-monthly.

booksforkeeps.co.uk
Joined March 2010
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  • Following2.1K
  • Followers14.9K
2.2KMedia
Out now! September issue #BfK280. Authorgraph interview David Solomons, Windows into Illustration Carly Gledhill, 20 years of Lulu, Guy Bass & David Roberts interview, NEW Beyond the Secret Garden, NEW insights into reading for pleasure & more inc reviews bit.ly/4rfrQtp
The cover of the UK's children's book review journal, Books for Keeps September 2026 issue, no. 280. Cover features illustration from Guy Bass and David Roberts' new book THE WORST THING THAT COULD POSSIBLY HAPPEN.

ALT The cover of the UK's children's book review journal, Books for Keeps September 2026 issue, no. 280. Cover features illustration from Guy Bass and David Roberts' new book THE WORST THING THAT COULD POSSIBLY HAPPEN.

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Books for Keeps retweeted
Branford Boase Award@BranfordBoase
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Submissions are open for the #BranfordBoaseAward 2027. Set up in the memory of author Henrietta Branford & her editor Wendy Boase & supported by @WalkerBooksUK & @ALCS_UK, it recognises author & editor. Deadline for submissions: Friday 13 November. branfordboaseaward.org.uk/su…
Graphic announcing that the 2027 Branford Boase Award is open for submissions. The Branford Boase Award is presented to author and editor of the year's outstanding debut novel for children and young people. Criteria and submission information can be found at https://branfordboaseaward.org.uk/submission-information/

ALT Graphic announcing that the 2027 Branford Boase Award is open for submissions. The Branford Boase Award is presented to author and editor of the year's outstanding debut novel for children and young people. Criteria and submission information can be found at https://branfordboaseaward.org.uk/submission-information/

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Books for Keeps retweeted
Brian Moses@moses_brian
Sep 28
New blog post: A new poem on the theme of 'Wonder' for @PoetryDayUK brian-moses.blogspot.com
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Books for Keeps retweeted
Brian Moses@moses_brian
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Primary Teachers: Here is a children's poetry survey which you may find useful for next week's National Poetry Day. brian-moses.blogspot.com/201…
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Congratulations to the winners of The Week Junior Book Awards 2026 announced last night at a special ceremony in London. Jack Mackay's GLOAM bagged 2 awards with Paterson Joseph, Helen Rutter, Jamie Smart & Farhana Islam also taking home prizes 💐 booksforkeeps.co.uk/winners-…
Graphic with photos of four of the winners of The Week Junior Book Awards: Jack Mackay, Farhana Islam, Paterson Joseph, Helen Rutter. Also logos of the sponsors The Bookseller, voxblock, CarverPR, Lovereading, Place2Be, The Week Junior Science and Nature, World Book Day, Go All In the National Year of Reading.

ALT Graphic with photos of four of the winners of The Week Junior Book Awards: Jack Mackay, Farhana Islam, Paterson Joseph, Helen Rutter. Also logos of the sponsors The Bookseller, voxblock, CarverPR, Lovereading, Place2Be, The Week Junior Science and Nature, World Book Day, Go All In the National Year of Reading.

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Shortlists for the Diverse Book Awards have been announced incl a new children’s category: non-fiction. #TheDBAwards highlight ‘outstanding diverse and inclusive books’ published by authors based in the UK & Ireland 2026. Congrats to all on the lists! booksforkeeps.co.uk/seventh-…
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The longlists for @The_UKLA Book Awards have been announced! Tailored to be useful for teachers, there are three age categories for fiction and poetry and a category for Information books. Check them out ⬇️ #UKLA27 #teachersbookawards booksforkeeps.co.uk/longlist…
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Sophie Anderson has a magic touch for reworking fairy tales & this collection of 12 stories brims with everything that makes her writing so appealing. NEW Book of the Week A YEAR OF FAIRY TALES is a treat for all her fans & fairy tale devotees. @Usborne booksforkeeps.co.uk/review/a…
The cover of Sophie Anderson's collection A Year of Fairy Tales which is the new Books for Keeps Book of the Week. Cover illustration is by Elisa Paganelli and includes an image of the House with Chicken Legs as well as other characters climbing a beanstalk.

ALT The cover of Sophie Anderson's collection A Year of Fairy Tales which is the new Books for Keeps Book of the Week. Cover illustration is by Elisa Paganelli and includes an image of the House with Chicken Legs as well as other characters climbing a beanstalk.

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Books for Keeps retweeted
Brian Moses@moses_brian
Sep 19
If any primary schools still need input in National Poetry Day week, I have an online slot free on Monday 28th Sept. Happy to enthuse your children with my poetry and percussion, talk about poetry & set writing tasks. Details here: brian-moses.blogspot.com/202… Reposts appreciated.
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Brian Moses@moses_brian
Sep 19
New blog post: Poems Inspired by Things People Say - Part Two. A selection of poems by top children's poets. brian-moses.blogspot.com @josiedefalco @dragontripper @BardyMum @TweetsbyKayM10 @Ciara_OConnor_
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🍂 #WainwrightPrize winners have been announced, the UK’s nature & conservation writing awards. Congrats to all children's books category winners & highly commended & to Thomas Halliday & Gavin Scott Children’s Wainwright Prize Book of the Year winners. booksforkeeps.co.uk/winners-…
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Huge congratulations to the librarians & schools shortlisted for the @SLA Secondary School Librarian of the Year Award, sponsored by Bloomsbury Publishing, & the Peter Usborne Primary School Library of the Year Award. Read all about them & their work! ⬇️ booksforkeeps.co.uk/school-l…
Young people reading at Oxford High School library. The librarian is one of three on the shortlist for the Secondary School Librarian of the Year Award.

ALT Young people reading at Oxford High School library. The librarian is one of three on the shortlist for the Secondary School Librarian of the Year Award.

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Absolutely thrilled with the review of Bison Rule, OK! in the September issue of @BooksForKeeps. Many thanks 🦬👑 #childrensPoetry
Books for Keeps@BooksForKeeps
Sep 14
Out now! September issue #BfK280. Authorgraph interview David Solomons, Windows into Illustration Carly Gledhill, 20 years of Lulu, Guy Bass & David Roberts interview, NEW Beyond the Secret Garden, NEW insights into reading for pleasure & more inc reviews bit.ly/4rfrQtp
The cover of the UK's children's book review journal, Books for Keeps September 2026 issue, no. 280. Cover features illustration from Guy Bass and David Roberts' new book THE WORST THING THAT COULD POSSIBLY HAPPEN.

ALT The cover of the UK's children's book review journal, Books for Keeps September 2026 issue, no. 280. Cover features illustration from Guy Bass and David Roberts' new book THE WORST THING THAT COULD POSSIBLY HAPPEN.

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Books for Keeps retweeted
Otter-Barry Books@OtterBarryBooks
Sep 16
Thank you Books for Keeps and Clive Barnes for these great reviews! ⭐️ @BooksForKeeps The Flying Machine of Dreams review 👉🏻 booksforkeeps.co.uk/review/t… They Sent a Cat to Saturn review 👉🏻 booksforkeeps.co.uk/review/t… Bison Rule OK review 👉🏻 booksforkeeps.co.uk/review/b…
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Shirley Hottier: About Illustrating Poetry childrenspoetrysummit.com/20… via @kidspoetsummit

Shirley Hottier: About Illustrating Poetry

Image: Harrison Reid I have now completed the illustrations for a second poetry book for the publisher Otter-Barry Books. The first, “The Poetry World of John Agard”, written by John Ag…

childrenspoetrysummit.com
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Books for Keeps retweeted
National Poetry Day@PoetryDayUK
Sep 15
Hey teachers – we’ve got your back on #NationalPoetryDay Poetry unlocks creativity, builds confidence & helps young minds discover the wonder of the world around them. Download FREE curriculum-linked lesson plans, activities & videos for ages 3–16+ below!
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Coral Rumble@RumbleCoral
Sep 15
Thank you @BooksForKeeps, for such a detailed review. I’m so encouraged that you felt the community spirit! When Skeletons Rise booksforkeeps.co.uk/?p=61110
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Our Children's Book Longlist! Don't forget to vote for your favourite to win the Readers' Choice! Link in bio! Nate Yu's Blast from the Past by @MaisieWrites Published by @piccadillypress #TheDiverseBookAwards
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Books for Keeps retweeted
Brian Moses@moses_brian
Sep 13
f anyone has bought my verse novel 'I Am Ray's Imaginary Friend' and intends using it in the classroom, here are activities to go with it. scallywagpress.com/images/im… plus writing prompts from me: scallywagpress.com/images/im… @Scallywagpress
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Important research over many years - note the increase in presentation of disability in UK children's books
Books for Keeps@BooksForKeeps
Sep 11
Long awaited Reflecting Disability study into the representation of disabled people in children’s books is out today. It finds that 10% of children’s books feature disabled people in some way. Room for improvement & too many books have barriers to reading: booksforkeeps.co.uk/60958-2/
Graphic from Reflecting Disability illustrating statistic that 10% of children's books published in 2024 featured disabled people.

ALT Graphic from Reflecting Disability illustrating statistic that 10% of children's books published in 2024 featured disabled people.

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