Christmas is coming and thoughts are inevitably turning to children’s wish lists so take an early peek at some fantastic gift, story and activity books that could well be the answer to your young readers’ dreams
Age 5 plus
The Grumpus
Alex T. Smith
WHEN your plan is to cancel Christmas, it can only be dastardly, dreadful... and destined to go horribly wrong! You know the Christmas season is well and truly moving into top gear when talented writer and illustrator Alex T. Smith peeps his head over the parapet with his latest fantastically festive Christmas adventure. And after the success of the Claude series and his much-loved books How Winston Delivered Christmas and How Winston Came Home for Christmas, Smith brings us another spectacular gift book that offers brilliant storytelling, stunning artwork and a hilarious anti-hero who is the perfect amalgam of Scrooge, the Grinch and Krampus (but not half as scary!). The Grumpus is a big, grumbly, huffy-puffy, grumpy grump of a creature who doesn’t like anybody or anything at all. And the one thing he REALLY doesn’t like is Christmas. And on one particularly cold, frosty morning when he discovers that he has run out of his favourite food – Brussels sprouts of all things – he hatches a plan to go to the North Pole and stop Christmas once and for all. Oh no, you might say, but wait... an awful thing happened at the North Pole on Christmas Eve which meant that the Grumpus’s wicked plan didn’t turn out at all how he planned! With a brilliantly funny story featuring an unforgettable grumpy star player, Smith’s bold and comical illustrations, a foiled cover and ribbon marker, and all lovingly wrapped in the author’s natural warmth and insight into the true meaning of Christmas, this wonderful book is destined to become a family favourite in the run-up to Christmas.
(Macmillan Children’s Books, hardback, £14.99)
Age 6 plus
A Dinosaur A Day
Written by Miranda Smith and illustrated by Jenny Wren, Xuan Le, Max Rambaldi, Juan Calle and Olga Baumert
IMAGINE walking with dinosaurs every day of the year! If you’re hunting down the perfect gift for young dino fans,
then look no further than this illustrated gift book which lets them spend a stupendous
365 days in the company of some of prehistory’s biggest creatures. Stunningly illustrated throughout by a team of talented
artists, and packed with key information about each of these amazing dinosaurs,
including height, weight and diet, the book has a full pronunciation guide,
index and glossary. Dip in each day to discover a new dinosaur and enjoy sharing
with friends or family. From ferocious Tyrannosaurus to gentle giant
Titanosaurus, there are familiar and lesser-known names alongside newly
discovered species, all brought to life with brilliant illustrations and
fascinating facts. With a consultancy by Professor Mike Benton, who was elected
Fellow of the Royal Society for his fundamental contributions to understanding
the history of life, this beautifully created book is the ultimate introduction
to dinosaurs. An unforgettable year-long encounter with the most
astonishing creatures ever to walk the Earth!
(Red Shed, hardback, £20)
Age 12 plus
We Wish You A Merry Christmas
and Other Festive Poems
Chosen and illustrated by Chris Riddell
‘'Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the
house Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse; The stockings were hung by
the chimney with care, In hopes that St Nicholas soon would be there.’
THE opening lines of author and academic Clement Clarke
Moore’s famous 1823 poem set the tone for this exuberant collection of
Christmas poems which are guaranteed to provide an extra sparkle this festive
season. Selected and lavishly illustrated by Chris Riddell, a former
Children’s Laureate and an accomplished artist and political cartoonist, this
anthology of modern masterpieces and Christmas classics captures all the joy,
anticipation, thrills, and even chills, of the season of family and fun. Highly illustrated throughout with Riddell’s richly detailed
and atmospheric artwork, this flurry of festive poetry includes much-loved
traditional favourites like The Twelve Days of Christmas, Deck the Halls, We
Wish You a Merry Christmas and We Three Kings, and poems by Neil Gaiman,
William Wordsworth, Thomas Hardy, Hollie McNish, Sue Hardy Dawson, Roger
Stevens, Benjamin Zephaniah, Clare Bevan, Sara Teasdale, A.F. Harrold, Alfred,
Lord Tennyson, Sylvia Plath, Ogden Nash, Robert Burns and Jackie Kay. Gloriously entertaining and full of those unique Christmassy
vibes, this is the perfect festive selection for poetry lovers young and old.
(Macmillan Children’s Books, hardback, £9.99)
Tiggy Thistle and the Lost Guardians
Chris Riddell
Set against fantastical landscapes, and featuring witty and inventive twists on traditional fairy tales, Tiggy Thistle and the Lost Guardians stars an engaging cast of new and familiar characters, battling evil and taking on enemies with youthful wisdom, fearlessness, energy and determination. Sumptuously presented in a foiled dust jacket, this is the perfect gift for all adventure-seekers and fantasy fans!
And if you haven’t yet read Guardians of Magic, you can give your youngsters a double helping of delight as this gripping and fabulously illustrated first book in the series – which introduced us to apprentice baker Zam Zephyr, musician Phoebe Limetree, and orphaned daughter of a giant slayer, Bathsheba Greengrass – is now out in paperback at £7.99.
(Macmillan Children’s Books, hardback, £12.99)
Age 5 plus
The Faber Book of Bedtime Stories
By Various Authors and illustrated by Sarah McIntyre
it will never Pass into nothingness; but still will keep A bower
quiet for us, and a sleep Full of sweet dreams.’
SO wrote the poet John Keats in a
sentiment that seems perfectly suited to a beautiful book of bedtime stories. This stunning anthology for younger children is packed with
inspirational wind-down tales that are full of hope and courage, and brim with the
kind of positivity that is just the antidote needed to a world that can often
seem pressured and anxiety-inducing. Written by a diverse range of Faber’s talented pool of
children’s authors, this sumptuous gift book is lavishly illustrated throughout
by the bestselling artist Sarah McIntyre. All these brand-new stories are perfectly pitched for
children in the five to seven age group, and promote modern-day messages of
inclusivity, acceptance and bravery in the face of adversity, with the slogan
‘a comforting story tonight for a happy day tomorrow’ firmly at centre stage. The full list of stellar contemporary authors contributing
to this heartwarming collection is Aisha Bushby, Ann Jungman, Ayesha Braganza,
Claire Barker, Emma Carroll, Hannah Lee, Ingrid Persaud, Kate Saunders, Kieran
Larwood, Lou Kuenzler, Lucy Farfort, Martyn Ford, Michael Mann, Natasha
Farrant, Pip Jones, Rashmi Sirdeshpande and Reba Khatun. A gift that will be treasured down the
years.
(Faber Children’s Books, hardback, £20)
Age 5 plus
Snow White and other Grimms’ Fairy Tales
Written by Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm and illustrated by MinaLima
(HarperDesign, hardback, £25)
Age 3 plus
Grimms’ Fairy Tales
Retold by Elli Woollard and illustrated by Marta Altés
‘This may seem, at the start, like a sweet little story.
It’s not. It gets grisly and horribly gory.’
REVEL in the romping rhymes and fairy tale fantasies in this
brilliant contemporary twist on the famous Grimm brothers ’ fairy tales from
the exciting, award-winning team of author and poet Elli Woollard and
illustrator Marta Altés. With Altés’ exquisitely expressive and detailed
illustrations bringing all the action to life, Woollard has a ball with her
hugely entertaining retelling of five Grimms fairy tales in snappy rhymes and
catchy rhythms that are guaranteed to capture everyone’s hearts. Created in a beautiful gift edition, the book is a delight
for readers young and old, offering a fresh, funny and original take on five
well-loved fairy tales... Cinderella, Little Red Cap, The Musicians of Bremen,
Hansel and Gretel, and The Elves and the Shoemaker. With discoveries and adventures at every turn, this timeless
gift book with its sumptuous and textured foil cover, will be treasured and
enjoyed time and time again.
(Macmillan Children’s Books, hardback, £14.99)
Age 1 plus
Richard Scarry’s Storybook Dictionary
Richard Scarry
(Faber Children’s Books, hardback, £14.99)
Age 1 plus:
We’re Going on a Sleigh Ride
Martha Mumford and Cherie Zamazing
CHRISTMAS wouldn’t be Christmas without a fluffy, festive
bunny adventure! Take hold of the reins, start counting and let the fun begin
with this fabulous picture book from author Martha Mumford and illustrator Cherie
Zamazing, the top team behind the million-copy selling Bunny Adventures series.
With their fun flaps, sturdy pages for little hands, and exciting adventures,
these books are ideal for young readers. And this new Christmas-themed story, which sees the bunnies
heading off on a sleigh ride with Santa, is packed with winter magic as little
ones lift the flaps, find lots of presents and countdown to the most thrilling
day of the year. With Mumford’s high-flying adventure to enjoy, lots of
exciting presents to discover under the flaps, the fun of counting down to Christmas
Day, and Zamazing’s vibrant and richly detailed illustrations bringing the
sleigh ride to glorious life, there could be no better way to get ready for the
season of giving.
(Bloomsbury Children’s Books, paperback, £7.99)
Age 9 plus
Explorers at Stardust City
Alex Bell and Tomislav Tomić
DEEP below the sea, and far above the skies in space, a
group of daring explorers are on a mission to save the planet! Welcome back to
the sixth action-packed Explorers’ Club adventure, part of a thrilling middle
grade series from the pen of author Alex Bell. Superbly illustrated by Croatian
artist Tomislav Tomić’s magical double-page spreads of artwork, these books
feature the Ocean Squid team who live in richly imagined fantasy world where
danger and derring-do go hand in hand. In this gripping new outing, the young
explorers head into space to battle an evil foe and some terrifying creatures. Ursula
Jellyfin, a half-mermaid girl, and her friends are in a race against time. The villainous
Collector Scarlett Sauvage has taken ice princess Stella Starflake Pearl captive
and is hungrily snatching up all the beautiful places of the world in her magical
snow globe prisons. She needs to be stopped but first they must find her. To
aid them in their quest, the explorers seek help from new allies, including a
Pirate Queen with a ghost ship that can defy time and space, and then take to
the skies in a galaxy fairy rocket. But their journey is fraught with peril as
the future of the planet hangs in the balance. Young readers will love escaping
into a sensational world filled with space moles, sea goblins and giant sharks,
and a dazzling adventure coated with a sprinkling of moon dust. With Tomić’s
stunning illustrations bringing the fantasy world and its people and creatures
to vivid life, this atmospheric story is a thrill ride from start to finish.
(Faber Children’s Books, paperback, £7.99)
Age 8 plus
The Christmas Carrolls:
The Christmas Competition
Mel Taylor-Bessent and Selom Sunu
IF you need to add some extra warmth to your Christmas
celebrations this year, bask in the cosy glow of a fun-filled festive drama with
the Carrolls, a diverse and charismatic family that enjoys Christmas every day
of the year! This cornucopia of Christmas cheer is the second hilarious
adventure starring the chaotic Carroll family after they were introduced to
adoring readers last year by author Mel Taylor-Bessent, founder of interactive
video firm Authorfy, and talented illustrator Selom Sunu. And Holly and her
family have some snowtastic news! They have been entered into The Christmas
Chronicle’s Most Festive Family Competition and Holly is sure to the tips of
her tinselly fingers that they have this in the bag. But when the
Christmas-obsessed Carrolls meet the Klauses, they are in for a Santa-sized
surprise. With a house on Candy Cane Lane, a ‘Klausland’ theme park in their
back garden, a personal ski mountain and dancing penguins, Holly can feel her
Christmas confidence wavering. What can she do to help her festive family win...
will they discover that there is more to life than perfect Christmas
decorations, a personal toboggan run, and more prezzies than you can shake a
candy cane at? With a story of kindness that resonates with the true spirit of
Christmas, Sunu’s enchanting and heartfelt illustrations, and an ice-skating
baby penguin adding to the festive feast, this is the perfect tasty dish to set
before your own Christmas funsters!
(Farshore, paperback, £7.99)
Age 8 plus
Horrible Histories: Ghosts
Terry Deary and Martin Brown
BOO! Discover all the frightful stories behind iconic ghost
tales and legends from around the world with this ghastly ghosts and ghouls
edition of the endlessly entertaining and much-loved Horrible Histories series.
The master of making history fun, Terry Deary, and his equally talented
illustrator team-mate Martin Brown turn their attention to spooks and spirits
in this truly horrible trawl of foul facts. Horrible Histories: Ghosts has
everything from the ancient evils of Egypt, cut-throat Celtic sacrifices, Anne
Boleyn and other restless royals to a deathly drummer boy trapped in the
underground passages of Edinburgh, ghost busters and spook rumblers. Combined
with tons of Horrible Halloween facts, top tips for getting rid of ghouls, and
Brown’s hilarious illustrations, these hair-raising stories come with all the
horribly hilarious bits included. With a fresh take on the classic Horrible
Histories style and packed with Deary’s priceless wit, the past has never been
so horrible, and so hilariously entertaining!
(Scholastic, paperback, £6.99)
Age 8 plus
A Fairytale for Everyone
Selected by Boldizsár M Nagy, illustrated by Lilla Bölecz and translated by Anna Bentley
OVER the centuries, traditional stories ‘have winged their
way across borders and cultures as freely as migratory birds, changing and
taking shape as they did so... this is how stories are kept alive.’ The words
of editor, translator and journalist Boldizsár M Nagy speak loudly and
resonantly in her introduction to this groundbreaking and inclusive children’s
illustrated fairy tale collection. The beautiful and sparkling collection of 17
traditional short stories, reimagined in a fully inclusive LGBTQ+ light,
celebrates a multitude of ethnicities, genders and sexualities. The collection
was originally published in Hungary where the inclusion of LGBTQ+ characters
sparked political controversy. It quickly became an important symbol in the
fight for equality and against discrimination in Hungary. These are stories in
which powerful princesses slay giants, beautiful princes find true love and
heroes come in all shapes and sizes. Illustrated throughout by Lilla Bölecz, a
Hungarian graphic artist and illustrator whose work is inspired by, among other
things, mysticism, nature and mythology, and translated into English by Anna
Bentley, this is a book to inspire a new generation of readers.
(Farshore, hardback, £14.99)
Age 7 plus
The Bedtime Book of Impossible Questions
Isabel Thomas and Aaron Cushley
(Bloomsbury Children’s Books, hardback, £12.99)
Age 7 plus
Secrets of a Christmas Elf
Ben Miller and Daniela Jaglenka Terrazzini
INDULGE your youngsters with this gorgeous, pocket-sized
Christmas gift book – full of fun, festive warmth and comedy capers – from actor,
comedian and bestselling author Ben Miller. Secrets of a Christmas Elf delivers
magic on every page as Miller, who has earned the title King of Christmas, lets
loose his imagination on a heartwarming story about the importance of family at
Christmas, and all year round. It’s business as usual in the run up to
Christmas at Santa’s Workshop and toy elves Holly (who just happens to be
Santa’s daughter) and Tog are busy making gifts for children all around the
world. But Father Christmas isn’t feeling well and Holly is worried that things
won’t be finished on time. Inventing a robot to help out with festive duties
seems like a fantastic idea until Father Christmas is kidnapped and a race
against time to save him and the big day begins. Featuring the atmospheric
black and white illustrations of Daniela Jaglenka Terrazzini, this
inspirational, mischief-laden adventure – laced throughout with Miller’s
irrepressible wit – is set to become another laugh-out-loud Christmas classic
for this inventive storyteller.
This book is published on November 10.
(Simon & Schuster Children’s Books, hardback, £9.99)
Age 6 plus
The Snow Bear
Holly Webb
CELEBRATE the 10th anniversary of best-selling author Holly
Webb’s beautiful book, The Snow Bear, in this dazzling new edition of her
magical, snow-sprinkled tale. As the snow begins to fall just days before
Christmas, Grandad helps Sara build an igloo in the garden with a small snow
bear to watch over it. And when Sara wakes in the middle of the night, it looks
very different outside. It’s just the start of a thrilling adventure as she
sets out on an enchanted journey through a world of ice... but will she ever
find her way home? A former children’s books editor, Webb has written over one
hundred books for children and this gorgeous illustrated celebration of one of
her best-loved stories gives the eternal themes of family and friendship starring
roles. With its wild and wintry adventure, warm-hearted themes, and pages edged
with blue mistletoe, this is the perfect Christmas gift for your own little
animal lovers.
(Stripes Publishing, paperback, £7.99)
Age 5 plus
A Family Christmas
Alana Washington and Emily Nash
STEP into the pages of this festive picture book and watch
the most magical day of the year unfold! A Family Christmas – a picture book
twinkling with the joys and traditions of the season – has family love written
all over its warm heart. ‘A crisp Christmas morning, there’s so much to see. A
race down the stairs to look under the tree.’ From the moment you wake up, the
excitement begins and that’s the message that speaks loud and clear in Alana
Washington’s deceptively simple, but powerfully resonant, rhyming story. Packed
with all the familiar ingredients of the big day – time shared with relatives,
Christmas dinner, singing, games and an occasional snooze – this Christmas
cracker is stunningly illustrated by Emily Nash who creates playful pictures by
piecing together layers of colour and texture. With family, festivities and fun
at its heart, this wonderful book is a verbal and visual invitation to every
child to see themselves and their own special family in its pages.
(UCLan Publishing, paperback, £7.99)
Age 5 plus
Colour with Stickers: Christmas
Jonny Marx
HAVE fun making Christmas scenes and learn fascinating
festive facts at the same time! Author and editor Jonny Marx and Caterpillar
Books – an imprint of Little Tiger Press – have created the perfect sticker
book to both entertain and inform children as they get ready for Christmas. Create
ten Christmas scenes with more than 150 stickers and then pull out each of the
perforated pages. From a colourful Christmas tree to a jolly gingerbread house,
there are so many seasonal scenes to explore. Little ones will love matching
the numbered stickers to the numbers on each picture to create their own
festive scene. And along the way, they can learn all about Christmas, from the
height of the tallest snowman ever to how far Santa Claus travels in one night.
With fun facts on the back of every page, children find out about Christmas
traditions whilst building their own masterpieces. Guaranteed to keep them
glued to the page!
(Caterpillar Books, paperback, £6.99)
Age 3 plus
Supertato: Presents Jack and the Beanstalk
Sue Hendra and Paul Linnet
This book is published on November 10.
(Simon & Schuster, hardback, £12.99)
Age 3 plus
We Disagree About This Tree
Ross Collins
UNDERSTANDING (and accepting!) the art of compromise can be
a steep learning curve for little ones so give them a lesson in love and
friendship with this adorable festive-flavoured picture book. Ross Collins,
creator of the bestselling There’s a Bear on My Chair, is back with his lovable
squabbling duo, Bear and Mouse, for an adventure that is certain to ring a few
Christmas bells with every family whose tree decorating has ended in tears! Bear
and Mouse have finally overcome their differences and are living together in
perfect harmony until it’s time to decorate the Christmas tree. Bear wants
dazzling lights while Mouse prefers gigantic baubles and... wait a minute, did
Mouse just put a manatee on the top? A topsy-turvy tree is definitely the last
straw and it looks as if Christmas is ruined. But maybe, just maybe, Bear and
Mouse can reach a compromise in time... There will only be tears of laughter
when your own little mischief-makers get their paws on this Christmas cracker
which comes packed with absurd antics, the exuberance of childhood and a
rollicking rhyme. Add on Collins’ expressive, larger-than- life illustrations
and you have the ideal Christmas gift with a charm perfectly matched to the
season of sharing and giving!
(Nosy Crow, hardback, £12.99)
Age 3 plus
Rosie and the Friendship Angel
Lucinda Riley, Harry Whittaker and Jane Ray
TAKE inspiration and reassurance this Christmas from a
beautiful illustrated story by mother and son partnership, bestselling novelist
Lucinda Riley and award-winning BBC radio presenter Harry Whittaker. The
beautiful Guardian Angel series – packed with the colourful and evocative
illustrations of the talented Jane Ray – was devised by Harry and his mother
before Lucinda sadly died in June last year, and is another ongoing, golden
legacy of her enormous output of work. And this stunning gift-edition – a
foiled hardback, complete with an angel ribbon marker – delivers a warm-hearted
story rooted in modern life but with an ethereal and nostalgic charm and
addressing the all too familiar anxiety of starting a new school and making
friends. Rosie is still getting used to lots of new things when her teacher
asks the class to draw their best friend. Rosie is not sure what to do because
she doesn’t have a best friend yet. Luckily, Frederick the Friendship Angel, is
on hand to show her that friendship is always around the corner. Packed with
timeless messages about love, hope and comfort, the magic of wintertime and the
joys of community, friendship and family, this gentle, uplifting story is
perfect for the season of giving.
(Macmillan Children’s Books, hardback, £12.99)
Age 3 plus
Crazy Stickers: Christmas Fun
Danielle McLean and Julie Clough
DECK the halls! There are pages of festive fun and lots of
super seasonal stickers in this Christmas sticker book bursting with
interactive creativity! Use over 300 stickers to let young imaginations run
wild as they transform everyday objects into festive Christmas friends and make
their own lovable characters. This quirky, pun-filled sticker book is bursting
with colour and imagination, and is ideal to keep little hands busy in the
run-up to Christmas.
(Little Tiger Press, paperback, £4.99)
Age 2 plus
Amazing Animal Tales: Baby Polar Bear
Anne Rooney and Qu Lan
(Oxford University Press, hardback, £11.99)
Age 1 plus:
Busy Christmas
Angie Rozelaar
PUSH, pull and slide… and meet two young children as they
get ready for Christmas Day! Christmas wouldn’t be Christmas without an
inventive board book to let the youngest family members get in on the festive
fun so let them push, pull and slide as they have fun sledging in the snow,
decorate the tree and take part in the school Nativity play before waiting for
Santa on Christmas Eve. Children will love playing with the easy-to-handle
mechanisms, learning from the gently rhyming text and enjoy the rich detail of
Angie Rozelaar’s magical illustrations as they immerse themselves in the wonder
of Christmas. And with plenty to talk about and things to find on every page,
Busy Christmas is sure to be read many times before the big day!
(Campbell Books, board book, £6.99)
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