Age 3 plus
The Christmasaurus and the Night Before Christmas
Tom Fletcher and Shane Devries
DISCOVER what makes Christmas truly special with this
magical, snow-sprinkled adventure from the top team of star author Tom Fletcher
and outstanding Australian illustrator Shane Devries. The Christmasaurus and
the Night Before Christmas is their second picture book featuring the lovable Christmasaurus.
It’s the night before Christmas and all Christmasaurus wants to do is help
Santa and the elves get ready for the big day. But everything he does goes
disastrously wrong. Then someone special shows him that things don’t need to be
perfect to be wonderful... because the true spirit of Christmas comes from the
unique sparkle in each and every one of us. Narrated in Fletcher’s brilliant
read-aloud rhyme, and with an uplifting message about finding your own special
talents at its warm, beating heart, this festive adventure is brought to
spectacular life by Devries’ colourful and atmospheric illustrations and two
stunning pull-out spreads. A gift book that is guaranteed to delight!
(Puffin, hardback, £12.99)
Age 12 plus
Disney Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas: The Full
Film Script
Tim Burton
(Studio Press, hardback, £25)
Disney Affirmations
Walt Disney
‘What is meant for me will find me...’
SPRINKLE a little
Disney stardust on your daily routine with a beautiful selection of fifty
motivational mantras. Disney Affirmations is the perfect little gift book to
help challenge negative thoughts and overcome self-doubt with the support of
your favourite Disney characters. Filled with wise words and confidence-boosting
mantras, this small and perfectly formed book will delight Disney fans of all
ages. Each affirmation is accompanied by an inspirational, full-colour image
from a Disney film and a supporting text which will help you fill every day
with a little magic. Start your morning the Disney way with mantras to manifest
self-confidence, resilience and positivity. The beautifully foiled book
features favourite characters such as Moana, Elsa, Dory, Merida, Mike Wazowski,
Rapunzel, Winnie the Pooh, Woody, Lilo and more. Magic from morning to night!
(Studio Press, hardback, £7.99)
Blood Texts: You’d Better Watch Out
Frank Cadaver
THE Christmas season might be fast approaching but that
doesn’t mean it HAS to be jolly and bright! Feast your mind and feed your
spooky vibes on the first book of a brand new Blood Texts horror series from
mysterious author Frank Cadaver who claims to have been born in the witching
hour and beneath a blood-red moon. So meet Evangeline... she’s not good, she
might even be a bully, but she’s not a baby... so why did her Dad think
bringing that freaky-looking Watching Elf would help her behaviour before
Christmas?! But then, footsteps scuttle beneath the fairy lights, wrongdoers
are attacked, each mysterious ‘punishment’ more violent and disturbing than the
last. When she finds a tacky old horror magazine warning of a malevolent demon
that flays your skin in the spirit of Christmas, Evangeline is filled with
dread... is this connected to that hideous doll watching her from the hallway?
And if so, what if she is on its naughty list? With its dark twist on Christmas
tradition, a light dusting of fantasy, a fine line in humour, and a TRULY evil
elf, this is a Goosebumps-style thrill ride for your terrible teens!
(UCLan Publishing, paperback, £7.99)
Cluedle: The Case of Rudolph’s Revenge
Hartigan Browne
(Macmillan Children’s Books, paperback, £9.99)
The Christmas Wish-tastrophe
Cariad Lloyd and Ma Pe
ON a dark Christmas evening when all seems lost, you just
need some magic to light the way forward... Enjoy the fun and festive frolics
as writer, actor, comedian, podcaster and improviser Cariad Lloyd dishes up a sparkling
Christmas adventure full of heart, humour and a hungry sausage dog called
Colin. When Lydia Marmalade makes a wish on the most magical night of the year,
little does she know the chaos she is about to unleash. Could one simple wish
start a... wish-tastrophe? When Lydia arrives at Lady Partridge’s large mansion
Peppomberley, it’s because her widowed mum has died and she has had to leave
her home with nothing to her name except her faithful dog, Colin. Lady
Partridge – part of a rich family her mother had known years ago – isn’t at all
keen to make Lydia part of the family. And if Lydia doesn’t behave herself
until the end of the winter season, she will cast her off entirely even though
with her mother gone, Lydia doesn’t have anywhere else to live. Helped (and
often hindered) by a mischievous winter sprite, a grumpy butler and a hungry
Colin, Lydia makes a wish on the most magical night of the year... with
unexpected results! Italian cartoonist and illustrator Ma Pe’s gorgeous
illustrations add extra life and soul to Lloyd’s fun and funny, but also
powerfully emotive, seasonal romp. Everything you could wish for at Christmas!
(Hodder Children’s Book, hardback, £14.99)
Maggie Blue and the Lost Child
Anna Goodall
FINDING Light in a dark world has never been more relevant
than it is today and the third and final book in Anna Goodall’s coruscating
middle-grade Maggie Blue trilogy burns brightly long after the last page has
turned. Inspired by her interest in animals (including talking ones!), other
worlds, families and friendship, Goodall’s thrilling, thought-provoking debut
series stars a troubled 12-year-old girl thrust into terrifying adventures and
discovering the power of friendship, courage and simply being yourself. In her
last spectacular outing, Maggie Blue finds herself in the Dark World alone and
marooned with a strange and unknown baby that refuses to be parted from her.
The world has become dominated by climate disasters, and wars are breaking out
around them between the surviving people and the witches. Maggie has a single
quest she must fulfil, but at what cost... to her and her friends, Hoagy, the grumpy
talking cat, Joan and Ida, Oz and the umons, who are desperate to save her? As
the portals between the Dark World and her world start to crumble one by one,
Maggie faces a terrible choice... to save herself and her friends or to
sacrifice everything she has for the sake of the Dark World. Tingling with a
tangible current of emotion, and with thrill-a-minute dangers in the chilling
and mercenary Dark World where Maggie and Hoagy must fulfil their destiny, this
exhilarating final book in the Costa-shortlisted fantasy trilogy ends with a
hair-raising climax that will have readers on the edge of their seats. The
ideal gift book for all fearless adventurers!
(Guppy Books, hardback, £12.99)
Fia and the Last Snow Deer
Eilish Fisher and Dermot Flynn
BE swept away to snowy, pre-historic Ireland for a timeless
verse novel about hope, kindness and the power of friendship from exceptional
new writing talent Eilish Fisher who grew up in America but has lived most of
her life in Ireland. Brought to life by the stunning illustrations of Dermot
Flynn, this is a powerful and visually and verbally beautiful story that both
haunts and impresses. Born under the same solstice sky thirteen years ago, Fia
and her snow deer Solas have always had a powerful and unbreakable connection.
But as Fia’s villagers face a seemingly eternal winter, they turn their sights
to Solas and an ancient prophecy that promises the return of sunlight and life...
if the ultimate sacrifice is made. Refusing to allow the worst to happen, Fia
and her cousin Mish run from the village with Solas, seeking out the Deer
Mother, the mythical being who wakes the sun at the winter solstice and who
might be their only hope. But the wilderness is harsh and shadows lurk at every
turn. Can they make it to the Deer Mother and if they do, what choices will Fia
face to bring back the sun and save her village? Through lyrical verse, Fisher
creates an immersive fantasy world that opens amidst Flynn’s dynamic
illustrations cloaked in darkness, and ends with the golden shades of solstice
shining through. A tender and exquisitely imagined story of hope illuminated by
mesmerising magic...
(Puffin, hardback,
£14.99)
A Story of the Seasons
Anna Wilson and Carolina Rabei
DISCOVER the secrets of the changing seasons in this enchanting
nature gift book. Written by Anna Wilson, and beautifully illustrated by
Moldovan artist Carolina Rabei, National Trust: A Story of the Seasons
encourages readers to spot the hidden life all around them in every season,
from urban parks and gardens to wild estuaries and woodlands. Published by Nosy
Crow in collaboration with the National Trust, the book is both informative and
visually stunning as readers follow wildlife season by season, finding out
about the exciting, and sometimes surprising, stories of the animals, plants
and places you see around you. Meet tiny tadpoles growing into frogs in spring and
colourful butterflies clustering around wildflowers. Find out how
birds build their nests, why badgers have stripes, why leaves change colour and
what makes high tides happen. Follow hedgehogs as they find safe places to
hibernate among the falling autumn leaves, and birds searching for berries to eat
during the coldest winter months. Discover the stories of eight different
habitats through the year and find out about the plants and animals living in
each one. From spring meadows to summer seas, and autumn parks to winter
woodlands, there is something to see in every season. Wonderful wildlife for
the whole family to treasure!
(Nosy Crow, hardback, £20)
Ripley’s Believe It or Not! 2025
Ripley’s
SPARK your children’s curiosity, fire up their imaginations,
and entertain them for hours on end with the rip-roaring 2025 edition of Ripley’s
Believe It or Not! No Christmas is complete without Ripley’s, a world famous
compendium of strange-but-true facts developed by American cartoonist Robert
Leroy Ripley as a cartoon strip in the years after the First World War. Guaranteed
to amaze and entertain children and adults alike, this annual book treat dishes
up a unique blend of weird stories and bizarre facts gathered from all over the
world. This year, you can marvel at the ice caves of Alaska, find out what very
unusual food Icelanders eat at their traditional mid-winter feast, discover why
Lucas the penguin has to wear rubber boots, hear about the woman who sailed
down the Missouri River in a giant hollowed-out pumpkin, and take the ‘Funny
Bones’ test to see whether you can match photographs of skeletons to their
animal owners. Jaw-droppingly brilliant!
(Century, hardback, £22)
The Arctic Fox
Holly Webb and David Dean
MUCH-LOVED children’s author Holly Webb is enchanting young
readers again with the eleventh heartwarming adventure in her adorable Winter
Wildlife Stories series. Webb has written over 100 books for youngsters and in
this delightful Christmas story, we meet Ellie who is so excited to spend her
Christmas family holiday in Lapland. They are going to visit Santa, go on a
reindeer sleigh ride and watch the Northern Lights. She has even dreamed about
seeing her favourite animal... the Arctic fox. Ellie’s parents say this is
unlikely, though, as hunting has left the species endangered. But when she
hears a strange whining noise in the middle of the night, she follows the
sounds and discovers a little Arctic fox caught in a trap. Can Ellie rescue him
in time? David Dean provides the gorgeous black and white illustrations for
this beautifully created adventure which is guaranteed to capture the heart of
any child who can’t resist the magic of animals!
(Little Tiger Press, paperback, £6.99)
Anne of Green Gables:
Illustrated Gift Edition
Katherine Woodfine and Isabelle Follath
IF you’re looking for an extra special Christmas gift book,
this glorious, illustrated retelling of L.M. Montgomery’s classic tale of Anne
of Green Gables, set amidst the rural and coastal splendours of Canada’s King
Edward Island, could be the answer. A timeless adventure – written by Lucy Maud
Montgomery who was born in 1874 – the stories of Anne with an ‘e’ as she moves
to Green Gables have enchanted generations of children and are now available in
this stunning Nosy Crow Classics gift book edition. When the spirited orphan Anne Shirley is adopted by two
farmers and goes to live at Green Gables – a beautiful farmhouse set among the
summer flowers of Prince Edward Island – she quickly realises there has been a
terrible mistake. Her new family – gentle Matthew and his stern sister Marilla –
weren’t expecting a little red-headed girl who is chatty and charming, but also
has a wild imagination and an even wilder temper! Will Anne succeed in captivating
Matthew and Marilla with her good cheer and endless imagination? The relatable adventures and misadventures of Anne are
brought to life for a new generation in this delightful, abridged retelling by
bestselling Lancashire author Katherine Woodfine and illustrator Isabelle
Follath’s full-colour, engaging and witty artwork. Beautifully produced,
printed on luxurious paper, and with a foiled, textured jacket, cloth binding
and ribbon marker, this sumptuous new classic is a joy to look at, a delight to
read aloud, and an ideal gift.
(Nosy Crow, hardback, £16.99)
Santarella
Suzy Senior and Lucy Semple
DOES Cinderella dream of marrying a charming prince?
Certainly not in this brilliantly feminist twist on the traditional fairy tale
from the top team of author Suzy Senior and illustrator Lucy Semple! It’s more
a case of Santa meets Cinderella in this funny rhyming romp which takes Cinders
round the world and back in the twinkling of an eye. Oh no, it’s a chilly,
frosty Christmas Eve and Santa’s hurt his back. He cannot fly the sleigh or
even lift his sack. Is Christmas ruined? Not if Cinderella has anything to do
with it! Leaving her mean step-sisters behind, she offers to give Santa a hand,
and – along the way – travels across the world. But Santa has one more gift in
his sleigh. Could it be the chance for Cinderella to write her own happy-ever-after?
Senior’s addictive, rollicking rhyme and Semple’s richly detailed and comical
illustrations are the perfect match for this retelling of the classic fairy
tale which challenges stereotypes and is a joy to read aloud. Festive magic on
every page!
(Little Tiger Press, paperback, £7.99)
Tales from Muggleswick Wood
Vicky Cowie and Charlie Mackesy
THE timeless, rural magic of Muggleswick Wood is just
waiting to be discovered... and you won’t want to miss all the fun, humour and
adventures! Bedtime reads are surely an essential part of a child’s everyday life so dive into the
quintessentially English countryside and meet some unforgettable characters
with this perfectly beautiful treasury of woodland stories from debut author
Vicky Cowie and illustrator Charlie Mackesy. Based on Cowie’s own childhood as the youngest of ten
children growing up near Muggleswick Woods National Nature Reserve near Durham
– home to some of the finest ancient sessile oak woodlands in the North East of
England – this gloriously written and illustrated book contains five
interlinked bedtime stories. ‘At last, there before them, the great oak trees stood, As
the sun cast its beams through the boughs of the wood...’ Share adventures with
a little girl as she meets new friends... the gnome, the dragonfly, two
gargoyles and a brown bellied frog, meet a magical May beetle who makes wishes
come true and visit a stately pile that has a secret inhabitant. From fairy
revels and mysterious kelpies to troublesome moles and wishing beetles, these
charming stories, told in flawless rhyme, and stunningly illustrated by Charlie
Mackesy, are inspired by Cowie’s love of nature, animals and her happy family
life. Complete with the atmospheric charm of Winnie
the Pooh’s Hundred Acre Wood, and bursting with youthful joie de vivre, the
Muggleswick Wood bedtime stories were written for Cowie’s own children... and
now the magical world she created is set to spread happiness far beyond her own
home!
(Bloomsbury Children’s Book, hardback, £20)
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