Knowledge is power so give your children the best start in life – and some truly spectacular, informative and innovative non-fiction books – to make this year’s Christmas gifting extra special
Age 5 plus
The Great Bear
Annie Booker
INSPIRE your children to treasure our precious but fragile
natural world with this stunning, prize-winning debut picture book from Annie
Booker, a Carlisle-based author and illustrator with a love for wildlife and a passion
for protecting endangered species. An exciting new talent in the world of
children’s books, Booker brings us the spectacular mythical tale of The Great
Bear, a hope-filled and moving celebration of the wonder of nature and the
power of storytelling. Since the dawn of time, the wise, all-seeing Great Bear has
patrolled the oceans, protecting the Earth and her animals and overseeing the
delicate balance of life. But now, one creature is changing everything and the
Great Bear is unhappy and cannot stand by. Published in a large hardback
format, and filled with epic, hand-painted illustrations depicting a world of
snowy mountains, towering waves and deep, cold water, Booker captures nature in
the raw and includes inspiring facts about real-life polar bears, and humanity’s
ongoing efforts to restore the nature of the Arctic, protect animals from
extinction and regenerate the oceans. A tale of our times with all the
hallmarks of a future classic…
(Two Hoots, hardback, £12.99)
Age 8 plus
Oscar Wilde’s Stories for Children
Illustrated by Lauren O'Hara and
foreword by Colm Tóibín
WHAT better way could there be to introduce a new generation
of young readers to Oscar Wilde’s classic children’s tales than this stunningly
illustrated luxury gift edition? Oscar Wilde has enchanted readers young and
old alike for over a hundred years. In 1888, he published a collection of
bedtime stories for children and this beautiful new book contains six of these
classic tales, including The Happy Prince, The Selfish Giant, The Young King and
The Nightingale and the Rose. For the first time, these much-loved stories from
the great Irish author are being published in a major new edition by an Irish
publisher. With high-quality paper, a linen-effect cover, gold foil details, a ribbon
bookmark and classic binding touches, this keepsake hardback edition, printed
and bound in Italy, is carefully crafted to be treasured and shared. Feeling
both classic and fresh, timeless and modern, Dublin-based illustrator Lauren
O’Hara’s delicate and richly colour artwork bring this cornerstone of
children’s literature to life for readers of all ages. A must-have for youngsters
this Christmas!
(Little Island Books, hardback, £19.99)
Age 8 plus
The Amazing Book of World Mythology
Stella Caldwell
(Buster Books, hardback, £16.99)
Age 8 plus
The Roots We Share: 100 Words That Bring Us Together
Susie Dent and Harriet Hobday
PREPARE to be totally betwittered! Bestselling author,
broadcaster and much-loved word expert, Susie Dent, is on a mission to find 100
joyful words and phrases that bring people together. There are times when the
world feels more divided than ever but it is important to remember the things
that unite rather than divide us. Dent, who recently celebrated 30 years as the
resident etymologist on Channel 4’s Countdown, has searched far and wide to
unearth words and phrases – old, new, and long-forgotten – that celebrate
harmony, unity, and the universal languages that connect people across the
world. Whether you want to conjobble (chat with a friend over some food), to be
goodwilly (kind, generous, and cheerful), to atone for a mistake (become ‘at one’
with someone again) or simply head off on a coddiwomple (a journey with no
destination), this heart-lifting collection of words celebrates the things in
life that bind us together, from friendship, love and peace, to community,
music and even the stars. These are the roots we share....
(Puffin, hardback, £16.99)
Age 7 plus
Head to Toe: An Introduction
to the Human Body
Pui Lee
WHAT makes your heart beat, how does your brain store
memories, and why do we all look different? From bones to blood, and senses to
skin, discover what makes you, YOU with the first in a stylish new series from
Post Wave Children’s Books which explores key curriculum topics. Discover the
human body from head to toe through vibrant graphic artwork and fun facts. Did
you know women tend to have shorter tongues than men, or that the human eye can
detect over 10 million colours? This visually stunning and colourful book is
the work of talented illustrator and graphic designer Pui Lee and shows just
how fascinating the human body can be! Head to Toe presents a collection of
weird and wonderful facts about the human body, starting at the top of the body
and moving all the way down to the bottom, with illustrations that will amuse
and delight young readers.
(Post Wave Children’s Books, hardback, £16.99)
Age 7 plus
Mythical Tales
Laura Sampson and Lilla Bölecz
MEET amazing creatures and magical objects in this spellbinding
treasury which whisks away youngsters to an exciting array of mythical worlds.
This breathtaking and colourful compendium brings together a collection of 18
stories from all over the world… from Polynesia to Scotland, Africa, India,
Japan, Croatia, France and more! Disappear into imaginary worlds full of
fantastical creatures and colourful characters, from gods and goddesses to
creators and tricksters. Find out why the hero Sosruko was humbled by a giant,
how Mäui
slowed the sun, and which mighty gods are thought to control the seasons. The
ancient tales are retold for a young audience by storyteller and vocal
performer Laura Sampson, with beautifully intricate artwork by Hungarian
graphic artist and illustrator Lilla Bölecz. Mythical Tales is a timeless
classic and the perfect way to introduce different cultures and traditions to
readers of all ages.
(Templar Publishing, hardback, £16.99)
Age 6 plus
Build Your Own Solar System
Lauren Fairgrieve and Anja Susanj
DISCOVER our amazing solar system… and then build your very
own 3D planets! No child could resist this creative and beautiful introduction
to the universe around us, published by Nosy Crow in collaboration with the
University of Cambridge. Discover the wonders of our universe, from planets, comets
and asteroids to galaxies, nebulae and black holes, in pages full of fascinating
facts and Anja Susanj’s stunning, full-colour illustrations, and then turn to
the back of the book to find ten more pages of eight press-out planets and the
Sun which can be slotted together, hung up and displayed for everyone to enjoy.
Written by Lauren Fairgrieve with expert consultation from Dr Matthew Bothwell,
of Cambridge University Institute of Astronomy, this inventive and educational
book includes a QR code linking to helpful videos showing how to assemble each
planet. Who said learning was boring?
(Nosy Crow, board book, £12.99)
Age 6 plus
Super Great Kids’ Stories
from storytellers around the world
Kim Normanton
ENJOY the world’s wildest and most wonderful adventures at
the turn of a page with this treasure trove of a book which is simply bursting
with magic, mischief and merriment! These thirty expertly-curated and sensational
stories – many of them told here for the very first time – come from the award-winning
podcast Super Great Kids’ Stories. In West Africa, you’ll meet Anansi as he
takes on the King’s hot pepper soup, in Ireland, you’ll meet a girl who tries
to outwit a leprechaun, in Australia, you’ll discover how the Lyrebird got its
voice, and in North America, you’ll laugh out loud at the story of the ghost
who needs a plaster! Including timeless classics and hidden gems, each tale in
this collection is told by a skilled storyteller and includes notes on the
culture and history of the story, painting a vivid picture as to why each tale
has stood the test of time. And, with the help of Story Owl, you can even
become a star storyteller yourself! Curated by podcast hosts Kim Normanton and
David Smith – who boast half a million downloads a month of their hit podcast –
and illustrated by Sally Agar, Camila Carrossine, Tinuke Fagborun, Melissa
Greenwood, Kaley McKean and Terri Po, this beautifully illustrated treasury
will delight and inspire children everywhere.
(Bloomsbury Children’s Books, hardback, £14.99)
Age 6 plus
A Poem for Every Question
Brian Bilston and Joe Berger
DISCOVER how poems can be both fun… and informative! This
brilliant, fact-filled book from much-loved poet Brian Bilston presents a
hilarious, non-fiction adventure through the medium of one hundred poems, all
gloriously illustrated by the irrepressible Joe Berger. The collection has
subjects ranging from science and animals to unicorns, pyramids and technology
while the questions include how many stars in the universe exploded today, who
invented football, who is the champion weightlifter of the animal world, and
how did the ancient Egyptians make a mummy? Each fascinating question about the
world around us is answered with one of Bilston’s unforgettable, witty and
characterful poems. Sometimes funny, sometimes thought-provoking, sometimes poignant
and sometimes downright silly, the poems are accompanied by an extra
non-fiction explainer, filled with facts and written with just as much humour
and heart as the poems. And each page is brought to life with bright and
characterful artwork of Bristol-based illustrator Berger. So prepare to be
amazed… and find some amazing stories and information to share with your
family, teachers and friends!
(Red Shed, hardback, £16.99)









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