With Christmas rapidly approaching and excitement in the air for the children, what better way to relax in the run up to the big day by snuggling up with a story at bedtime.
Books are a wonderful way to spend time with your children, minimise screen time and enjoy a good story packed with imaginative illustrations and a carefully crafted plotline.
If you’re trying to encourage a reluctant reader – or looking for a new page-turner for an avid bookworm who devours children’s novels – then look no further than our round-up of the best children’s books to buy this Christmas.
Best book for babies
That’s Not My Christmas Fairy is a tactile hardboard book designed for babies from 3 months upwards. Each touchy-feel page is beautifully illustrated and features sensory sparkles, glitter and soft satin for babies to explore.
There are sixty-nine Usborne ‘That’s Not My…’ books to enjoy, and they make great stocking fillers for the youngest members of the family.
Best book for under-fives
The Mr Men Christmas Collection is a delightful mini-library of 14 books, all with a festive feel. Created by the talented Roger Hargreaves the Mr Men are among some of the most treasured book characters for kids.
Little ones can join Mr Quiet as he tries to have a silent night, help Mr Forgetful remember to buy a Christmas tree and cheer up Mr Mean in time for the festivities.
Best book for under-tens
Treat young readers to this timeless classic and join a very grumpy Father Christmas as he embarks on his annual journey through a cold Christmas Eve night. The book is designed to read like a comic strip, with plenty of colourful pictures to keep kids engaged.
This hardback version of Raymond Briggs’ Father Christmas will be cherished and taken down from the bookshelf for many Christmas times to come.
Best book for teenagers
If you have a teen who is notoriously tricky to buy a gift for, surprise them with a seasonal story that they will love. Blame It On The Mistletoe by Beth Garrod is the tale of a social media star who swaps lives with one of her followers in this teenage ‘rom-com’ set in New York and a sleepy English village.
The feel-good Christmas story follows the main characters as the lifestyle swap brings them more than they bargained for. We loved this tale – and even our teenage tester put down their phone long enough to finish the book in record time.
Best new release for children
JK Rowling, best known for her eight magical Harry Potter books, has penned the charming modern-day fairy-tale of The Christmas Pig. The book contains festive illustrations by Jim Field and follows the antics of Jack, a little boy who is determined to find his missing toy pig before Christmas morning.
The book is a real family page-turner and we’re betting everyone will fall in love with this heart-warming tale of a young boy who will stop at nothing to find his beloved stuffed toy.
Best non-fiction book for children
You are a champion: How to be the BEST you can be is the first children’s book written by footballer and children’s campaigner Marcus Rashford MBE.
In this inspiring book, Marcus gives his readers the tools and encouragement to reach their full potential, by drawing on his own life experiences of growing up in Manchester. Youngsters will discover how positive thinking can impact their lives and help to navigate adversity – and makes an ideal gift for all young adults.
Best children’s book sequel
Master storyteller David Walliams is back with a sequel to his bestselling book Gangsta Granny.
In Gangsta Granny Strikes Again, readers re-join the main character Ben, who is trying to discover the culprit behind a spate of jewel thefts. The heists have all the hallmarks of Ben’s Granny, but surely that’s impossible?
It’s a laugh out loud riot of a book that contains plenty of slapstick humour for the little ones – plus a few slyly inserted grown-up jokes to keep the adults entertained too.
Best personalised Christmas book
Your child can be the star in their very own festive fairy-tale in The Christmas Muddle. Along with a friendly elf, your little one will help Santa as he gets into a bit of a pickle on Christmas Eve.
The personalisation allows you to specify the hero’s name, birthday and town – plus up to four friends or family members who will appear on Father Christmas’ nice list hidden within the book.
It’s a great gift for a Christmas Eve box and you can share your child’s excitement with this magical and personalised story in the build-up to the Big Day!
Best educational children’s book
Written by Adam Kay –a former junior doctor – and illustrated by Adam Paker, this funny and educational book about the human body is cleverly written to introduce children to many of the weird and wonderful things their bodies can do.
It’s a fascinating read, with enough stories about the gruesome aspects of our bodies to keep kids entertained while teaching them just how hard the human body works. Readers will enjoy retelling the facts to adults – did you know that the human body pumps enough blood around our body every day to fill 90 baths? That’s just one of the strange but true facts within the pages of Kay’s Anatomy: A Complete Guide To The Human Body.
Books make the best gifts
Children’s books really do make the best Christmas presents – they are inexpensive, easy to send in the post to family members far away and are a gift that can be enjoyed over and over again. If you’re not sure what type of book your little one would enjoy, why not purchase a book voucher and plan a festive trip to your local bookstore and choose a new favourite story together.
