Don’t worry if you haven’t got your gifts for the festive season yet. We have you covered with our bookish gift ideas! Take a look below and see if you can find any stocking stuffers ….
Board books
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Flip Flap Forest – Axel Scheffler (illustrator), Nosy Crow Ltd (publisher)
If you have ever come across the Flip Flap series of books before, you will know what an absolute hoot they are! This book is no exception. But I am getting ahead of myself. If you don’t know, the idea behind these books is that the top flaps of the book can move independently to the bottom flaps. Each sturdy top flap has the top half of one animal on it and the bottom flap has the bottom half. On the back of these flaps is a hilarious rhyme about that part of the animal. But when you mix the flaps up, you add even more hilarity to the occasion!
Fancy reading about a prickly Har (hedgehog and bear), or will your preference be a Beavolf (beaver and wolf)? How about the laugh out loud Squecker (squirrel and woodpecker), or the raccunk (raccoon and skunk)? Our personal favourite is a dunk (deer and skunk)!!
Crazy creatures abound in this brilliant board book and there are sure to be giggles galore as your little ones flip flap the pages along. The bright and beautiful illustrations from best-selling illustrator Axel Scheffler can’t fail to bring a smile to your child’s face. This would be one fun book to wake up to on Christmas morning.
- New Store Stock
- Axel Scheffler (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 16 Pages - 09/12/2024 (Publication Date) - Nosy Crow LTD (Publisher)
The Boy – His Stories and How they Came to Be – Oliver Jeffers (author and illustrator), Harper Collins Children’s Books (publisher)
What an exquisite collection of Oliver Jeffers’ much-loved How to Catch a Star, Lost and Found, The Way Back Home and Up and Down. But this book doesn’t contain only four books in a stunning handback book (and do lift up the protective dust-jacket to look at the sweet hidden cover); no, it also contains the most AMAZINGLY BEAUTIFUL behind the scenes look at the making of each of the four picture books.
Each story is heartwarming, captivating and full of Oliver Jeffers’ distinctive style and warmth and this beautifully-crafted volume gives sneak peeks into the real-life behind the stories: your reader can see the starfish that inspired How to Catch a Star, and the true story of a boy and a penguin that brought to life Lost and Found! Everyone associates Oliver Jeffers’ with sweet and fun stories with exquisite artistry and so the sketchbook sections of this unique volume really add a fascinating insight into the world and mind of Oliver Jeffers and the process of making stunning picture-books which are adored the world over! Revealed for the first time are over 100 distinctive sketches, handwritten notes and ideas and a special letter from the man himself.
This is a wonderful book to pore over with your little ones with a hot chocolate and a blanket. And, dare I say it, it would make the most exquisite gift for Christmas or Hanukkah. Just spellbinding!
- Hardcover Book
- Jeffers, Oliver (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 168 Pages - 10/18/2018 (Publication Date) - HarperCollinsChildren’sBooks (Publisher)
The Circular Square – Simon Philip (author), Neil Clark (illustrator), Templar Books (publisher)
What a brilliant book!
Square used to be a shape with four flat edges, and four pointy corners and he was always getting knocked; his life was one of bumpy journeys and being bashed around. He really wished things could be easier for him. He wished he could be a circle, nice and smooth and round. But he realised one day that dwelling on those kind of thoughts was not going to help him very much. It was going to make him feel more miserable…. So he decided to focus on the positives in his life. The smile of a friend. The taste of homemade lemonade. The sound of laughter. Until, unnoticed at first, Square realises, that with every knock and tumble, he started to feel a little more rounded!
This is just a beautiful, brightly coloured story which explains how our experiences shape us and it does this in the most accessible of formats. It is heartwarming and uplifting, explaining to children that even though life can be hard sometimes, there is a way to find some goodness and happiness in it. It’s a story about resilience and positivity and the illustrations are vibrant and uplifting, really bringing that message home. We also love the final page of the book which encourages children to write down five things that make them happy so that they they can look at these and think of them when life gets tough. And that’s a wonderful present for any child.
- New Store Stock
- Philip, Simon (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 40 Pages - 11/07/2024 (Publication Date) - Templar Books (Publisher)
Middle grade
Evenfall: the Golden Linnet – Alexander Armstrong (author), Tom Roberts (illustrator), Farshore (publisher)
Wow! Just wow! I am at a loss for words to describe just how amazing this book is. Give me more!!
Almost 13 year old Sam thinks he is an ordinary boy leading a pretty boring existence. But on the day of his 13th birthday, things are going to change forever. You see, Sam is actually the leader of an ancient, secret society that has laid dormant for generations. This society has protected the world quietly for hundreds of years but has been diminished over decades by those who are threatened by its existence. But destiny foretells that now is the time for the order to rise up again.
Sam must find the lost palace of the Order and seek out the powerful magic contained within it. But he is going to need help along the way. His friends Goz and Ish will have their parts to play. Will they be able to find the powerful magic, or will it fall into the hands of a blue-eyed enemy and his wizened old father? The danger is real and it’s closing in…. Make sure you read along for the ride of a lifetime.
Gosh, this book was like catnip to me. I had to know what was going to happen next. It’s fast-paced, it’s a page-turner, it’s an adrenaline- junkie’s ride and you don’t want to get off. Its writing takes you all round the world and, for me, it brought back many happy memories of my time at Durham University. It’s an absolutely epic adventure story filled with friendship, family, powerful magic, danger and treasure-hunting that also deals gently with strong themes surrounding parental mental health and the effect this may have on children. Above all though, it’s a story about the power of storytelling. And this is one story that I am desperate to continue and one story that I am desperate for you to read. The book of the year for me.
- New Store Stock
- Hardcover Book
- Armstrong, Alexander (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 352 Pages - 09/12/2024 (Publication Date) - Farshore (Publisher)
Pippa’s Pony Tales – Rosie the Perfect Pony, Red Admiral the Racehorse and Magic Spirit and the Dream Horse – Pippa Funnell (author), Jennifer Miles (illustrator), Zephyr Books (publisher)
Parents of horse-mad children need look no further than this fantastic series of books for the equine enthusiast in your life. Written by Olympian Pippa Funnell, Pippa’s perfect pony adventures are exciting and fun adventure stories, jam-packed full with expert advice on masses of things you ever wanted to know about horses.
This series of horsey adventures follows Tilly and her dream of owning a horse. She lives and breathes horses… she has a huge horse-shaped hole in her adoptive family… but when she rescues a scared horse from the roadside, her dreams come true in the shape of Magic Spirit. The second book develops Tilly’s relationship with the gorgeous Magic Spirit but Tilly also forms a special bond with a young, injured racehorse called Red Admiral and helps him on the road to recovery. The third book is a super story about the friendship of the girls at Silver Shoe Farm, Cally, Mia and Tilly and their shared pony Rosie.
Each book has details of Pippa’s eventing life, the points of a horse, top tips from Pippa and lots more. A sensational set of stocking fillers for any horse-mad child. They also go brilliantly well with some Schleich horse figures to play with and let their imaginations run wild .
- Pippa Funnell (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 1024 Pages - 11/14/2024 (Publication Date) - Zephyr Ltd (Publisher)
Graphic Novels
Pablo and Splash – Sheena Dempsey (author and illustrator), Bloomsbury Children’s Books (publisher)
Fans of Bunny vs Monkey, Bad Panda and Dogman will love the chaotic capers of this adorable pair of penguins! Pablo loves his icy home in chilly Antarctica but poor old Splash just wants a holiday somewhere warm, to take off her scarf and feel the heat beneath her flippers! But, penguins aren’t known for their flying skills and it’s too far to swim … who’d have thought that the resident scientist Professor O’Brain and her secret invention, The Timebender, would have the answer?!
But when the feathered-friends find themselves flying off in the machine, they become the first penguins to space travel and time-travel!! Way back to the crustaceous (as Splash calls it) period. And penguins, it turns out, were pretty tasty prey back then!! Will the plucky pair ever get back to their huddle and the icy rock they call their home?
My twins have adored this graphic novel. It’s laugh out loud funny in places, brilliantly illustrated, colourful and fun. There are also some brilliant facts at the back of the book (as well as some non-facts too!!), an activity to do and an excellent “how to draw” section, really allowing your children to engage fully with the book. It would make an excellent early reader for those moving on from picture books and its graphic novel style means that it is superb for getting any child interested in reading. Humorous and joyful, this a brilliant book – we hope to see many more adventures with these perfectly adorable penguins.
- Pages Count - 240. Binding type - Perfect.
- Dempsey, Sheena (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 240 Pages - 01/18/2024 (Publication Date) - Bloomsbury Children's Books (Publisher)
Pluto Rocket – Joe Pidge Flips a Lid – Paul Gilligan (author and illustrator), Pushkin Press (publisher)
Your favourite pigeon and extra terrestrial being are back in a fantastically bold and bright new story. Even if you haven’t read the first book, I can quickly summarise: we are totally team Pluto Rocket here! She’s an adorably cute pink alien who lands on Earth and wants to know all about it. And who better to tell her what life is like than stylish, hat-wearing Joe Pidge, pigeon-shaped king of “the Neighbourhood”?!
But when Joe Pidge loses his iconic and identity-giving hat, the two friends explore what it truly means to be unique. And it’s not all about the way you walk, or the things you eat, you know! Pluto Rocket is eager to tour the world with Joe Pidge as his guide but the friends have to find their inner courage to do so. They explore how to uncover their bravest selves – from puffing up like a huge purple-tentacled monster, to strutting like a pro – and realise that the greatest way to feel brave and special is to have a wonderful friend by your side, whether you are adventuring or not.
Pluto Rocket is just so adorable: she has limitless energy, curiosity, optimism and such a sense of fun. And we love Joe Pidge and his confidence and vulnerabilities. Together they make the best team.
The illustrations in this book are filled with humour, fun and colour and really bring to life the Neighbourhood and the characters within it. A warm story filled with gorgeous messages of identity, self-belief, confidence, friendship and fun that we absolutely adored.
- New Store Stock
- Paul Gilligan (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 96 Pages - 11/21/2024 (Publication Date) - Pushkin Children's Books (Publisher)
Classics
Anne of Green Gables – L.M. Montgomery (author), retold by Katherine Woodfine, Isabelle Follath (illustrator), Nosy Crow Ltd (publisher)
I am ashamed to say that although Anne of Green Gables is one of my eldest daughter’s favourite books, I had never read any version of it, until now! And I am so glad that we have enjoyed this stunning retelling of L.M. Montgomery’s beautiful book. This would certainly make an exquisite present to read on Christmas Eve or to open on Christmas morning.
Matthew and Marilla Cuthbert decide to adopt a little boy to help out around the place on their farm, Green Gables. But when Matthew goes to pick the lad up at the station, he’s surprised to find a plucky little red-haired girl has been sent instead. Not knowing what to do, he takes her back home to his sister and she chats joyfully all the way home. Anne manages to plant her feet firmly on Green Gables soil with her winning ways, wild imagination, verbose vocabulary and her plucky spirit. But her hot temper can sometimes lead her into trouble and her emotions can often get the better of her. Will she find her place in society and a forever home in Green Gables?
We love how this fresh, new retelling keeps the fun spirit of Anne alive and brings to life the mistakes and impetuous mishaps that are all too relatable even in the modern world. We love Anne. She is instantly loveable from a reader’s perspective and we have spent hours poring over the stunning illustrations which cover each page of this book, really bringing Green Gables and the seasons of nature to life. Your reader couldn’t ask for a more enchanting book for Christmas.
- New Store Stock
- Hardcover Book
- Katherine Woodfine (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 96 Pages - 09/12/2024 (Publication Date) - Nosy Crow Ltd (Publisher)
The Children of Green Knowe – Lucy M.Boston (author), Peter Boston (illustrator), Faber and Faber Limited (publisher)
This stunning green and gold-foil seventieth anniversary hardback book would make a beautiful bookish gift for any avid reader.
Based on a real manor House near Cambridge, which is nearly 900 years old and one of the oldest inhabited houses in the UK, this book is steeped in history, ghostly spirits and magic. With his parents in Burma, Tolly has been sent to live with his great- grandmother, in an old Manor House in the country called Green Knowe. As Tolly explores the house and its grounds, he uncovers a world full of ghosts and history which pervade the house. The spirits of Toby, Alexander and Linnet all have their stories to tell …
This really is a beautiful edition of this timeless tale. The beautiful black and white illustrations are done by the author’s son, Peter Boston, and add atmosphere to this imaginative, dreamy story. Filled with fascinating history and lashings of creativity, your reader cannot fail to be captivated.
- New Store Stock
- Hardcover Book
- Boston, Lucy M. (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 208 Pages - 10/24/2024 (Publication Date) - Faber & Faber (Publisher)
Non-fiction books
The Week Junior Big Book of Knowledge – Bloomsbury Publishing Plc (publisher)
Does your child read The Week Junior? My girls absolutely love it each week and they both love fact books so this is one book I will be gifting over and over this year.
Split into 12 sections – amazing animals, creature features, Earth’s environment, people power, sensational science, brilliant books, astonishing art, fabulous food, out and about, spectacular sports, wonderful wellbeing, and strange but true – there are over 500 fantastic facts and incredible true stories so there is definitely something for everyone to gasp in awe at! From dogs singing in orchestras, through tips on how to write your autobiography, life-size dresses made out of cake (with 13,000 mini marshmallows attached!!), to activities such as making a tomato and peach caprese salad (yum), this is an absolutely jam-packed delight of a book.
So, if you have a child who would love to know who performed a concert hovering high in the air above a building site in France, or the nickname of the world’s largest goldfish (which weighs the same as a 10 year old child!!) then this is the fabulous fact book for them! A bumper-sized book filled with all the answers to all the questions your child never knew they wanted to know! They’ll be reading for days (yippee!).
- New Store Stock
- Hardcover Book
- Junior, The Week (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 240 Pages - 09/26/2024 (Publication Date) - Bloomsbury Education (Publisher)
Ada Twist Scientist- The Why Files – Andrea Beaty and Dr Theanne Griffith (authors), Steph Stilwell (illustrator), Amulet Books (imprint of ABRAMS) (publisher)
Educating our children about protecting our planet and how to live sustainably is one of the greatest gifts we can give them.
This fantastic fact file by every child’s favourite scientist, Ada Twist, sends your children on a quest to discover what sustainability is and what it means to try and live in a way that looks after the environment. With engaging illustrations, questions and answers and photographs which bring the subject matter to life, this is an educational yet interesting introduction to the topic for children. It breaks down scientific concepts into manageable chunks of information and has plenty of drawings and pictures to provide for maximum engagement.
We also love the two experiments for your child to do at the back of the book – when we see the sunshine again, we cannot wait to make a solar still. So, if you want to encourage your little ones to reuse, recycle and reduce waste then this is the book to pop in their stocking (but if you wrap it, make sure you use recyclable paper!).
- New Store Stock
- Hardcover Book
- Beaty, Andrea (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 80 Pages - 01/06/2022 (Publication Date) - Amulet Books (Publisher)
Advent/Countdown to Christmas Books
Little People, Big Dreams – Advent Calendar (The Quarto Group)
If you have a little bookworm, or if you are sick or chocolate calendars for children, or you don’t want to buy your child one of those plastic toy calendars then this is THE advent calendar to buy for your child.
I am beyond excited about it!! Your little reader can discover the lives of amazing artists, sensational scientists, wonderful writers, superb singers and so many more awe-inspiring figures in this countdown to Christmas collection. Each day, they can look into the card envelope and pull out the miniature Little People, Big Dreams book and read the fascinating facts contained within it until their heart’s content.
There are historical figures and contemporary figures celebrated within this mini library and the festive season will become altogether brighter and more magical as your child discovers and holds dear a small, special book each day. Each day of the festivities, a new book will be opened by your child and they are a perfect mini replica of the larger versions of the books.
Hugely educational, dairy-free, fun and inspirational, what an advent calendar this one is to gift!
The Secret of Helmersbruck Manor – Eva Frantz (author), Elin Sandstrom (illustrator), Pushkin Press (publisher)
Like a rich chocolate, this one was so dark and delicious that I devoured it in one day!! Which is actually not what you are *supposed* to do: there are 24 chapters so you can read a fantastically illustrated chapter each day of advent. If you are full of self-control and discipline and the need to solve the mystery doesn’t overpower you!
Twelve year old Flora and her mother are on their own since her father died last year. Christmas was his favourite time of year so for a change of scenery, Flora and her mum are spending a month in the seaside town of Helmersbruck, in a cottage in the grounds of a dilapidated old mansion. But the house has secrets. It doesn’t open its gates for just anyone and there are strange whisperings, weird white squirrels with red eyes and mysterious porcelain figures which seem to appear out of nowhere. As Christmas Eve approaches, Flora learns that the old Manor House is in danger of being flattened and turned into a glitzy hotel. But Flora cannot let that happen. The house does not want that. Can Flora persuade Fridolf, the old owner, to hang on to it. Can she solve the mystery buried in its past and make a happier future for everyone? The clock is ticking ….
This book is THE addictive advent book to buy for your young reader this Christmas period. Mystery, intrigue, ghosts and adventure combine with themes of loss and grief, as well as friendship and love. It’s compellingly written and I didn’t want to put it down! Each chapter has a beautiful black and white illustration which adds to the atmosphere of dark intrigue and suspense. A superb spine-tingling story to snuggle up with at this time of year. I adored it.
- New Store Stock
- Hardcover Book
- Frantz, Eva (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 272 Pages - 10/12/2023 (Publication Date) - Pushkin Children's Books (Publisher)
A World Full of Christmas Crafts – Helen Mortimer (author), Joy Latrobe (illustrator), Frances Lincoln Children’s Books (imprint of Quarto) (publisher)
Oh, I do love a craft-book! And this hardback beauty is one of the best of the season. You can countdown to Christmas using this seasonal sensation because this activity book is filled with 24 crafts to do in the days before Christmas.
Each craft is based on customs and traditions from around the world and how they are celebrated. Each craft is fun and engaging and will make your child feel like they are engaging with a community around the world. From creating a dolly peg elf (traditional in Australia), to lighting up the darkness by making a Santa Lucia figure as they do in Sweden, this book is filled with love, creativity and fun. Not only that but your child will be absorbing fascinating facts about traditions around the world (our personal favourite is the tradition of “chocolotada” in Peru where chocolate, bread and sweets are given to those in need).
From baking to making, there is a craft for everyone to enjoy in this book and it cannot fail to get you in the Christmas spirit. It’s beautifully illustrated: each page bursts with joy and love and it is sure to bring a smile to your face. The festivities begin with this stunner of a countdown to Christmas craft book.
- New Store Stock
- Hardcover Book
- Mortimer, Helen (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 68 Pages - 10/10/2024 (Publication Date) - Frances Lincoln Children's Books (Publisher)
Guides and Annuals
Unicorn Academy – The Magical Guide – Nosy Crow Ltd (publisher)
Is your child a fan of the Netflix show, Unicorn Academy? If so, then this is the perfect present for them this festive period. Your reader can immerse themselves in the magical world of adventure and get ready to enter the world of Unicorn Academy. Your child can follow Sophia (a student of the academy) on her journey to becoming a Unicorn Rider and protecting the Unicorn Island….
This marvellously magical book is brimming full of fabulous facts about the school, the Unicorn Riders, their beautiful unicorns, the teachers and all of the magical beings and cast of unusual creatures of Unicorn Island.
It’s the perfect book for any fans of the Netflix show and they will adore turning the pages of this brightly coloured book to uncover secrets about this wonderful world. Get to know River, Leaf, Cinder, Glacier and more as you canter through the pages of this beautifully illustrated book. An extraordinary gift for the extraordinary little person in your life.
- New Store Stock
- Hardcover Book
- Nosy Crow (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 48 Pages - 09/12/2024 (Publication Date) - Nosy Crow Ltd (Publisher)
Activity, puzzle and interactive books
Dot! Scribble! Go! – Herve Tullet (author and illustrator), Chronicle Books LLC (publisher)
One of the first books we bought for my eldest was Press Here so I jumped at the chance to review this beauty of a book!
Guided by the masterful talent of Herve Tullet himself, your little one can dip their finger into this book, follow his creative genius and produce marvellous masterpieces themselves through his simple instructions. Using the colour palette of red, yellow and blue, your child will create a host of dots, lines and scribbles which will become amazing artwork! They’ll be drawing flowers, cars, birds and so much more. The fold-out page at the end of the book is a winner in my children’s eyes too.
We love the creativity that this book inspires. It’s entertaining, filled with fun and love and gives the message to children that with imagination and sheer energy and sparkle, anyone can create a masterpiece. Wonderfully whimsical, clever in the extreme and energetically engaging, this book would make a sensational stocking filler.
- New Store Stock
- Hardcover Book
- Tullet, Hervé (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 56 Pages - 10/10/2024 (Publication Date) - Chronicle Books (Publisher)
Loodle – Thea Hay (author), Scholastic (publisher)
On the loo? Pick up your copy of Loodle! There’s nothing else to do on the loo! It’s the perfect way to occupy your brain while your body is otherwise engaged!!
Puzzles to do on the loo, Loodle is chock full of logic puzzles and whodunnit mysteries (murder at the …. are my eldest daughter and I’s favourite puzzles), number puzzles and word games and it is sure to provide hours of entertainment (although I
Wouldn’t recommend sitting on the toilet seat for that long!!).
My eldest loves a puzzle book so this perfect for her (she’s 9) and it is pitched at just the right level for her problem-solving skills (and mine too). Fun, engaging, interactive and boredom busting, this is a sensational stocking filler for the little puzzler in your life to peruse on the porcelain throne!
- New Store Stock
- Hay, Thea (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 176 Pages - 10/10/2024 (Publication Date) - Scholastic (Publisher)
Spin to Survive – Deep Space Danger– Emily Hawkins (author), R Freeson (illustrator), Wide Eyed Editions (imprint of Quarto) (publisher)
We have every other book in this series and we love them so we couldn’t wait to review this, the latest book for you! I’ve said it before and I will say it again: this is such an ingenious idea. A game in a book. A game of survival. Embark on a daring mission to Mars in this out-of-this-world, choose-your-own-path book.
There are specific places in the book for you to put the survival spinner (beautifully included within the front cover of the book) to find out whether your decision was a good one or not, depending on where the hand of the spinner lands. Your reader will have to learn the layout of their spacecraft, Odyssey Three, and meet IDA, the ship’s intelligence data assistant, chart their way through deep space using the stars, see if they can survive radiation poisoning and face many, many dangers. Will they have what it takes to survive?
Yet again, this book is stunningly illustrated in the quirky and fun style of R. Fresson whose amazing artwork really reminds us of Tintin’s Adventures. Each two-page spread is bold and vibrantly colourful, bringing to life the beauty and danger of outer space. We love how you can learn all about space from the book and the way this is set out means that you can choose how much to read to each player, depending on their age range and interest.
This book is an absolute must for any little adventure seeker (or seekers) in your life and it would make a great gift under the Christmas tree: this way you can have the family fun and an amazing adventure into the unknown from the comfort of your own home.
- New Store Stock
- Hardcover Book
- Sparrow, Giles (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 64 Pages - 09/05/2024 (Publication Date) - Wide Eyed Editions (Publisher)
Traitors in Space – A Pick Your Own Path Adventure – Tim Collins (author), Steven Wood (illustrator), Buster Books (publisher)
Publishing at the beginning of December, this fun-fuelled adventure story launches onto the scene. Written by the author of the Sherlock Bones series, we knew we would love this pick your own path adventure book.
You, the reader, are an extraordinary young Scientist who has been chosen to go on a research mission to deep space to explore distant planets. On the way back home to Earth, the ship’s siren blares, waking you from your cryosleep, having detected an alien life-form on board the spaceship. But it doesn’t look as if anyone else has boarded the ship- as you look around your crew mates, you begin to wonder if any of them have been taken over by an alien …. Can you work out who can be trusted and who the aliens are before your brain is overtaken too?!
I am not going to lie. We died pretty quickly on our first reading of this book!! Thankfully though, with over 45 possible endings, we just started again and picked another path! You see, at the end of each page, there are two distinct options that will take you on a different adventure so there are lots of different, exciting and heart-in-mouth ways to read this book. There are interactive puzzle missions to complete which are woven into the story, making this a gripping narrative for the reader. We also loved the spaceship map, crew details and brilliant black and white illustrations throughout the book which really add to the atmosphere and daring of this choose-your-own-alien-adventure. A superb stocking filler for any adventure lover out there.
- New Store Stock
- Collins, Tim (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 192 Pages - 12/05/2024 (Publication Date) - Buster Books (Publisher)
Cluedle: the Case of Rudolph’ s Revenge- Hartigan Browne (author and puzzle master), Macmillan Children’s Books (publisher)
Well, here‘s a Christmas cracker of a set of marvellous mystery puzzles to keep your child entertained throughout the festive period. If you have a code-breaking super-sleuth at home then be sure to buy them a copy of the latest in this fabulous series of puzzle books and let them loose on it! Can they work out Cluedunnit?!
Detective Hartigan Browne has a bumper of a new case for your little puzzler to investigate. Can they pass the first test and work out how many legs are received over the twelve days of Christmas? Will they manage to figure out what the jingle bells has gone on at Mistlehurst Hall when they investigate the death of Lord Rudolph Hollygrove-Winterton (what a mouthful!) and solve his Christmas Treasure Hunt? Cleverly set out in chapters like the twelve days of Christmas song, your budding detective can grab a pencil and sharpen their wits to put their sleuthing skills to the test and try to crack the codes, cipher the clues, navigate the maps and examine the evidence to solve the curious case of Rudolph’s revenge. With 80 cracking Christmas puzzles to solve, do you think you know someone who is up to the challenge?
My eldest daughter has ADORED the other books in this series so she will be so excited about this seasonal , super-sleuthing mystery. With a festive green, red and gold cover and 80 marvellous mystery puzzles to solve, this book is educational as well as fun: those brain cells really get working through the different puzzles in the book – spatial reasoning, map skills, su doku, logic, patterns, code cracking, verbal reasoning, comprehension skills and so much more. Hartigan Browne’s writing style is hilarious and will keep your child engaged for hours. It’s a brilliant, brain-buster of a book and the perfect present for mystery fans everywhere.
- New Store Stock
- Browne, Hartigan (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 368 Pages - 10/10/2024 (Publication Date) - Macmillan Children's Books (Publisher)
Beat this Book – Howard Calvert (author), Gemma Correll (illustrator), Happy Yak (imprint of Quarto) (publisher)
Are you up to the challenge? Do you think you can beat this book?! It’s rather vain, thinks it’s unbeatable and it’s doing some evil laughing so you know it’s going to be brain-busting but I am sure you know some children who are definitely up for the dare!
This bright, beautiful orange book is designed to be played with. It invites it. It encourages it. It positively challenges you to have fun and be silly (not difficult for my children!!). In order to beat this book, the reader will have to complete its interactive, engaging and chortle-inducing challenges. Can your child find the tiniest dog in the picture, use the book for something exciting, make the noise an otter makes falling off a slippery rock….hold their breath for as long as they can…?! This book has limitless possibilities because it changes every single time it is read and therefore provides maximum engagement for readers.
It’s vibrant and fun, colourfully and playfully illustrated in comic-style drawings, laugh out loud funny and filled with fun facts and engaging activities. Your child cannot fail to be impressed if they find this book in their stocking on Christmas morning. Just don’t let the book beat them or it will be insufferable with its boasting!
- New Store Stock
- Hardcover Book
- Calvert, Howard (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 48 Pages - 09/05/2024 (Publication Date) - Happy Yak (Publisher)
The Story Orchestra – I Can Play the Nutcracker – Jessica Courtney-Tickle (illustrator), Frances Lincoln Children’s Books (imprint of Quarto) (publisher)
What a magical, musical way to learn about one of the most marvellous ballets of all time!
Does your little one love music? This sensational Story Orchestra book would be the perfect stocking filler for them then. Your child can learn how to play some famous classical pieces of music from this iconic ballet in the most ingenious and easy of ways: by following the colour-coded symbols of different shapes (it means they are also practising their shapes and colours without realising it too!).
We are big Story Orchestra fans in this house so this book was so well received by all my children. All of the books inspire a wonderful love of music but this one is so special because it invites your children to make their own, learning all about the musical techniques and melodies that make the classical pieces of music contained within the book so powerful. From The Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy to the Waltz of the Flowers, your child can follow the tune by playing the notes using the shapes and colours detailed on the keyboard and also learn how the piece should be played (light and dreamy maybe?!).
The fantastic illustrations also help bring each exquisite piece of music to life as they are so beautiful and filled with feeling and soul. Each piece of music also has some text, detailing what the melody is about and how to play it to experience it to the full. This is such an amazing, interactive introduction to some of the most exquisite pieces of classical music and it will bring huge excitement and fun to your house.
- New Store Stock
- Hardcover Book
- English (Publication Language)
- 24 Pages - 10/05/2017 (Publication Date) - Frances Lincoln Children's Books (Publisher)
Museum in a Book – An Ideal Exhibition- Explore, Play, Create – Hervé Tullet (author and illustrator), Abrams & Chronicle Books Ltd (publisher)
What an engaging, interactive kaleidoscope of a book! Follow the brilliant artist, performer and author, Hervé Tullet, as he takes your reader on a hands-on tour of a joyful tabletop exhibition with this bright, fun book. This book offers children (and adults) the tools to make their very own ideal exhibition using their imagination and the creative pages of this book!
The vibrantly colourful pages of the book encourage creativity, imagination and playfulness in the reader as they arrange and manipulate the pages into a dazzling display of artwork in a myriad of shapes, patterns and colours. And after your creative juices have begun to flow from modelling the book, there are suggestions at the back of the book to inspire you to unleash your artistic flair to make your very own Ideal Exhibition using the simple tools and materials set out in the book. Will you create flowers or spots, lines or splotches… Will it fit in a box, or takeover a room?! The possibilities are endless with this book.
For any artistic or creative child, this is just the book to allow them to let their imagination and flair run wild.
- New Store Stock
- Herve Tullet (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 70 Pages - 10/10/2024 (Publication Date) - Chronicle Books (Publisher)
21 Things to Do with A Mud Pie – Jane Wilsher (author), Teo Georgiev (illustrator), Ivy Kids (imprint of Quarto) (publisher)
Do you have outdoor explorers in your brood? Children that are happiest in the wild, with a little (or a lot!) mud on their hands? Then this is the activity book to slip in their stocking.
There are 21 activities to have fun with outdoors: from making mud pies to making a compost bottle, painting with mud, or planting seeds, there’s a wealth of fresh-air fun to be had with this book. Step by step illustrations and wording is set out for each nature activity and the drawings are exquisite, really bringing the beauty of the natural world to life.
And this book is made from rubbish because it is 100% post-consumer waste recycled paper which is printed in the UK. Hooray! Another reason to add it to the present pile today!
- New Store Stock
- Wilsher, Jane (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 32 Pages - 09/05/2024 (Publication Date) - Ivy Kids Eco (Publisher)
The Story Orchestra – A Midsummer Night’s Dream – Jessica Courtney-Tickle (illustrator), Frances Lincoln Children’s Books (imprint of Quarto) (publisher)
This book is an awesome auditory delight for the senses! Follow the fairies into the woods on a magical midsummer night in this musical retelling of Shakespeare’s iconic play.
The scene is set in ancient Athens explaining that Theseus and Hippolyta are excited about their upcoming nuptials but that not everyone in the royal court is happy. As your reader turns the pages, Shakespeare’s play and Mendelssohn’s music is brought to life …….
Your little reader can turn the pages of this fabulously interactive book and follow the magical dream, to bring the words of the play to life through Mendelssohn’s overture. Each beautifully illustrated two-fold spread has a sound button for your little one to press so that they can listen to the beautiful pieces of music as set alongside the story. We also love the final pages of the book. There’s a section on Mendelssohn and his genius – he wrote so many works of music before his early death aged 38!- and how he became a famous composer, as well as a useful glossary. The final page contains a paragraph of factual information about each piece of music that your child has pressed the button for, explaining more about the music and the tempo and instruments involved in the melody.
This is such a brilliant book; it’s a sensory delight on both a visual and an auditory level; it’s interactive and it educates your child on this wonderful composer and his classical music, as well as asking your little ones questions about the composition and introducing them to different words used in the musical world and what they mean. A marvellously melodic book with exquisite illustrations for any little music enthusiast.
- New Store Stock
- Hardcover Book
- English (Publication Language)
- 24 Pages - 10/10/2024 (Publication Date) - Frances Lincoln Children's Books (Publisher)
Games, Joke Books, Crafts and Puzzles
Let Me Tell You A Joke – Sean Hegarty (author), Jim Field (illustrator), Nosy Crow Ltd (publisher)
Just looking at the cover of this book will bring a beaming smile to your face! Jam-packed with guffaw inducing jokes by the one and only Sean Hegarty, this giggle-fest of a first joke book is the perfect present for any up and coming comedian in your house.
Why did the wizard sit on the broom? Because he got tired while he was sweeping the floor! What’s black and white and lives at the South Pole? A very cold referee! The slapstick humour appeals to my seven year old twins and, combined with the brilliantly comedic illustrations by Jim Field, this makes this book one of the most coveted books around this Christmas.
There’s even a free Stories Aloud audio recording of the book (if you scan the QR code) which includes advice from stand-up comedian Sean on how to deliver and time the perfect joke. Side-splittingly fun, pop this one in a stocking this Christmas.
- New Store Stock
- Hardcover Book
- Sean Hegarty (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 40 Pages - 09/26/2024 (Publication Date) - Nosy Crow (Publisher)
Kids vs Adults- the Ultimate Quiz Book – foreword by Sandi Toksvig, Bloomsbury Children’s Books (Publisher)
Do you think you can take on your child? Is your daughter more intelligent than you? Does your son know it all?! It’s time to go head to head – children against adults. Who will win?!
This brilliantly interactive book has twelve different rounds – general knowledge, nature & wildlife, travel and geography, films & tv, music, history, art & literature, culture, sport, the human body, science and space and festivals & celebrations – filled with fascinating facts and quirky questions. The adults’ questions are on one half of the page and the children’s questions are on the other so that the teams can quiz against each other. And even when the questions have been answered on a particular page, that’s not the end of the fun because there are “more fun” sections which suggest activities or further games and quizzes to be done. With over a thousand questions, there is hours of trivia fun to be had with this fun fact book.
We love how this book involves whole families and friends by getting everyone involved. It contains fascinating facts, it’s bright and beautifully illustrated and it is engaging in the extreme. A real Christmas cracker of a gift for any child this Christmas.
- New Store Stock
- Hardcover Book
- Fullman, Joe (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 240 Pages - 10/24/2024 (Publication Date) - Bloomsbury Children's Books (Publisher)
Little People, Big Dreams – Big Dreams Puzzle (The Quarto Group)
The holy grail for any holidays is finding something to occupy the children to stop the squabbling and keep them entertained. And that’s where this fabulous jigsaw comes in!
My little boy just loves a jigsaw and he also adores the Amazing Women memory game so he loves this double sided jigsaw. Double-sided I hear you ask, how does that work? Well, one side has 32 of history’s inspirational characters on it illustrated as children when they were dreaming of what they would do with their lives. The other side showcases what happened when their big dreams became an amazing reality for them. From writers to ballerinas, palaeontologists to activists, this jigsaw is not only great fun but also educational as your little ones will learn about amazing role models. From code-breaker Alan Turing , to footballing legend Pele, your child can pair up the jigsaw with each real-life hero’s world- leading achievements in the inspirational text set out in the little booklet which comes with the game. A sensational stocking filler for any puzzle enthusiast or fact lover.
Make Art – Susie Hodge (author), Jenny Bowers (illustrator) (The Quarto Group)
If you have a budding artist or creative genius at home then they can unlock their inner artistic skills with this amazing art activity box.
Inside this brilliant, handy-sized box (you could definitely slip it into a backpack for your travels) is a wealth of creativity just waiting to be explored. There is a superbly written and beautifully illustrated book which is packed full of details about different types and styles of art from around the world and throughout history and then step by step guides in the book to create your own work of art! So, your child can try their hands at making a Monet, modelling their own Taj Mahal, going spotty dotty like Seurat and krafting like Kandinsky!
This is such an educational, fun and creative box of goodies that I cannot rate highly enough. A wealth of information is provided about art through the ages and the tools for your child to create their own magnificent masterpieces are supplied so that they can have fun for hours (and you can help yourself to a glass of mulled wine – ‘tis the season and all that!).
- Hodge, Susie (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 48 Pages - 09/12/2024 (Publication Date) - Design Eye (Publisher)
Enter the World of Dinosaurs – Immersive 3D viewer (The Quarto Group)
If you have a little Dino fan at home then this is THE stocking filler for them! This roarsome gift will have them squealing in delight as they see 30 dinosaurs in 3 dimensional shape. There are 30 stunningly illustrated dinosaur cards to choose from and when your child places the card they have picked into the viewer, they can peep back through the lenses and gasp in wonder as the prehistoric world leaps into life before their very eyes!
They can see the fiercest dinosaurs in the land roar to life, and the dinos of the skies take flight in this wonderful box of tricks. On the reverse side of each card are fascinating and surprising facts and amazing stats about the dinosaurs. The handy pull out guide also suggests some brilliant games you can play with the cards and viewer for added interest and fun. So, if your little one wants to know which dinosaur made the best parent (the maiasaura), or which was the spikiest dinosaur around (the chungkingosaurus) then this the greatest gift for them.
Little People, Big Dreams – Dream Big, Bingo! (The Quarto Group)
Based on the best-selling book series, this board game is fun and educational! Win, win! Your children must collect as many of the skills, qualities and experiences that each inspiring person needs to help them achieve their big dream. The first one who completes their bingo board with all the qualities and shouts “BINGO” (loudly in the case of my children!) will win. Easy peasy.
And it’s so clever because your children are learning all about some of history’s favourite characters – there are 12 awe-inspiring figures – Van Gogh, Bruce Lee, Ella Fitzgerald, Emmeline Pankhurst, Malala Yousafzai, Harriet Tubman, Helen Keller, Jane Austen, Mahatma Ghandi, Marie Curie, Mozart and Pele – with a fantastic booklet setting out a brief summary of the figure from history so your child knows who they are. With six double-sided bingo boards we love how bright and beautiful this game is too. Fascinating, fun, educational and filled with amazing achievements of inspiring people, this is a gorgeous game and would make a wonderful gift.
- Long service life
- Flexible design
- Accessories
- High quality material
- Sanchez Vegara, Maria Isabel (Author)
Self-help books
A Little Bit of Positivity – Jason Cox (illustrator), Scholastic (publisher)
Who doesn’t love a pep-talk from a pineapple? A bit of positive thinking from a potato? Some powerful words from a pear?
This absolutely adorable book will lift your child up on any day they choose to look at it (I’ve been stealing it myself!). It’s filled with encouragement, positivity, optimism, mind boosts and lovely affirmations handed out by the cutest fruit and vegetables you ever did see!
The illustrations are so sweet they are just adorable and, combined with the positive phrases and optimistic words, they cannot fail to put a smile on your face and a spring in your step. Set out in sections which might apply to the way you are feeling on a particular day (like when you are having a tough time) these little mantras are the best way to give a boost to your bright side.
Utterly adorable and uplifting, this is the perfect present for your little loved one to boost their happy and support their emotional resilience.
- New Store Stock
- Hardcover Book
- Scholastic (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 96 Pages - 09/12/2024 (Publication Date) - Scholastic (Publisher)
