Take a look at our list of recommended books that are perfect for giving and sharing at Christmas time. From feisty girl detectives and gothic time-travellers for teens, retellings of classic tales, beautiful non-fiction and poetry collections and hilarious pop-ups about poo, plus seasonal fiction and picture books, there is something for everyone.
See our previous top ten Christmas books
See Bookstart's Winter booklist for more ideas for the Under 5s
Great books to give at Christmas 2011
Take a look at our list of recommended books that are perfect for giving and sharing at Christmas time. From feisty girl detectives and gothic time-travellers for teens, retellings of classic tales, beautiful non-fiction and poetry collections and hilarious pop-ups about poo, plus seasonal fiction and picture books, there is something for everyone.
See our previous top ten Christmas books
See Bookstart's Winter booklist for more ideas for the Under 5s
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Goldilocks on CCTV
Frances Lincoln Children's BooksBy turns funny, poignant and insightful Agard’s poems are told with a direct and distinctive voice -
The Kingdom Under the Sea
Jonathan CapeAcclaimed storyteller Joan Aitken retells 11 traditional European folk tales with her hallmark blend of magic, suspense and excitement -
The Polar Express
Anderson PressAn enchanting Christmas story, beautifully written and illustrated with pictures full of warmth and light -
The Haunting of Charity Delafield
Bodley Head Children's BooksThe Haunting of Charity Delafield is a heart-warming tale of friendship, family and love with an uplifting, magical twist -
The Wombles (gift edition)
BloomsburyThis beautiful gift edition includes full colour illustrations and an audio CD -
Just Right
Nosy CrowThis gentle, feel-good story about the joy of giving is complimented by sweet illustrations and is the perfect book for Christmas time -
Ruby Redfort: Look into my Eyes
HarperCollins Children's BooksBlessed with an extraordinary talent for spotting things which others seldom notice, 13-year-old Ruby lands an undercover job as a code-breaker for secret-spy organisation, Spectrum. -
Chitty Chitty Bang Bang Flies Again
Macmillan Children's BooksWhen the Tooting family find a vast abandoned engine and fit it to their camper van, they have no idea of the adventure that lies ahead... -
Barefoot Books World Atlas
Barefoot BooksFull of fascinating facts and figures about the earth and beautifully illustrated with David Dean’s bright and colourful maps -
The Highway Rat
Alison Green BooksThis rhyming tale of a villainous Highway Rat is the latest book from Children’s Laureate Julian Donaldson and her Gruffalo collaborator Axel Scheffler. The Highway Rat, gallops along the highway stealing food from other animals – clover from a rabbit,... -
North: The Greatest Animal Journey on Earth
Walker BooksThis exquisite picture book invites readers to accompany a host of animals from walruses to whales, as they migrate to the Arctic for the summer months -
The Monstrous Book of Monsters
Templar PublishingChildren will be entertained for hours with this bumper book of monster fun -
The Pop-Up Book of Poo
Walker BooksThe wonderful mix of humourous illustrations, pop-up features and fascinating poo-related facts make this a winning book for young children -
Grace at Christmas
Frances Lincoln Children's BooksThe meaning of Christmas is encompassed in this tenderly yet realistically illustrated contemporary family story about sharing and celebration -
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Suzy Goose and the Christmas Star
Walker BooksAs Suzy and her friends prepare the tree of Christmas Eve, Suzy notices something missing and sets off in search of a Christmas Star to complete the decorations. -
A Stork in a Baobab Tree: An African Twelve Days of Christmas
Frances LincolnThis picture book takes the familiar 'Twelve Days of Christmas' carol and gives it an African twist -
The Christmas Eve Ghost
Walker BooksIn 1930s Liverpool, young Bronwen and Dylan find kindness from an unexpected source when they are frightened by what they think is a ghost on Christmas Eve. -
Christmas Time
TemplarOne Christmas Eve a brother and sister set off on a magical adventure to the North Pole with Father Christmas and back in time to celebrate Christmas Day with their family. -
I Want My Hat Back
Walker BooksA bear sets out in search of his hat - he loves his hat and he wants it back -
Christmas at the Toy Museum: a fairytale
Walker BooksA charming Christmas story with evocative illustrations -
StoryWorld: Christmas Tales
TemplarStoryWorld consists of a pack of beautifully illustrated story cards with lots of detail that children can combine to make any number of new stories and connections. -
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The Night Before Christmas
Walker BooksA perfect book to share with the whole family in the run up to Christmas -
A House in the Woods
Walker BooksThere’s lots for young readers to discover and discuss in the illustrations, with a lovely message of friendship and helpfulness -
The Pied Piper of Hamelin
Walker BooksA spell-binding modern retelling of a classic children's tale by master storyteller Michael Morpurgo, with glorious illustrations by Emma Chichester Clark -
The Cat and the Fiddle: A Treasury of Nursery Rhymes
Frances Lincoln Children's BooksThe bold, earthy colour palate and close observation of the human and natural world make this a striking collection to be treasured – and remembered -
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Mrs Pepperpot’s Christmas
Red FoxMrs Pepperpot’s shrinking habit can be very inconvenient, especially when she wants to go shopping for Christmas presents -
Aladdin
Walker BooksThe classic tale is retold and illustrated using delicate silhouettes in six exquisite three-dimensional scenes -
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Even My Ears Are Smiling
BloomsburyColourful and brimming with personality, Rosen’s style and is wonderfully matched with Babette Cole’s distinctive drawings -
Happy Christmas, Boris!
Templar PublishingA fantastic interactive book that is great fun to read and share as a family -
Midwinterblood
IndigoIn seven stories that take place on the strange island of Blessed, two souls seek each other over a period of a thousand years. -
Big Book of My World
Doubleday Children's BooksA book for carers and toddlers to share which covers many learning situations -
The Bird King
Templar BooksA treasure trove of Shaun Tan’s sketches and drawings that inspired him to create his picture books -
Christmas Eve at the Mellops'
Phaidon PressIt is the day before Christmas and the four Mellops brothers all have the same idea - to surprise their family with a Christmas tree -
The Town Mouse and the Country Mouse
Templar PublishingA visually stunning version of the classic tale -
FOX
Allen & UnwinA story with a true moral behind it: that friendship can conquer anything. Now available in a beautiful 10th anniversary edition -
Sapphire Battersea
Doubleday Children's BooksAnother fact-filled and exciting slice of working-class Victorian life, showing readers how young people used to live -
Green Glass Beads
Macmillan Children's BooksAn eclectic collection of poetry that mixes old and contemporary, funny and deadly serious poems -
A Zeal of Zebras
Chronicle BooksVibrant design fills each page and the alphabetical listings create a clear, engaging read
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