Festive Books for Children

These festive, winter-themed books will make wonderful gifts for children this Christmas.

Take a look at our list of great books to give to teens and young adults this year

The Winter Sleepwalker and Other Stories

by Joan Aiken

Jonathan Cape

This beautiful hardback volume brings together a selection of unusual and whimsical fairy-tales by classic children's author Joan Aiken, perfectly illustrated by Quentin Blake.

Read about 'The Winter Sleepwalker and Other Stories'
The Snow Womble

by Elizabeth Beresford

Bloomsbury Children's Books

With a story taken from Elizabeth Beresford's first book, this picture book will bring favourite characters the Wombles to a new young audience.

Read about 'The Snow Womble'
When it Snows

by Richard Collingridge

David Fickling Books

A little boy follows footprints in the snow until he finds a polar bear who leads him to the place where the snowmen live.

Read about 'When it Snows'
The Wolf Princess

by Cathryn Constable

Chicken House

Lost on a school trip to Russia, Sophie and her friends are rescued by the beautiful Princess Anna Volonskaya, who whisks them away to her crumbling yet magnificent Winter Palace.

Read about 'The Wolf Princess'
Happy Christmas Maisy

by Lucy Cousins

Walker Books

Christmas is coming and Maisy is enjoying all the preparations: buying presents for her friends, baking a Christmas cake, and decorating the tree.

Read about 'Happy Christmas Maisy'
The Christmas Unicorn

by Anna Currey

Oxford University Press

Milly is awakened in the night by a beautiful unicorn who helps to create a magical Christmas for her family.

Read about 'The Christmas Unicorn'
The Empty Stocking

by Richard Curtis

Puffin Books

Award-winning writer and director Richard Curtis turns his hand to picture books in this magical festive story, beautifully illustrated by Rebecca Cobb

Read about 'The Empty Stocking'
The Dinosaur that Pooped Christmas

by Tom Fletcher and Dougie Poynter

Red Fox

Danny is greedy and spoilt - he already has so many toys there is no space in his room. When he sends Santa a long list for Christmas, St Nick decides to teach him a lesson.

Read about 'The Dinosaur that Pooped Christmas'
The Snow Merchant

by Sam Gayton

Andersen Press

Lettie Peppercorn hasn't left her house-on-stilts for ten years. Then a mysterious frozen man arrives at her door, and her life is changed forever.

Read about 'The Snow Merchant'
Charley's First Night

by Amy Hest

Walker Books

On his first night at home, Charley the puppy is given a guided tour by his new owner, Henry.

Read about 'Charley's First Night'
Lost Christmas

by David Logan

Quercus

Goose is lost until Anthony appears - a man who knows nothing about himself but sees and feels the secret pain of all those who shake his hand

Read about 'Lost Christmas'
North Child

by Edith Pattou

Usborne

Inspired by the traditional Scandinavian story 'East of the Sun and West of the Moon', this is an enchanting, sophisticated and beautifully-written fairy-tale for older readers

Read about 'North Child'
Winterling

by Sarah Prineas

Quercus

Fer finds herself in a dangerous and enchanting new world in this magical adventure story.

Read about 'Winterling'
Fancy Dress Christmas

by Nick Sharratt

Alison Green Books

Today is the Christmas Party, and all the animals have come in fancy dress!

Read about 'Fancy Dress Christmas'
A Little Bit of Winter

by Paul Stewart

Andersen Press

Winter is coming and Hedgehog is about to go into hibernation - but first he asks Rabbit to save him a little bit of winter, so he can see what it is like.

Read about 'A Little Bit of Winter'
Penguin and Pinecone

by Salina Yoon

Bloomsbury Publishing

Penguin would like to keep the pinecone he finds, but soon realises that it was lost and isn’t happy in the snowy land in which he lives.

Read about 'Penguin and Pinecone'