Books we loved in December 2025

A selection of the books we loved in December 2025

  • Jingle Jumble Santa

    by Happy Yak, illustrated by Spencer Wilson 

    2025 1 to 4 years 

    • Board books
    • Interactive

    Santa wears his red suit for Christmas, but what about the rest of the year? Create your own crazy outfit combinations for Santa with this fun, split-page board book.

  • Scooter Dog

    Author-Illustrator Lo Cole 

    2025 2 to 5 years 

    • Picture books

    Eddie the dog loves to travel super fast on his scooter, but when it’s damaged in a crash, he must walk everywhere. Delightfully funny and bursting with glorious illustrations, this vibrant picture book demonstrates the benefits of occasionally slowing things down. 

  • A Taste of Home

    by Maryam Hassan, illustrated by Anna Wilson 

    2025 3 to 7 years 

    • Picture books
    • Diversity and inclusion

    Tariq must bring a special meal to the class picnic – but how can he choose a favourite from his family’s scrumptious array of dishes? A delicious celebration of family and food. 

  • Some Days I’m the Wind

    by Rebecca Gardyn Levington, illustrated by Dinara Mirtalipova 

    2025 3 to 7 years 

    • Picture books

    A girl describes her many, varied feelings. A useful book to explore emotions with a young child.

  • My Book of Classic Nursery Tales

    Author-illustrator James Mayhew 

    2025 3 to 7 years 

    • Fairy tale
    • Myths and legends
    • Short stories

    Featuring eight traditional nursery tales, from Little Red Riding Hood to Goldilocks and the Three Bears, this is a beautiful, well-made book that would make a wonderful gift for any little ones, and something to treasure for the years to come. 

  • The Street Where Santa Lives

    by Harriet Howe, illustrated by Julia Christians 

    2025 4 to 7 years 

    • Picture books
    • Diversity and inclusion

    Could the new neighbour really be Santa? One girl is convinced he is – and when it’s winter, he needs her help. A heartwarming story about community, with gorgeous illustrations.

  • This Is Who I Am

    by Rashmi Sirdeshpande, illustrated by Ruchi Mhasane 

    2025 4 to 7 years 

    • Picture books
    • Diversity and inclusion
    • Around the world

    A little girl describes how she feels to have a foot in two worlds – to be a glorious mix of all her family members and their culture, history, and experiences. A lovely book to share with children of every family background. 

  • My First Picture Atlas

    by Catherine Bruzzone, illustrated by Stu McLellan 

    2025 4 to 7 years 

    • Around the world
    • Non-fiction
    • Travel
    • Diversity and inclusion

    My First Picture Atlas is a lovely introduction to geography for mid-primary aged children. 

  • Our Pebbles

    Author-illustrator: Jarvis 

    4 to 7 years 

    • Picture books

    A grandson and his Silly Old Grandad’ fill their day with adventures on Pebble Beach. But one day, Grandad moves away. A heartwarming tale about change and cherishing memories. 

  • My Best Friend Tilly

    Author-illustrator Iris Samartzi 

    2025 4 to 7 years 

    • Picture books

    A little girl is excited to spend the day with her best friend Tilly, and she wants to build a dreamworld for them to play in. But her imagination soon gets the best of her. 

  • A Belfast Fairytale

    Author-Illustrator Mel Carroll 

    2025 4 to 7 years 

    • Picture books

    This lovely, colourful homage to the city of Belfast would make a fun story for any child visiting, or anyone that lives there and wants to learn about the special things in their city. Mixing local legends and celebrating proud landmarks, this is a super book. 

  • Wonder World: Earth

    by Ben Lerwill, illustrated by Xuan Le 

    2025 5 to 7 years 

    • Non-fiction
    • Picture books

    Discover why soil is so important to our world in this informative, colourful picture book. Perfectly pitched at young readers. 

  • The Secret World of Seahorses

    by Nicola Davies, illustrated by Lou Baker-Smith 

    2025 4 to 7 years 

    • Non-fiction
    • Early Learning

    Learn about the magical world of seahorses and some of the challenges they face in this richly illustrated non-fiction book. 

  • Dragon Cat

    by Pie Corbett, illustrated by Tom Morgan-Jones 

    2025 5 to 9 years 

    • Fairy tale
    • Fantasy
    • Poetry and rhyme

    Poet Pie Corbett presents readers with a delightful collection of poems about animals, everyday life, and dragons, fairies and all manner of otherworldly creatures and places. 

  • Wands Away!

    Author-Illustrator Emma Farrarons 

    2025 5 to 9 years 

    • Chapter books
    • Fantasy

    Ramona Spellstar can’t wait to join Wands Away School of Magic but as her first day approaches, she begins to feel nervous. A charming illustrated chapter book about making friends and enjoying new experiences. 

  • Astrosaurs: Mission to Infinity

    by Steve Cole and Tobey Cole, illustrated by Alex Lopez 

    2025 5 to 11 years 

    • Adventure
    • Comic books
    • Fantasy
    • Funny
    • Graphic novels

    The Astrosaurs are an elite group of space-dinosaurs who protect the galaxy from attack. Join them on three utterly bonkers adventures in this hilarious, vibrantly illustrated graphic novel. 

  • Bugs! Bugs! Bugs!

    by Susan Martineau, illustrated by Vicky Barker 

    2025 5 to 9 years 

    • Non-fiction
    • Early Learning

    A bright, colourful and fact-filled exploration of the wonderful world of bugs. Perfect for fans of creepy-crawlies!

  • Our Islands

    2025 7 to 11 years 

    • Non-fiction

    Explore the biology, history and geography of some of the most wonderfully unique islands on Earth in this beautifully illustrated non-fiction book. 

  • The Other Father Christmas

    by Serena Holly, illustrated by Shahab Shamshirsaz 

    2025 7 to 11 years 

    • Adventure
    • Diversity and inclusion

    A heartwarming chapter book about a boy and his Grandad, who go to the North Pole on a quest to find the next Santa. 

  • The Diary of Wiska Wildflower: The New School

    Author-illustrator Harriet Muncaster 

    2025 7 to 9 years 

    • Chapter books

    Wiska Wildflower is a Wiskling: a small fairy-type creature. When Wiska starts a new school on the other side of the forest, she finds it difficult to leave her best friends behind and begin again. A sweet chapter book with gorgeous colour illustrations throughout. 

  • A Poem for Every Question

    by Brian Bilston, illustrated by Joe Berger 

    2025 7 to 11 years 

    • Funny
    • Non-fiction
    • Poetry and rhyme

    100 funny and thought-provoking questions are explored through playful poetry and characterful illustrations in this superb non-fiction book.

  • A History of Fashion for Children

    by Celia Joicey and Dennis Nothdruft, illustrated by Rose Blake 

    2025 7 to 14 years 

    • Around the world
    • Historical
    • Non-fiction

    This colourful, fascinating, and informative non-fiction picture book for older readers explores fashion from around the world and through the ages. 

  • Escape from Amritsar

    by Bali Rai 

    2025 9 to 14 years 

    • Coming-of-age
    • Historical
    • Thriller

    In the catastrophic events of a single day, this vivid and nail-biting account of one boy’s determination to get justice in an unjust world explores one of the dark chapters in the history of the British Empire. 

  • Silent Night

    by Emma Read 

    2025 9 to 14 years 

    • Horror

    On Christmas morning, three cousins find themselves alone. No adults. No dogs. No festivities. And then they see the people silently marching south, with orange eyes… Unsettling and gripping, this is a very different sort of Christmas story! 

  • The Last Bard

    by Maz Evans 

    2025 9 to 14 years 

    • Coming-of-age
    • Funny

    Can Shakespeare’s characters really help Will sort out the problems facing him and his mum? A comedy of errors with heart. 

  • Naeli and the Secret Song

    by Jasbinder Bilan 

    2025 9 to 14 years 

    • Adventure
    • Historical
    • Diversity and inclusion
    • Around the world
    • Mystery

    Naeli travels from India to England to find her lost father, but what mysteries will she uncover along the way? A pacy historical adventure. 

  • Skulkmoor

    by Hana Tooke 

    2025 9 to 14 years 

    • Adventure
    • Mystery
    • Disability

    Two cousins compete over inheritance in a thrilling and darkly gothic whodunnit. 

  • Spirit Warriors

    by Ashley Thorpe, illustrated by Gashwayne Hudson 

    2025 9 to 14 years 

    • Adventure
    • Fantasy
    • Diversity and inclusion

    This magical, thoughtful, and beautifully written tale set in a fictional Jamaica presents the reader with Obeah magic alongside a rollicking good story.

  • Up Above the City

    by Clare Weze 

    2025 9 to 11 years 

    • Adventure
    • Coming-of-age
    • Diversity and inclusion
    • Thriller

    Two children explore the hidden places in the rooftops of London in a strange and eerie story of refugees, human trafficking, and a fantastical invention. 

  • Blitzers

    by Alastair Chisholm, illustrated by Francesca Ficorelli 

    2025 9 to 11 years 

    • Science fiction
    • Thriller
    • Dyslexia

    As an advanced AI game becomes increasingly violent, one boy’s experience uncovers a devastating secret and reveals an extraordinary abuse of corporate power. 

  • The Merry Christmas Murders

    by Alexandra Benedict 

    9 to 14 years 

    • Mystery
    • Neurodiversity
    • ADHD

    A fun, school-based murder mystery with a cast of neurodivergent characters.

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