Best books for children for Christmas 2017
The Arctic adventure
The Polar Bear Explorers' Club by Alex Bell
(£6.99, HarperCollins)
Welcome to the magical, glistening world of the Icelands, where ivory-haired Stella Snowflake Pearl is about to embark on her first adventure as a member of the Polar Bear Explorers' Club. If she can survive encounters with yetis, snow pirates and vicious frosties, that is...
The seasonal short stories
Enid Blyton's Christmas Treats
(£6.99, Hodder Children's Books)
A bumper collection of 29 festive stories about the magic of the festive season: the pleasure of giving and receiving pressents, delicious Christmas food, singing carols and spending time with family and friends.
The magical mystery
Nevermoor by Jessica Townsend
(£12.99, Orion)
Charming, magical and the perfect book to lose yourself in during the Christmas break, Nevermoor is the story of Morrigan Crow, a cursed child who grasps a once-in-a-lifetime chance to join the Wundrous Society. There's the small matter of passing four impossible trials with skills she doesn't have first...
The peace-on-Earth picture book
Here We Are by Oliver Jeffers
(£14.99, HarperCollins)
A child-sized introduction to the vast and wondrous universe we live in, the diverse, beautiful planet we call home and the myriad creatures we share our world with. Beautifully illustrated, this is a book to read and reread together to remind us of how lucky we are.
The read-out loud rhyming choice
Oi Cat! by Kes Grey
(£12.99, Hodder Children's Books)
Don't miss the follw-up to the best-selling Oi Frog! and Oi Dog! from the award-winning Kes Gray and Jim Field. The rhyming text is perfect for reading aloud and the illustrations are jam-packed with animals and silliness. A treat for children and parents.
The Hogwarts handbook
Harry Potter: A journey through a history of magic
(£12.99, Bloomsbury Children's Books)
A must-read for every Harry Potter fan, this companion book to the British Library exhibition takes readers on a journey through the Hogwarts curriculum. Create a potion, uncover the secret of invisible ink, uncover the history of dragons, pore over images of mermaids and read about real-life astronomers and alchemists.
The silly shenanigans read
Can Doctor Proctor Save Christmas? by Jo Nesbo
(£6.99, Simon & Schuster Children's)
The rights to Christmas have been sold and the only people allowed to celebrate are thouse who can buy Christmas from a department store. No tree, no carols, no Christmas pudding... can Dr Proctor save the day (with some fart powder, of course!) and save Christmas?
The new reader festive story
Polly and the Puffin: The Happy Christmas by Jenny Colgan
(£7.99, Little, Brown Books for Young Readers)
The fourth book in the Polly and the penguin series, from bestselling adult novelist Jenny Colgan. Lovely two-colour illustrations on every page make this a perfect festive choice for newly confident reader. Lots of Christmas recipes and activities are included, too.
The book for gaming-mad kids
Ali-A Adventures: Game On! by Ali-A
(£14.99, Puffin)
It's launch time for the new video game Alien Liberator 2, and who better to invite along than top gamer Ali-A? Ali is promised the biggest game launch ever – but what he doesn't count on is just how real the action is about to get! The perfect read to entice gaming enthusiasts: with 3 billion YouTube views Ali-A is one of the most popular faces in gaming.
The beautiful traditional tale
Hortense and the Shadow by Natalia and Lauren O'Hara
(£10.99, Puffin)
"Through the dark and wolfish woods, through the white and silent snow, lived a small girl called Hortense. Though kind and brave, she was sad as an owl because of one thing... Hortense hated her shadow." A cold, crisp and snowy fairy tale to pore over.
The hard-hitting graphic novel
Illegal by Eoin Colfer and Andrew Donkin
(£14.99, Hodder Children's Books)
From Eoin Colfer and the team behind his bestselling Artemis Fowl graphic novels comes the story of one boy's epic journey across the Sahara and the perilous sea to Europe. An accessible, compassionate way to introduce your child to the humanitarian crisis of our times.
The new favourite bedtime read
The Adventures of Egg Box Dragon by Richard Adams
(£12.99, Hodder Children's Books)
Whatever you've lost, Emma's very own Egg Box Dragon will find it. After retrieving footballs, glasses, watches and more, Egg Box Dragon finds fame and the Queen herself requests his services. Will he find the missing diamond from the royal crown? A beautifully illustrated, wonderfully old-fashioned story.
The on-trend DIY manual
The Slime Book
(£6.99, DK)
Make your own slime – 30 different kinds of it! – with this "recipe book" for perfect goo. Learn to combine everyday ingredients (PVA glue, cornflour, eye wash and shaving foam) to make slime that's stretchy, fluffy, metallic, bubbling, glow-in-the-dark and even edible. The perfect post-Christmas activity!
The create-your-own-adventure puzzler
Attack on Circuit City by Catherine Casey
(£8.99, QED Publishing)
Maths Quest is a series of comic-strip-style adventures which require children to use their maths knowledge to solve problems and puzzles and progress in a thrilling adventure. In Attack on Circuit City can your child defeat computer bugs and bots and save the day with statistics?
The sure-fire hit
Bad Dad by David Walliams
(£12.99, HarperCollins Children's Books)
Another fast, furious and funny book from the 14-million-copy-selling David Walliams; if your child is a fan they'll whoop to see this under the tree. A high-speed cops and robbers adventure about a father and son taking on a villain and winning, this is a one-session, breathless read.
Download your child's festive activity pack now!
- KS1 & KS2 packs
- Christmas-themed English, maths and science activities
- Perfect activity pack to keep kids busy and learning over the Christmas break
Give your child a headstart
- FREE articles & expert information
- FREE resources & activities
- FREE homework help
