Debbie at Bonnybridge Library LOVES Bookbug sessions, storytimes and welcoming classes from nearby primary schools. That makes her the perfect person to give us some festive reading recommendations for young folk.
You can borrow these from libraries, or maybe treat a wee person this Christmas.
Younger children
Nick Sharratt – Fancy Dress Christmas
A lift the flap book with colourful Christmas character illustrations. Perfect for getting your little ones to interact and see who is hiding in their dress up outfits. Can you guess who?
Alex Scheffler – Pip and Posy The Snowy Day
Two of our favourite characters have a disagreement but they are such good friends they soon make up and have lots of fun building a snowman amongst other snowy adventures!
Helen Stephens – How to Hide a Lion at Christmas
Iris doesn’t want to leave her lion behind when the family go away for Christmas. So he decides to sneak along…How hard can it be to hide a lion? Guess who the very special person he meets along the way!
Caroline Crowe and Jess Pauwels – Santa’s New Beard
Santa accidently shaves off his beard! The elves have to come to the rescue to save the day. Great fun to read and the rhyming text will have everyone laughing out loud!
Jan Fearnley – Little Robin’s Christmas
A heart-warming story about a kind little robin who gives away his colourful vests to all his friends so they won’t be cold. When he huddles up on an icy Christmas Eve someone special comes to his rescue.
Mark Sperring and Sophie Corrigan – Mince Spies
Can the mince spies save Christmas? Hilarious secret agent capers in this rollicking rhyming story with a difference!
Paula Metcalf and Cally Johnson-Isaacs – Charlie Crow in the Snow
A brightly coloured story about Charlie and his discovery of the changing seasons and his first snowflakes! Meet his friends and see how they can keep warm this winter.
6-8 Years
Paul Moran – Where’s Santa’s Reindeer
Ready for some festive fun? See if you can spot the reindeer hidden in Christmas scenes from all around the world. Santa has to find them in time to load up for Christmas Eve. Fingers crossed!
Francesca Simon – Horrid Henry’s Christmas Lunch
Who doesn’t love a spot of Horrid Henry? Guess what? He’s having a horrid Christmas so his family better watch out when it’s time to eat Christmas lunch…
Michael Rosen – Hampstead the Hamster
Leo has always wanted a pet hamster and he has the best surprise ever on Christmas morning. But his hamster is sad, what can Leo do to cheer him up? Perfect story for the countdown to Christmas.
Bella Swift – The Pug Who Wanted to be a Reindeer
Sweet story about a brave little pug who asks Santa to help her family find their lost festive spirit. Can she save Christmas? I really hope so!
9-12 Years
Michael Morpurgo – Toto The Dog-Gone Amazing Story of The Wizard of OZ
Christmas is not complete without the Wizard of Oz! Read all about the adventures in Oz from Toto’s perspective. Beautifully illustrated by Emma Chichester Clark. There’s no place like home!
Susanna Bailey – Snow Foal
A beautiful story about love and hope to make you feel warm and cosy. Addie rescues a wild foal and discovers she is not alone on a remote farm after all.
Steven Butler and James Patterson – Happy Howlidays!
A laugh out loud tale from the Dog Diaries series with a fun festive twist! Cartoon illustrations on every page it will fill your diary with cheer in the build-up to Christmas!
Philip Pullman – Aladdin and the Enchanted Lamp
No panto this year? Don’t worry! This is a magical retelling of the story of Aladdin. Illustrated throughout to bring this classic tale alive.
Tom Fletcher – The Christmasaurus
A brilliant story of a young boy, a dinosaur, a Christmas wish, and an unforgettable adventure. You really can believe in the impossible!