Bookish Things

Books to Buy Kids this Christmas | Blogmas

Hi friends! So I recently tweeted asking for recommendations on books to buy kids as I want to give my great nephews and niece books this Christmas. There has been some GREAT responses, so I thought it would be good to share them with you all!

I haven’t personally read most of these so I can’t attest to how good they are… but here is some of the many that were shared with me.

Oi Dog! by Kes GrayClaire Gray
Published by Hachette Children's Group on July 28, 2016
Genres: General, Humorous Stories, Social Themes, Young Adult
Pages: 32
Goodreads

The hilarious sequel to the bestselling Oi Frog! will have children rolling around with laughter. Winner of the 2017 Laugh Out Loud Picture Book Award. Shortlisted for the Sainsbury's Children's Book Award 2016.Frog's had enough, he's the changing the status quo! Cat insists that there are rules - only mules sit on stools, no one but hares should sit on chairs and however irritating, dogs MUST sit on frogs. 'Well, I'm changing the rules,' said the frog.'From now on, dogs sit on logs, not frogs!'And everyone else is going to have to sit somewhere else too. Will Cat want to sit on gnats instead of cushy mats? Will spiders like sitting on gliders? Will whales be happy to sit on nails? And, most importantly, where is FROG going to sit?Praise for Oi Frog!: 'An absolute treat.' - Daily Mail'Everyone will love it.' - The GuardianCan't get enough? Find out what cat's got to say in Oi Cat!, now available for purchase. Want even more? Look out for Oi Duck-billed Platypus!, coming out autumn 2018.Kes Gray is a bestselling, multi award-winning author of more than 70 books for children. He eats Ideaflakes for breakfast, spreads silliness on his toast and lives in a place called Different.Jim Field is a lead-driven, pencil-pushing, 25-frames-per-second Led Zeppelin fan. He is also a hugely talented illustrator and animation director. His first picture book Cats Ahoy! won the Roald Dahl Funny Prize.Oi Frog!, Oi Dog! and Oi Cat! are a top ten bestselling series. Oi Dog! won the 2017 Laugh Out Loud Picture Book Award and was shortlisted for the Sainsbury's Children's Book Award and the British Book Awards in 2016, amongst others. It also won the Teach Primary New Children's Fiction Award, MadeForMums Award, Bishop's Stortford Picture Book Award and Portsmouth Picture Book Award. Oi Cat! was the Independent Booksellers Children's Book of the Season and Oi Goat! is a World Book Day book in 2018.

The Magic Folk Collection by Enid Blyton
on 2011
Pages: 532
Goodreads

Fantasy fiction. Three collecions of magical stories in one volume. "A Book of Pixie Stories" - Some pixies are sweet and helpful, but some are lazy, and the naughty ones love to play tricks. In this you will meet all sorts of pixies, so you will know what to do if ever you see one. "The Book of Fairies" - Follow the adventures of Betty, the girl who doesn't believe in fairies - but soon changes her mind, Karin the shy gnome, and many more. "The Book of Brownies" - Hop, Skip and Jump are three naughty brownies who love to play tricks. But when a wicked witch tricks the tricksters and has them capture the little fairy-princess Peronel for her, they are turned out of fairy land by the angry king. These are magical tales of excitement and adventure from Enid Blyton.

Look Up! by Nathan Bryon
on June 13, 2019
Pages: 32
Goodreads

3 . . . 2 . . . 1 . . . Lift off. Let science-mad chatterbox Rocket launch into your hearts in this inspiring picture book from two incredible debut talents.

Rocket's going to be the greatest astronaut, star-catcher, space-traveller that has ever lived!

But . . .

First, she needs to convince her big brother Jamal to stop looking down at his phone and start Looking Upat the stars.

Bursting with energy and passion about space and the natural world, this heart-warming picture book will reignite your desire to turn off those screens and switch on to the outside world.

The Dinosaur that Pooped Christmas by Tom Fletcher, Dougie Poynter
Published by Red Fox on October 25, 2012
Pages: 32
Goodreads

Once Upon a Cool Motorcycle Dude by Kevin O'Malley
Published by Bloomsbury Publishing USA on January 14, 2014
Genres: Young Adult, General, Social Themes, Humorous Stories
Pages: 32
Goodreads

When their teacher gives a joint storytelling assignment, a boy and a girl have different ideas of how their fairy tale should evolve. Can they agree on who will live happily ever after? With a cool motorcycle dude and a beautiful princess the possibilities are endless in this read-to-me eBook!

Once upon a time there was ... a princess who loved all her beautiful ponies, a cool muscle dude who rode an awesome motorcycle. But a giant came and started stealing them! The dude came to fight the ugly, smelly giant with his mighty sword. She turned gold into thread while she cried for Buttercup, her favorite pony. And he took the princess's gold thread for payment The end!Wait a minute! That's not how it ends!Oh no?Once upon a time there was a boy and a girl who had to tell a fairy tale to the class, but they couldn't agree on the story. Will everyone live happily ever after?

Malala's Magic Pencil by Malala Yousafzai, Kerascoët
on October 3, 2017
Pages: 32
Goodreads

Nobel Peace Prize winner and New York Times bestselling author Malala Yousafzai's first picture book, inspired by her own childhood.

Malala's first picture book will inspire young readers everywhere to find the magic all around them.

As a child in Pakistan, Malala made a wish for a magic pencil. She would use it to make everyone happy, to erase the smell of garbage from her city, to sleep an extra hour in the morning. But as she grew older, Malala saw that there were more important things to wish for. She saw a world that needed fixing. And even if she never found a magic pencil, Malala realized that she could still work hard every day to make her wishes come true.

This beautifully illustrated volume tells Malala's story for a younger audience and shows them the worldview that allowed Malala to hold on to hope even in the most difficult of times.

The Upper Case: Trouble in Capital City by Tara Lazar, Ross Macdonald
on October 15, 2019
Pages: 32
Goodreads

Just when Private I thinks all is calm-now that he's cracked the case of 7 Ate 9-Question Mark storms into the office.Mark is worried. All the uppercase letters are M-I-S-S-I-N-G! But that's absurd. This is CAPITAL City!Private I is the last letter standing. Will he solve his BIGGEST mystery yet, the UPPER CASE, before it's too late?!Filled with the same humor, wit, and quirkiness of the hit 7 Ate 9: The Untold Story, comes another laugh-out-loud whodunit.

The Real McCoys by Matthew Swanson, Robbi Behr
Published by Imprint on November 7, 2017
Pages: 336
Goodreads

Her name's Moxie. Moxie McCoy.

Bold, opinionated, and haplessly self-confident, the world's greatest fourth-grade detective faces her biggest challenge! When someone kidnaps beloved school mascot Eddie the Owl, Moxie is on the case--but she's forced to fly solo now that her best friend (and crime-solving partner) has moved away.

Moxie must interview her classmates--both as potential new best friends and as possible suspects. She finds clues and points fingers but can't save the owl on her own. Enter Moxie's little brother, Milton. Quiet, cautious, and boring as a butter knife, he's a good listener.

Can the Real McCoys form an unlikely alliance and solve the crime of the century?

Claude In The City by Alex T. Smith
Published by Hodder Children's Books on February 3, 2011
Pages: 96
Goodreads

Claude is no ordinary dog - he leads an extraordinary life! When Mr and Mrs Shinyshoes set off for work, Claude decides what adventure he wants to have that day. Today he and Sir Bobblysock go to the city for the very first time. The have tea in a cafe, go shopping and visit a museum. It is all very normal until...Claude accidentally foils a robbery and becomes the local hero! Claude in the City has also been selected for the Richard and Judy Children's Book Club 2011.

Mr Penguin and the Lost Treasure (Mr Penguin, #1) by Alex T. Smith
Published by Hodder Children's Books on September 7, 2017
Pages: 208
Goodreads

From the international bestselling creator of Claude, comes a brand new hero - Mr Penguin, adventurer and penguin.

Indiana Jones meets Hercule Poirot in this new Alex T. Smith series with plenty of slapstick humour, mystery and adventure. Highly illustrated throughout with a striking black and orange design.

It has been weeks since Mr Penguin's last adventure and he's been stuck at his desk, twiddling his flippers ever since. That is until the phone rings!

Mr Penguin and Colin (a spider and Mr Penguin's silent right hand man) are called in to find the missing treasure somewhere in the Museum of Extraordinary Objects. The quest finds them solving secret codes, fighting ferocious beasts, eating fish finger sandwiches and travelling deep below the museum to a lost jungle...

Isadora Moon Goes to School (Isadora Moon, #1) by Harriet Muncaster
Published by Oxford University Press on September 1, 2016
Pages: 128
Goodreads

Isadora Moon es especial porque es diferente.Su mamá es unhada, su papá unvampiroy ella tiene un poquito de los dos. Le encanta la noche, los murciélagos y su tutú negro de ballet, pero también la luz del sol, las varitas mágicas y su conejo rosa Pinky.Cuando llega el momento de empezar el colegio, Isadora no sabe a cuál debe ir: ¿al de hadas o al de vampiros?

Amelia Fang and the Barbaric Ball by Laura Ellen Anderson
Published by Egmont UK Limited on October 5, 2017
Pages: 212
Goodreads

Meet Amelia Fang.

She loves playing Goblin Tag, and cuddling her pet pumpkin, Squashy. She hates going to her mum and dad's boring Barbaric Ball. Oh, and one more thing - Amelia is a vampire.

When the spoilt prince of Nocturnia captures Squashy, Amelia must plan a daring rescue. But things in the Kingdom of the Dark may not be all they seem...

Join Amelia on her first abominable adventure. She won't bite!

Shifty McGifty and Slippery Sam (Shifty McGifty and Slippery Sam) by Tracey Corderoy, Steven Lenton
Published by Nosy Crow on August 6, 2013
Pages: 32
Goodreads

Shifty McGifty and Slippery Sam are two hapless robber dogs who decide on career change after one bungled burglary too many - proving that crime doesn't pay, but cupcakes certainly do!

All the Fun of the Fair by Sophy Henn
Published by HarperCollins Publishers Limited on May 20, 2019
Pages: 192
Goodreads

The second book in the wickedly funny series for ages six and up from the creator of Where Bear?, Pass It On and the Pom Pom series, with colour illustrations throughout.

Hi! I'm Jeanie - 7 3⁄4 years old, and a BIG fan of badges.

BAD NANA is one of my three grandmas (yes, three). Of course, "Bad Nana" isn't actually her actual name - but it's what everyone has been calling her for MILLIONS of years. If I had MY way, I would call her "Fun Nana", because she is actually brilliant. Yes, she's a bit NAUGHTY sometimes, but in an EXCELLENT way.

My Dad says she really should know better, but I think she's so bad, she's GOOD!

The second instalment in the wickedly funny series, from superstar author and illustrator Sophy Henn

Sam Wu is Not Afraid of Ghosts by Katie Tsang, Kevin Tsang, Nathan Reed
Published by Egmont UK Limited on February 8, 2018
Pages: 205
Goodreads

Brilliantly funny new series about the bravest scaredy-cat in the world

Sam Wu is NOT a scaredy-cat (except he is). When a trip to the Space Museum goes terrifyingly wrong, Sam begins a mission to prove to the school bully, and all of his friends, that he is a fearless space adventurer. A madcap story of ghost hunting, snakes and mischievous pet cats called Butterbutt.

Artemis Fowl (Artemis Fowl #1) by Eoin Colfer
on April 1, 2003
Pages: 396
Goodreads

Twelve-year-old Artemis Fowl is a millionaire, a genius—and, above all, a criminal mastermind. But even Artemis doesn't know what he's taken on when he kidnaps a fairy, Captain Holly Short of the LEPrecon Unit. These aren't the fairies of bedtime stories—they're dangerous! Full of unexpected twists and turns, Artemis Fowl is a riveting, magical adventure.

Franklin's Flying Bookshop by Jen Campbell, Katie Harnett
Published by Thames & Hudson on October 17, 2017
Pages: 32
Goodreads

Franklin the dragon loves stories and loves reading stories to people too, but everyone is too scared to even talk to him. One day, he meets a girl named Luna who, rather than being afraid, is fascinated to meet Franklin, having recently read all about dragons in one of her books. They instantly become friends and talk nonstop about what they’ve read: books about roller-skating, King Arthur, spiders, and how to do kung fu. Together they hatch a plan to share their love of books with others by opening a bookshop—a flying bookshop, that is—right on Franklin’s back!

Franklin, a well-read and peace-loving dragon, and Luna, a young girl with an independent spirit and an insatiable love of reading, make fantastic role models for young children. Franklin’s Flying Bookshop brings the magic of classic fairy tales into the twenty-first century through exquisite illustrations, and will enchant children as well as anyone who loves books.

The Land of Roar by Jenny McLachlan
Published by Egmont UK on August 1, 2019
Pages: 304
Goodreads

The new middle-grade fantasy that will make you believe in magic!

When Arthur and Rose were little, they were heroes in the Land of Roar, an imaginary world that they found by climbing through the folding bed in their grandad’s attic. Roar was filled with things they loved – dragons, mermaids, ninja wizards and adventure – as well as things that scared them (including a very creepy scarecrow. . .)

Now the twins are eleven, Roar is just a memory. But when they help Grandad clean out the attic, Arthur is horrified as Grandad is pulled into the folding bed and vanishes. Is he playing a joke? Or is Roar . . . real?

The Truth Pixie (Christmas Series, #3.5) by Matt Haig, Chris Mould
Published by Canongate Books on October 18, 2018
Pages: 119
Goodreads

From number one bestselling author Matt Haig comes a hilarious and heartwarming story, brilliantly illustrated throughout by Chris Mould

Wherever she is, whatever the day, She only has one kind of thing to say. Just as cats go miaow and cows go moo, The Truth Pixie can only say things that are true.

The Fairy Princess and the Unicorn by Nona J. Fairfax
Published by CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform on October 6, 2016
Pages: 28
Goodreads

For many parents, curling up with a book for a bedtime story with their kid is a daily ritual. For others, it is the perfect time to spend time with their children after a busy day, and for some, it is something they should do but are not entirely sure why. Discover these benefits of bedtime stories for kids. Sharpen their brains Research shows that one of the greatest benefit of interacting with children, including reading to them stories, is that children learn a great deal of things- from improved logic skills to lowering their stress levels. Bedtime stories rewire the brain of a child and quicken their mastery of language. Their vocabulary repertoire is expanded and their listening and oral communication skills enhanced.bedtime stories for kids Enhance creativity and Stimulate imagination If you are a good storyteller, then you should teleport your kid to a different realm- from reality to fantasy for the child to learn the difference between these two. This will enhance and stimulate his imagination.children's books kindle Emotion development The kid will learn to experience different emotions while empathizing with the characters of the story. The common emotions of sadness, happiness and anger may be encountered and he will learn to control these in real life.bedtime story for kids

The Polar Bear Explorers' Club by Alex Bell
Published by Faber & Faber on October 31, 2017
Pages: 336
Goodreads

It sounded like a respectable and worthy enough death for an explorer - tumbling from an ice bridge to be impaled upon a mammoth tusk - but Stella really, really didn't want that to happen, just the same.

Join Stella Starflake Pearl and her three fellow explorers as they trek across the snowy Icelands and come face-to-face with frost fairies, snow queens, outlaw hideouts, unicorns, pygmy dinosaurs and carnivorous cabbages . . .

When Stella and three other junior explorers get separated from their expedition can they cross the frozen wilderness and live to tell the tale?

The Story of Tracy Beaker (Tracy Beaker, #1) by Jacqueline Wilson, Nick Sharratt
Published by Yearling on October 5, 2006
Pages: 224
Goodreads

'I'm Tracy Beaker. This is a book all about me. I'd read it if I were you. It's the most incredible dynamic heart-rending story. Honest.'

Tracy is ten years old. She lives in a Children's Home but would like a real home one day, with a real family. Meet Tracy, follow her story and share her hopes for the future in this beautifully observed, touching and often very funny tale, all told in Tracy's own words.

Hope you find this post helpful! Let me know if you’ve read any of these or have any more to recommend!

If you want to see the rest of the responses, check them out below!

Okay so I think I’m gonna get my great nieces and nephews books for Christmas. They’re aged 4-8ish. Any good recommendations?

— Jenn ✨ ⋆ (@JennieLy) December 2, 2019