Christmas gifts for kids: The best children’s books to give this Christmas

Are you looking for the perfect gifts for the young readers in your life? From lift-the-flap children’s Christmas stories for younger readers, to beautifully illustrated classics and interactive tales the whole family will enjoy, discover the books that children will love to find under the Christmas tree this year. ​

 

Christmas gift ideas for babies and toddlers

From lift-the-flap children’s Christmas stories to The Gruffalo gift sets, these books for babies and toddlers will make perfect Christmas gifts.

 

Dear Santa

A festive treat with bright, bold illustrations from the creator of Dear Zoo. With Dear Santa, little hands can unwrap a present on each page by lifting the flaps to discover what Santa has sent. This children’s Christmas book is a festive classic.

Buy Dear Santa

 

The Christmas Bear

When Santa sets off in his sleigh to deliver his presents, poor Bear is left behind. This charming and very funny picture book by Ian Whybrow follows Bear on his travels as he tries to get to Tom’s house in time for Christmas morning. Beautifully illustrated by Axel Scheffler, with flaps to lift, wheels to turn and tabs to pull, this is a Christmas book full of fun for babies and toddlers.

Buy The Christmas Bear

 

The Gruffalo Book and Toy Gift Set

The Gruffalo Book & Toy Gift Set is sure to light up any child's face on Christmas day, and give them their very own cuddly Gruffalo too. Add the My First Gruffalo: The Gruffalo Puppet Book to their collection this Christmas as well, and act out the story as you read it together.

Buy The Gruffalo Book and Toy Gift Set

 

Busy Nativity

Join Mary and Joseph on their long journey to Bethlehem and see beautiful baby Jesus in his crib in this sturdy board book ideal for little hands. With gentle rhyming text and push, pull and slide tabs, toddlers will enjoy this story of the First Christmas.

Buy Busy Nativity

 

Christmas gift ideas for kids aged 3-5

Beautiful gift books, hilarious Christmas stories about angry Brussels sprouts and charming festive tales, these are books any child would be delighted to receive this Christmas.

 

Starbird

This stunning gift book shimmers with silver foil and stunning illustrations throughout. The original fable about freedom and love tells of the magical Starbird. Starbird’s song delights all that hear him, but when the Moon King traps him in a cage, the colour and life in his voice begins to fade away.

Buy Starbird

 

Animalphabet

This illustrated exploration of the animal kingdom is also an interactive guessing game from Julia Donaldson, with stunning artwork by Sharon King-Chai. Do you know who can fly better than a pig or who is more wobbly than an iguana? This charming book deserves pride of place on every child’s bookshelf.

Buy Animalphabet

 

Christmas Comes to Moominvalley

This beautiful picture book will become a Christmas classic, and is the perfect gift for Moomin fans big and small. A stunningly illustrated retelling of Tove Jansson’s The Fir Tree, the Moomins wake up from their winter sleep to find that Christmas is coming – but the Moomins have no idea who, or what, Christmas is . . .

 

The Return of Sproutzilla

You thought having to eat them for Christmas dinner was terrible enough, but what could be worse than a mean, green sprout who hatches a dastardly plan to destroy Christmas! The fantastically funny sequel to Sproutzilla VS Christmas, this picture book will have the whole family laughing out loud this holiday season. These are brilliantly funny Christmas books for kids. 

Buy The Return of Sproutzilla

 

Meerkat Christmas

Join Sunny the Meerkat on his search for a white Christmas in this interactive and heartwarming festive story from the creator of Meerkat Mail. This tale of family and festive fun is full of Christmas cards to read as you follow Sunny’s journey from the Kalahari desert as he looks for his perfect Christmas.

Buy Meerkat Christmas

 

I Am Perfectly Designed

I am Perfectly Designed is the perfect story for families of all shapes and sizes to share this festive season. Embodying the kindness and love of its creator, Queer Eye star Karamo Brown, it’s an empowering story about loving who you are and a celebration of the bond between a parent and a child.

Buy I Am Perfectly Designed

 

The Night Before Christmas in Wonderland

This festive mashup of two classic children’s books begins with Santa, not Alice, falling down the rabbit hole into Wonderland. Join the Cheshire Cat, the Mad Hatter and a few of Santa's reindeer for a tea party and find out if Santa can charm the Queen of Hearts (who hates Christmas, naturally) and put the Merry back into Christmas in Wonderland. If you’re looking for a fun Christmas tale with a twist, here it is!

Buy The Night Before Christmas in Wonderland

 

The Gruffalo and The Gruffalo's Child Gift Slipcase

Take a trip into the deep dark wood this Christmas with the ultimate present for fans of Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler’s modern classic. This limited edition gift set published to celebrate the book’s twentieth anniversary includes beautiful hardback editions of The Gruffalo and The Gruffalo’s Child. With special foil detailing and a limited edition slipcase to keep the books in, this is a Christmas gift for young Gruffalo fans to treasure.

Buy The Gruffalo and The Gruffalo's Child Gift Slipcase

Christmas gift ideas for kids aged 5-9

These books for children aged 5-9 are full of delightful Christmas stories, hilarious jokes and fascinating facts to keep them entertained through Christmas and beyond.

 

How Winston Delivered Christmas

Join little Winston the mouse as he embarks on his mission to deliver a last-minute letter to Santa that got lost along the way. It’s packed with colourful illustrations and a different Christmas activity idea in every chapter: we recommend reading it together on Christmas Eve while you’re getting ready for Santa to stop by.

Buy How Winston Delivered Christmas

 

Christmas with Princess Mirror-Belle

In this chapter book for young readers, magically mischievous Mirror-Belle comes popping out of the mirror to sweep Ellen into two hilarious Christmassy escapades – from joining in with the Christmas ballet show to attending Ellen's friend's fancy-dress party and trying to catch Father Christmas!

Buy Christmas With Princess Mirror-Belle

 

The Real Family Christmas

A funny festive story collection for young readers, The Real Family Christmas will get everyone in the holiday spirit. Featuring three stories about the Christmas family and their hilarious escapades, it will have independent readers laughing out loud at these fun Christmas stories.

Buy The Real Family Christmas

 

The Misadventures of Frederick

The Misadventures of Frederick is the story of a cautious little boy and his newfound fearless friend. A tale of friendship and celebrating differences told through letters: a joyful book for young readers packed with beautiful illustrations and heartwarming moments.

The Misadventures of Frederick

 

The Treehouse Joke Book

Give the gift that any Treehouse fan needs this Christmas – The Treehouse Joke Book! Kids will love telling their new jokes at every Christmas gathering and entertaining friends and family with silly one-liners. With topics ranging from bears to birds, penguins to pirates, school to space, you won’t find any of these jokes in your Christmas crackers.

Buy The Treehouse Joke Book

 

The Curious Book of Lists

An essential stocking filler for inquisitive young minds, The Curious Book of Lists is packed with eye-popping information on hundreds of topics – from the world’s fastest animals to history’s most fearless female warriors!

Buy The Curious Book of Lists

 

The Nutcracker Colouring Book

This gorgeous colouring book is filled with detailed black line illustrations just waiting to be brought to life with colour. Based on E. T. A. Hoffmann's original short story 'The Nutcracker and the Mouse King', there are captions that tell the story, and a festive cover decorated with red foil. The perfect Christmas gift for creative children and young ballet fans.

Buy The Nutcracker Colouring Book

 

Find ideas to keep children of all ages entertained this holiday season with our list of the best indoor activities for kids.

 

Christmas gift ideas for kids ages 9 -12

From beautifully illustrated magical adventures to a festive collection of Christmas poems, these books for children aged 9-12 make perfect Christmas gifts.

 

Christmas Poems

This collection of classic and contemporary Christmas poems celebrates everything about the festive season, from snow and stockings to the Nativity story. Why not take it in turns to pick a poem to read as a poetry advent calendar of sorts in the run-up to the big day?

Buy Christmas Poems

 

Shadows of Winterspell

Deep in the forest, magic is waiting . . . If you’re looking for a gift idea for a child who loves magic and mystery, Shadows of Winterspell might be just the ticket. The story of a young girl dealing with the presence of dark ancient magic and set in the depths of winter, this children’s fantasy tale makes a great gift for independent readers.

Buy Shadows of Winterspell

 

Guardians of Magic

A brand new magical quest story from the creator of Goth Girl, this illustrated hardback will make a special gift for young bookworms. Guardians of Magic is the first title in a brand new series from Chris Riddell, and this hardback edition also includes a full-colour guide to the giants who feature in the story.

Buy Guardians of Magic

 

Shakespeare for Every Day of the Year

Weave a little bit of Shakespeare’s wisdom into every day with this beautiful hardback anthology of his works. With each day featuring a Shakespeare poem, extract or sonnet, chosen and introduced by Allie Esiri, this gift will give young readers an introduction to the wit and humour of the greatest writer in the English language.

Buy Shakespeare for Every Day of the Year

 

The Lotterys More or Less

The story about a thoroughly modern family from bestselling author Emma Donoghue. In The Lotterys More or Less, nine-year-old Sumac is determined to make sure all of the family’s Christmas traditions are upheld. But from uninvited guests to weird weather and mysterious power cuts, it seems like everything is against the Lotterys having a ‘normal’ family Christmas.

Buy The Lotterys More or Less

Christmas gift ideas for kids aged 12+

These children’s books, from the YA book everyone’s talking about to a festive story collection from much-loved author Eva Ibbbotsen will be treasured by children aged 12+.

 

The Christmas Star

A collection of three festive stories from Eva Ibbotson. In the first story – 'Vicky and the Christmas Angel' – a young Viennese girl discovers, to her horror, who really brings the children's presents at Christmas.

Buy The Christmas Star

 

Wayward Son

The sequel to her bestselling novel Carry On, in Wayward Son Rainbow Rowell returns to the world of Simon, Penny and Baz and asks, what happened to the Chosen One after he saved the day? This new novel from the author of Fangirl will delight YA fans everywhere.

Buy Wayward Son

 

Poems to Fall in Love With

A collectable anthology to be treasured, this collection of poems about love has been chosen and illustrated by former Children’s Laureate Chris Riddell. With works from poets including Kate Tempest, E. E. Cummings, Carol Ann Duffy and more, it's a brilliant introduction to poetry for young readers.

Buy Poems to Fall in Love With