WRD’S GUIDE TO CHRISTMAS BOOK BUYING

PICTURE BOOKSIt’s that time of year and so many

of you are asking what books to buy

your kids, your godchildren, nieces,

nephews etc. etc. So here, in one place,

is my guide to this year’s top reads.

Enjoy!

HelenPS. Find out more about the magazine I do about

kids books over at www.wrdmag.co.uk/reader

We’ve been reviewing and featuring books for 8-14

year olds for over 15 years. A subscription is great

value and makes a perfect present – just saying!

Super Happy Magic Forest booksby Matty Long (Ages 4+)

Ok, these actually published two years ago, but they are perennial favourites. Think a comic Tolkien quest with crazy characters (who can resist Trevor the mushroom, Hoofius the fawn and Blossom the unicorn?). Properly funny, with lots to spot and quest mazes to follow, they keep the kids I know entertained for ages.

Oi Cat! by Kes Gray and Jim Field (Ages 3+)

The third book in this brilliant rhyming series following on from Oi Frog! and Oi Dog! Clever, fun rhymes, and bright and bold animal illustrations, these are always a hit.

101 Dalmatiansadapted by Peter Bentley, illustrated by Steven Lenton (4+)

A lovely picture book adaptation of Dodie Smith’s classic tale. Dotty dogs galore and a great interpretation of Cruella. Grumpy Frog

by Ed Vere (3+)

We all have those ‘off’ days and this clever picture book deals with being grumpy with tongue in cheek humour that kids (and parents) love.

The Wolf, the Duck and the Mouse by Mac Barnett and Jon Klassen (5+)

This quirky tale of a duck and mouse who are gobbled up by a wolf and live in his belly is beautiful, surprising and entertaining, with classy illustrations from Jon Klassen, illustrator of I Want My Hat Back series.

I Don’t Want Curly Hair by Laura Ellen Anderson (5+)

Forget the straighteners, this book about loving what you’ve got is bursting with fun and bouncing rhyme.

Rudyard Kipling’s Just So Stories retold by Elli Woollard, illustrated by Marta Altes (5+)

Each tale is retold in perfect rhyme and the illustrations are

gorgeous. A lovely introduction to Kipling’s origin tales.

Nibbles the Dinosaur Guide by Emma Yarlett (5+)

Nibbles returns and this time he’s found his way into a dinosaur book. Fun illustrations and clever cut through pages, make this an interactive and informative story.

Ella: Queen of Jazz by Helen Hancocks (6+)

A stunning picture book about the real-life friendship between Ella Fitzgerald and Marilyn Monroe. Stunning images take you back to the 50s.

Amelia Fang and the Barbaric Ball by Laura Ellen Anderson

Great fun gothic new series featuring a young vampire and her best friends Florence (the yeti) and Grimaldi (son of death), packed with characterful illustrations throughout.

The 78-Storey Treehouse by Andy Griffiths and Terry Denton

The sixth book in this crazy comic series, (you can dip in at any stage) and it’s another imaginative exploration of all the crazy things author Andy and illustrator Terry can imagine in their treehouse. From a scribbletorium, to a high-security potato chip storage facility, it’s anarchic approach is brilliant.

Mr Penguin and the Lost Treasure by Alex T. Smith

Part Poirot, part Indiana Jones, I love this quirky new character of Mr Penguin from the creator of Claude. Beautiful illustrations complete the package.

Knighthood for Beginners by Elys Dolan

Fun, medieval, illustrated adventures featuring Dave the dragon and his trusty goat Albrecht. Bonkers but brilliant.

There’s a Werewolf in My Tent, My Headteacher is a Vampire Bat, Attack of the Demon Dinner Ladies by Pamela Butchart and Thomas Flintham

Izzy and her friends’s most excellent (and sometimes overly imaginative) adventures.

YOUNG FICTION 7-9 YEARS

Wed Wabbit by Lissa Evans

A clever and funny fantasy adventure featuring 10 year old Fidge, who finds herself transported inside her younger sister’s favourite picture book story. Might sound crazy but it’s really great and works on many levels.

Llama United by Scott Allen and illustrated by Sarah Horne

Perfect for football-mad kids, this is a hilarious adventure featuring footballing llamas. Yup, you read that right. Just go with it, it’s very funny.

The Polar Bear Explorers’ Club by Alex Bell, illustrated by Levi Pinfold

A perfect magical, frozen adventure that features a girl who wants to be an explorer and whole host of magical creatures. From yetis, frost fairies (frosties), snow queens

and pygmy dinosaurs, it’s a treat. The Wizards of Once by Cressida Cowell

The first in a new series from the creator of How to Train Your Dragon series and it’s a brilliant magical adventure with wizards and warriors, giants and sprites.

Who Let the Gods Out and Simply the Quest by Maz Evans

These mythological themed adventures, when a boy accidentally summons an ancient Greek god, are great fun. Madcap, with proper laugh out loud moments.

Nevermoor: The Trials of Morrigan Crow by Jessica Townsend

Perfect for Potter fans, this magical new series about a cursed child and her adventures in the realm of Nevermoor, is imaginative, exciting and full of magic.

The Guggenheim Mystery by Robin Stevens

Excellent art-themed mystery featuring Ted Smart, the hero of Siobhan Dowd’s original London Eye Mystery.

OLDER READS 9-12 YEARS

The Bolds series by Julian Clary and David Roberts

Hyenas masquerading as humans in Teddington, from the mind of Julian Clary, and the illustrations of David Roberts – surreally super. Latest title The Bolds on Holiday.

Bunny vs Monkey by Jamie Smart

Comic villain vs hero capers in woodland setting.

The Bad Guys by Aaron Blabey

Mr Shark, Mr Wolf and friends are trying to turn over a new leaf.

Dork Diaries series by Rachel Renée Russell

High school comic adventures featuring darkish heroine Nikki Maxwell, latest title Crush Catastrophe.

Diary of a Wimpy Kid series by Jeff Kinney

Twelve books in this phenomenally successful comedy and comic illustrated series. Latest title The Getaway.

Corpse Talk series by Adam Murphy

Think Graham Norton interviewing the dead corpses of famous people from history. Funny and a great way into history without even realising.

Evil Emperor Penguin by Laura Ellen Anderson

Trying to take over the world, obviously.

Captain Underpants series by Dav Pilkey

School kids creating their own y-front wearing superhero - what’s not to laugh at? Over ten books in series.

Tom Gates seriesby Liz Pichon

Trials and tribulations of Tom’s school days. Eleven books in series, latest title Tom Gates Epic Adventure (Kind Of)

COMIC SERIES PERFECT FOR RELUCTANT READERS

Lockwood and Co series by Jonathan Stroud

Ghostbusters reinvented in Victorian times. Exciting, imaginative and engaging series, needs to be read in order. Geek Girl series

by Holly Smale

I love these comedy adventures featuring reluctant model and self-confessed geek girl Harriet Manners. Full of heart and humour, with a dash of top-model aspiration.

Murder Most Unladylike series by Robin Stevens

Schoolgirl detecting duo set in the 1920s. With pacey plots, plenty of twists and turns, think Poirot meets Blyton.

My Brother is a Superhero by David Solomons

Superhero adventures (three books in series) featuring hapless Luke, who could have been a superhero too, if he hadn’t been in the loo at the precise moment his brother was given superpowers by an alien. Now that’s bad timing.

The Sinclair’s Mystery series by Katherine Woodfine

Four books in this detective adventures series set in a London department store in Edwardian times.

OTHER BESTSELLING SERIES (9+)

A Poem for Every Night of the Year and A Poem for Every Day of the Yearedited by Allie Esiri

Ok, so not technically children’s books, but they do make excellent gifts, and we all need a bit of poetry in our life, right?

Pug-a-Doodle-Day by Philip Reeve and Sarah McIntyre (6+)

A collection of drawing fun inspired by the authors’ collection of illustrated adventures.

Star Wars Where’s Wookiee 2(5+)

Spot the Wookie and other Star Wars characters in these crowded space scenes. One for all the family.

The Variety of Life by Nicola Davies and Lorna Scobie (6+)

A beautiful guide through nature’s diversity, this colourful and informative book groups things together in an easily-digestible way. Love it.

Pirates Magnified by David Long and

Harry Bloom (5+)

Complete with magnifying glass, explore the miniature piratical adventures in this fun-filled swash-buckling non-fiction and spotting book.

Great Shakespearean Deaths by Chris Riddell and Spymonkey (7+)

A fun card game based on tragic characters from Shakespeare. Kind of top trumps style but with categories like Speed of Death, Gore, Dramatic Quality and Last Words. Eat your heart out George R R Martin!

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban by JK Rowling and Jim Kay (6+)

The third, fully illustrated Potter adventure and Jim Kay’s artwork is truly stunning in its detail and variety.

Illumanatomy by Carnovsky and Kate Davies (8+)

The second title in this clever coloured-lens series (last year’s title was Illiminature). This one lets you see inside the human body: skeleton, muscles and organs. It’s like having an x-ray in

your hands, and it’s fascinating.

NON-FICTION AND GIFT BOOKS

SUBSCRIBE TO WRD!OUR CHRISTMAS SPECIAL SUBSCRIPTION MAKES A GREAT PRESENT FOR A YOUNG READER… • FOUR issues of WRD magazine • FOUR £10 National Book Tokens!• WRD Gang Certificate, WRD Pin Badge and WRD Bookbagwww.wrdmag.co.uk/reader