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| Book Reviews - Seasonal |
Current book reviews for this category are shown below.
You may add your own review if you wish. |
| Scream Street: Fang Of The Vampire |
Tommy Donbavand
£4.99, Walker Books
After Luke Watson transforms into a werewolf for the third time, he and his parents are moved by the Government Housing of Unusual Lifeforms (G.H.O.U.L.) to Scream Street – a community of vampires, zombies, witches and more.
In Scream Street, Luke and his parents discover a nightmarish world of the undead. Luke soon makes friends with vampire Resus Negative and mummy Cleo Farr, but he remains determined to take his terrified parents home. After liberating the powerful book Tales of Scream Street from his new landlord, Otto Sneer, Luke learns that the founding fathers of the community each left behind a powerful relic. Collecting together all six is his only hope of opening a doorway out of the street, so with the help of Resus and Cleo he sets out to find the first one, the vampire’s fang. But with Otto Sneer determined to thwart him at every turn, will Luke even get past the first hurdle alive?
Super scary, screamingly funny new series for readers aged eight years plus, that kids will love!
Other titles in the Scream Street Series include:
Blood of the Witch
Heart of the Mummy
Flesh of the Zombie
PS. See Tommy Donbavand transforming into a werewolf at www.screamstreet.co.uk
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| Christmas Peekaboo! |
Dorling Kindersley
£6.99, Dorling Kindersley
Play festive peekaboo with your baby and hear them giggle in delight as hidden Christmas surprises are revealed!
Read together and lift the giant flaps to reveal Christmas presents and a glittering snowman; then explore the soft, shiny and bumpy textures. Where’s Christmas baby gone, is she behind the present? And who will you discover behind the snowflakes? Find them all, they are waiting to say Peekaboo!
An award-winning series for babies perfect for developing imagination, early-thinking and memory skills.
Other titles in the Peekaboo! series include:
Eyes, Nose, Toes
Rainbow Colours
Farm
Dress Up |
| Santa's Littlest Helper Travels the World |
Anu Stohner
£5.99, Bloomsbury
Santa's Littlest Helper is always first to finish wrapping his presents and packing his sleigh, and the other helpers tease him. But when Christmas Eve arrives and they are all struck down with Christmas pox, it's the littlest helper who comes up with a plan to save Christmas. While the bigger helpers deliver to human children, the littlest helper delivers presents to the animals, and he enlists their help to ride the sleighs and visit all the cities and villages in time for Christmas morning.
A festive picture book featuring the tiny charismatic man in red that is ideal for reading aloud at bedtime in the run up to Christmas. |
| Battle for Christmas, The |
Jeremy Strong
£4.99, Puffin
When Ellie puts on her new pyjamas, strange things start to happen. She and her little brother, Max, are whisked off to the Christmas Shop where a battle is raging between a valiant troop of toys and the scaaaarry Christmas Tree Fairy and her army of angels.
Can Ellie and Max save Christmas for the world – or will they be arrested for being mince spies?
This is the first book in a new series for eight to 12 year olds about the Cosmic Pyjamas. They're magical and they're dangerous. You have been warned!
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| Angel and the Lamb, The |
Sophie Piper
£6.99, Lion Hudson
Little Lamb is lost on the hillside.
Who will take him safely to Bethlehem?
A delightful tale for Christmas for young children.
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| Mix and Match Christmas |
Juliet David
£6.99, Lion Hudson / Candle Books
Children can have lots of fun as they read the Christmas story, play with this interactive book, and mix and match over 40 exciting character cards. Each spread has two specific characters which children are encouraged to find in amongst the wiro cards on the right hand side. They can of course make lots of different characters as well, as they read through the book. |
| On That Christmas Night |
Tim Dowley
£8.99, Lion Hudson / Candle Books
Here is the traditional nativity story of Mary and the angel, of Joseph and his dream, of the journey to Bethlehem and the baby in the manger, of the angels singing in the skies above Bethlehem and the visit of the shepherds, of the wise men and the star and the gifts which they brought to the newborn king.
The traditional story is exquisitely illustrated to make this book a gift to treasure for all the Christmases of childhood.
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| Lion Storyteller Bible, The |
Bob Hartman & Krisztina Kallai Nagy
£14.99, Lion Hudson
The Lion Storyteller Bible broke new ground in its presentation - both verbal and visual - of Bible stories. It has been immensely popular, with sales in the UK exceeding 130,000 copies and editions printed in more than 11 languages. Since The Lion Storyteller Bible was first published Bob Hartman has established an international reputation as a storyteller and writer.This new book integrates more than 20 new Bible story retellings with the 50 tried and tested originals. It also includes a useful appendix of Bob Hartman's hints and tips for storytelling, as well as 4CDs on which the stories are narrated by voiceover specialist, David Holt.
Newly commissioned illustrations throughout will capture as much warmth and appeal as those in the first edition.
To listen to an audio extract, click here;
http://www.lionhudson.com/media/9780745949802.mp3 |
| Where Teddy Bears Come From |
Mark Burgess & Russell Ayto
£5.99, Puffin
Little Wolf just can't sleep. He needs a teddy bear, but where do they come from? The Three Little Pigs and Little Red Riding Hood don't know, and not even Wise Owl can help. It's only when Little Wolf bumps into a magical stranger with a bright, red coat and long, white beard that his greatest wish comes true.
A perfect Christmas story for five to eight year olds about one of the most important questions of all... |
| Dear Father Christmas |
Jeanne Willis & Rosie Reeve
£7.99, Puffin
There are no fluffy slippers, teddies, toys and bikes on this delightful Christmas wish-list from the creators of Delilah Darling! Instead, expect a spray to frighten monsters, laces that tie themselves, a hamster that lives forever and a brand-new baby brother on Christmas morning. But it's the last, most exciting wish of all that springs the BIG surprise and shows just who it is writing to Father Christmas...
Three to five year olds will love this seasonal picture book, with a sheet of special paper hidden inside and lots of stickers to write their very onn letter to Father Christmas! |
| Nut Cracker |
Jan Pienkowski - told by David Walser
£17.99, Puffin
It is Christmas Eve and the party is over. Clara creeps downstairs to find Nutcracker, a wooden doll given to her by her mysterious godfather Drosselmeier – a creator of fabulous mechanical toys, has come to life. Through her godfather’s strange powers, Clara is caught up in a thrilling battle in which she and Nutcracker – in reality a prince transformed by an evil spell – overcome the Mouse King and his army. Clara’s bravery is rewarded by a trip to the magical Land of Sweets, and in the end it is her love and loyalty that lift the curse, transforming Nutcracker back into his true self, and making Clara’s dreams come true.
This classic love story, which inspired the popular ballet that is danced to one of Tchaikovsky’s most magical scores, is wonderfully retold by David Walser, in a direct translation from the original German story.Jan Pieñkowski, master of illustration, brings the story vividly to life adding his own magic with exquisite illustrations on sparkling backgrounds. The finale is a multi-layered tableau of intricate laser-cut silhouettes, created in the style of traditional German papercraft.
This beautiful and sumptuous novelty book is the ultimate gift for three to five year olds this Christmas.
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| Daddy Hug |
Tim Warnes
£5.99, Harper Collins
A beautiful picture book for parents and children to share all about the love between a father and his child.
From spiky hedgehogs and slimy snakes to bouncy sheep and buzzing bees. . .everbody loves their Daddy Hug!
Beautiful family gift to celebrate Father's Day...or any day! |
| Illustrated Family Bible |
Edited by Claude-Bernard Costecalde
£16.99, Dorling Kindersley
Gain understanding and insight into stories from the Old and New Testaments in the new edition of this illustrated Bible – packaged in a beautiful slipcase. From the ‘Last Supper’ to the ‘Miraculous Catch of Fish’, find out more about the Bible’s key stories through the events and history behind them.
Explore detailed photographs of places and artefacts, together with maps which all help set the Bible in its social, historical and geographical context. Plus, find features on the Patriarchs, the Parables and the Journeys of St Paul.
Based on the New International Version of the Bible and selected by a team of renowned scholars and teachers of religion; this new visual approach to understanding the Bible will entertain and inspire the whole family.
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| Dear Santa: Letters and Drawings to Father Christmas |
Ron Abercrombie
£1.00, Mainstream Publishing
Children from all over the UK share their excitement at the prospect of Santa visiting them in this book which celebrates Santa through the children's funny and touching letters and drawings. A donation to Save the Children will be made from the proceeds of every copy sold.
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| Dear Father Christmas: Raymond Briggs' Letter Writing Kit |
Raymond Briggs
£5.99, Top That Publishing PLC
This pack contains a fun instruction book packed with simple, livly text to explain to children that art of writing a perfect letter. From showing how to set out addresses, address a postcard and take a memo, each simple project contains step-by-step instructions and is accompanied by amusing anecdotes from Father Christmas himself. Each piece of notepaper, envelope, postcard and stamp features original Raymond Briggs artwork, creating a complete writing set to inspire letter writing over the Christmas season, while helping kids learn basic life skills.
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| Dear Father Christmas |
ALAN DURANT
£5.99, Walker Hb
After a visit to Father Christmas, Billy left his Christmas list above the fireplace, but his sister, Holly left a letter instead. You can imagine how excited she was the next day to get a letter back. It reminds her to leave a list, but she leaves another letter instead. This is the start of a series of letters between her and Santa, but Holly is reluctant to say what she really wants for Christmas. What could she want that she’s too shy to ask for? All is revealed in this delightful picture book that allows the reader to share Holly’s excitement by having all of Santa’s letters and surprises in envelopes to be opened and enjoyed. |
| The Christmas Miracle of Jonathan |
SUSAN WOJCIECHOWSKI
£10.99, Walker Hb
The village children called Jonathan ‘Mr Gloomy’, which suited this grumpy man. He kept himself to himself and so no one knew that he was really sad, with good reason. One thing that was known about him was his skill as a woodcarver, which is why a young widow asked him to make a special set of Christmas figures for her. Slowly the widow and her son infiltrate Jonathan’s lonely existence with remarkable consequences for all of them. This is a gorgeous, touching story that unravels slowly, showing what a difference one person can make to another’s life. It is beautifully illustrated and comes with a CD narrated by James Earl Jones. |
| Coyote Christmas |
S.D. NELSON
£7.95, Abrams Hb
The starving Coyote didn’t care it was Christmas eve, he was only interested in tricking humans out of some food. Taking on a perfect disguise of Father Christmas let him trick his way into a family home where he was offered a meal. His plan was to leave before anyone discovered his bag of presents was just full of straw, but he falls and is dumfounded when his sack opens to reveal presents — the trickster has been tricked and discovered feelings he didn’t know he had. This is a really touching story with beautiful illustrations. A picture book with lots of sentences on each page for readers growing in confidence — and great to share. |
| A Message for Santa |
TONY ROSS/HIAWYN ORAM
£5.99, Andersen Press
Emily loves everything about Christmas, except one… she
is scared of Santa Claus. So, instead of leaving a welcome
out for him, she blocks up the chimney to stop him getting
down. Getting her to imagine what it would feel like to be
Santa stuck in the chimney makes her realise she is being
cruel and her mum comes up with a compromise. Emily is
surprised to learn Santa has his own fears and realises you shouldn’t be afraid to admit them. Very funny, thoughtful picture book with expressive illustrations adding to the fun. Few sentences on each page. |
| Little Rabbit's Christmas |
Harry Horse
£5.99, Puffin Books
Christmas is coming and all Little Rabbit wants is a shiny red sledge. When he wakes up on Christmas morning he isn't surprised that he can't find it in his stocking because that's a little small for a sledge. But when he cannot find it under the Christmas tree either, or stuck up the chimney, or under his parents' bed, he is heartbroken! "I only wanted a sledge," he weeps, until Papa tells him to stop crying and look outside. And there it is - all shiny and red and new, just waiting for Little Rabbit to play on it. He feels very proud when his friends gather round to admire his wonderful present, but they want to play on it, too! Little Rabbit thinks that's not fair - it's HIS sledge and HE'S the only one allowed to ride it! What will make him learn to share?
Winner of the Smarties Prize for three to five year olds. |
| Russell's Christmas Magic |
Rob Scotton - Illustrated by Rob Scotton
£5.99, Harper Collins
When Santa and his broken sleigh are stranded in Firefly Wood, Santa is sure that Christmas will have to be cancelled. That is, until Russell the Sheep comes to the rescue with a magic that is all his own.
Beautifully illustrated tale about a sheep who can't sleep for three to six year olds.
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| A Christmas Carol |
Charles Dickens / Illustrated by P. J. Lynch
£14.99, Walker Books
A newly illustrated edition of the Christmas classic, by award-winning Irish illustator, P. J. Lynch.
Dickens's ghostly tale of Ebenezer Scrooge has become as much a part of Christmas as trees and stockings, plum pudding and mistletoe. In this lavish new edition, detailed and atmospheric artwork brings Dickensian London and its inhabitants to life with breathtaking immediacy. For readers aged 10 years plus. Nominated for Children's Books Ireland Bisto Awards 2007. |
| Pocket Money Christmas |
Clare Beaton
£4.99, b small
This is full of ideas for things to make — mainly recycling things you have lying about at home — making it cheap and good for the planet! There are suggestions for party hats, decorations, cards, gifts and even festive food with simple step by step illustrated instructions. Loads of fun |
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