Cosy up with a book this Christmas!

Give the gift of reading this Christmas and start or add to someone’s love of books! Or book obsession if you’re anything like me!

I am utterly book obsessed as are my children, our house is overflowing with them and we visit the library weekly still! But there is nothing that gets us into the spirit of Christmas, like snuggling up with a good Christmassy book to read together.

So myself and kiddos have put together some of our all-time favourite Christmassy books, suitable for a range of ages, for you to cosy up with this Christmas! Whether you would like to give one as a gift, put in a Christmas Eve box, use in a stocking, or borrow from the library - there are plenty listed below to inspire you!

If you are looking to buy a book, why not check out Books Beyond Borders first, https://www.booksbeyondborders.org. Books Beyond Borders is a social business dedicated to expanding educational opportunities in the developing world. They collect and sell gently-used books and give 100% of their net profits to support underfunded classrooms in Nepal. So each purchase really makes a difference and is a little Christmas gift back to the world!

Baby's Very First Noisy Book Christmas – Fiona Watt

An enchanting board book with music and sounds to match the festive pictures. Little hands will love pressing the buttons to hear twinkling Christmas tunes to accompany the fluttering snowflakes, happy snowman and jolly Santa.

Dear Santa – Rod Campbell

Lift the flaps to find out what Santa has sent in this fun Christmas book from the bestselling creator of the preschool classic, Dear Zoo. Toddlers will love lifting the flaps to open the presents and find out what Santa has sent. Will he send the perfect present in the end? With gold foil cover, flaps to lift on every page and a touch-and-feel surprise ending, this festive favourite is the ideal Christmas gift or stocking filler for pre-schoolers.

Baby's Very First Touchy-Feely Christmas Book – Fiona Watt

A delightful Christmas board book with high contrast illustrations and touchy-feely patches perfect for sharing with the very young. Each festive picture has a simple description beneath to help babies learn to associate words and pictures. Young children will love feeling the different materials in every picture again and again.

Busy Nativity – Emily Bolam

Busy Nativity introduces young children to the wonderful story of the First Christmas. Push, pull and turn the tabs to join Mary and Joseph on their long journey to Bethlehem, marvel as a host of angels appear and see beautiful baby Jesus in his crib.

10 Little Elves – Mike Brownlow

Count along with the Ten Little Elves in this action-packed, Christmas counting rhyme adventure! With a super-sparkly cover. The Ten Little Elves are on a mission to rescue Christmas ... But what will the Ten Little Elves do when they meet a growling polar bear? And a yowling yeti? And a SCARY Ice Queen?

Spot's First Christmas – Eric Hill

Celebrate Christmas with Spot in this classic Spot tale. Join Spot as he helps Mum prepare the house for Christmas day - he helps wrap presents, decorates the tree and learns all about carol singing! With fun flaps to train fine motor skills and an adventure to encourage curiosity and exploration, this story is great for early learning and play.

Kipper's Christmas Eve Board Book – Mick Inkpen

A classic Kipper story, capturing all of the magic and anticipation of Christmas Eve. In a chunky board book, perfect for little hands to hold.Which is best, Kipper wonders, Christmas Day or Christmas Eve? Presents, or expecting presents? It's Christmas Eve and Kipper and his friends are preparing for the big day. Decorating the tree, exchanging presents and sharing in all the excitement together. Full of festive cheer, this charming story is perfect for reading together at Christmas time.

Stick Man – Julia Donaldson

Stick Man lives in the family treeWith his Stick Lady Love and their stick children three.But one day, Stick Man is carried off by a mischievous dog who wants to play fetch! Things go from bad to worse as Stick Man is carried farther and farther away from home. Lonely and lost, Stick Man wants nothing more than to be home with his family for Christmas. And when he helps Santa Claus out of a bind, he finds the perfect ticket home!

Little Blue Truck's Christmas – Alice Schertle

It's the most wonderful time of the year! Little Blue Truck is spreading cheer by delivering Christmas trees to his animal friends. Can you help count each green tree from one to five and back again? Don’t forget to save one for Blue! Beep! Beep!

I Love You, Father Christmas – Giles Andreae

A cosy Christmas story, capturing all the excitement of the festive season. This sweet and simple story is just right for Christmas cuddles. Following one little boy in the build-up to Christmas, this will make the perfect Christmas gift for even the youngest of children.

There’s an Elf in Your Book – Tom Fletcher

What does Elf want? Oh! Just to see if you've been naughty or nice this year! Elf will ask you a few simple questions to find out. And surely there won't be any tricks to try and get you to be naughty . . . will there? Hmmm, this could be quite a tricksy little elf. You'd better keep your wits about you if you want to make it on to Santa's Nice List!

The Christmas Bear – Ian Whybrow

When Father Christmas sets off to deliver the presents, poor Bear is left behind in the workshop! How will he make it to Tom's house in time for Christmas morning? Lift the flaps to find out, as he chases Santa's sleigh through icy seas and snowy forests, all the way from the North Pole to Tom's cosy bedroom.

Campbell Busy Christmas – Angie Rozelaar

Join in the festive fun as two small children prepare for Christmas day. There's something to push, pull or spin on every spread! Watch snowmen grow, sledges slide and trees being trimmed, then push the tab to see what happens on Christmas Eve . . . have the children been good? Will Santa come?

How to catch an Elf – Adam Wallace

You've been waiting all year long, and now it's finally Christmas Eve! Is this the year you'll finally catch an elf? Start a new holiday tradition with this silly Christmas book for children blending fun rhymes and vibrant illustrations.

Christmas Peekaboo – DK Publishing

This fun and festive Christmas book is perfect for infants who love playing peekaboo. Your child will be filled with delight as they pull back the flaps to reveal exciting Christmas surprises. Discover reindeer, Christmas angels, and even Santa himself!

Santa Post – Emma Yarlett

An irresistible festive book with hilarious letters and parcels to open. Santa receives post from children all over the world. But when Amy sends him a letter, he just can't work out what she wants as her gift. Will Santa manage to find Amy the right present in time for Christmas Eve?

We're Going on an Elf Chase – Martha Mumford

Christmas is coming! Come and join the fun as four little bunnies set off on an exciting lift-the-flap adventure. With ten little elves hidden under the flaps of this gorgeously festive board book, you'll have to run, run, run if you're going to catch them all! There are lots of Christmassy obstacles along the way, from clippy-cloppy reindeer and roaring polar bears to flippy-flappy penguins. Can you help the bunnies get home in time for bed?

That’s not my … series – Fiona Watt

We adore these touch and feel book series. Whether you are meeting five friendly snowmen, Santas, elves or reindeer in these festive additions, these books will definitely inspire the Christmas spirit in your little ones.

The Jolly Christmas Postman – Allen Ahlberg

The award-winning Jolly Christmas Postman is the ultimate children's picture book. It's Christmas Eve and the Jolly Postman is delivering greetings to various fairy-tale characters - there's a card for Baby Bear, a game appropriately called 'Beware' for Red Riding Hood from Mr Wolf, a get-well jigsaw for hospitalised Humpty Dumpty and three more surprise gifts.

Twas the Night Before Christmas – Clement C Moore

Saving the best until last! This book is a strong family tradition to be read on Christmas Eve. Everyone knows the famous beginning to this beloved holiday poem: "'Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house..." Clement Moore's poem was written in 1822 and has been a holiday classic ever since.

---

Contributed by committee member by Hannah Beth Richardson