Children’s book gift ideas to inspire little readers this Christmas
With Christmas right around the corner, it’s time to finalise your shopping list before the big day!
If you have a little bookworm in your life, treating them to a book during the festive season is a great way to feed their mind by inspiring them with new stories.
Whether you’re buying for a little reader who loves picture books or are shopping for a tween who loves learning about history, we’ve compiled a gift guide of lovely children’s books, published by DK, to help narrow down your decision. Check it out below and prepare to bring joy this Christmas.
The History of Information by Chris Haughton (Published by DK) – RRP £20.00
This is a graphic handbook to the biggest influence on human history: information. This one-of-a-kind book is a unique exploration of the ways humans share and store information, and how this has shaped and changed the world. Illustrated in Chris’ signature style, we travel through time and take a deep dive into the story of information; from the first languages and cave paintings through to how we communicate and record information today. (age 9+)
Chefs Wanted by Allegra McEvedy, with illustrations by Alice Bowsher (Published by DK) – RRP £16.99
Co-founder of LEON, the famous fast-food restaurant, and award-winning chef, Allegra McEvedy brings cookery to kids with Chefs Wanted! Allegra presents more than 45 tasty recipes suitable for budding chefs, including classics from around the globe for those who want to take their skills to the next level. This cookbook will give enthusiastic children the opportunity to further their knowledge in the kitchen and whip up meals that are sure to impress. With simple, step-by-step instructions, photography of every mouth watering dish, and hilarious illustrations, each chapter will inform and inspire. (age 9+)
Words of Love by Jake Biggin (Published by DK) – RRP £12.99
Meet Sunny. Acting as guide, mentor and friend, he'll never judge your questions, worries, and anxieties. We all have them, and this sausage dog is here to help. This is an extraordinary book of love, inspiration, and comfort for people with big feelings. With charming illustrations throughout, and enchanting lyrical text, this book is the perfect story to remind us that we're not alone. Discover comfort, joy and acceptance in this book that's full of love, and reconnect with what's truly important. (age 7+)
Myths of China by Dr Xiaobing Wang, illustrated by Katie Ponder (Published by DK) – RRP £16.99
With vivid and vibrant illustrations that bring ancient China to life, this is the perfect gift for children who love history and mythology. Delve into a world of magical creatures, powerful gods and brave warriors in this thrilling compendium of ancient Chinese myths. With more than 20 exciting tales alongside fascinating historical information, this is a must-have introduction for young readers intrigued by the ancient civilization of China. (age 7+)
I Flew Around the World by Zara Rutherford, with illustrations by Jiatong Liu (Published by DK) – RRP £12.99
At just 19 years old, Zara Rutherford embarked on a daring adventure to become the youngest woman to fly solo across the globe. This captivating book chronicles her journey through 52 countries and 5 continents, from the icy landscapes of Greenland to the deserts of Saudi Arabia. With stunning illustrations and engaging storytelling, Zara shares her encounters with diverse cultures, wildlife, and the natural wonders of our planet. Perfect for young readers and aspiring adventurers. (age 7+)
The Very Young Person’s Guide to Christmas Carols by Tim Lihoreau and Philip Noyce, with illustrations by Sally Agar (Published by DK) – RRP £20.00
Dash through this lavishly illustrated introduction to Christmas carols with the sounds of a real orchestra, published in partnership with Classic FM. Our heroes explore beautiful scenes inspired by some of the best loved Christmas carols, including Silent Night, Carol of the Bells, and O Holy Night. Every spread features fascinating facts about festive carols and their origins- guaranteed to delight and inspire. (age 5+)
Minecraft Festive Ideas (Published by DK) – RRP £9.99
This is a festive, inspirational Minecraft book for kids and fans of all ages – with amazing Christmas/winter holiday building ideas, tips and challenges. There’s no shortage of building ideas with this magical stocking-stuffer, featuring more than 50 festive building ideas, games, and activities! Packed with inspirational ideas and tips for Minecraft holiday builds, Minecraft Festive Ideas is perfect for creative Minecraft fans who want to build a fun and festive winter wonderland. Building ideas include a gingerbread house, an adorable family of penguins, an arena for a snow golem snowball fight, merry Minecraft challenges suitable for younger players, and much more! (age 7+)
LEGO World Builder (Published by DK) – RRP £24.99
Get creative with this LEGO® book plus 150 bricks and sorting tray – and build and play your way through four fun-filled LEGO worlds. Use the LEGO bricks included to create a cool city car, then rebuild it into a jungle car, a spacecraft, or a submarine – and head o on adventures in your own unique LEGO worlds. Includes a minifigure and frog pal, too! Discover more than 150 build ideas to inspire you to create and expand your city, jungle, space, and underwater worlds. Read exciting stories, build fun LEGO models – and watch your LEGO worlds come to life! Includes a sorting tray for organising and storing your bricks and models-in-progress. Your book, bricks, and tray can come with you wherever you go! (age 7+)
An Anthology of Exquisite Birds by Ben Hoare with illustrations by Angela Rizza & Daniel Long (Published by DK) – RRP £20.00
Soar through the sky with best-selling author Ben Hoare to discover some of the most exquisite birds on our planet. From the miniature bee hummingbird that flaps its wings 200 times a second, to the oilbird that navigates pitch-black caves using echolocation, this stunning collection showcases more than 90 of the world's most extraordinary birds. Detailed photography is paired with storybook descriptions to captivate young readers, whether it's finding out about condors and cuckoos or swans and starlings. With foil on the cover, gilded edges, and a ribbon for keeping your place, An Anthology of Exquisite Birds makes a beautiful gift for the festive season. (age 7+)
Life in the Wild by Lizzie Daly with illustrations by Chiara Fedele (Published by DK) – RRP £14.99
Meet 10 exceptional animals and track their unique and hidden escapades through the animal kingdom with scientist, conservationist, and broadcaster Lizzie Daly. This book tells the tale of our planet's intriguing wildlife. Through 10 real stories, we follow in the footprints of polar bears, big cats, wolves, and jaguars, and explore oceans with whales, sharks, and seabirds. These tales of migration, mystery, and unique behaviours teach us new and exciting information about animal activity and ecology, and give us access to some of the most inhospitable corners of our planet. (age 7+)
Explore: A Collection of Maps and Diagrams That Explain The World (Published by DK) – RRP £20.00
Maps can help us find our way around more than just places, and knowledge can be shared using more than just words! Inside these pages, readers can discover maps of science, history, nature, and space. Find a new way into fascinating topics with this unique book. Follow the routes of animals as they embark on migrations and of seeds as they leave their parent plants. Explore the depths of the ocean, a single cell, a car engine, the human brain, and much more. This unique book features an encyclopedic range of subjects for children who want to find out everything there is to know about the world. Beautifully illustrated and filled with engaging text, Explore is a book that young readers will treasure. (age 7+)
Knowledge: A Visual Compendium (Published by DK) – RRP £25.00
Ever wondered how many moons there are in our Solar System, or the number of Olympic sports, or who the 46 US presidents were? Leaf through the pages of this beautiful book to find an intriguing array of objects, animals, lists, and artifacts from nature, science, technology, the arts, and history, which illustrate how we order, understand, and make sense of the world. With its combination of attractive, timeless images and expert, engaging text, Knowledge, A Visual Compendium is perfect for children (and adults!) who are curious about the world and the lists, systems, and categories that help us understand it. (age 9-11)
Time For Us by Rebecca Walker with illustrations by Maria Diaz Perera (Published by DK) – RRP £7.99
Time For Us is a beautifully written and illustrated picture book about precious times between caregivers and children. Drawing on Rebecca Walker's own experience, of being a working mother struggling to make time for her son, this charming story is inspired by the theory that just 20 minutes of quality time a day benefits both adults and children. A wonderful book to explore with loved ones this Christmas! (age 5-7)
Jonny Lambert’s Bear and Bird: Winter Wonderland (Published by DK) – RRP £10.99
Join Bear and Bird as they journey through a winter wonderland – explore exciting peep-through pages and see what you can spot along the way! As the forest turns into snow and ice, Bear and his best friend Bird prepare for their winter sleep. But they have one last surprise for their friends. Armed with winter warmers, the curious duo and their pals set off on a snowy trail and discover all sorts of wintery secrets along the way. Children will love following Bear and Bird on their adventure through the freezing forest. (age 0-5)
Countdown to Christmas: A Lift-the-Flap Book (Published by DK) – RRP £7.99
Give the gift of surprises this Christmas with this heartwarming lift-the-flap story, full of festive fun and cheer. There are still 24 sleeps to go until Santa comes to visit! But with 24 surprises hidden in this story, there won’t be long to wait! Unwrap exciting activities, bound to get readers in the festive mood with this heart-warming wintery story. With festive friends and charming rhyming text, the countdown to the big day has never been so exciting, and will leave young readers eager to see what comes next. (age 0-5)