Magical books to spark imagination for younger readers this Christmas
Christmas is fast-approaching and it’s time to decide on what gifts to share with our loved ones this year. One present that always goes down a treat for the younger people in our lives is an enchanting book.
Not only do books spark imagination and boost creativity in the minds of younger bookworms, but they help to improve reading skills in a fun way.
With so many books on the shelves now, it can be overwhelming to know which to opt for, but we’ve made the decision easier by narrowing down the choice to some of our favourite tales from this year. Whether you’re looking for a magical picture book or a festive title, you’re sure to find a book below to bring joy this Christmas.
I See the Moon and the Moon Sees Me: Favourite Rhymes from an Irish Childhood by Sarah Webb & Paul Delaney (Published by O’Brien Press) – RRP €19.99
Oranges and lemons, dancing sausages, little kittens, ducks and turtles; golden slumbers, lullabies and lots more. I See the Moon and the Moon Sees Me is a wonderful new collection of nursery rhymes to treasure and songs and poems to share. Packed with rhymes, songs, poems and lots more, including selections from the National Folklore Collection. Enjoy childhood favourites and classic ditties that will cheer up any bedtime, as well as magical verses for children written by Spike Milligan and Gordon Snell and a beautiful lullaby by singer-songwriter Lisa O'Neill. Buy in all good bookshops or here
The Great Discovery by Peter Donnelly (Published by Gill Books) – RRP €16.99
Mr Gray needs something spectacular to show for the grand reopening of his museum. So when he receives a call about a ‘very old thing’ that has been discovered in a garden, he is very keen to investigate. What he finds there is a ginormous bone. Then another, and another… Could the bones be from an elephant? A rhinoceros? Or even a hippopotamus? When a little dog helps him uncover an enormous antler, Mr Gray thinks he might have solved the puzzle… and found a very special exhibit for his grand reopening, too! Buy in all good bookshops or here
Iron Robin by Rose Tremain, illustrated by Richard Jones (Published by Puffin) – RRP £7.99
Oliver loves birds – watching them soar into the sky and wishing that just sometimes they would stay close. So when he discovers a robin made of iron, he thinks he's found the perfect friend – even if his pet dragon isn't quite so certain! When the robin begins to glimmer and hop, Oliver is overjoyed, but in a terrible turn of events, this new friend is lost. But the magic of Iron Robin and the joy of friendship means that there is wonder and excitement ahead for Oliver… Buy in all good bookshops or here
A Map for Falasteen by Maysa Odeh & Illustrated by Aliaa Betawi (Published by O’Brien Press) – RRP €9.99
At school, Falasteen and her classmates are tasked with finding their families' home countries on a map, but no matter how hard she looks, Falasteen can't find Palestine. Confused, Falasteen turns to her family for answers. Her grandfather, grandmother and mama encourage her to see their homeland from a different perspective, and each of their stories helps her understand her people's history and her own place in the world. Filled with beautiful and inspiring illustrations, this is a story of family, resilience and home always being where the heart is. Buy in all good bookshops or here
The Biggest Christmas Secret Ever by L.D. Lapinski (Published by Orion Children’s Books) – RRP £7.99
OK so your mum’s partner, Nick, has a big bushy beard, a thick red coat, a team of reindeer and just happens to be REALLY busy around Christmas Eve… what could that mean?! Harper and Will’s lives are already full of festive wonder, but baby sister Yula is about to bring a whole new meaning to the magic of Christmas. Indoor snowflakes, naughty gingerbread biscuits and reindeer running wild spell Christmas chaos! And with the Elf and Safety Department on the lookout for any unexplained festive magic, it’s up to their family keep the biggest Christmas secret ever… Buy in all good bookshops or here
'Twas the Match Before Christmas by Julianne McKeigue, Illustrated by Brian Fitzgerald (Published by O’Brien Press) – RRP €12.99
’Twas the night before Christmas, when all through Croke Park. It was quiet and peaceful; the great pitch was dark… But not for long! As the clock strikes midnight, there's a magical surprise: Santa, his elves and reindeer arrive for a night of mischief, mayhem and football. Buy in all good bookshops or here
How to Grow a Mermaid by Rachel Morrisroe, illustrated by Steven Lenton (Published by Puffin) – RRP £3.99
Join Sarah and Mr Pottifer in their magical plant shop, where fantastical creatures grow from trees! A new customer at the shop buys some mermaid seeds, and Sarah is only too happy to help him grow them. But when the plants are accidentally given too much sugar, their vines spread throughout the town, flooding the streets and causing a whole heap of MER-MAYHEM! Can Sarah and her new friend use their quick thinking and green fingers to save the day? Buy in all good bookshops or here
Oi Dinosaurs by Kes Gray and Jim Field (Published by Hodder Children’s Books in Hardback) – RRP €13.99
Join Frog, Cat and Dog for oodles of prehistoric rhyming fun packed with dinosaurs, mammoths and – of course – prehistoric frogs! With over 3 million copies sold across this beloved series, this hilarious new rhyming story from Kes Gray and Jim Field is the perfect picture book to share together. Guaranteed to get little dinosaur-fans giggling! Available to buy in all good bookshops nationwide.
The Camel Who Had The Hump by Rachel Bright, Illustrated by Jim Field (Published by Orchard Books) – RRP £12.99
As a shimmering sun lit the desert at dawn, A clumping of camels awoke with a yawn. “GOOD MORRRRNING!” sang one, “YOO-HOO! Rise and shine!” “I will!” called another. “Today is DIVINNNNNNE!”. But not everyone has woken up in a good mood: Cuthbert the camel is having a bit of a bad morning. He’s hot, he’s tired and he certainly WON’T be walking to the oasis today! There is ABSOLUTELY NOTHING that will get him out of his grump. Or is there? When Cuthbert makes a new friend, he discovers that even if things get off on the wrong hoof, we’re all just one smile away from a happy rest-of-day. Buy in all good bookshops or here
Over the Red-Brick Chimney by Una Leavy, illustrated by Shannon Bergin (Published by O’Brien Press) – RRP €13.99
Little Goose is excited. It’s time to go, before the Big Snow. Winter is coming and the geese must fly to Ireland, far away. But Little Goose falls behind and gets lost in a storm. Can Finn and his mum help her find her way home? Buy in all good bookshops or here
Night Flight by Katie Cottle (Published by Puffin) – RRP £7.99
When Ellie moves from her quiet village to a bustling city, she finds that the many different birds she loves to watch are missing. She stares out of her window, searches the skies on walks, but they are nowhere to be found. Then one night, she's visited by a giant starling which asks for her help. The birds are lost because of the shimmering glow from the city's bright lights. Can Ellie help the birds find their way home? Buy in all good bookshops or here
Until You Find The Sun by Maryam Hassan, Illustrated by Anna Wilson (Published by Hodder Children's Books) – RRP £7.99
Aminah’s life is full of warmth and joy, from days spent in the golden sunshine eating juicy mangoes, to evenings curled up reading adventure stories with her grandfather, Da. But one day, Aminah’s told she’ll be leaving with her parents for their very own adventure, one that will take her away from Da and the sunny comforts of the life she’s known. Though change can be scary and her new home is much colder, Aminah soon begins to realise that no matter how far she is from Da, she’ll always be able to feel his warmth in her heart… Buy in all good bookshops or here
Strong Like Me by Kelechi Okafor, illustrated by Michaela Dias-Hayes (Published by Puffin) – RRP £3.99
Kamara loves being super strong – it makes her feel fizzy and zappy! But her classmates and their negative words lead her to question how strong she really is. With Sport's Day and the Big Race looming, does Kamara have what it takes to reach the finish line? And can she discover what being STRONG means to her? Buy in all good bookshops or here
Ava and the Acorn by Lu Fraser, Illustrated by Paddy Donnelly (Published by Hodder Children’s Books in Hardback) – RRP €16.99
Together Grandad and Ava adventure along the twisting path and over the hill where, beneath the canopy of their friend the old Oak tree, they make wonderful memories to treasure and share: from summer picnics with jam-sticky fingers to carefree days kicking through russet leaves in autumn's soft glow. But as the seasons change, so too does the old Oak tree and Grandad's health… A tender, stay-with-you-forever story about one little girl's relationship with her grandad, and the hope that lies in the changing of the seasons and the circle of life. Because where you think there's an end, there's always a beginning… Available to buy in all good bookshops nationwide.
Where To Hide A Star by Oliver Jeffers (Published by HarperCollins Children’s Books) – RRP £14.99
Once there was a boy who would often play hide-and-seek with his friends the star and the penguin. The star was always easy to find, but one day it went missing. So, the boy radioed the Martian for help and soon found himself on an exciting spaceship rescue mission to the North Pole! But there, he discovered that he wasn’t the only one who had always dreamed of having a star as a friend… Buy in all good bookshops or here
What is a Peachick? by Erika McGann, illustrated by Clive McFarland (Published by O’Brien Press) – RRP €14.99
What is a peachick? I’ve heard of a chickpea. I’ve had those for lunch. Is a peachick the same? Is it something you munch? This book is a zany exploration of the possibilities for fun with words & pictures. Buy in all good bookshops or here
The Girl at the Front of the Class by Onjali Q. Raúf, Illustrated by Pippa Curnick (Published by Hodder Children's Books) – RRP £12.99
There’s a new girl in my class. She has eyes as wide and as golden as a tiger’s, a face as pale as a glass of milk, and hair as shiny as a mirror. I’d like to be her friend. But she never wants to play with me in the playground or make sandcastles in the sandpit. The cleverest people I know say that the new girl is sad because she had to leave her home, her family, her school, her toys, her books and all her friends too. But I’ve got a plan! There’s something I can do to make her feel better when she’s missing everything she’s left behind… Buy in all good bookshops or here
The Salmon of Knowledge by Eithne Massey, illustrated by Ellen Kane (Published by O’Brien Press) – RRP €14.99
Ireland’s most famous legend, in a new picture book edition. Long ago in Ireland, there lived a boy called Fionn who wanted to know everything. Fionn goes to live with the wisest man in Ireland, hoping to find answers to his many questions. But Finnegas has a secret. He knows how to get all the knowledge in the world, and it starts with a silver salmon swimming in the River Boyne… Buy in all good bookshops or here
Moon Mouse by Corrinne Averiss, Illustrated by Lorna Hill (Published by Orchard Books) – RRP £7.99
Moon Mouse lives far out in space, with only his garden and his ideas for company. Mouse loves his moon home, but sometimes, when he spies a birthday party on Earth through his telescope, he finds himself wishing he could join in with the fun. Then one day, a birthday balloon floats away from a birthday boy and up, up, up – all the way to Moon Mouse’s garden! Will Mouse find the courage to leave the comfort and security of his home to discover what it means to make a friend? Buy in all good bookshops or here
Dexter Lost His Boo Woo by Shane Hegarty, Illustrated by Ben Mantle (Published by Hodder Children’s Books in Hardback) – RRP €14.99
HELP! Dexter’s lost his Boo-Woo. It’s a scary sounding beast! It has fiery eyes and floppy ears, and twenty pointy teeth! Soon the whole town is on the hunt for the Boo-Woo… Are YOU brave enough to join the search? Join police officers, firefighters and more in this gloriously illustrated, action-packed adventure with an unexpected twist about losing – and finding! – your favourite toy. Available to buy in all good bookshops nationwide.