Children’s books for Christmas | 13 December 2008

In these hard times it is gratifying to find one Christmas present which has remained virtually unchanged in price for the last seven or eight years — the children’s book. Most of the illustrated books for the very young and the increasingly elaborate pop-ups and stories incorporating various pockets, inserts and DVDs are produced in the Far East. They are well made and extremely good value. Christmas represents the last stand for the hardback, with the opportunity for children to enjoy a book as an object, not just for its contents. There are two new titles in Sarah Garland’s series for pre-school children, Going Shopping and Doing Christmas, both £6.99 from Frances Lincoln. Their lively illustrations and minimal text, allowing for plenty of improvisation by the adult raconteur, map the chaotic day-to-day life of a harassed single mother, her two toddlers and lugubrious dog.

Children from as young as two will also love being read Stick Man by Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler (Alison Green Books, £10.99.) Its delightful illustrations and rhythmic text make it a pleasure to read aloud, which is an important consideration if you are likely to be the reader. The same duo are famous for The Gruffalo, and a new edition of this classic has been produced by Macmillan at £15.99, combining the original story with a pop-up theatre, described as ‘no cutting, no gluing — perfect for little hands’. It might buy you some peace on Christmas afternoon, and keep the little hands from more destructive activities. Another story that looks and sounds good, though it is more of a challenge for the reader, and should not be attempted after too much brandy butter, is Bubble Trouble by Margaret Mahy, illustrated by Polly Dunbar (Frances Lincoln, £11.99.) Mabel’s baby brother floats away in a bubble accompanied by lines like‘But she bellowed Gracious Greville! and she grovelled in the gravel, /When the baby in the bubble bibble bobbled overhead.’