Christmas activities

Quentin Blake's A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens

A beautiful version of the Christmas favourite which is unabridged so the whole feel of the story is kept. The essence of the character of miserable Ebenezer Scrooge in captured through Quentin Blake's lively illustrations - his style fits the feel of Dickens' story perfectly. Watch the transformation in Scrooge as the story progresses - the true spirit of Christmas is shown as Scrooge's character is transformed. An interesting foreword and biographical information about Dickens complete the book, which is a perfect Christmas gift.

Grandpa In My Pocket DVD

Christmas Special double DVD about the adventures of Grandpa and his Grandson Jason. Grandpa puts on his cap, which only Jason knows about, and shrinks and off he goes creating comic chaos. Great value double DVD - ideal to keep the children entertained while you do that last-minute Christmas preparation. Six fun stories on each DVD - Grandpa means well but sometimes he causes unexpected (but fun) situations and Jason has to help him out.

The Twelve Days of Christmas by Jane Ray

A stunning version of the old favourite. Jane Ray's vibrant illustrations feature a whole host of people and creatures all depicted in her special style. I love the variety of expressions on the faces of the 11 pipers - and the lords a-leaping are hilarious! The detail is fabulous - really festive and decorative and the book brings Christmas to life wonderfully. It should become a family favourite, to be brought out and enjoyed year after year. Imaginative and unusual - a lovely version.

Merry Christmas Big Hungry Bear 

A charming Christmas story, but also one which carries an important message to help children appreciate the true spirit of Christmas. Little Mouse is looking forward to opening the presents under the tree - just look at how many he has got and the lengths he goes to to protect them! And poor Big Hungry Bear never gets ANY presents. So little Mouse decides to do a very brave thing....... The text is kept to a minimum to allow the gorgeous illustrations to do most of the talking. A satisfying book, which is beautifully produced and will be a perennial favourite. Buy your copy here.

Countdown to Christmas (Roly Poly Box Book) by Kees Moerbeek

 ThisRoly Poly Box book is really unusual. It gradually unfurls to show a whole range of tactile and visual surprises pop-up surprises. Carefully engineered and full of bright colours, children will find it really exciting. It would make a lovely wall decoration once children have finished looking at all the fascinating detail - and there are lots of opportunities for discussion too. Treat it gently and it will bring joy year after year. There's a very special surprise hidden right at the end - I wonder who it can be.........
Yoiu can buy yours on the Child's Play website and view all their other wonderful products too.

The Worst Twelve Days of Christmas by Sudipta Bardhan-Quallen

The first thing that caught my eye in this book was the vividness of the illustrations which lead the reader into a completely different version of the well-known favourite. Joy just knew that Christmas would be no fun this year - not with baby Sam to spoil everything. All Joy's excited preparations seem doomed to failure as somehow, however much she tries to involve him, Sam breaks everything. But the tables are turned on Christmas morning................ A perfect (and very funny)story for all families with a new brother or sister on the scene.

Sam's Sack from Santa by Neil Griffiths

A lovely story that perfectly encapsulates the spirit of Christmas. Sam lies awake, hoping to see Santa. He thinks he hears him, and creeps out to find a sack of presents on the lawn. It's just what he wanted - but, oh dear, that's not his name on the label. Sam is very tempted but, in the true spirit of Christmas, he makes a decision - and is justly rewarded! A totally believable story with a character who springs to life as we share his thinking. Colourful illustrations give the book a really Christmassy feel. A perfect bedtime story for Christmas Eve and a lovely way to remind children to think about others at this time of year. Comes with a CD to enhance the story - sound effects, activities and a quiz.

A Stork in a Baobab Tree by Catherine House and Polly Alakija

An African Twelve Days of Christmas, this is a lovely look at a celebration in another country. It really brings to life the traditions of an African village as we join the villagers in preparing for a birth. There is lots of information alongside the listing of the 12 gifts -  1 stork in a baobab tree, 2 thatched huts, 3 woven baskets, 4 market traders, 5 bright khangas, 6 women pounding, 7 children playing, 8 wooden carvings, 9 grazing goats, 10 drummers drumming, 11 dancers dancing and 12 storytellers. Each represents a different country.This really helps us understand and share in the celebration. A perfect classroom resource, lots of activities could be based around the book and its delightful illustrations.

12 Days of Christmas Fold Out Floor Book by Roger Priddy

Children will love to learn all about the 12 Days of Christmas with this exciting illustrated fold-out floor book. With sparkling foil throughout, the long, concertina page folds out to reveal all the gifts from the 12 days of Christmas. The lyrics to the song are included in full so that adults can share the magic of this Christmas song with their little ones.  

Pocket Money Christmas by Clare Beaton 

Christmas can be an expensive time of year, so it's great to see a book which encourages children to use their creativity to make presents and decorations - this is what Christmas should be all about ! Starting off with useful advice on things to use - most of which can be collected from around the house, the book gives clear and simple instructions along with plenty of pictures to show the stages and the finished product. Colourful decorations, festive food, party hats - full of ideas to make the lead up to Christmas even more exciting - and to keep young ones busy!

Zoe and Beans: Zoe's Christmas List by Chloe and Mick Inkpen 

Zoe knows just what she wants for Christmas, but she needs to be quite sure Father Christmas does too. As a result, Zoe and Beans are off to the North Pole to deliver the list personally. But there are some unexpected adventures on the way - a baby polar bear to rescue and a snowstorm to get through. Both Zoe and her dog Beans are enchanting characters, who really find their way into the reader's affections. A lovely story about friendship and what is really important. Enjoy the fold-out surprise!

Nativity Sticker Book by Jane Chisholm

Some of the world's greatest works of art relate to the Christmas story, so here is a wonderful way for children to become familiar with them. The book takes the form of the story of the Nativity, so pictures of the Annunciation accompany the angel's appearance to Mary and so on. This gives real meaning to the art and is a whole new way of looking at a familiar story as children put the detailed stickers of the paintings into the frames provided. Children are helped by the descriptions of what is taking place in each painting. As well  as this, there is a kind of back-to-front Advent calendar, where children can place stickers of famous paintings for each day. An innovative and exciting way for children to learn to appreciate and understand great art.

My First Christmas Activity Book by Sam Taplin

A substantial activity book, illustrated throughout in full colour, on good quality thick paper and including a plethora of brightly coloured stickers. Perfect for little ones to enjoy whilst developing key skills such as coordination and pencil control, there are doodles, colouring, drawing and dot-to-dots as well as the 250+ stickers. Great fun to generate excitement leading up to Christmas.

20 Pop Up Christmas Cards to Colour by Candice Whatmore

This is an exceptional set of cards from Usborne Books. 20 cards and 10 different designs, so ideal for siblings to share with no squabbling! The front of each card is partly coloured with some colouring in to be done. Open up the card and find a pop up surprise with lots more opportunity for colouring. These cards give children the opportunity to produce cards of which they can be really proud. Attractive star decorated envelopes complete the pack.

My Carry-Along Christmas by Jocelyn Miller 

An integral carry handle makes this the perfect book for children to carry around during the exciting days leading up to Christmas. Packed with activities - dozens of colourful stickers, puzzles, craft activities (the tube people will make a lovely Christmas scene), cards to make, cookery and games. A super way for children to get into the festive spirit with some unusual ideas and plenty of inspiration for home-made Christmas goodies.

The Animals' Christmas by Elena Pasquali 

The traditional Christmkas story is interwoven with the Old Testament prophecy foretelling the time when all the animals would be at peace as depicted by the lion and the lamb lying down together. As the familiar story is told, animals are introduced to the story and at the end we are told that Jesus will usher in a world where man and animals will live in harmony. The softly-coloured pictures are packed with a wealth of detail which brings the characters and the story alive.

30 Things to Cook and Eat for Christmas by Rebecca Gilpin 

You can always trust an Usborne book to be well thought out and beautifully presented and this title is no exception. The lie-flat spiral binding makes this easy to use in the kitchen and the card pages make this book really durable. It is packed with great ideas for kids to enjoy in the kitchen. Although adult supervision is always needed in the kitchen, there are plenty of no-cook ideas for childrenb to get on with. The recipes are clearly presented, with step by step illustrations and pictures of the finished product. All the recipes are presented in a lovely festive way and there are some great ideas here for home-made presents. Do buy a copy of this book and encourage your children to have fun in the kitchen.

Illustrated Stories for Christmas

This is another in Usborne's series of illustrated stories and is a real Christmas treat! Share in the magic of Christmas with familiar tales such as 'Twas the Night before Christmas and A Christmas Carol. Then revel in some less familiar stories such as Santa's Day Off and Snowy and Icy. The mix of stories make this a book which will appeal to everyone and children will want to revisit it year after year as part of their seasonal fun. Each story is illustrated in a different way which perfectly reflects the story and the abundant pictures really bring the stories to life. I love this series of chunky well-presented books, ideal for sharing and for individual reading. A really well thought-out selection.

Mrs Scrooge by Carol Ann Duffy

 This charming little hardback book, like the one below, will make a perfect stocking filler, ideal to get the children into the true spirit of Christmas. Just like her dead husband, Ebenezer, Mrs Scrooge keeps to her frugal ways and resents any unnecessary expenditure. Christmas Eve finds her outside the supermarket, on the coldest day of the year, campaigning against consumerism. Later that night, as she sleeps, she is visited by the Ghost of Christmas Past........... As she revisits scenes of her life, she comes to learn what is the real meaning of the Christmas spirit and the importance of family and friends. A delightful story to reinforce the true meaning of Christmas and one that is guaranteed to make you stop and think.

 Another Night Before Christmas by Carol Ann Duffy

This is one of those books that you, and your children, will return to time and time again. I can see it becoming an enduring Christmas habit - one of those things which makes Christmas magical for everyone as old favourites are revisited. Carol Ann Duffy has rewritten the classic Victorian poem in beautiful language for today's children - I love the phrase 'A stray cat had embroidered each roof with his paws', anbd this is just typical of the wonderful use of words. The book is gently illustrated in black and white drawings which reflect the story. A child is determined to find the answer to the question - is Santa real? So she creeps down the stairs, and this lovely story begins......

Elmer and Papa Red by David McKee

This is absolutely the ideal Christmas story. It perfectly captures the true spirit of Christmas - the importance of giving. Join Elmer as he takes the baby elephants to get the Christmas tree, and revel with them as they see snow for the first time. 'Elmer chose a tree that would be easy to put back later' and the young elephants carry it home and enjoy decorating it. Share their excitement as they prepare to see Papa Red for the first time.............. Beautifully written, the story flows through and is developed through the illustrations. A truly wonderful story which will be a great favourite with Elmer fans old and new.

The Christmas Eve Ghost by Shirley Hughes

This beautifully evocative story takes us back to 1930s  Liverpool  -a very different world to that of today's children. Bronwen and Dylan's father was killed in a mining accident and the family moved to Liverpool, where Mam scrapes a living by taking in washing. The story really draws you into the life of the family and the hardship of the times. Just before Christmas, the children are alone in the house and hear  a scary "Plonk.....Plonk......Plonk" coming from the washhouse. Whatever can it be? They run out and Mrs O'Riley, who they had been told not to talk to, reassures them. Shirley Hughes' illustrations capture the period wonderfully and show us what life was like then - but the enduring message is just as valid now as it was then.

Paper angels by Emma Calder

The Usborne Big Book of Christmas

This book really has it all! Recipes, decorations, Christmas cards...enough to keep the family busy for many Christmases to come! The spiral binding means this book is easy to use and will last for years. There are over 1000 stickers too, making this book fantastic value. Each idea is described step-by-step meaning children can easily use the book on their own to produce surprises for all the family - plenty of gift ideas such as bookmarks and cookery ideas. Make your own cards, decorations, wrapping paper......the ideas seem endless. Great for teachers to use in the classroom too, with some really unusual but simple ideas such as the printed reindeer. Well worth buying.

Christmas - a very peculiar history by Fiona Macdonald 

This book is great fun! It is one in The Book House's series of Very Peculiar Histories, which is a very collectable series. Perfect to dip in and out of and an ideal stocking filler. Find out where many of our Christmas customs originated as you follow Santa through his exploration of the history of Christmas.  Why do we have a Yule Log? Why is Christmas celebrated on 25th December? Why do we give presents? Just a few of the questiuons answered in this enchanting little book. There are some yummy recipes too - Orange Yule Log anyone? Extend your Christmas as you find out what to do on each of the 12 Days! Plenty of ideas to talk about with your family and friends.

The Lion Storyteller Christmas Book

This is a wonderful collection of  Christmas stories from around the world which every home and school should have to conjure up the true spirit of Christmas. It shows how important Christmas is everywhere. Like many Lion Children's Books, it has a strong Christian focus and starts off with a comprehensive collection of stories from the Bible. These are followed by stories about Christmas traditions, tales and legends from around the world. There are, of course, many familiar tales but plenty of lesser-known ones too, meaning you are almost certain to find some new stories. This book would be brilliant in schools, to introduce the children to Christmas tales from other lands. The stories are beautifully and vividly retold and are just perfect for reading aloud. The illustrations reflect the stories wonderfully and are ideal for sharing. And the final touch is brilliant - an idea for each story about how to share it and involve everyone - inspired! A lovely book.

Parlour Games for Modern Families by Myfanwy Jones and Spiri Tsintziras

This is a super book for family and friends to share and enjoy time together without resorting to electronic games. Absolutely packed full of games old and new, as the cover says 'Perfect games for 4-104'. Ideal for cold winter days but also ideas that can be used when travelling or out and about. Only the very simplest of equipment is needed, meaning you can pick this book up and know you can use it without problems. The book is written by two young  mums so you can be sure all the games are tried and tested. Games to challenge, games to extend your knowledge, test your reasoning skills, short games and long games and games packed with laughter - it's all here. Buy this book and you will have hours of fun!