Christmas Gift Guide – Children’s Book Gift Ideas

We love reading and think it is so important to include books as presents either for birthdays or as Christmas gifts, so we will be sharing five lovely books for our readers to pick from and order online in our Children’s Book Guide. We will be sharing Akea – His Mother’s Son by Elizabeth Jade, Danny’s Dream by Victor Margiotta, Create Your Own Calm by Becky Goddard-Hill,  Hector’s Perfect Cake by Lily Clarke and Here be Witches Sarah Mussi The Snowdonia Chronicles (Book Two). This will be our last gift guide for the season, with just about two weeks to the big day hope all our guides have inspired you to get your presents.

This is a beautiful story written by Elizabeth Jade who has been struggling with anxiety and depression since she was 14 years of age and later found out that she has Aspergers which is an autistic spectrum disorder. She has since volunteered with various animal rescues hence giving her the ability to write from an animal’s perspective which is very convincing and captivating.    His Mother’s Son is the second book in the Akea series, the first being Akea – The Power of Destiny, featuring wolves and huskies.   Akea is a husky and Wolf Queen alongside her partner Kazakh, a wolf. Together they have four pups, Gwenevier, Fayth, Adair, and Salvador.

Soon humans come into their home they capture Salvador and take him into captivity to a wildlife park.  Akea is now worried for her son and her future with the pack who is ready to overthrow her from her throne. Written so every beautifully, you feel as though you are there with Akea and apart of her family.  With just 94 pages, the book is the perfect size for teenagers who love reading and animals as it helps them read the book from an animal’s point of view. You can get a copy of the paperback book for £5.94 from Amazon here.

Danny’s Dream by Victor Margiotta

As part of our Christmas Gift Guide, I would like to introduce you to Danny’s Dream. This beautifully illustrated book, which has been lovingly created by Ian Parker, who has painted all the images you see in this story, with the use of just his mouth. The books’ Author is Victor Margiotta, and the story is about a boy Danny who has a dream of becoming an Olympian.  The story follows the dream that Danny has, about one day being in the Olympics, and how his most favourite thing is to run. However, he has an awful accident where he becomes paralysed. The story talks about how even in the moments where things may unexpectedly go wrong, that you shouldn’t give up on your dreams, as many obstacles can be overturned.  This is a lovely book, well written, and has wonderful illustrations. It would make a great gift for an avid young reader, but do note that it is heartfelt and does really pull on your emotions. But the outcome is that even when things don’t work out, there is always a solution.

When you buy this book,  you are not only getting a wonderful item, you are also supporting Mouth and Foot Painting Artists, which is a group that has been active since 1957 and is run by over 800 Mouth and Foot artists. The book is available for just £10. You will also find on the site other information on all the other artists and be sure to take a look at all the other paintings that have been created.

Create Your Own Calm by Becky Goddard-Hill

If you like me, have a tween or teen who sometimes needs to learn to use their creativity to create a calming space then this book will definitely help you. With everything that has been happening with the lockdown and doing things differently to how we tend to do it, I think children are mentally affected by not being able to see their friends or go out as much as they used to. Recommended for children aged 7 to 12 years old, this book helps tweens to learn how to relax by trying fun activities with their friends or on their own.

The book also gives teens the chance to write down what they are thinking and to understand their emotions. There are lots of activities suggested in the book such as doing yoga, baking, gardening etc. I do love how attractive the book is, with lots of coloured text, fonts, and beautiful illustrations by Clare Forrest to keep kids interested in the book. There are also lots of examples in the book from other teenagers, proverbs as well as some activity sheets as well.  If you have a tween/teen who is struggling at home, this book could be your answer. Perfect as a Christmas present in the Christmas Eve Box, you can purchase this must-have calming book from Amazon for £7.96  here.

Hector’s Perfect Cake by Lily Clarke

Hector’s Perfect Cake is recommended for children from the ages of three to seven-years-old.  Written and Illustrated by Lily Clarke, the book is well written and the illustrations really attractive and eye-catching.  The book is printed with large font sized text and shares about Hector who is planning to bake a cake for his Granny and he is determined to ensure that it is perfect. As he starts baking, he realises that the peanut butter jar is empty and he had to head out to some more or his perfect cake will be ruined. As time begins to run out, Hector’s luck begins to run out too and he needs to understand that sometimes life is not perfect.  If you like the look and sound of this book which retails for £8.79, then why not get your little one a copy as a Christmas present or for inclusion into the Christmas Eve box. The book can be purchased from Amazon here.

Here be Witches Sarah Mussi The Snowdonia Chronicles (Book Two)

Fantasy is one of my favourite genres and Here be Witches, the second instalment in The Snowdonia Chronicles by Sarah Mussi is the ideal gift for any fantasy lovers out there. In fact in the current circumstances we are living under, The Snowdonia Chronicles would be the perfect gift for anyone you know who enjoys a sojourn into exciting lands of mystery, magic and in this case, mayhem. During such uncertain times, the writer will transport you away from reality as she breathes magic and fire into the famous Welsh Mountain. Things really ramp up for the main protagonist  Ellie Morgan in this part of the series. As if a murderous dragon with her name on his radar wasn’t enough to contend with, she has to face the depths of black magic from the least expected of places.

The Snowdonia Chronicles are suitable for older children and adults. Here be Witches is the second book in the series, the first being Here be Dragons, can be read on its own, as the author helpfully weaves in details from the first part of the Chronicles, or it can be enjoyed as part of the series of three books based on the rugged and mystical terrain of Mount Snowden. This tale is full of twists, turns and some tantalising romance added for good measure. It will leave you spellbound so that you’ll want to get stuck into the final book straight away.  This fantastic read can be purchased from Amazon along with the other book in the series.  Here be Witches is currently available for £3.50 for the paperback copy or £3.32 for the Kindle Edition on Amazon. An excellent stocking filler or treat for a book lover.

You may also want to read this:

Christmas Gift Guide – Gifts For Kids

Christmas Gift Guide – Gifts for Babies and Toddlers

Christmas Gift Guides – Advent Calendars

* We were sent these items in return for a feature. All opinions are our own.