Christmas Gift Guide – Books for 0-7

Posted on 6 December 2017

In this gift guide for the 0-7s we try to find new books to match to the youngest readers in your life…

The littlest readers

That’s Not My Snowman and That’s Not My… pack
Just starting to explore the world around them? The ‘That’s Not My…’ series is perfect for first time ‘readers’.

Little Libraries
Getting more hands on? Little libraries make the most perfect stocking fillers from around 1 year old. Little ones love their size and having a ‘set’ of something.

Classic Picture Books with DVDs pack
Looking for a classic? Why not stock up on these 4 evergreen picture books all coming with their own animated DVD to keep them entertained in multiple ways over the holidays.

Picture books to read together (ages 3-5)

The Highway Rat, Tiddler and the Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler pack
Love The Gruffalo? While we might be biased and think everything by Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler is completely brilliant, if you haven’t discovered some of her less mega-selling books, now’s the Christmas to try. The Highway Rat is based on the famous poem The Highway Man by Alfred Noyes and will be on TV over the holidays and Tiddler is a brilliant story about a fish who tells tall tales.

The Pups Save Christmas, PJ Masks Battle of the HQs and The Tale of Little Peppa
TV fan in the house? – They’ll love reading even more when it features their favourite characters so these are great options.

Funny books
Silly sense of humour? These picture books will have them rolling around in bed at storytime:
Funny Christmas picture book pack
Our Lollies Picture book shortlist is full of belly laughs.
Bestselling author David Walliams’ picture books are laugh out loud.
And if poop and pants is their thing, then they will LOVE The Dinosaur That Pooped Christmas and Aliens Love Panta Claus.

Longer Picture Books and Beyond (Ages 5-7)

One Hundred and One Dalmations by Dodie Smith
Looking for a new classic? This younger take on a favourite book (and film) makes a wonderful bedtime story for those who want to share a longer story.
Also why not try:
Happy Families pack
Paddington Bear Pack
Flat Stanley

Dr Seuss
Love Roald Dahl? It’s often surprising how many people haven’t read a Dr Seuss. But Seuss shares something very special with Dahl: an irreverent playful sometimes dark humour, an intrinsic understanding of what will fascinate children and such wonderful mucking around with language his books are a tongue twisting pleasure to read aloud. Don’t leave him off your books shelves! Try:
The Cat in the Hat
How the Grinch Stole Christmas
Dr Seuss pack
And don’t miss these full colour versions of Dahl classics

Animal stories
Love animal stories? If your little one loves tales of animals then why not try the 60s classic from Jill Tomlinson or anything from the modern master storyteller Michael Morpurgo. A great introduction to Morpurgo is this wonderful Christmasy tale of a Robin trying to find his way home. Exclusively on Scholastic Book Clubs in a colour reader format:
Coming Home by Michael Morpurgo
Jill Tomlinson’s The Owl Who Was Afraid of the Dark
Mudpuddle Farm pack

Funny fiction
Young comedian in the midst? Try this funny fiction to have them laughing as they read:
Horrid Henry Jolly Holidays
Shifty McGinty Jingle Bells
Or what about putting a joke book in their stockings? (However be prepared to endure a lot of jokes throughout Christmas Day not just the ones in your crackers!)

Disagree with this list or have ones you’d like to add? Why not join the #GiveABook conversation on social media and tell us which children’s book and why you love to give and you could win a £50 book donation for your nursery or school. Find out more here.