Dorset, Somerset &amp; Bristol


<p>We asked a top school librarian for the children&#8217;s books that have been firing imaginations, sparking big feelings and getting pages turning up at <a href="https://www.sidcot.org.uk/junior" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Sidcot Junior School</a> in Winscombe near Bristol. Here&#8217;s her list, that could become <em>your</em> list for the young &#8216;uns in your life this Christmas.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-for-under-5s">For under 5s</h2>



<div class="wp-block-muddy-blocks-giftguide gift"><div class="gift-img"><img decoding="async" class="card__image" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/dorsetsomerset/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2025/12/71hbWPDr9cL._SL1346_.jpg" alt="don't put your finger in the jelly, nelly" /></div><div class="gift-text"><div class="gift-price"><h2 class="giftguide-title">Don’t put your finger in the jelly, Nelly! by Nick Sharratt</h2><div class="giftguide-body"><p>A beautiful edition celebrating the book&#8217;s 30th anniversary encourages children to interact with the story by putting their own finger in the cut-outs, and is a brilliant introduction to the magic of stories.</p></div></div></div></div>



<div class="wp-block-muddy-blocks-giftguide gift"><div class="gift-img"><img decoding="async" class="card__image" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/dorsetsomerset/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2025/12/00-81B1fbMppML._SL1500_.jpg" alt="frank and bert book" /></div><div class="gift-text"><div class="gift-price"><h2 class="giftguide-title">Frank and Bert, by Chris Naylor-Ballesteros</h2><div class="giftguide-body"><p>The first book in a fantastic series has a lovely message about being kind to friends, even if they’ve been a bit silly! The two friends playing hide-and-seek is something familiar to young readers, the illustrations are engaging and it also provides counting practice up to 100!</p></div></div></div></div>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-for-ages-5-7">For ages 5 – 7</h2>



<div class="wp-block-muddy-blocks-giftguide gift"><div class="gift-img"><img decoding="async" class="card__image" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/dorsetsomerset/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2025/12/00-81i4PLmLtYL._SL1500_.jpg" alt="Shifty McGifty and Slippery Sam: The Cat Burglar, by Tracey Corderory, illustrated by Steven Lenton book" /></div><div class="gift-text"><div class="gift-price"><h2 class="giftguide-title">Shifty McGifty and Slippery Sam: The Cat Burglar, by Tracey Corderory</h2><div class="giftguide-body"><p>When the local bank is broken into, former robbers-turned bakers, Shifty McGifty and Slippery Sam, are the perfect choice to solve the crime and restore order.  A great introduction to detective stories, Tracey’s engaging rhyming text and Steven Lenton’s colourful illustrations make for a dream picture book that children enjoy reading again and again.</p></div></div></div></div>



<div class="wp-block-muddy-blocks-giftguide gift"><div class="gift-img"><img decoding="async" class="card__image" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/dorsetsomerset/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2025/12/00-61PYWaqJwAL._SL1000_.jpg" alt="Beasts from the Deep by Matt Ralphs book" /></div><div class="gift-text"><div class="gift-price"><h2 class="giftguide-title">Beasts from the Deep by Matt Ralphs</h2><div class="giftguide-body"><p>Celebrating some of the more unusual creatures that live in our seas and oceans that we rarely get to find out about, the large format allows Kaley McKean’s stunning illustrations to leap off the page and there&#8217;s something new to be discovered on every reading. </p></div></div></div></div>



<div class="wp-block-muddy-blocks-giftguide gift"><div class="gift-img"><img decoding="async" class="card__image" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/dorsetsomerset/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2025/12/00-81gjPn25jaL._SL1500_.jpg" alt="Apes to Zebras: An A-Z of Shape Poems, by Roger Stevens, Liz Brownlee et al" /></div><div class="gift-text"><div class="gift-price"><h2 class="giftguide-title">Apes to Zebras: An A-Z of Shape Poems, by Liz Brownlee et al</h2><div class="giftguide-body"><p>Exactly what it says in the title, with a shape poem for a huge variety of animals. Written in different poetry styles – with some poems more complex than others – this is a collection that children will enjoy for many years.</p></div></div></div></div>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-for-ages-7-9">For ages 7 – 9</h2>



<div class="wp-block-muddy-blocks-giftguide gift"><div class="gift-img"><img decoding="async" class="card__image" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/dorsetsomerset/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2025/12/00-81HH4uQRGFL._SL1500_.jpg" alt="Bunny vs. Monkey series, by Jamie Smart" /></div><div class="gift-text"><div class="gift-price"><h2 class="giftguide-title">Bunny vs Monkey series, by Jamie Smart</h2><div class="giftguide-body"><p>Graphic novels, like the Bunny vs Monkey series, offering new readers the chance to complete a whole story quickly can be a great boost to some children. The fast-moving, engaging plots and illustrations can encourage reluctant readers to keep going to the end of the story. </p></div></div></div></div>



<div class="wp-block-muddy-blocks-giftguide gift"><div class="gift-img"><img decoding="async" class="card__image" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/dorsetsomerset/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2025/12/00-81tBFlK3wVL._SL1500_.jpg" alt="The Girl who Stole an Elephant, by Nizrana Farook" /></div><div class="gift-text"><div class="gift-price"><h2 class="giftguide-title">The Girl who Stole an Elephant, by Nizrana Farook</h2><div class="giftguide-body"><p>This story opens with Chaya stealing the queen’s jewels. The theft is quickly noticed, and Chaya escapes – on the back of a stolen elephant! An exciting journey through the jungle ensues, with many unforeseen plot twists along the way. This would be good as a bedtime story, or a read-alone.</p></div></div></div></div>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-for-ages-9-11">For ages 9 – 11 </h2>



<div class="wp-block-muddy-blocks-giftguide gift"><div class="gift-img"><img decoding="async" class="card__image" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/dorsetsomerset/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2025/12/00-811FvQ0MSL._SL1500_.jpg" alt="The First Unicorn Rider, by A.F. Stead" /></div><div class="gift-text"><div class="gift-price"><h2 class="giftguide-title">The First Unicorn Rider, by A.F. Stead</h2><div class="giftguide-body"><p>A new book set in the incredible World of Skandar. Following an accident at sea, George Penhaligan is washed up, alone, on an island. He makes a startling discovery – unicorns! But these are not the soft, fluffy, rainbow creatures he’s heard about before, these are unicorns with bite – and they are not the only darkness on the island…. A masterclass in world building, this is a great choice for fans of <em>Impossible Creatures </em>or<em> Harry Potte</em>r.</p></div></div></div></div>



<div class="wp-block-muddy-blocks-giftguide gift"><div class="gift-img"><img decoding="async" class="card__image" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/dorsetsomerset/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2025/12/00-81hajU3Oe0L._SL1500_.jpg" alt="The Last Bear, by Hannah Gold" /></div><div class="gift-text"><div class="gift-price"><h2 class="giftguide-title">The Last Bear, by Hannah Gold</h2><div class="giftguide-body"><p>For children who love traditional adventure storytelling, Hannah Gold’s books are a great choice. The series follows April Wood and her best friend, a polar bear. In this first book, April and her scientist father move to Bear Island in the Arctic for six months. Once the home of polar bears, due to global warming the bears have gone. However, April meets one and learns that everyone has the ability to make a difference, if they try…</p></div></div></div></div>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-for-11-years">For 11 years +</h2>



<div class="wp-block-muddy-blocks-giftguide gift"><div class="gift-img"><img decoding="async" class="card__image" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/dorsetsomerset/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2025/12/00-71ULv8L62ML._SL1500_.jpg" alt="The Wrong Shoes, by Tom Percival" /></div><div class="gift-text"><div class="gift-price"><h2 class="giftguide-title">The Wrong Shoes, by Tom Percival</h2><div class="giftguide-body"><p>This is a powerful examination of child poverty. Main character Will has the ‘wrong’ shoes – his parents are divorced, and he lives mainly with his dad. Due to illness, Dad has recently lost his job, and they are struggling to find enough money for the basics – there is no way there is any money for new shoes for Will, even though they are broken. An amazing book for exploring empathy and beautifully told through Tom Percival’s first-person narrative and evocative illustrations. </p></div></div></div></div>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-support-local-find-your-nearest-indie-bookstore">Support local! Find your nearest indie bookstore </h2>



<ul>
<li><a href="https://baileyhillbookshop.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Bailey Hill Bookshop</a>, Castle Cary</li>



<li><a href="https://www.beaminsterbooks.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Beaminster Books</a>, Beaminster</li>



<li><a href="https://www.booksonthehill.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Books on the Hill</a>, Clevedon</li>



<li><a href="https://brendonbooks.org/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Brendon Books</a>, Taunton</li>



<li><a href="https://gloucesterroadbooks.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Gloucester Road Books</a>, Bristol</li>



<li><a href="https://www.booksandvinyl.co.uk/about-our-shops" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Gullivers</a>, Wimborne</li>



<li><a href="https://shop.winstonebooks.co.uk/pages/winstones-hunting-raven-frome" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Hunting Raven Books</a>, Frome</li>



<li><a href="https://www.lymebookshop.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Lyme Regis Books</a>, Lyme Regis</li>



<li><a href="https://mrbsemporium.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Mr B’s Emporium</a>, Bath</li>



<li><a href="https://sherlockandpages.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Sherlock &amp; Pages</a>, Frome</li>



<li><a href="https://www.instagram.com/stripyduckbookshopcafe/?hl=en" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Stripy Duck</a>, Bruton</li>



<li><a href="https://www.dorsetbooks.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Bookshop</a>, Bridport</li>



<li><a href="https://www.toppingbooks.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Topping &amp; Company</a>, Bath</li>



<li><a href="https://www.booksandvinyl.co.uk/about-our-shops" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Westbourne Books,</a> Westbourne, Bournemouth</li>



<li><a href="https://shop.winstonebooks.co.uk/pages/winstones-sherborne" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Winstone’s</a> Sherborne</li>
</ul>



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<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-in-the-mood-for-more">IN THE MOOD FOR MORE?</h2>



<ul>
<li><a href="https://dorsetsomerset.muddystilettos.co.uk/life/people/my-favourite-places-author-lulu-taylor/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">My favourite places: local author Lulu Taylor</a></li>



<li><a href="https://dorsetsomerset.muddystilettos.co.uk/things-to-do/film-tv/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">What&#8217;s on TV and in the cinemas – now!  </a></li>



<li><a href="https://dorsetsomerset.muddystilettos.co.uk/xmas/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Muddy Christmas guides</a></li>
</ul>


Books for Christmas that kids will love – by an expert

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