Books for Sharing
Christmas is about sharing, especially at bedtime. Michael Morpurgo has chosen a cornucopia of traditional tales in Greatest Magical Stories retold by a galaxy of writers and lavishly illustrated. Poetry of course is perfect for sharing: Axel Scheffler’s lively illustrations capture the curious verses of Frantz Wittkamp adapted by Roger McGough in Fish Dream of Trees. For infinite variety there is Poems for Every Day of the Year, edited by Allie Esiri. This gorgeous anthology introduces classics, traditional rhymes, jingles, ballads – something for everyone. Also perfect is the classic A Child’s Garden of Verses here beautifully illustrated by Michael Foreman and with a special introduction by Alexander McCall Smith. These are gifts to treasure.
Facts, facts and more facts
Information may be available at the touch of a button, but there is a special pleasure in browsing, turning pages, picking subjects at random. The DK Children’s Encyclopedia is ideal for this presenting topics in a cheerful and accessible way, encouraging repeat visits and further exploration. Exploring the heavens is the aim of Starfinder for Beginners. Here each constellation is linked directly by its relationship to the Plough making identification much easier; a novel and interesting approach likely to inspire a lasting interest. Dinosaurs are always fascinating: Dinosaurs and other Prehistoric Creatures by Matt Sewell is a lovely addition to the canon presenting engaging, colourful images with an accessible text. The Ways of the Wolf brings to life the wolf and its environment through the informative text and atmospheric illustrations and will really entrance young naturalists. And for the potential quiz-whizz there is Facts!: One for every day of the year – a lively miscellany of facts, yes, one for every day of the year, to intrigue and delight even the most curious, and stylishly illustrated.
Gifts to surprise and delight
Christmas would not be complete without an interactive maze. Something new is Find Me: Hide and Seek from Anders Arhoj or Follow Finn imagined by Peter Goes – a bewildering journey through a fantastic landscape. Illustrator Jim Kay works his magic on Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban bringing to the stories new energy and detail through his extraordinary talent. Take a look at Philip Ardagh’s sumptuous The World of Moominvalley, everything you want to know about Moomins and their world, the perfect companion to the new edition of Finn Family Moomintroll. Beautifully remastered and packaged this is a gift to delight existing fans as well create new friends. From illustrator Jackie Morris comes two books. Her Ice Bear and Snow Cat now appear in large format celebrating her extraordinary art. Also highly recommended is Lines by Suzy Lee who creates the icy world of a solitary skater in exquisite lines, a silent picture book that speaks directly to the imagination.
Finally, the all-important stocking fillers
Sam Usher’s picture book Snow is now available as a charming miniature; a gem is The Poet’s Dog, a classic by Patricia Maclachlan, and for the very brave, Barry Loser’s Christmas Joke Book will have you groaning but laughing…
Use this link to find a complete list of all books mentioned.
Ferelith Hordon is an active member of CILIP YLG and has served as Chair of both YLG London and of the National Committee. She is editor of Books for Keeps and of IBBYLink, the online journal of IBBY UK.
Books for Keeps No.227 November 2017 7
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