S Indicates a book is part of a series


There’s a gorgeous array of books around this time of year. Here’s a selection of some of the best if you want gift ideas - to give or request.


The Turkey That Voted For Christmas Madeline Cook/ Samara Hardy (Oxford, £6.99)


Christmas is never celebrated at the farm where Timmy Turkey lives because all the other turkeys always vote against it. He can’t see why (can you?) and he’d like to see that changed. He starts a campaign to bring Christmas to the farm enlisting the help of the other


animals much to the dismay and fear of the turkeys. What none of them see is the suspicious behaviour of the farmer but thanks to a helpful robin, we as readers know more than they do. This is a very funny picture book with expressive illustrations that add a sub plot to the written story. Large print for newly developing or reluctant readers, but fun for all and great to share.


Something’s Fishy - Jean Gourounas (Phaidon Hb, £11.95)


 constant interruptions from various visiting animals       


This Book is a Planetarium - Kelli Anderson (Chronicle Hb, £35)


An amazing pop-up book that turns into other fully  a musical instrument with strings that can be played; a message decoder; a spirograph to draw kaleidoscopic  planetarium which projects the constellations. Each of


these things pops out on a double page with instructions on how to use it. There are also explanations telling you exactly why each one works. This really takes the idea of an interactive book to a new level. Hours of fun for all ages, better keep it put of the way of adults or you may lose it!


Toto the Ninja Cat and the Great Snake Escape Dermot O”Leary (Hodder, £6.99) Silver and his sister, Toto, are     them. Hearing a noise outside one night Toto is keen to investigate, despite being almost blind. Silver isn’t so keen, but as Toto is a skilled Ninja cat, he goes with her. The noise          some surprises in this humorous adventure   


Bookstore


Text © D J Williams 2017


The Secret Horses of Briar Hill Megan Shepherd (Walker Hb, £8.99) It’s 1941, Britain is at war and Emmaline has been evacuated to Briar Hill Hospital in Shropshire. There she alone sees winged horses living in the mirrors. Frustrated with being kept indoors,   examinations shows she has a broken wing. The    black winged horse and needs protecting. Emmaline vows to keep      


STAR READ


The Magic Misfi ts - Neil Patrick Harris (Egmont Hb, £12.99)     meets people in a carnival who back up his idea magic       decide to combine their talents to stop it. This involves dangerous    


S


Pop-Up Shakespeare Reed Martin & Austin Tichenor (Walker Hb, £16)


 to life all of Shakespeare’s plays and poems as well as details of the life of the man himself. If I tell you the authors are two members of the Reduced Shakespeare Company you won’t be surprised to know it is full of humour not only from the jokes, but the summaries and


funny facts as well. It is a perfect introduction to the works of the Bard, but also a lot of fun for those with some knowledge - whether they are fans or not, it could even convert the latter! I love it.


The Accidental Father Christmas - Tom McLaughlin (Oxford, £6.99)


Ben didn’t mean to knock Father Christmas out, giving him concussion and memory loss, he just wanted to prove his existence. You couldn’t blame him for doubting it - poor Ben made the same Christmas wish for years with no success. All this resulted in a self taught crash course (literally) in sleigh driving and a mad dash to Buckingham Palace followed by an encounter with gangster style elves (not to be confused with pixies); a hasty course in sleuth like present delivery and a race against time to save Christmas. Throw in a mysterious black helicopter manned by equally strange men who are numbered rather than named and can’t tell a sleigh from a UFO and you have a fast paced, madcap adventure rich in laugh aloud moments and quirky characters. This latest in the ‘Accidental’ series is as entertaining and absorbing as previous titles. Fair size print and some pictures introduces readers to medium length novels.


S FOR MORE IDEAS VISIT WWW.PRIMARYTIMES.NET/SOUTH-WEST-WALES


The Dollmaker of Krakow R.M. Romero (Walker Hb, £12.99)


 escapes the awful war in her            to help them without putting themselves        


CHRISTMAS ISSUE 2017 15


Christmas


Debbie


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16