Kate Manning is Sales & Marketing Director of Hot Key Books and co-conspirator on all things KIDS (including the grown-up ones) at the festival. Follow her on Twitter @kathrynamanning
Picture Books!
HOW SANTA REALLY WORKS by Alan Snow (yes, really)
Simon & Schuster, £5.99
This is a wonderfully detailed picture book that’s perfect for sharing and every time you read it you’ll find different things in the illustrations. But more importantly it’ll explain many of the pressing Christmas questions such as how Santa never seems to be covered in soot even though he spends a vast amount of time in chimneys and how exactly he can keep an eye on every child in the world.
Younger Readers:
MARY-MARY by Joan G Robinson
Hot Key Books, £7.99
This is a reissue of a wonderful classic from the author of TEDDY ROBINSON. Mary-Mary is the youngest of five children and often wants to do what her older siblings do. Invariably, after being told to she can’t until she’s older, she ends up doing it anyway and whilst wearing a tea cosy on her head. This is a gorgeous little gift hardback including all of the original illustrations.
Older Readers:
GOTH GIRL by Chris Riddell
Macmillan, £9.99
You may know Chris’ work from either his earlier children’s books, or his work in the broadsheets as a satiric cartoonist, or (more importantly) as Lit Fest alumnus. GOTH GIRL is his latest title (and shortlisted for this year’s National Book Awards) and is a beautifully packaged book (foiled endpapers, edging, perfect sized hardback) and that’s before you get to the brilliant story in which our heroine has to wear big boots in order to be heard but not seen…
Non-fiction:
MAPS by Aleksandra Mizielinska and Daniel Mizielinski
Big Picture Press, £20.00
This is the most beautifully illustrated atlas that can be enjoyed by all the family. Not only does it show borders or cities, but it also shows places of historical or cultural interest, plants, animals and even some iconic personalities.
Classic:
THE BOX OF DELIGHTS by John Masefield
Egmont, £6.99
This is my favourite Christmas book. I reread it every year (then watch the BBC production from 1984). It’s a wonderful adventure full of buttered eggs, wolves, scrobbling and imagination, but it’s the wonderful use of language that really makes it special.
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