Stories For Life – Books for Children

December 7, 2016

stories-for-life

Is there anything better than getting a book as a gift? I certainly don’t think so. At Christmas I try to choose a book for most people I buy for, especially children. I think it’s a nice way of putting thought into something without having to go to too much effort. Also, I could happily spend all day browsing in books shops so it is my perfect kind of Christmas shopping.

I hoard children’s books over the year ready for this time of year, most for my boys and a few extras that I can wrap up friends. Of course Father Christmas brings presents on Christmas Eve but our present to the boys is always a book, wrapped up under the tree. This week we received some wonderful books from Britmums and Penguin Random House to add to my ever growing gift pile and I’m hoping that they will make some little people very happy.

Firstly is, one of my favourites, The Dinosaur That Pooped Christmas. We already have this as part of our book advent but this is a lovely hardback mini version that would make a lovely stocking filler for one of my friend’s children. I think most parents probably know about the Dinosaur That Popped series of books and if you haven’t heard of them I’m sure you can figure out what happens in the story. These are such a big hit with my boys, this one especially and I have a tough time putting it away with our other Christmas books each year.

childrens-books

The next book, Max and Bird, is one I haven’t seen before but it is just the kind of book I love. It has really cute, simple illustrations and looks like the kind of book that would make me laugh when I’m reading it out loud. Max is an adventurous little kitten who meets bird but can’t decide if he would like to be friends with bird or maybe just eat him. I think I’ll wrap this one up for the twins, they turn three a few days after Christmas and I think this book is perfect for them at this age.

Lastly we have The Little Elephant Who wants To Fall Asleep. It is by the same author of The Rabbit Who Wants to Fall Asleep which I’ve heard so many parents talking about as the book to calm their child before bed and to send them to sleep. I love the idea of a relaxing story before bed, I must admit a lot of the books we read before bed can bring on giddiness! You read along as Ellen the Elephant goes on a journey through a magical forest and the story is meant to help your child to relax for naptime or bedtime. I can imagine so many parents would appreciate this and I have a friend in mind to gift this one to.

christmas-books

The thing I love most about the books I read to the boys is that I know they will become the stories they love as adults. So many books on my own bookshelves are ones that my Mum read to me, or others I read over and over as I got older. Fantastic Mr Fox by Roald Dahl is one of the first books that comes to mind when I think about the most-loved stories from my childhood. My Mum read this one to me and it is one that I read to Lucas this year. I loved cosying up and reading it to him, especially when he pleaded for just one more chapter as I used to. Up until recently I still had my very own childhood copy but it really was falling apart so I’ve invested in new illustrated copies for the boys, we always seem to have a Roald Dahl book wrapped up under the tree. They are classics and will never grow old.

I’d love to hear which books you are looking forward to giving or receiving this year!

I was sent these books from Britmums and Penguin Random House. All words and thoughts are always my own.

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5 Comments

  • The Reading Residence

    Oh yes, I love buying and giving books, too, and I always ensure I get some for my kids every Christmas. My two love The Dinosaur that Pooped Christmas, it is fab. They’ll be receiving How the Grinch Stole Christmas and the Guinea Pig Nativity Story in their stocking this year 🙂 x

    December 7, 2016 at 9:04 pm Reply
    • hayleyfromhome

      The Guinea Pig Nativity story sounds amazing! We haven’t got The Grinch yet, must add that to our book advent next year when they’re all a little older. Always so nice to give and receive books!

      December 9, 2016 at 3:25 pm Reply
  • Notmyyearoff

    One of my favourite memories from childhood is Peace at last and George’s Marvellous medicine, so I bought those really quickly for Z. He’s been very into knock knock jokes recently so I’ve got him his very first joke book for his birthday 🙂

    December 9, 2016 at 2:07 pm Reply
    • hayleyfromhome

      I love that!! I nearly bought Lucas a Star Wars joke book but I don’t think he quite gets them yet, I love that Z loves knock knock jokes though, they were my favourite when I was a child 🙂

      December 9, 2016 at 3:26 pm Reply
  • Stacie

    I love buying and giving books as gifts too. I’ve even bought my husband a book this year (he’s probably read two in his 30 years!) in a bid to get him reading. Parker got The Dinosaur that Pooped Christmas in his book advent too, although he didn’t really get it it will definitely be funny to read in years to come!

    December 12, 2016 at 7:58 pm Reply
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