A Boy Called Christmas


Book Description

Before there was Santa Claus, there was a young boy who believed in the impossible. . . . Lemony Snicket meets Klaus in this warmhearted Christmas caper. Eleven-year-old Nikolas—nicknamed “Christmas”—has received only one toy in his life: a doll carved out of a turnip. But he’s happy with his turnip doll, because it came from his parents, who love him. Then one day his father goes missing, and Nikolas must travel to the North Pole to save him. Along the way, Nikolas befriends a surly reindeer, bests a troublesome troll, and discovers a hidden world of enchantment in the frozen village of Elfhelm. But the elves of Elfhelm have troubles of their own: Christmas spirit and goodwill are at an all-time low, and Nikolas may be the only person who can fix things—if only he can reach his father before it’s too late. . . . Sparkling with wit and warmth, A Boy Called Christmas is a cheeky new Christmas classic-in-the-making from acclaimed author Matt Haig and illustrator Chris Mould. "Irresistibly readable. Destined to become a Christmas and anytime-before-or-after-Christmas classic!" --Chris Grabenstein, New York Times bestselling author of Escape from Mr. Lemoncello's Library “The definitive (and funny) history of ho, ho, ho! My children loved it.” —Yann Martel, bestselling author of Life of Pi “The most evergreen, immortal Christmas story to be published for decades.” —Stephen Fry "Humorous and heartfelt, A Boy Called Christmas will grow your heart three sizes and make you believe in magic." --Liesl Shurtliff, New York Times bestselling author of Rump "Matt Haig has an empathy for the human condition, the light and the dark of it, and he uses the full palette to build his excellent stories.”—Neil Gaiman, Newbery-winning author of The Graveyard Book




The Girl Who Saved Christmas


Book Description

A BOY CALLED CHRISTMAS—SOON TO BE A MAJOR MOTION PICTURE Journey to the edge of magic Amelia Wishart was the first child ever to receive a Christmas present. It was her Christmas spirit that gave Santa the extra boost of magic he needed to make his first trip around the world. But now Amelia is in trouble. When her mother falls ill, she is sent to the workhouse to toil under cruel Mr. Creeper. Without a whiff of kindness to keep Amelia going, her spirit begins to drain away. Meanwhile, up at the North Pole, magic levels dip dangerously low as Christmas approaches, and Santa knows that something is gravely wrong. If he’s going to save Christmas, he might just need some help . .




A Mouse Called Miika


Book Description

Ratatouille meets Roald Dahl in the funny and fantastical story of a determined mouse on a mission to procure the world's tastiest cheese. From the author of A Boy Called Christmas–now a Netflix movie starring Kristen Wiig, Maggie Smith and Henry Lawfull! When Nikolas left the only home he had ever known, it was a mouse named Miika who kept him company, and it was Miika who accompanied him on his journey to the Far North, in search of his father. But before the events of A Boy Called Christmas, this little mouse was the hero of his own story. A Mouse Called Miika is an epic adventure story on a miniature scale. It's a tale of mice and men (and more mice). It is about one independent mouse who gets fed up with the other mice, and sets out on a quest of his own to prove that cheese exists, and learns to appreciate other creatures. It is also a tale of great love (of cheese) and great danger. And learning the lesson that, with cheese, as with life, what matters most is not how strongly you smell, but how strong you are on the inside. Funny, cheeky, wise, and packed full of Matt Haig's signature warmth. This is set to become a year-round children's favorite.




Father Christmas and Me


Book Description

LET THE BATTLE FOR CHRISTMAS BEGIN It isn't always easy, growing up as a human in Elfhelm, even if your adoptive parents are the newly married Father Christmas and Mary Christmas. For one thing, Elf School can be annoying when you have to sing Christmas songs everyday - even in July - and when you fail all your toy-making tests. Also it can get very, very cold. But when the jealous Easter Bunny and his rabbit army launch an attack to stop Christmas, it's up to Amelia, her new family and the elves to keep Christmas alive. Before it's too late . . .




The Truth Pixie


Book Description

From number one bestselling author Matt Haig comes a hilarious and heartwarming story, brilliantly illustrated throughout by Chris Mould Wherever she is, whatever the day, She only has one kind of thing to say. Just as cats go miaow and cows go moo, The Truth Pixie can only say things that are true. A very funny and lovable tale of how one special pixie learned to love herself. The Truth Pixie is an enchanting, rhyming story that will delight younger readers – with words by the bestselling mastermind Matt Haig and pictures by the inky genius Chris Mould.




A Boy Called Dickens


Book Description

For years Dickens kept the story of his own childhood a secret. Yet it is a story worth telling. For it helps us remember how much we all might lose when a child's dreams don't come true . . . As a child, Dickens was forced to live on his own and work long hours in a rat-infested blacking factory. Readers will be drawn into the winding streets of London, where they will learn how Dickens got the inspiration for many of his characters. The 200th anniversary of Dickens's birth was February 7, 2012, and this tale of his little-known boyhood is the perfect way to introduce kids to the great author. This Booklist Best Children's Book of the Year is historical fiction at its ingenious best.




Fire Truck Santa


Book Description

At Christmastime all over Australia - from the bush to the 'burbs - Santa arrives on the back of the fire truck! This boisterous picture book celebrates a much-loved Aussie tradition. A Christmas tradition, all round this land, from the city to the country, from the bush to the sand, in a shiny red truck instead of a sleigh, Santa sets out on his jolly old way. But this fire truck has seen better days. It creaks and rattles and groans as Santa makes his rounds. It will take a miracle to get through Christmas Eve... With beautiful illustrations by Nathaniel Eckstrom, this is an energetic and delightful celebration of a wonderful Aussie tradition.




The Night I Met Father Christmas


Book Description

‘A sheer delight for all kids both big AND small’ Ruth Jones 'Bubbles with warmth and mischievous humour . . . irresistible' Alexander Armstrong 'Wonderful, funny, magical' Chris Evans on How I Became a Dog Called Midnight Enter a world of wonder with this heartfelt Christmas classic from bestselling children's author Ben Miller. Jackson knows all about the flying reindeer, he knows about the elves and the secret North Pole workshop, he knows about the magic that allows Father Christmas to deliver presents around the world in just one night, but there's one thing he doesn't know . . . how did Father Christmas become Father Christmas? That all changes when, one Christmas Eve, Jackson meets Father Christmas and hears his incredible story. So begins an enchanting fairy-tale into a magical snowy landscape, where Torvil, a mean-spirited and miserly elf, is about to discover the true meaning of Christmas. This might not have been the story Jackson was expecting but, as Father Christmas tells him, no good story ever is... With beautiful illustrations throughout from Daniela Jaglenka Terrazzini and warm, funny words from Ben Miller, this book will remind everyone of the true spirit of Christmas and prove once and for all that Father Christmas really does exist! Praise for Ben Miller 'A magical adventure' Sunday Express on The Day I Fell Into a Fairytale 'Great for reading aloud' The Week Junior on The Day I Fell Into a Fairytale 'A fire-side gem of a story' Abi Elphinstone on The Night I Met Father Christmas 'Fabulous' Sunday Express on The Boy Who Made the World Disappear 'Enchanting, funny and intriguing in equal measure' Philip Ardagh on The Night I Met Father Christmas 'Each of [Ben’s] five books is joyous and thoughtful' Red Magazine




The Best Christmas Pageant Ever


Book Description

The six mean Herdman kids lie, steal, smoke cigars (even the girls) and then become involved in the community Christmas pageant.




A Christmas Memory


Book Description

A reminiscence of a Christmas shared by a seven-year-old boy and a sixtyish childlike woman, with enormous love and friendship between them.