Contains items gifted for this guide, may also contain affiliate links
Having two boys one aged 5 and one 10 (going on 15) I thought I would put together a guide of gifts that they will love. From budget and stocking fillers right up to the “big Christmas present” there is sure to be something they will be happy with
My advice this year is to buy early as supply chains are struggling. Also shop around, I’ve included the RRP wehre possible, shops are having all sorts of deals at the moment so if you can it’s worth comparing prices.
Books for Christmas gifts
The Christmasaurus Picture Book by Tom Fletcher. Illustrated by Shane Devries
A rhyming re-imagining of Tom Fletcher’s bestselling story The Christmasaurus; a pic
ture book full of festive fun!
Tom Fletcher has stunningly reimagined his original Christmasaurus story for younger
readers, packed full of festive fun, heartwarming moments, and clever rhyme. Brought
to life by the incredibly talent of illustrator Shane Devries, the world of the Christ
masaurus can be seen for the first time in full, breath-taking colour.
14 Oct 2021 | £12.99 | ISBN: 9780241466551| Age range: 3+ years
Grandude’s Green Submarine by Paul McCartney. Illustrated by Kathryn Durst
An action-packed, rip-roaring adventure – full of strange surprises and heart-warming family
fun, from the unique imagination of beloved music legend Paul McCartney.
Jump aboard Grandude’s magical green submarine and join the quest to find Nandude, follow
ing her musical trail around the world and deep beneath the sea. From the legendary Paul
McCartney’s unique imagination comes this actionpacked, rip-roaring adventure. Celebrate
the fun grandparents and their grandchildren can have together, even if there is a bit of dis
tance keeping them apart.
30 Sep 2021 | £12.99 | ISBN: 9780241472934 | Age range: 3+ years
It’s become an annual tradition (see what I did there) to get the boys an annual each
This year I’ve gone for the Lego annual, which comes with a Lego figure and Minecraft. They were both a fiver from Amazon but you can get them from bookshops and supermarkets too.
Oh No! A Shark in the Snow by Nick Sharratt
A fin-tastic new festive adventure in the bestselling Shark in the Park series – the perfect
way to say Snappy Christmas!
Timothy Pope, Timothy Pope looks again through his telescope. As snowflakes fall without
a sound, he looks left, he looks right, he looks all around. Wait, is that a SHARK?
Turn the page to find out, if you dare . . . With its funny rhyming text, die-cut holes to peep
through and a visit from Santa, this is a an irresistible adventure full of all the magic of
Christmas.
7 October 2021 | £6.99 | ISBN: 9780241519110| Age range: 2-5 years
The Snowman: A full-colour retelling of the classic by Michael Morpurgo. Illustrated by
Robin Shaw
A stunning gift edition of The Snowman, re-imagined by beloved author Michael Morpur
go for a whole new generation of readers – now with beautiful full-colour illustrations.
One December morning, James is thrilled to wake up to see snow falling. He spends the
whole day making his perfect snowman; he has coal eyes, an old green hat and scarf and a
tangerine nose… just like the snowman from his favourite story. That night, something
magical happens – the Snowman comes to life! He and James take to the skies on a magical adventure where they meet someone very special.
28 Oct 2021 | £14.99 | ISBN: 9780241526194| Age range: 7-10 years
Busy Day: Father Christmas by Dan Green
Join in and help Father Christmas on his busiest night of the year in this playful, in
teractive flap book!
Ho, ho, ho! Can you help Father Christmas to deliver all the presents? Join in and use
the flaps to wrap the presents, fly the sleigh, slide down the chimney and much,
much more.
Each clever flap provides an action or scene-change to encourage children to actively
engage and explore.
14 Oct 2021 | £6.99 | ISBN: 9780241458136| Age range: 2-5 years
The Amazing Maurice and His Educated Rodents by Terry Pratchett
The incredible Carnegie-winning adventure, now in a brand-new gift edition, part of the
Discworld Hardback Library.
23 Sep 2021 | £14.99 | ISBN: 9780857536105| Age range: 10-18 years
Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Big Shot by Jeff Kinney
The BRAND NEW laugh-out-loud, fully-illustrated Diary of a Wimpy Kid book from #1
international bestselling author Jeff Kinney! A global phenomenon with 250 million
copies of the series sold worldwide!
After a disastrous field day competition at school, Greg decides that when it comes to his
athletic career, he’s officially retired. But after his mom urges him to give sports one
more chance, he reluctantly agrees to sign up for basketball. Tryouts are a mess, and
Greg is sure he won’t make the cut. But he unexpectedly lands a spot on the worst team.
26 Oct 2021 | £12.99 | ISBN: 9780241396650| Age range: 7-12 years
Kay’s Marvellous Medicine by Adam Kay. Illustrated by Henry Paker
The remarkable and remarkably revolting follow-up children’s book to the record
breaking bestseller Kay’s Anatomy from the UK’s funniest science teacher, Adam Kay.
The olden days were pretty fun if you liked wearing chainmail or chopping people’s heads
off but there was one TINY LITTLE problem back then . . . doctors didn’t have the slightest
clue about how our bodies worked. It’s time to find out why Ancient Egyptians thought
the brain was just a useless load of old stuffing that might as well be chucked in the bin,
why teachers forced their pupils to smoke cigarettes, why hairdressers would cut off their
customers’ legs, and why people used to get paid for farting.
30 Sep 2021 | £14.99 | ISBN: 9780241508527| Age range: 8-12 years
Black Joy edited by Charlie Brinkhurst-Cuff
An exciting, much-needed anthology with writing from 30 exceptional Black British voices
centred around the joy they’ve found in their lives.
Edited by award-winning journalist Charlie Brinkhust-Cuff and up-and-coming talent Timi
Sotire, join twenty-eight inspirational voices in this uplifting and empowering anthology as
they come together to celebrate being Black British, sharing their experiences of joy and
what it means to them.
02 Sep 2021 | £14.99 | ISBN: 9780241519660| Age range: 12-17 years
The Christmasaurus and the Naughty List by Tom Fletcher. Illustrated by Shane Devries
The Christmasaurus returns in a NEW magical adventure from Tom Fletcher!
You know about the Naughty and Nice List, right? Santa’s top-secret tracker that he ALWAYS
checks twice? Well, this year, the Christmasaurus is on a mission to track down children who
have found themselves on the Naughty List to help them put wrongs to rights, naughty to nice!
This is a story about mischievous kids learning the error of their ways, but it’s also about sharing the true spirit of Christmas and realising that sometimes things aren’t quite as they first ap
pear…
14 Oct 2021 | £12.99 | ISBN: 9780241407356 | Age range: 7-11 years
Or how about a book with a matching toy?
Cheeky Monsters is a new world of imagination and creativity. With five unique characters with individual story books and cuddly toys, and an interactive series of videos on their YouTube channel, there will never be a dull moment for your family with Cheeky Monsters this Christmas.
Each new Cheeky Monster has their very own distinct personality, colour, hobbies and horns! With Violet the Superstar, Drago the Super Scientist, Rocky the Road Racer, Spike the Expert Explorer and Glitter the Disco Dancer, all the characters have one thing in common…being Cheeky Monsters!
Each Cheeky Monster has an illustrated storybook telling a story of adventure, fun and mischief, and a soft cuddly toy for kids to bring the stories to life and to create their own Cheeky Monsters tale, unlocking their curiosity and creativity.
I chose Spike for Little L:
Spike Expert Explorer Storybook – £6.99
Spike Soft Cuddly Toy – £14.99
Spike Storybook and Toy Set – £21.98
Storytime Magazine Subscription
If your kids are anything like mine they love getting somethingthrough the post. The Storytime books are a monthly magazine that helps to improve children’s literacy. Each edition of Storytime is packed with fairy tales, modern stories, myths and legends, plus stories from a variety of cultures.
XMAS GIFT OFFER – STORYTIME MAGAZINE
Choose when the first copy of Storytime arrives, before or after Christmas, plus get a gift certificate to give on the day.
Arrives in a special envelope addressed to the child!
- Big savings on the shop price
- Packed with fairy tales, modern tales, myths, poems, and much more – beautifully illustrated, with games and activities too
- Each issue arrives in a special envelope for the child to open
- Free downloadable activities every month
- Choose when you want the first copy to arrive – in case you don’t want to spoil the surprise
- Plus get a downloadable gift certificate so you have something to give on Christmas day
- Please order by December 17th if you would like your first copy to be delivered in time for Christmas
Usual 12 Month Subscription – £38.99
Offer for our readers save an EXTRA 20% by using this link – 12 Month Subscription from £31.19!
Baking Gift Set from My Messy Me
Little L loves helping me in the kitchen. Sadly Big L has other things he’d rather be doing but is pretty keen to lick the bowl… The Messy Me Baking Gift Set includes a little rolling pin – perfect for small hands, a wipe clean apron and star cookie cutters. Little L has already used it and loves having his own baking bits!
Available in gray, red or blue directly from My Messy Me £19.50
Family Games for Christmas and beyond
Poetry for Nealderthals
- Poetry for Neanderthals is a competitive word-guessing card game from Exploding Kittens where you must speak good or get hit with a NO! stick
- Using only single syllable words, give clues to your team trying to guess your secret phrase. If you mess up and use a big word, you get bopped on the head with a 2-foot long inflatable club
- Poetry for Neanderthals is fun for both grownups and children. It takes a few minutes to learn and about 20 minutes to play
Available from Amazon £19.99
- The Minions have invaded the Exploding Kittens Universe! Play the Minions-themed version of the award-winning card game, featuring new cards, illustrations, and banana-fueled hilarity.
- New Cards and Gameplay – The Minions bring a new game-changing card with them that allows players to Clone cards!
- Easy to Learn and Quick to Play – If you draw an Exploding Minion, you explode and are out of the game. If you don’t explode, YOU WIN. A simple card game for kids, teens and adults! It’s the game you’ll want for any gathering: game night, beach trip, or road trip.
- 15 Minutes to Play, 2-5 Players, Ages 7+ – Comes with a cool lenticular box and 72 cards, featuring all new hilarious Minions illustrations from the creator of The Oatmeal.
Available from Amazon £19.99
Word Fever
Word Fever will be top of any word-lover’s Christmas list this year, the perfect addition to family fun on Christmas Day.
Given one topic and one letter, all players need to be on their A-game to quickly find a word that matches! Questions could include “A black and white animal starting with P”; “A superpower starting with I” and with stressful sounds to throw players off, and only 12 seconds to answer – who will give the fastest response? The faster you answer, the more points you score!
Using Artificial Intelligence, the game adapts so that players of all skills can play together. With 3,000 questions available, this exciting game will be loved all year round!
RRP: £24.99
Suitable for ages: 7 years +
Stockists: Amazon, Smyths, Argos, Amazon, Hamleys, Iceland, John Lewis, Very, The Range, The Works, WHSmith and Indies
Sneezy Panda
The game with flowers and leaves which make little panda sneeze!
Sam the panda loves to collect flowers and leaves from his garden, but there’s a problem… they make him sneeze! Each time Sam sneezes everything his has collected flies from his basket.
Can you race to collect all your colour flowers and return them to Sam’s basket before he stops sneezing?
- Quick and easy to play
- 2 play modes – competitive or cooperative
- Includes rotating panda, with sneezing action and sound effects
- For 2-4 players
- Suitable for ages 4+
- Requires 3 x AAA batteries (not included)
RRP £22.99 Available from all good toy shops and Amazon
Logo The Best of Kids
Forget the adults this Christmas – this is The Best of Kids! The latest addition to the LOGO board game family this 2021, The Best of Kids is created especially for youngsters – grown-ups don’t have to have all the fun!
Featuring over 1,000 pot luck, picture and themed questions testing your knowledge on all the weird and wonderful things kids have hidden in their minds. And if they behave, maybe the adults can join too!
From Disney and dinosaurs, to science and snacks, playing is our brains’ favourite way of learning, and playing LOGO The Best of Kids is the perfect way to end Christmas Day!
RRP: £19.99
Suitable for ages 7+
Stockists include: Amazon, Argos, Smyths, The Entertainer, Amazon, John Lewis, Very, Iceland, Hamleys, Indies
Ghost Castle
Avoid the traps and escape the haunted castle!
You are paranormal investigators, hired to find out if the legend of “Ghost Castle” is true, and to record anything “strange” going on inside. Trouble is… it’s all true.
Having made your way upstairs, you’ve accidentally woken the mean-spirited ghost of Count Spooksalot, and he is determined to get revenge by trapping you in his castle FOREVER!
Race down the stairs and through the trap-filled rooms, where danger lurks at every turn.
Get out of the castle as quickly as possible to win!
- Includes 5 room traps, triggered by the glow-in-the dark ghost
- The box becomes the gameboard, with huge 58x36cm play area
- Easy set up and break down
- No batteries required
- For 2-6 players
- Suitable for ages 6+ years
RRP £19.99 awailable from all good toy stores and Amazon
Tetris 3D
Tetris® 3D is the baffling brainteaser puzzle with 4 levels of play. How many ways can you find to complete each challenge? Unlike the Tetris video game, in this puzzle Tetriminos must sometimes be flipped as well as rotated in order to complete the challenges.
RRP £9.99 Available from John Lewis & Amazon
Super Sand Classic – Modelling Sand
Create, build and play with Super Sand, the high-quality magic sand. The super soft to touch, non-staining sand is lightweight but buildable, encouraging children to use the moulds provided to create detailed structures or go freestyle with their own designs.
The original modelling sand is made in Europe from natural materials. Our unique formula is soft and doesn’t dry out so you can mould detailed creations again and again. Super Sand sticks to itself and brushes up easily, so clean-up is super speedy, too.
RRP £16.99 availabel from Smyths, Argos and Amazon
Hotwires
The plug and play electronics set
Over 100 action packed experiments involving light, sound and movement!
Make anything from a flying disk to a burglar alarm, from a voice recorder to an FM radio with automatic station selector and even a lie detector.
Follow the easy to use 54 page colour instructions to become an electronics wizard.
Supports the National Curriculum
- STEM Toys
- For ages 8+
- Requires 4 x AA batteries (not included)
RRP £49.99 Available from online retailers and Amazon
World Of Zombies – Two Figure Pack
RRP: £7.99 | Age 4+ | Amazon
Simpl Dimpl from Tomy
Simpl Dimpl is perfect for fidgeting fun, whether you’re young or old and makes for the ideal stocking filler! Featuring two colourful bubbles, in a variety of colour combinations, after one touch your fingers won’t be able to stop pushing, poking and popping the classic, soft durable silicone bubble Fat Brain Toys is known for.
The lightweight hand-held device features a handy clip, meaning your Simpl Dimpl can go with you everywhere – the prefect stress reliever for both adults and kids alike.
SRP: £4.99 Suitable for ages 3+ Stockists include: Amazon
Christmas Confectionary
Haribo Hamper and Selection Box
Haribo sweets are a firm favourite here and I know the Haribo Hamper and Haribo Selcetion box will go down a storm – if they last that is!
Haribo Hamper £5 and Haribo Selection Box £2.50 both available from Poundshop, Ocado, Wilko etc
Cadbury Double Deck Selection Box
Cadbury selection box with two layers of Cadbury chocolate. Open up to reveal a top layer with all your favourite Cadbury bars and a second layer with a Christmas Selection pack and more Cadbury bars! The limited edition Cadbury Double Deck Selection box makes a magical and unique Christmas gift.
£15.00 Available from www.cadburygiftsdirect.co.uk
Organix Christmas Selection Box
On the hunt for a tasty treat to pop in your little one’s stocking? Organix Toddler & Baby Selection Box would make a scrummy gift or stocking filler for happy little elves 12m+.
Filled to the brim with scrummy organic treats, each Christmas snack box contains Organix Strawberry & Apple Fruit Gummies, Mini Gingerbread Men Biscuits, Alphabet Biscuits, Raspberry & Apple Soft Oaty Bar and Apple & Orange Oaty Bars.
Like all their toddler snacks, we include no artificial ingredients in our selection boxes.
RRP £2.50 available from Boots, Ocado and more!
Classic Soft and Cuddly Steiff Toys for Christmas
Steiff Toni Tigger
Steiff bears are synonynous with quality and Toni is no exception.
Toni tiger is striped and measures 30 cm. It is made of soft cuddly plush fabric. Bean bags are sewn into the arms, legs and its bottom.The long white mane makes a bright contrast to the short striped plush fabric of the tiger’s fur. The whiskers and friendly smile are embroidered in black stitching. The inside ears are a cream colour. The white cuddly tummy is decorated with an embroidered belly button. Black claws and pads are sewn into the white soles.
£39.99 available from toysandbears.com
Steiff Luca Bear
For a classic Steif bear Steiff Luca teddy bear fits the bill, he is made from wonderfully cosy beige long pile plush.
He is 5-way jointed (which means you can move his head, arms and legs) and has shiny eyes and black hand stitched mouth and nose. He has bean bags in his bottom which makes him sit so nicely.
Machine washable @ 30° (very important!), and is suitable for all ages. Yellow label with famous Steiff stainless steel button in the ear.
£59.99 avaiable from www.steiffteddybears.co.uk
For the Super Hero fan
Selection of Marvel Goodies from Smiggle
Smiggle have recently partnered with Marvel on this amazing range – Little L will be thrilled when he sees this!
There are all sorts of Marvel products available including a rucksack, washbag, headphones and wallet. There is also a Disney range for Disey fans. Smiggle often have offers on including bundle offers and free delivery so check it out!
From £5.00 available form Smiggle in stores and online
For tech lovers this Christmas
IMP Q4 PRO 2021
Upgraded for 2021 the IMO Q4 Pro 2021 is a fab mobile phone for tweens. You get a lot of bang for your buck with this bit of kit with features such as:
- Face unlock
- 5.5″ HD screen
- Dual Rear Cameras 8MP & 0.3MP
- Front Camera (for selfies) 5MP
- 16GB Memory (expandable to 64 GB with micro SD card)
It runs on Android 9 Go; I am, and probably always will be, an Android person. This phone is perfect for tweens so they can keep in touch as well as take photos and videos.
RRP £69.99 from Tesco in store and online
Beamo Ring Light & Gorillapod Pro 2 from Joby
Beamo™ Ring Light 12”
- Designed to work seamlessly with existing JOBY supports & mounts
- Multiple cold shoe attachment points for easy accessorizing
- Solid build and large size can support up to a mirrorless camera
- Switch between three color temperatures depending on your mood
- Powered via USB-A cable to 5V/2A+ power supply (not included)
RRP £24.95 from Joby
GripTight™ PRO 2 GorillaPod®
- GripTight PRO 2 Mount securely holds up to plus size phone
- Works in landscape or portrait mode
- GorillaPod legs wrap around objects for unlimited angles
- Add lights and mics via removable Cold Shoe PRO Mount
- ¼”-20 compatible attachment point for additional accessories
RRP £79.95 from Joby
Lisbon Ear Buds from Urbanista
Lisbon earphone frm Urbanista are available in a variety of colours tosuit your personality.
Key features:
- Compact design
- Playtime 9 h
- Total playtime 27 h
- USB Type-C Charging
- Touch controls
- Siri and Google Voice Assistant
- Compatible with iOS & Android
RRP £49.99 available directly from Urbanista
Sades Spirit Headset
Well-suited for experienced or amateur gamers, the Sades Spirit offers users a lightweight but effective headset at an entry level price point (£21.99).
: Carrying on Edifier’s reputation for superb sounding microphones on a budget, the Spirit headset comes with an omnidirectional microphone with a sensitivity of 33 dB ± 3 dB/ 1 kHz and a frequency response of 50 ~ 10 kHz.
: Each ear cup includes a speakers with a Loudhailer diameter of 50 mm and a sensitivity of 96 ± 3 dB/ 1 kHz.
: The Sades Spirit headsets is compatible with PS4/ PS5, Xbox One & Series X & Series S, Nintendo Switch & Lite, VR, Mobile Devices and PC/ Laptop gaming.”
RRP £21.99 (but currently on offer) available from Amazon
Video Games suitable for families
Mario Party Superstars
We are total Nintendo nuts in our house. Monsieur Incidental loves all things Nintendo and has passed his passion on to both boys.
Mario Party Superstars ticks all the boxes for family entertainment with some classic minigames from the Gamecube and N64 featuring all your favorite characters.
RRP £49.99 (as always shop around for the best deal) available directly from the Nintendo store as well as your usual game retailers.
My Friend Peppa Pig
Start a fun-filled adventure with Peppa Pig! Create your character, ring the doorbell, and step into the popular TV show. Peppa suggests activities everywhere you go, from the Museum to Potato City. Help find Daddy Pig’s glasses, follow forest tracks, splash in muddy puddles, and more. Every playtime is different
- Out now (Switch/Xbox/PS4/Steam)
- Aimed at 3+
- RRP £34.99 Available from all good retailers
To be in with a chance of winning a copy of My Friend Peppa Pig (download code) and Peppa Pig Motorhome CLICK HERE
PJ Masks Heroes of the Night
Go into the night to save the day as Catboy, Owlette, and Gekko! Use your superpowers to explore the world of PJ Masks and find hidden collectibles, in a platforming adventure for little heroes. Can you stop villains Romeo, Luna Girl, and Night Ninja taking over the world?
- Out Now (Switch/Xbox/PS4/Steam)
- Aimed at 3+
- RRP £34.99 from all good retailers
To be in with a chance of winning a copy of PJ Masks Heroes of the Night (download code) and PJ Masks Battle Headquarters CLICK HERE
Blaze & The Monster Machines: Axle City Racers
Compete with up to 4 players in couch split-screen mode, get ready to race with Blaze and his monster machine friends. Power up with speed boosts, upgrades, and unique character abilities or win the Cup at the Axle City Grand Prix, the Monster Dome, and more, the world of Blaze is yours to explore.
- Out now (Switch/Xbox/PS4/Steam)
- Aimed at 3+
- RRP £34.99 available from all good retailers
To be in with a chance of winning a copy of Blaze & the Monster Machines: Axle City Racers (download code) and Blaze and the Monster Machines Monster Dome CLICK HERE
