It can be hard to think of gifts for the whole family at Christmas time. The great thing about printed books is that they’re well-priced gifts, they’re always cherished and they’re great to take away on holiday.
We’ve come up with a fantastic list of book ideas for the whole family. This will make your Christmas gift shopping a breeze. Whether you’re looking for your loved one, parents or the kids, there’s something here for everyone. You might even want to treat yourself.
🙂 That way you’re sure to get the gift you want this Christmas! 🙂
15 fantastic book ideas for Christmas gifts
The Light Between Oceans – M. L. Stedman
If there’s one book you make sure is under the Christmas tree this year, make it The Light Between Oceans. This is the New York Times best-seller Goodreads historical category winner, with 2.3 million copies sold. It’s just been made into a major Hollywood film starring Michael Fassbender and Alicia Vikander.
A boat washes up on the shore of a remote lighthouse keeper’s island. It holds a dead man – and a crying baby. The only two islanders, Tom and his wife Izzy, are about to make a devastating decision. They break the rules and follow their hearts. What happens next will break yours. “Unforgettable.” (Guardian). “A moving tale…prepare to weep.” (New York Times).
Scrumptious – Chelsea Winter
The eagerly anticipated follow-up to Homemade Happiness, Everyday Delicious and At My Table [links]. Chelsea Winter has become a saviour in the kitchen. Discover why with this utterly scrumptious collection of recipes. Packed with irresistible recipes for mouthwatering lunches and dinners, indulgent baking and wickedly good desserts.
The 90-plus recipes are easy to follow, use ingredients on hand in your fridge or pantry, and will certainly earn you rave reviews from your family and friends. See our review [links]
Dr Libbys Womens Wellness Wisdom – Dr Libby
The latest book by eight times number one best-selling author Dr Libby, Women’s Wellness Wisdom, is, quite simply, the book that every woman needs to read. With her unique approach to wellness, designed to specifically address the issues that women of all ages face, readers gain a deep understanding of their body and what it needs in order to not just survive, but to thrive.
Often, we’re simply told to eat ‘healthily’ because it’s ‘good for us’. Rarely does a book this beautiful explain the processes of the body, and how they’re all interdependent on each other, while offering real guidance, in such succinct and easy to understand language. From over two decades of research, Dr Libby takes all the guesswork out of being a woman. See our review.
Cooking 4 Change – 101 Kiwi celebrities
With all the profits going to charity, Cooking 4 Change showcases the amazing results Kiwis can achieve when we all work together and give back to some of our hardest-working charities.
Cooking 4 Change is the brainchild of celebrated New Zealand artist Dick Frizzell. He asked a wide range of New Zealand celebrities to share their all-time favourite dishes in order to raise money for longstanding local charities. What resulted is a diverse selection of recipes and intimate cooking stories from a raft of our favourite personalities who want to make a difference. Try and win a copy in our competition.
Bowie A to Z: The Life of an Icon
An illustrated alphabetical tribute that celebrates the many faces and facets of cultural icon David Bowie.
From Aladdin Sane to Ziggy Stardust, Bowie A-Z is densely packed with everything you need to know about the rock legend — from the greatest hits of trivia to the most obscure B-side facts.
How to Dad – Jordan Watson
How to DAD wrote a book?! Well I scribbled some stuff down and some other people were crazy enough to publish it so I’ll take it! I’m known for making silly viral parenting videos on things like ‘How to get a baby to clean the house’ or ‘How to travel with a baby’ and I’ve put my Dad skills on paper.
OK they might not be ‘skills’ – but the Dad ‘stuff’ in this book might just help you in your quest to master the art of Dadding. Dadding? Is that a thing…? Well you’ll have to buy this book to find out. NAILED IT!
101 Bets You Will Always Win – Professor Richard Wiseman
What would you do if someone bet you they could balance a coin on the edge of a banknote, walk through a postcard, or make you move your limbs through the power of suggestion? Would you take that bet?
From Richard Wiseman, the creator of the 350-million-view YouTube phenomenon, Quirkology, comes a thrilling mix of lateral thinking, magic tricks and scintillating science stunts which is sure to appeal to curious minds everywhere.
Empire of Storms – Sarah J. Maas
The long path to the throne has just begun for Aelin Galathynius. With war looming on all horizons, the only chance for salvation lies in a desperate quest that may mark the end of everything Aelin holds dear. Will Aelin succeed in keeping her world from splintering, or will it all come crashing down?
This fifth instalment in the sensational New York Times bestselling series is the most thrilling yet and cannot be missed. Contains mature content – suitable for readers 15+.
Girl Stuff for Girls Aged 8-12 – Kaz Cooke
Here’s everything you need to know about being a pre-teen, from Kaz Cooke, author of Girl Stuff for teens. * body changes * dealing with friends & bullies * getting confident * first periods * pimples * hair (wherever it is) * phones & being online * what to eat * being fit & healthy * the best books & movies * how to be happy with your own true self * & lots more!
Girl Stuff 8-12 fits under your pillow and is written with the help of medical and other experts.
Illustrated Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets – J. K. Rowling, illustrated by Jim Kay
Prepare to be spellbound by Jim Kay’s dazzling full-colour illustrations in this stunning new edition of J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets. Breathtaking scenes, dark themes and unforgettable characters – including Dobby and Gilderoy Lockhart – await inside this fully illustrated edition.
With paint, pencil and pixels, award-winning illustrator Jim Kay conjures the wizarding world as we have never seen it before. Fizzing with magic and brimming with humour, this inspired reimagining will captivate fans and new readers alike
DanTDM: Trayaurus and the Enchanted Crystal – Daniel Middleton
From the mind of one of the most popular YouTubers of all time, DanTDM, comes a graphic novel adventure that reimagines the Minecraft-style worlds and characters he’s created like you’ve never seen them before.
After a day of experiments, Trayaurus and DanTDM are about to call it a night when a strange-looking crystal plummets to earth, breaking into five pieces that scatter far and wide. DanTDM and Trayaurus recover one of the shards and quickly realise they are in possession of an object more powerful than anything they’ve ever known.
Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Double Down – Jeff Kinney
The pressure’s really piling up on Greg Heffley. His mom thinks video games are turning his brain to mush, so she wants her son to put down the controller and explore his ‘creative side’. As if that’s not scary enough, Halloween’s just around the corner and the frights are coming at Greg from every angle.
When Greg discovers a bag of gummy worms, it sparks an idea. Can he get his mom off his back by making a movie …And will he become rich and famous in the process? Or will doubling down on this plan just double Greg’s troubles?
The Little Elephant Who Wants to Fall Asleep – Carl-Johan Forssen Ehrlin
Add variety to your child’s bedtime routine with the latest book from the author of The Rabbit Who Wants to Fall Asleep, the global bestseller that parents have been raving about!
Features all-new child-tested, parent-approved techniques to reclaim bedtime. Your child joins Ellen the Elephant on a journey through a magical forest that leads to sleep. Along the way, children meet different fantastical characters and have calming experiences that will help your child to relax and slip into slumber quickly.
Grandad’s Wheelies – Jack Lasenby
With wild watercolour illustrations throughout by Bob Kerr, Grandad’s Wheelies is a hilarious, rollicking yarn stitching together a picture of life in New Zealand a couple of generations back that is just about true. Jack Lasenby can’t get enough of his Grandad and Granny’s stories – and readers young and old will love them too!
When Jack visits his grandparents, there’s no television to entertain him. No internet, no mobile phone, no tablets. In fact, there’s no technology or modern distractions at all. But he still likes to visit, because Grandad and Granny tell him stories.
Pig the Elf – Aaron Blabey
Everyone’s favourite Pug is here to spread some holiday cheer and no one loves Christmas more than Pig. And the world’s greediest Pug will stay up all night to get his presents!
By the children’s writer who brought us the original Pig the Pug, this is a fabulous story for shared reading, guaranteed to make you laugh out loud! Aaron Blabey is a multi-award-winning picture-book creator.
