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The Best Books of 2020: Children's Gift Books

Posted on 18th November 2020 by Mark Skinner

There are few children's presents as special as a truly beautiful book and this year we have been blessed with many gorgeous gift editions for younger readers. Word and image have been exquisitely united in The Lost Spells, Robert Macfarlane and Jackie Morris's stunning sequel to the bestselling The Lost Words, as well as Tiger Tiger Burning Bright, a sumptuous year's-worth of classic verse from the creators of former Waterstones Gift of the Year, I Am the Seed That Grew the Tree. Lavish illustrated editions from the worlds of Harry Potter and His Dark Materials would look glorious on any bookshelf and works of reference such as Fungarium and The Egyptians combine dazzling design with fascinating information.

Story & Poetry Anthologies

Tiger, Tiger, Burning Bright! - An Animal Poem for Every Day of the Year: Signed Bookplate Edition - National Trust Poetry Collections (Hardback)

Britta Teckentrup, Fiona Waters

£25.00

Hardback

Out of stock

Blessed with stunning illustrations from Britta Teckentrup, the follow-up to former Waterstones Gift of the Year, I Am the Seed That Grew the Tree, celebrates the animal kingdom through a diverse range of poetry, from Lewis Carroll to Grace Nichols.

The Book of Hopes: Words and Pictures to Comfort, Inspire and Entertain (Hardback)

Katherine Rundell

£12.99

Hardback

10+ in stock

Usually dispatched within 1-2 days

Curated by the peerless Katherine Rundell and designed with style and grace, The Book of Hopes garners words of possibility and optimism from the finest children’s writers and artists around.

The Lost Spells (Hardback)

Robert Macfarlane, Jackie Morris

£14.99

Hardback

10+ in stock

Usually dispatched within 1-2 days

From the inspired pairing behind the award-winning The Lost Words comes a luminous hymn to nature and language adorned with Jackie Morris’s exquisite illustrations of beloved woodland creatures.

The Jackie Morris Book of Classic Nursery Rhymes (Hardback)

Jackie Morris

£16.99

Hardback

10+ in stock

Usually dispatched within 1-2 days

The renowned illustrator of The Lost Words and The Lost Spells delivers a sumptuous collection of nursery rhymes, both famous and little-known, accompanied by a series of breathtaking watercolour illustrations.

Poems to Save the World With (Hardback)

Chris Riddell, Chris Riddell

£12.99

Hardback

Out of stock

Chris Riddell returns with another gorgeously illustrated anthology of poems, classic and modern, filled with inspiration for making the world a better place.

This product is currently unavailable online. Click to be notified when it is back in stock or to collect in store.

Norse Tales: Stories from Across the Rainbow Bridge: Signed Edition - Walker Studio (Hardback)

Kevin Crossley-Holland, Jeffrey Alan Love

£16.99

Hardback

In stock

Usually dispatched within 1-2 days

Following on from the acclaimed Norse Myths, Kevin Crossley-Holland recounts pulsating new versions of classic folktales full of gods, glaciers and mountain-trolls.

A Poem for Every Winter Day - A Poem for Every Day and Night of the Year (Paperback)

Allie Esiri, Allie Esiri

£16.99

Paperback

10+ in stock

Usually dispatched within 1-2 days

Another spellbinding collection of seasonal verse courtesy of Allie Esiri, A Poem for Every Winter Day features snowy classics from Thomas Hardy, Robert Burns and Jackie Kay amongst many others.

Beautiful Fiction

Northern Lights:the award-winning, internationally bestselling, now full-colour illustrated edition - His Dark Materials (Hardback)

Philip Pullman, Chris Wormell

£30.00

Hardback

10+ in stock

Usually dispatched within 1-2 days

Published to coincide with the 25th anniversary of Philip Pullman’s groundbreaking fantasy masterpiece, this sumptuous illustrated edition of Northern Lights brings the first part of Lyra’s epic quest to a whole new generation.

Quidditch Through the Ages - Illustrated Edition: A magical companion to the Harry Potter stories (Hardback)

J. K. Rowling, Emily Gravett

£25.00

Hardback

In stock

Usually dispatched within 1-2 days

Combining the storytelling talents of JK Rowling with the artistic gifts of Emily Gravett, this ravishing illustrated version of Quidditch Through the Ages boasts intricate artwork on every page.

Alice's Adventures In Wonderland (Hardback)

Lewis Carroll, Chris Riddell

£25.00

Hardback

10+ in stock

Usually dispatched within 1-2 days

Recreating the White Rabbit, the Cheshire Cat and many other legendary characters in his own distinctive style, former Waterstones Children’s Laureate Chris Riddell delivers a landmark new Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland for the twenty-first century.

Reference

Guinness World Records 2021 (Hardback)

Guinness World Records

£20.00

Hardback

Out of stock

Collating jaw-dropping, record-breaking facts and figures from across the globe and outer space, the 2021 edition of Guinness World Records is the biggest and most illuminating yet.

Blue Planet II: For young wildlife-lovers inspired by David Attenborough's series - BBC Earth (Hardback)

Leisa Stewart-Sharpe, Emily Dove

£14.99

Hardback

Sold out

We don't expect to receive further stock

From sea otters to humpback whales, dive in to the wonders of the earth’s oceans with this intricately illustrated and highly informative book accompanying the BBC series.

RSPB Birds: Explore their extraordinary world (Hardback)

Miranda Krestovnikoff, Angela Harding

£14.99

Hardback

10+ in stock

Usually dispatched within 1-2 days

Written with exuberance and passion and boasting exquisite print illustrations, this guide to the avian world will enchant younger readers and spawn countless future ornithologists.

Britannica All New Children's Encyclopedia: What We Know & What We Don't (Hardback)

Christopher Lloyd, Britannica Group

£27.00

Hardback

10+ in stock

Usually dispatched within 1-2 days

Combining the Encyclopedia Britannica’s authority and reputation with sumptuous design and illustration, this stunning children’s reference work is the perfect gift for inquisitive young readers eager to learn all about the world.

Fungarium - Welcome To The Museum (Hardback)

Royal Botanic Gardens Kew PLG, Ester Gaya

£20.00

Hardback

10+ in stock

Usually dispatched within 1-2 days

Highlighting the varied and intriguing world of fungi and revealing how vital they are to human progress, this sumptuous and educational volume will hold budding botanists spellbound for hours.

Exploring the Elements: A Complete Guide to the Periodic Table (Hardback)

Sara Gillingham, Isabel Thomas

£17.95

Hardback

10+ in stock

Usually dispatched within 1-2 days

A marvel of both accessible scholarship and graphic design, Exploring the Elements provides children with a vivid guide to the periodic table and the endless possibilities of chemistry.

A Really Short History of Nearly Everything (Hardback)

Bill Bryson

£25.00

Hardback

10+ in stock

Usually dispatched within 1-2 days

Brilliantly adapted from Bill Bryson’s phenomenal adult bestseller, A Really Short History of Nearly Everything crams in everything you could possibly want to know about the history of science and still has room for a series of vibrant illustrations.

Fantastic Beasts: The Wonder of Nature: Amazing Animals and the Magical Creatures of Harry Potter and Fantastic Beasts (Hardback)

Natural History Museum

£25.00

Hardback

Temporarily unavailable

Currently not available to order

Merging the wizarding world of Harry Potter with the real-life marvels of natural history, Fantastic Beasts: The Wonder of Nature demonstrates that sometimes the most remarkable animals are not creatures of the imagination.

This product is currently unavailable online. Click to be notified when it is back in stock or to collect in store.

Illumisaurus: Explore the world of dinosaurs with your magic three colour lens - Illumi: See 3 Images in 1 (Hardback)

Carnovsky, Lucy Brownridge

£20.00

Hardback

10+ in stock

Usually dispatched within 1-2 days

From the inventive minds behind Illuminatlas and Illumanatomy, Illumisaurus utilises three differently coloured lens to bring to vivid life the locations, dinosaurs and wildlife of prehistory.

The Egyptians - Hide-and-Seek History

Chaaya Prabhat, Jonny Marx

£18.99

Novelty book

In stock

Usually dispatched within 1-2 days

With more than 80 flaps, readers can delve into the past to uncover all sorts of astonishing facts about ancient Greece. An exciting and interactive introduction to the ancient Greeks, a popular history subject in schools.

Inspirational People

Good Night Stories for Rebel Girls: 100 Immigrant Women Who Changed the World (Hardback)

Elena Favilli

£25.00

Hardback

In stock

Usually dispatched within 1-2 days

Furnishing rebel girls with fresh inspiration, this treasury of inspiring immigrant women – from Josephine Baker to Madeline Albright – is a marvellous addition to the beloved Good Night Stories family.

YouthQuake: 50 Children and Young People Who Shook the World - Inspiring Lives (Hardback)

Tom Adams, Sarah Walsh

£16.99

Hardback

In stock

Usually dispatched within 1-2 days

Covering everyone from Mozart to Malala, this beautifully illustrated volume celebrates the lives and achievements of fifty young people from across the world and the centuries.

Amazing Muslims Who Changed the World (Hardback)

Burhana Islam, Nabi H. Ali

£16.99

Hardback

10+ in stock

Usually dispatched within 1-2 days

From global icons like Muhammad Ali and Malala Yousafzai, to lesser known pioneers such as Sultan Razia and Noor Inayat Khan, Amazing Muslims Who Changed the World highlights the incalculable achievements of Muslims throughout history.

Hobbies

Slow Down: Bring Calm to a Busy World with 50 Nature Stories (Hardback)

Rachel Williams, Freya Hartas

£20.00

Hardback

10+ in stock

Usually dispatched within 1-2 days

Filled with beauty and a sense of wonder about the little miracles can be observed in the garden or even through the window, Slow Down features 50 gorgeously illustrated stories about the magical transformations that happen in nature every day.

The Dragon Ark: Join the quest to save the rarest dragon on Earth (Hardback)

Curatoria Draconis, Tomislav Tomic

£20.00

Hardback

Temporarily unavailable

Currently not available to order

Stunningly illustrated and crafted with incredible attention to detail, this interactive quest to save the last remaining dragon from extinction combines thrilling adventure with a heartfelt message about conservation.

This product is currently unavailable online. Click to be notified when it is back in stock or to collect in store.

My First Cook Book: Bake, Make and Learn to Cook: Signed Bookplate Edition (Hardback)

David Atherton, Rachel Stubbs

£14.99

Hardback

Out of stock

A fresh, fun collection of recipes for adults and children to follow together, My First Cook Book brings all of The Great British Bake Off winner David Atherton's culinary skills to the table.

Music & Film

The Disney Book of Maps: A Guide to the Magical Worlds of Disney and Pixar (Hardback)

Walt Disney

£14.99

Hardback

10+ in stock

Usually dispatched within 1-2 days

Explore Neverland, Wonderland and many more iconic Disney and Pixar settings in this sumptuously designed, fully illustrated volume that will rekindle countless cinematic memories.

Harry Potter – Christmas at Hogwarts: A Movie Scrapbook (Hardback)

Warner Bros.

£14.99

Hardback

5+ in stock

Usually dispatched within 1-2 days

A sumptuous addition to the Harry Potter Movie Scrapbook series, this interactive volume is packed with images and information about the festive season in the wizarding world.