10 Books to Get You in the Mood for Christmas

From perennially dry turkeys to Christmas pudding fires, from the round robin code of conduct to the risks and rewards of re-gifting, An Almost Perfect Christmas is an ode to the joy and insanity of the most wonderful time of the year from the author of the bestselling Love, Nina. It's enough to bring Christmas cheer to even the most curmudgeonly of Scrooges.

This year go carol-singing in the Cotswolds with Laurie Lee or attend church with a grumpy Samuel Pepys. Make plum puddings for bemused French villagers with Elizabeth David... Vividly evoking all the good things about the festive season, this Christmas anthology from legendary historian and Christmas Cracker compiler, John Julius Norwich is an unbridled delight.

For more than thirty years Wendy Cope has been one of the nation's most popular and respected poets. Christmas Poems collects together her best festive poems, including anthology favourites such as 'The Christmas Life', together with new and previously unpublished work.

Go on an adventure to the Snow Queen's palace, then make her treacle ice-cream. This unique combination of storybook and cookbook, with recipes and stories devised and written by Great British Bake Off winner, Nadiya, brings families into the kitchen together at this special time of year. Share a festive tale and have fun in the kitchen with Britain's favourite baker.

A Scandinavian Christmas: jars of decorated cookies, gingerbread houses and clogs filled with little presents rub shoulders with simple wreaths, trees and tables decorated with white candles and fresh greenery. In this glorious book, illustrated with evocative photographs, Trine Hahnemann provides 70 Christmas recipes illustrating how to celebrate Christmas in true Nordic style.

If the most wonderful time of year is enough to plunge you into a gloom, look no further. From tales of carolling and snatched mistletoe kisses to 'The Worst Christmas Dinner, Ever', there's something here to amuse and interest Christmas lovers, grinches, and everyone in between. A collection of spirited stories and vibrant poetry to brighten your mood this Christmastime.

How do you apply game theory to select who should be on your Christmas shopping list ? Will calculations show Santa is getting steadily thinner - shimmying up and down chimneys - or fatter - as he tucks into a billion mince pies? Full of diagrams, sketches and graphs, The Indisputable Existence of Santa Claus brightens up the bleak midwinter with stockingfuls of mathematical marvels.

Follow Clara on a magical Christmas adventure in this retelling of the classic ballet story. Watch the Nutcracker battle the Mouse King, meet the Sugar Plum Fairy and journey to the Land of Sweets, where wonder and excitement await all accompanied by music from 'The Dance of the Reed Flutes', 'The Waltz of Flowers' and 'The Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy'.

2014 is the centenary of Dylan Thomas's birth and this classic mini hardback edition of one of his most famous works features wonderful illustrations by acclaimed illustrator Edward Ardizzone.

Since it was first published in 1843 A Christmas Carol has had an enduring influence on the way we think about the traditions of Christmas. Adapted into countless film and stage versions since it was first published, A Christmas Carol is the quintessential Christmas story, a timeless tale of generosity, forgiveness and friendship.