12 Great Books for Children 0-11 this Christmas plus Giveaway!

Harper Collins have sent us 12 of their favourite books for children aged 0-11 this Christmas and asked my boys to take a look and see what they think of the selection. You shouldn't try to judge a book by it's cover, so I encouraged them to at least read the blurb and the first page too!

The 12 books we've been sent are all in the Harper Collins Gift Guide, and are a mix of fiction written by some of the most popular children's authors of recent times and with pictures from a host of excellent illustrators. Here's what my 7 and 9 year old boys thought...

Bing's Christmas Wish (Birth+)
The boys' first impression: "I don't plan on reading this but it looks like a good book for babies and toddlers".
A brightly coloured shaped board book featuring Bing and Flop from children's TV as they prepare for Christmas. A lovely stockingfiller for a little one, and very sweet to read with them.
Board book, 10 pages, £5.99 rrp (currently £4 on Amazon).

Here We Are (Notes For Living On planet Earth) by Oliver Jeffers (Birth+)
The boys' first impression: I struggled to get words for this review as my sons were too busy reading this book.
Written by Mr Jeffers after the birth of his son, this incredibly beautiful book is an amazing welcome to the world for a newborn, but also just a gorgeous showcase of life at it's most amazing. #1 New York Times Bestseller and #1 TIME Best Book of the Year for 2017.
48 pages. Paperback, £7.99rrp, Hardback £14.99rrp (currently £10.99 on Amazon).

Sunk! by Rob Biddulph
The boys' first impression: "it looks very interesting and funny. I'm DEFINITELY going to read this". 
A large scale hardback featuring Penguin Blue and his band of pirates as they search for treasure. A nice rhyming book with a lovely flow and a definite innocence. My boys both read this independently and really enjoyed it.
Hardback, 32 pages, £12.99rrp (currently £7.95 on Amazon).

Boogie Bear by David Williams
The boys' first impression: " I like the name, it sounds funny and I think its probably going to be very good".
A large scale hardback for reading together. A funny tale of a poor polar bear who ends up in the wrong place and is then confused for the Boogie Monster. Lovely illustrations by Tony Ross. I read this with my boys at bedtime and they both laughed aloud.
Hardbacked, 40 pages, £12.99rrp, currently £6.00 on Amazon.

Kevin by Rob Biddulph
The boys' first impression: "looks like a  good book, I've read half already and it has a good story". 
The second from this author and illustrator and another large scale hardback. A really sweet tale about Sid and Kevin with gorgeous illustrations. You are never alone with an imaginary friend. Hardback, 32 pages, rrp £12.99, currently £9.44 on Amazon.

The Grotlyn by Benji Davies
The boys' first impression: "looks a bit spooky"... tailed off because he was reading... "I'm DEFINITELY going to read it". 
A book for reading together age 4+ or for older children to read alone. The story of the creature under the bed, the monster out of the corner of your eye and the scuttling animal who ran across the floor. Could it be The Grotlyn? A beautifully illustrated rhyming story which takes you from mild peril to random amusement in the most bewitching of ways.
A4 Hardback, 32 pages, rrp £12.99,currently £8.38 on Amazon.

Paddington 2 The Book Of The Movie by Anna Wilson
The boys' first impression: "I like the sound of the movie and I think this book would be as good as the movie".
We've seen this one before when we looked at a range of Paddington Bear books. A paperback novel for independent reading aged around 6+, which retells the story of the movie Paddington 2. Paperback, 208 pages, rrp £5.99.

TOTO by Michael Morpurgo
The boys' first impression: "looks good and I like the Wizard if Oz - I'm gonna read it".
The Dog-Gone Amazing Story Of The Wizard Of Oz is a retelling of L Frank Baum's classic through the eyes of Dorothy's dog Toto, with gorgeous bright illustrations from Emma Chichester Clark. Humorous and exciting, it puts a really different slant on a story we all thought we knew. Suitable for young independent readers 7+.
Hardback, 284 pages, rrp £14.99, currently £10.19 on Amazon.

Birthday Boy by David Baddiel
The boys' first impression: "it looks like a very interesting book. I'm DEFINITELY going to read it".
A story book for slightly older readers 9+. In the evening, after a day of birthday celebrations, Sam sees a shooting star and at the stroke of midnight makes a wish he very quickly regrets. Funny and thought-provoking.
Hardback. 416 pages, rrp £12.99, currently a bargain £5 on Amazon.

Bad Dad by David Walliams
The boys' first impression: "I enjoy David Walliams and this looks even better than some of his other books".
An illustration laden story book for readers aged 9+. Young Frank's single parent Dad is his hero - will he stay that way all through the book though? Very easy to read and ideal for reluctant readers or those still lacking confidence.
Hardback, 464 pages, rrp £12.99, currently another bargain £5 book on Amazon.

Skulduggery Pleasant by Derek Landy

The boys' first impression: "it looks very interesting. I'm going to read this one soon".
The first tale in a series of 10 books for age 9+, we reviewed the 8th Skulduggery Pleasant book 4 years ago. Stephanie's uncle Gordon dies and leaves her his estate, and she realises his horror fiction books weren't fiction at all. She finds an unlikely ally against the enemies unleashed - a sarcastic and witty skeleton... Paperback, 384 pages, rrp £5.99. currently £2.79 on Amazon.

Geek Girl: All Wrapped Up by Holly Smale
The boys' first impression: "I don't plan on reading because in am a boy, but if I was a girl I think I would want to read this".
The Geek Girl series has been popular in our house for several years now. We reviewed the 3rd book, Picture Perfect 3 years ago. Recommended for age 11+, this is the story of 'geek girl' Harriet and how she fits into the world - with a Christmas setting and a bit of teenage romance. Paperback, 224 pages, rrp £5.99.

Harper Collins kindly offered the entire bundle of all 12 books for one of my readers. This giveaway ended at midnight Sunday 7th January 2018.

We were sent our books for review and paid for some of the time it'll take to administrate this giveaway. Links may be affiliate links, which means I earn a few pence for referring you to Amazon, but you don't pay any extra - and I won't knowingly overlook a bargain elsewhere.