Favourite Books for Christmas in the Guardian

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Julia Eccleshare gives us her list of favourite children's books for Christmas. This remarkable listing hosts some remarkable choices, including The Gift by Carol Ann Duffy, Slightly Invisible (Charlie and Lola) by Lauren Child, Ottoline At Sea by Chris Riddell, and The Puffin Mother Goose Treasury by Raymond Briggs.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2010/dec/11/childrens-books-present-review-roundup

And from the 8th of December comes this interesting review of Susan Cooper's contemporary classic: The Dark Is Rising. The entire Dark is Rising sequence, a dark and menacing contemporary Arthurian quintet has been released, so once again, we can spend the dark winter months embedding ourselves in the stories of the Dark and Light forces battling for the souls of all humanity. If you have read them, I suggest you start immediately, but have always felt it's best to start with The Dark Is Rising, actually the second book in the series. This is especially apt now, as the story concerns our young hero, Will, about to celebrate his 11th birthday on December 21st. All the action takes place during the Christmas season. Forget the film from a couple of years ago.. the book is simply wonderful!
http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/booksblog/2010/dec/08/season-s-readings-the-dark-is-rising

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