My Children Recommend These Books:
Of all the books my daughters have read in 2024, old and new, these are their absolute favourites.
(Full disclosure:1 I’ve provided links to each book, in case you happen to want to buy one immediately. They all link to UK websites, and the ones that take you to Bookshop.org might also earn me2 some money one day,3 because I’m an affiliate. The photos are all from those websites, and are linked if you click on the images.)
And the winners are…
Best Picture Book Overall:
Where to Hide a Star by Oliver Jeffers
This was a lovely gift for my lovely children from my lovely sister. It is a sequel to How to Catch a Star, which we already had, and part of the “boy” series of books which I have loved since I was at university.4 The girls love the absurdity of the writing, and the way the images tell what the words leave out. Their favourite line in the book: “Until the day the penguin hid extra well… and got stuck.” (I think it's funnier in context.)
Best Picture Book for Story:
Here Be Dragons by Susannah Lloyd and Paddy Donnelly
Even though they’ve had this book for a year or two, it made a reappearance this year in the minds of my children. As well as being a completely silly adventure of a loud-mouthed anti-hero, it is also full of archaic swearwords, which somehow makes it uniquely hilarious in their opinion.
Best Picture Book for Illustrations:
If You Run Out Of Words by Felicita Sala (awarded 10 stars by my children)
This was the one new book I bought in 2024, and I bought it for myself! (Sala is one of my top 5 favourite illustrators.) So I was quite surprised when I asked my girls to name their favourite picture book and they both immediately said “If You Run Out of Words!”
I asked them what they liked about it, and they grabbed the book from the shelf and both started flipping through it at high speed, talking over each other about all the best bits: “The aliens playing rock, paper, scissors.” “The funny elves.” “The rabbit!” “The slipper!” Every picture of the little girl was pointed out and giggled over. They seem to have really connected with that character, even saying, “we do that all the time” while pointing to her lying face down in her bed with her bottom in the air.
Best Short Chapter Book:
The Pirate Captain’s Cat, the first book in the Nine Lives of Furry Purry Beancat series by Philip Ardagh.
This is the book that has been most quoted by the girls this year. Their favourite being, “One-eared Bob from the ship, The Pantaloon.”
I love that I used to enjoy Ardagh’s books as a child, and now my childs are enjoying his newer creations.
Best Long Chapter Book:
The Green Ember by S. D. Smith
This one is quite a perilous adventure. Although there were funny parts, I was surprised the girls enjoyed this one as much as they did. I think most grown-ups would consider it to be more suitable for ages 8 to 11, but J. loved it at 6 years old and voted this series as her favourite of the year.
Best Christmas Book-to-read-every-year Because it’s a Tradition:
The Thirteen Days of Christmas by Jenny Overton
This is a humorous, fictional account of the origins of the famously repetitive festive song, which I am required to read aloud to my family at Christmas. And when I say “my family,” that’s not just my husband and children, but my parents too. I think I can safely say that this is my parents’ favourite Christmas Book-To-Read-Every-Year too.
A 10 year-old girl’s Overall Favourite Book of 2024:
The Promise and the Light by Katy Morgan
I bought this for my eldest daughter for her birthday this year, and she says it’s her favourite present. It’s historical fiction: an in-depth look at the events of the Christmas story. Although I haven’t read it, she tells me that she loves how it’s written from different viewpoints and gives a funny take on what Joseph and Mary’s families were like.
A 7 year-old girl’s Overall Favourite Book of 2024:
The Princess and the Goblin by George MacDonald.
If your family loves Tolkein and Lewis, then they’ll love MacDonald’s books, because he was an inspiration for both of them. (Sorry I can’t find a link to one that’s actually in stock, but his books are now in the public domain, so you can read them online for free. We also recommend The Light Princess. It’s hilariously absurd and beautiful.)
And that’s a wrap.
I hope the girls’ list has been enjoyable and helpful in some way. Maybe it has inspired you to read more ‘children’s books’ (children aren’t meant to have the monopoly on them, you know) or assisted in your gift-buying (for others or yourself; I won’t judge).
Happy reading.
FOOTNOTES
1 - Don’t you love the word “disclosure”? It’s so satisfying to say out loud. I feel fancy and formal every time I say it… “Disclosure.”
2 - Well, if any money comes from these book recommendations, then I’ll give it to my girls. After all, they did write the list.
3 - If someone were to buy 11 copies of, say, Stanley Tucci’s What I Ate in One Year by following that link, then I would get £20. It’s unlikely, but it could happen…
4 - Fun Fact: Oliver Jeffers went to the same university as I did, but a decade before me. So not a very fun fact really, sorry.
