Christmas Books For Young People | Christmas Gift List

It is never too early to get a child into books. Hopefully it will become a life-long habit. These are a great selection for tots to teens. christmasbooksforchildren

Deadly 2015 Annual Steve Backshall  Out 6 November, HB £12.99

This is a brilliant book to get your child interested in nature and the wider world. Steve Backshall’s Deadly team travel to all corners of the world to film, visiting the driest deserts, the steamiest rain forests, the highest mountains and the snowiest forests in search of the most awesome wildlife. This annual is full of amazing pictures and facts about these incredible places and the animals that spend their lives there. There is also plenty of puzzles, pictures and fun stuff to enjoy.

Deadly Annual 2015

 

The Art of Being a Brilliant Teenager 

A great idea for a book. Becoming a teenager can be as hard as living with one. This brilliant book is a guide to starting the journey to an ideal life as a teen. It helps support young people to become the very best version of themselves—and shows them how to figure out who that is, exactly. Written by experts in the art of happiness and positive psychology, this new book will help teenagers become brilliant at school, work and life in general. They will learn to stay cool under all the pressures they’re facing and plot a map for the future that takes them wherever it is they want to go.

This is a book for ambitious teens who are ready to become proactive, determined, successful and most importantly: happy! And for parents and teachers desperate to turn a down-beat teenager into a ray of positivity and delight

The Art of Being a Brilliant Teenager

 

Adventures in Raspberry Pi by Carrie Anne Philbin

This is a great book to give your child a head start in life. Computing knowledge is a must and learning how to program will seriously boost their future career prospects. Assuming no prior computing knowledge, Adventures in Raspberry Piuses the wildly successful, low-cost, Raspberry Pi to explain fundamental computing concepts.

 

The Raspberry Pi is a credit card sized computer that, when plugged into a screen and a keyboard, can do many of the things that a desktop PC. Users can experiment by connecting up electronics circuits, learn to program in Scratch and Python, learn to manage programs and files with Linux and much more.

 

Written by Carrie Anne Philbin, a high school teacher of computing who advises the UK government, the book contains nine fun projects that young people will be able to use to learn basic programming and system administration skills. Starting with the very basics of how to plug in the board and turn it on, later chapters (called Adventures) cover areas including Programming Shapes and Building a Raspberry Pi Jukebox. Each project includes a link to a lively and informative video to reinforce the lessons, making it perfect for young, eager self-learners and their parents.

Adventures in Raspberry Pi

 

Tinder Sally Gardner

A great novel for teenagers (and adults) go sink their teeth into: Otto Hundebiss is tired of war, but when he defies Death he walks a dangerous path. A half beast half man gives him shoes and dice which will lead him deep into a web of dark magic and mystery. He meets the beautiful Safire – pure of heart and spirit, the scheming Mistress Jabber and the terrifying Lady of the Nail. He learns the powers of the tinderbox and the wolves whose master he becomes. But will all the riches in the world bring him the thing he most desires?

Fairy tales are often the cruellest stories of all; in this exquisite novel Sally Gardner writes about great love and great loss.

Tinder

 

Malala: The Girl Who Stood Up For Education and Changed The World

The girl of the moment. Nobel Peace prize winner Malala has finally told her story. A wonderful gift to give children of either gender. A testament to how important education and equality is. Written in collaboration with critically acclaimed National Book Award finalist Patricia McCormick. Malala tells her story – from her childhood in the Swat Valley to the shooting, her recovery and new life in England.

Malala: The Girl Who Stood Up for Education and Changed the World

 

Best Friends Bakery A Spoonful of Secrets By Linda Chapman

A Spoonful of Secrets is a fun and enjoyable read. This is the second book in the series. A great story about friendship, fun and baking. After a difficult beginning, things are starting to look up for the Sugar and Spice Bakery. Business is good, and Hannah is excited about starting school with her new friends. But as school starts, Mia is acting strangely, and it looks as though things aren’t going to be as easy as Hannah had thought…

A Spoonful of Secrets (Best Friends’ Bakery 2)

 

Mariella Mystery Investigates The Spaghetti Yeti By Kate Pankhurst

Book five in the series. A fun and engaging book for your child.

“Mariella Mystery (That’s me!) – totally amazing girl detective, aged 9 and a bit. Able to solve the most mysterious mysteries and perplexing problems, even before breakfast.

Is there really a spaghetti-loving yeti stalking the woods next to Limpet Rocks Campsite? Mariella and the Mystery Girls are determined to find out.”

Mariella Mystery Investigates the Spaghetti Yeti (Mariella Mysteries)

 

The Beaver and the Elephant by Keith Lemon

We were quite surprised that the same person who does the crude TV show Celebrity Juice had written a children’s book, but apparently it is true. A hilarious prequel to the bestselling Being Keith, Little Keith Lemon is a no-holds-barred memoir of Keith’s early life in Leeds.  Keith lifts the lid on all the experiences that have led him to become an international ladies’ man and national treasure – from honing his entrepreneurial skills while organising a topless jelly wrestling competition to turning his back on a breakdancing career. This first book, containing three short stories, brings Keith’s distinctive style to the page and follows the adventures of the bossy Beaver and the bumbling but loveable Elephant – whether they are shopping for shoes, splashing around in the sea on holiday or getting into the Christmas spirit. You might even spot a strawberry blonde Northern businessman in there too.

The Beaver and the Elephant is available here.

 

 

Christmas Gift List For Your Dad

Dads are great so they deserve a great present. FACT. Take your pick from this lot.

christmasgiftlistsfordad

Olloclip 4-IN-1 Photo Lens

Olloclip

We loved reviewing this. It is pretty cool and makes taking pictures on a smartphone a professional experience. This lens will let you get amazing shots. The Apple users can’t wait until the one for the iPhone comes out.

Olloclip the creators of innovative smartphone lens attachments, have recently released the newest addition to their product range; the 4-in-1 for Samsung S4 and S5. Leveraging the phenomenal success of its iPhone flagship product, the olloclip 4-IN-1 Photo Lens systems for the Samsung Galaxy S5 and S4 features four lenses (fisheye, wide-angle and two macros –10x and 15x) in one small package weighing less than an ounce.

This product is available on all apple products and there are plans for the IPhone 6 versions in the pipeline. This product is ideal for snap happy smartphone users allowing them to create digital SLR quality images without the baggage. . RRP: £59.99, available in all Apple stores and online. www.Olloclip.com and here.

 

Nuevue

Nuevue

This is brilliant, very handy. iPhones can be hard to clean, this is convenient and works well. Nuevue have released the world’s first antimicrobial smartphone and tablet cases that clear away the nasty smears and fingerprints on the device’s screen in one easy slide. Whilst consumers may be travelling on holiday or the simple commute the antimicrobial technology not only cleans the screen quickly and easily — with a simple sliding motion — but eliminate microbes as well.

RRP from £34.99, available at Nuevue.com and here.

 

Personal Weather Station by Netatmo

Personal Weather Station by Netatmo-

This is amazing. Just an amazing invention. We had a lot of fun reviewing this. You can monitor the weather, C02, humidity, temperature, air quality indoors and out, barometric pressure and acoustic comfort. It allows the user to monitor indoor/ outdoor air quality with the help of two stylish cylinders that communicate their activity through a free App. It measures the humidity, CO2 and sound levels as well as the temperature – RRP £139. Available in all Apple Stores and online at Netatmo.com and here.

 

Kingston Technology Datatraveller MicroDuo 3.0

This is convenient and brilliant. Great for travelling dads or just those with a lot of data to shift. The DataTraveler microDuo 3.0 expands the storage of AndroidTM devices up to 64GB, easily moving large files, photos, videos and music from a phone or tablet to the USB drive and back. The USB 3.0 to MicroUSB dual interface drive can be used with any USB On-The-Go compatible device and allows users to transfer data without plugging into a computer. From Ebuyer.com

 

Leitz Complete Power Sleeve For 10 inch Tablet

This a brilliant, high-quality sleeve for dads tablet. Is lightweight and robust and looks very sleek and cool. A great present.

Around £24.30 Via Amazon

 

 

Christmas Gift List For Your Cousin

Cousins can be hard to buy for but we have put together a selection of very cool things indeed. There should be something here no matter what your cousins gender and age.

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Wacom Bamboo Duo stylus

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Most people have a tablet these days and this is very handy and looks great. Perfect for anyone that uses a tablet, the Wacom Bamboo Stylus Duo is a dual-purpose stylus for Apple and Android devices. With a premium ball-point ink pen at one end and a stylus at the opposite end, this stylus is ideal for writing, drawing or doodling.

Available from Wacom.com and johnlewis.com

 

BeeWi Bluetooth Helicopter Storm Bee

beewibluetoothhelictoper

Just a very cool flying helicopter for kids of any age. Even big ones. High drivability and stability: 3 Channels, dual rotor structure and gyroscope. Your smartphone acts as the remote.

Available from ebuyer.com and here

 

BeeWi Bluetooth Controlled Mini Cooper Car

Mini Cooper S Bluetooth Car

Cool and classic. Will give hours of fun. Intuitive motion control using mobile’s orientation sensor or touch-screen button interface

Available from iwantoneofthose.com and here.

 

Looksi Aquarium

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This is cool, relaxing and looks amazing. It is easy to use, just download the app and put your iPad on top. Make sure you have batteries for Christmas day though.

Transforms your iPad into an underwater world. You can even go fishing in the Aquarium. The Aquarium is also a charging station and a clock – every hour the fish tell the time with a display of synchronised swimming. Compatible with all iPads except the iPad Mini.

Available from ebuyer.com and here.

 

If your cousin is not happy about getting one of these beauties, slap ’em.

 

 

Christmas Gift List For The Man In Your Life

Here are a few suggestions for the man in your life. Each is top-end and of the highest quality.

christmasgiftsforyourboyfriend

Jockey Underwear

Buying this for your husband/boyfriend/lover has the added bonus of him modelling them for you. So it is a present for both of you. The check long johns, £26, are perfect for the cold weather. The tartan trunks, £16 and Xmas trunks, £16 are comfy, good-quality and festive. The boxer shorts are perfect if your man likes something a bit more roomy. All available from Jockey.co.uk

 

Diesel Only The Brave Wild

Smells amazing and looks suitable manly. Citronella essence and coconut accord shake up this urban classic. You won’t be able to stop smelling him.

£35.50 from thefragranceshop.co.uk

 

The Wild Geese Golden Rum

This is a stunningly good rum. If your other half is Irish he also gets to call himself ‘Wild Geese’. From the heart of the Caribbean and aged for up to five years, has tastes of soft butterscotch and tropical fruit with a finish of apricot, light vanilla and cocoa notes. £36.99 from selfridges.com

 

Doctor Who Symphonic Spectacular

drwho

The hugely popular Doctor Who Symphonic Spectacular is coming to the UK at six major city venues in May 2015. Surely no Christmas is complete without tickets to this amazing event for the Doctor Who fan in your life?

The live show, which was a sell-out on its world premiere in Australia, will enjoy a limited run of twelve UK performances in London, Cardiff, Birmingham, Leeds, Newcastle and Glasgow.
The show features a host of the Doctor’s famous adversaries including the iconic Daleks and Cybermen, the spine-chilling Silence and many more fan favourites. The live monsters provide a dramatic contrast to the evocative and thrilling music written by Murray Gold.

The live music will be accompanied by a big screen presentation of key moments and specially edited sequences from the past 50 years of Doctor Who. Tickets are on sale with prices starting at £20 per person – www.doctorwhosymphonicspectacular.com

 

 

Christmas Gift List For The Fashion Lover

We have a beautiful selection for the fashion lover in your life.

christmasgiftlistforfashionlover

Clockwise from left:

Gorgeous Firetrap Tiger T-shirt is an excellent gift for a girlfriend or sister. It fits very well and the material is gorgeous, very soft and of high quality. http://store.firetrap.com

This gorgeous blue lace shirt from Closet is stunning. The high collar and sleeves make it look conservative but it is lacy and see-through so is also a little bit naughty. Very high quality and sits beautifully. From closetclothing.co.uk

An almost vintage-looking floral dress from Closet. Has pockets, looks beautiful on and is very high quality. The A-Line skirt is also flattering. Is designed and made in London so what more could you want? From closetclothing.co.uk

Perfect for a hint of pure glamour: this fiery red peplum top from Closet is flattering because of its flare but also sexy and has a V shaped back. This will be a much appreciated present. From closetclothing.co.uk

These Women’s Cotton Twill Shorts in Navy Red check From Jockey not only look great, but are also very comfy. They are well made. They have pockets which are very underrated in women’s clothing and if you are a very close couple you can even get a matching mens pair. Awesome.  http://www.jockey.co.uk

Marie Meili – the newly stocked brand in houseoffraser.co.uk features prints and playful colours for women in a B – J cup. The sets are available in a variety of designs (balcony to t-shirt and soft cup to plunge), with a corresponding knicker or string. Christmas collections also include basques, so a more glamorous gifting feel. From £8 at houseoffraser.co.uk

Marie Meili

Other clothes we loved from Closet

beautiful clothes beautifulblackcoatnocollar tartandress

All available from http://www.closetclothing.co.uk

Rocket Dog is the ideal brand for footwear for any woman. With on trend boots for Christmas, the Rocket Dog collection makes luxury looking footwear affordable (from £34.99) All available from rocketdog.co.uk

goodfootwearrocketdog

 What will you get?

 

 

Christmas Gift List For Mum

Mums, not many people are as deserving of a good present. They put up with us, gave birth to us and love us no matter what. Where would we be without our mothers? Here is our top picks for this very special lady.

christmasgiftsformum

Cornishware Mug

cornishwaremug

Cornishware do these beautiful mugs which can be personalised and come in bespoke stripy boxes which make marvellous presents or stocking fillers. Last day of personalisation for Cornishware is 13th December for Christmas delivery. All products are exclusively online from Cornishware www.cornishware.co.uk

 

Aromatherapy Associates Bath Jewels

These look beautiful and smell divine. Perfect for stressed-out mums. The packaging looks great and these oils really work. 100% natural blends. The trio of bath and shower oils include Deep Relax with vetivert and camomile to help achieve deep relaxation and a peaceful night’s sleep, De-Stress Mind with frankincense and rosemary to clear a hectic mind and focus the thoughts and Revive Morning to invigorate and awaken body and mind.

Available from feelunique.com, aromatherapyassociates.com and lookfantastic.com

 

Silver Orchid Silver Elephant Ring Holder

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One of our editors favourite things EVER. This silver plated baby elephant is a great place to keep your rings as an elephant never forgets. Has strikingly beautiful blue diamante eyes. From orchid-designs.co.uk

 

Mitoq Power Antioxidant Rejuvenation

MitoQ Power Antioxidant Rejuvenation contains only 8 ingredients and is purportedly 1,000 times stronger than coenzyme Q10, MitoQ’s signature molecule is said to revive skin cells and prevent fine lines and wrinkles. We have been trying it and it really works. We love it.

From http://www.mitoq.com

 

Nederburg Winemaster’s Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon

Channel 4 TV presenter and food producer Jimmy Doherty, has teamed up with South Africa’s award winning wine, Nederburg, for their new campaign, sharing his passion for quality produce. He has tips for cooking with wine below so you can also cook for mum. Nederburg also share their wine tips.

 

Winemaster’s Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon, £8.99
Aromas of blackcurrants and cherries with violets and nuances of vanilla oak spice in the background.

Cabernet Sauvignon is known for its depth of flavour and aroma. It’s excellent served with heart-warming roast lamb, coq au vin, red meat steak, venison, mature cheese and pizza and pasta dishes.

 

Nederburg’s top wine tips

Only chill white wine, like Nederburg Winemaster’s Reserve Chardonnay, before you plan to drink it as extended storage in the fridge will affect its taste and aroma.

The quickest way to chill a white wine is in iced water, which only takes 30 minutes versus 2 hours in the fridge.

Always give a bottle of quality red wine, like Nederburg Winemaster’s Reserve Shiraz, time to breathe. If you can’t wait, decant it into a glass jug first to give it chance to mix with the oxygen in the air to release the flavours.

The correct measure to pour for all wines is a third of the glass; this gives the wine room to swirl in the glass, allowing the flavours to develop.

When pairing wine with cheese, think balance – strong wine, strong cheese. The Nederburg Winemaster’s Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon is great with cheeses like Cheddar or Gouda.

 

Jimmy’s tips on how to use wine in cooking

Cooking with wine can add depth and flavour so try these simple recipes for your dinner.

 

Red wine gravy

Ingredients:
6 onions, peeled and chopped
700ml red wine (Winemaster’s Reserve Cabernet
Sauvignon works well)
560ml hot water
2 beef stock cubes
Freshly ground black pepper

Method:
Place the chopped onions and red wine in a large saucepan
Bring to the boil and cook uncovered until reduced by two-thirds, around 20 minutes
Cooking it down in this way reduces the acidity and intensifies the flavour
Add the hot water to the reduced wine, add the stock cubes and stir well until thoroughly dissolved
Simmer, stirring for 3-4 minutes, until the gravy thickens
Season to taste

 

Salad dressing
Ingredients

1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
Dash of white wine (Winemaster’s Reserve
Sauvignon Blanc)
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
Method:
In a small bowl or jam jar, whisk the balsamic vinegar with the olive oil and white wine
Season with salt and pepper.

 

What will you get your mum?

 

 

Christmas Gift Ideas For Your Child

Ah, your precious one. The apple of your eye. What isn’t too good for them? These picks all really caught our eye: perfect for your little one.christmasgiftlistforchildren

 

Blade & Rose Christmas Pudding Leggings and Cute Socks

blade&rose

blade&rose socks

christmaspuddingbabyclothes

These are adorable. I mean so unbelievably adorable. One of the best things about babies is that you can dress them however you want, and who wouldn’t melt at the sight of your baby in its festive clothes.

 

Carib Glass Wall Clock from Room To Grow

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Not only beautiful and stylish, it also has big numbers so your little one will be able to see clearly. Is fun and vibrant and will look stylish in any bedroom or playroom. Coloured glass with contrasting coloured numbers and chrome hands.

 

Peppa Pig 4-in-1 Shaped Bath Time Puzzle

peppapigpuzzle

This is a great bath game, the pieces also stick to the bath. Fun and educational at the same time. From Jumbo Games. Available from Boots.com and argos.co.uk

Peppa Pig Snakes & Ladders

Peppa Pig Snakes & Ladders

You can also buy this amazing giant Peppa Pig Snakes & Ladders game. A brilliant 80x80cm floor game for children over three.

Available from argos.co.uk and Amazon.

 

Gus & Me Book By Keith Richards

gus&me

Yes, THAT Keith Richards. Let’s be honest, it is never too early to get your kid hooked on the Rolling Stones. This is a wonderful children’s book which comes with a CD and has artwork from daughter Theodora Richards, so it is a family affair. Especially cool if your child is musical, or you want them to be. Available here and from foyles.co.uk, thebookpeople.co.uk, waterstones.com

 

Penguin Junior Wellies

penguinwellies

These are super cool and super cute at the same time. We love them and so do little ones. The Penguin Junior Wellies are a fully waterproof, durable and fun product for keeping children’s feet clean and dry. From mountainwarehouse.com

 

Horrid Henry’s Christmas Lunch

horridhenry'schristmaslunch

Perfect and fun for early readers. Horrid Henry would much rather have pizza and chips for his Christmas lunch, and this year, he might just get his way…This is the 100th book in the phenomenally popular Early Reader format, published during Henry’s 20th anniversary year. Available here and foyles.co.uk, thebookpeople.co.uk, waterstones.com

 

What will you get your little one?

 

The Best of Tech | Christmas Gift Guide

For those who you truly love giving the gift of great sound, music or even just a retro Mad Men style telephone is going to make you truly popular indeed. We have been blasting music and making calls galore. Our neighbours probably hate us, or they were dancing away as much as we were. Time will tell. Either way: here is out best of tech.

thebestoftech

Stellé Audio Pillar

£249 / Available from Apple stores and selfridges.com

stellespeakerandcase stelleaudiopillar

The Stellé Audio Pillar was a lot of fun to test. It was very easy to use, had amazing sound and could even be used wirelessly. You can even take calls on it. We have fallen completely in love with it. Just AMAZING. The Stellé Audio Pillar is for those who refuse to compromise style, boasting high-quality sound and fashion a  subwoofer connecting to any Bluetooth enabled device in a 50ft range. With a built-in microphone, users can enjoy handsfree calls and 15 hours of continuous play. The Pillar is currently available in four colours; Hi Gloss White, Brushed Aluminium, Matte Black and Pewter.

Stelle Audio Brushed Aluminium Audio Pillar Bluetooth Speakers

 

Stellé Audio Couture Pillar Carriers in Leather and Suede

£99 / Available from Stelleaudio.com

Stellé Audio Couture DwellStudio Pillar

Great for carrying around this amazing speaker. Effortlessly stylish. Available in four styles, black and white python, black and midnight blue cross hatch and Pantone’s new Colour of the Year, radiant orchid, these bags have been designed to securely transport the elegant Audio Pillar.

Libratone Loop 

£399 / Johnlewis.com and on Apple Online

speakerreview libratoneloop

The sound on this unique and beautiful speaker is amazing. It is also wireless and has a lot of connectivity options. Some of us found it hard initially to connect it wirelessly and some of us also had technology that was too advanced. It is still brilliant, has amazing sound and is perfect for people who are not as inept technically as some of us are.

Create the perfect Christmas soundtrack with the Libratone Loop. It’s not only a powerful sound source, equipped with Libratone’s signature FullRoom™ technology and numerous connectivity options including DLNA, PlayDirect™ and Apple’s Airplay, it also really stands out, whether mounted on the wall or free standing thanks to its svelte cylindrical design. The Loop comes in three colours – pepper black, salt grey and raspberry red.

 

View Quest ColourGen Retro Radio

59.99 / Available from viewquest.co.uk

viewquestretro viewquest

We love this radio. Retro is very much in at the moment. That doesn’t mean there is any compromise on sound or quality however. It has the best of both worlds. The much-loved Retro radio is now available in a smaller and more compact form. Offering both DAB and Bluetooth functionality this radio is sure to put a smile on the face of any loved one. 

 

View Quest Emma Bridgewater Black Toast radio 

Available from Apple for 129 

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There is also this unique one from Emma Bridgewater: With an in-vogue vintage look, the Emma Bridgewater Black Toast Retro radio features all the latest technology and functionality for unbeaten audio quality.

pureevoke evokepureradio

Pure Evoke D2 Digital Radio

Also retro and very cute. Is small and portable along with great sound. Has Bluetooth which enables wireless music streaming both inside and outside the home. Is ideal for small spaces. Equipped with kitchen timers and alarm function. Additional features include an aux input for iPod/iPhone and the option to purchase a chargePAK for portability.

Pure Evoke D2 Portable DAB/FM Radio is available here.

leitzspeaker letizportablebluetoothspeaker

 Leitz Complete Professional Bluetooth Stereo Speaker £134.91 Via Amazon.co.uk

This stereo speaker is absolutely gorgeous. Just slick and glamorous. It allows you to listen to music anytime, anywhere via wireless Bluetooth technology. The sound is crystal clear and the adjustable base and treble give perfect sound From Amazon.

retrotelephone

GPO Classic Rotary Telephone

We are completely obsessed with this phone. The fact we have been watching Mad Men has not helped. It is just so freakin’ cool. This is a wonderful blend of modern tech and retro inspired design that runs through the GPO brand. Sometimes when you can have just about anything, stylish and retro is best. It even has the proper traditional rotary dial up. Each of the products is stocked in GPO’s online store but also NotontheHighStreet.com, Tesco.com, Amazon.co.uk and Very.co.uk so plenty of choice.

GPO 746 Rotary in red is available here.

 

What is your favourite?