This week I'm starting off with The Biggest Bear' by Adam Relf. One evening, Toby was bouncing up and down on his bed. He looked up at his shadow on the wall. It looked like a great big bear, jumping up and down next to him.

"I bet that's the biggest bear in the world!" he said, and he carried on bouncing till his daddy came to tuck him up in bed.' So, Toby thinks he's found the biggest bear there could ever be, but his father assures him there's an even bigger bear out there. But where can Toby find it? He searches at home, at school and in the park, but he eventually finds the answer in a most unexpected place.

This beautifully illustrated, heart-warming story is a perfect bedtime read, and on the very last page, there's a special twinkly surprise with real sparkling lights! A book full of Christmas magic.

The Biggest Bear' is published by Scholastic at £9.99 and if you're a little one (or a big one) you will love this wonderful, cuddly book.

Roald Dahl wrote some fantastic stories aimed at older readers, including one about his remarkable life and compilations of short stories that usually have an unexpected twist in their tail. Skin and other stories, is one of his best short story collections. How would you get rid of a murder weapon without causing suspicion? Where would you hide a diamond where no one else would think of looking?

What if you found out the tattoo on your back was worth over a million pounds? The answer to these riddles and many more can be found in this book, but be warned, once you get started it's impossible to put down until you find out the surprise ending. Skin and other stories is published by Puffin Teenage Fiction at £5.99 and is a great book for readers of about 12 years plus.

My last book this week is a real Christmas classic The Night Before Christmas by Clement C. Moore. It contains the famous poem that begins Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house, Not a creature was stirring, Not even a mouse;' It is illustrated by Christian Birmingham.

It is full of that magic atmosphere that makes Christmas time so special.

The Night Before Christmas is published by Collins books at £5.99. See you next week.

Karen Hart.