Fully booked

Little Apple, High Petergate, York

The Snail And The Whale by Julia Donaldson (Macmillan £10.99, aged one upwards)

Beautifully illustrated book by the creators of The Gruffalo about a snail who hitches a ride on a whale and embarks on a remarkable sea journey. When disaster strikes, the snail (with the help of some local school children) saves the day.

The Curious Incident Of The Dog In The Night-time by Mark Haddon (Jonathan Cape £10.99, 13 upwards)

An autistic child takes it upon himself to solve the mystery of his neighbour's dead dog. A truly original work of fiction, which combines insights into the world of autism with a cracking tale and a truly unique chapter numbering system!

Lyra's Oxford by Philip Pullman (David Fickling Books £9.99, nine upwards)

Tantalisingly short addition to the excellent His Dark Materials series. Lyra's help is sought by a witch's daemon pursued by birds. This lovingly crafted book features a postcard, a cruise time-table and a fold-out map of Lyra's Oxford.

The Tiger Who Came To Tea Book and China Tea Set by Judith Kerr (Collins £10.99, three upwards)

An unexpected feline guest eats daddy's tea before he gets home in this classic children's picture book. Now your little ones can re-enact the book at Christmas with the aid of a teapot, two cups, two saucers and a milk jug!

Borders, Davygate, York

The Wolves In The Walls by Neil Gaimen, illustrated by Dave McKean (Bloomsbury £12.99), Picture book - three to five

AT first Lucy is the only one to hear it. Something is in the walls. She knows it must be wolves. But it's said 'It's all over when the wolves come out.' A fantastic story from Neil Gaimen, the brilliant illustrations make this a work of art.

The Killer Underpants by Michael Lawrence (Orchard £4.99, four to nine years)

We've all been there... mum decides you need new clothes when the ones you are wearing just started to get comfortable. Beware because you could end up like Jiggy McCue, wearing killer underpants from hell! A fantastically funny book.

Carnivorous Carnival by Lemony Snicket (Egmont £6.99, eight to 12)

Don't read this if you want to find out that the Baudelaire orphans finally have the good life. That's right, Count Olaf is at it again. Join the Baudelaires on another series of unfortunate events. You won't be able to put this one down.

Amulet of Samarkand by Jonathan Stroud (Doubleday £12.99, teenagers)

Jonathan Stroud takes us on one young magician's apprentice's mission through a magic-filled modern day London to steal the Amulet Of Samarkand. First book in the Bartimaeus trilogy and one of the best suspenseful thrillers for years.

Waterstone's, High Ousegate, York

Harry And The Dinosaurs Make A Christmas Wish by Ian Whybrow, illustrated by Adrian Reynolds (Puffin, £10.99, up to four)

After visiting Mr Oakley's farm Harry and his dinosaurs long for a duckling of their own. But it takes a special Christmas wish before something hatches and it's not what they were expecting.

Father Christmas's Last Present by Marie-Aude-Murail and Elvire Murail, illustrated by Quentin Blake (Jonathan Cape £7.99, five to eight)

Father Christmas is too busy to visit all the children, so Julian writes him a letter. But when Santa leaves him an extra present by accident Julian realises he will have to give it back. He writes again, with surprising results.

The More The Merrier by Anne Fine (Doubleday £10.99, nine-plus)

Why is Ralph sitting alone in his room on Christmas Day? Well it all started like this... Covering all aspects of a 'big, happy family Christmas' with spud-throwing Uncle Tristam, Great Granny ("If I had my own teeth I'd bite you.") and of course Precious Ickle Titania. A laugh-out-loud book to last all year. A must.

Pirates! by Celia Rees (Bloomsbury £12.99,

12-plus)

Nancy and Minerva grow up respectable young women, but when circumstances push them together they become outlaws, pirates, beyond the bounds of the early 1700's society they once enjoyed. They must evade capture because they are wanted - dead or alive!

Worm Holes, Bootham, York

Snow Bear written and illustrated by Piers Harper (Macmillan Children's Books £5.99) three-plus

On the first day of spring Snow Bear leaves his den and Mother Bear to venture out into the world. As he travels he meets new animal friends, but when it grows dark he begins to miss his mother. How will he find his way home? A delightful book for pre-school children.

Three Little Wolves and The Big Bad Pig (Egmont Books Ltd, £14.99) four to six

A beautifully illustrated pop-up with a new slant on the children's classic. Three little wolves go out into the world and build themselves a magnificent brick house in which to live. However, they hadn't reckoned on the big bad pig coming along to 'blow their house in'.

The Reluctant Dragon by Kenneth Graham, Illustrated by EH Shepard (Mammoth £3.99 and BBC Audio, £7.99) six to nine

'You've got to fight him some time or other you know, 'cos he's St George and you're the dragon. Better get it over...' Everyone knows St George must do battle with the dragon. But what can the boy do when the dragon simply won't fight St George? Delightful characters make this is a book children will want to read again and again.

The Wormholers by Jamila Gavin (Egmont £4.99) 12-plus

Natalie wants to exist, but can't remember why. After all, what was the point? A fascinating romp through space and time which begins when Natalie unwittingly falls through a wormhole that has appeared in her stepbrother's bedroom floor. She is dragged along on an adventure of personal discovery with the wormholers pursued by Chad, her stepbrother, her disabled friend, Sophie, and the zany space travelling Professor Tlingit.

Updated: 10:07 Wednesday, December 03, 2003