‘There’s a book for every child’

JULIA DONALDSON has a new book: The Ugly Five. An animation of The Highway Rat is on BBC One at Christmas.

This Christmas I will have seven grandchildren, including a newborn, who’ll all get a book. THE STORY OF HOLLY AND IVY ◆ by Rumer Godden is a classic story of an orphan and an ownerless doll. Seven-year-old Poppy will love it. A BOY CALLED ◆ Leo, six, will get CHRISTMAS by Matt Haig, which explains festive mysteries such as how reindeer fly. ◆ Adrian, 4, has a great sense of humour so DANNY MCGEE I’ll be giving him DRINKS THE SEA, by Andy Stanton and Neal Layton. It’s about a child who eats everything, including the author!