Gifts that will make you the favourite aunt or uncle this Christmas
It's that dreaded time of year . . . buying gifts for all the loved ones in your life! And the hardest people to buy for are always the kids. Yes, you were a kid once, but I'm sorry to say it, the things you loved as a child probably aren't cool anymore . . .
But never fear! I'm here with a collection of gift ideas to make sure you win best aunt/uncle this Christmas.
Landovel by Emily Rodda
If your niblet (niece/nephew) loves fantasy, they are going to be OBSESSED with this latest series from national treasure, Emily Rodda. And it's all three books in one fancy-looking box set, so you won't have them calling you up demanding for the next book in the series!
Derry knows no other life than that of a captive on Cram's Rock, shunned by the other young prisoners for being Cram's poison taster. Until the day everything changes, when a traveller arrives, on the run from the sinister El executioners. She leaves Derry with a magical notebook full of secrets, secrets that might hold the key to Derry's destiny – and his past.
Once you enter Landovel, you won't want to leave. So let Emily Rodda, bestselling author of Deltora Quest, take you on the whole thrilling adventure. For ages 10+.
Wurrtoo by Tylissa Elisara and Dylan Finney (illus.)
Winner of The Readings Children's Prize 2024, this beautiful book is the perfect gift for any child who loves adventures (or wombats). It's also the perfect story to read aloud to your niblets!
Described as an Indigenous Blinky Bill meets Winnie the Pooh, this heartwarming and beautifully illustrated middle-grade novel from 2021 black&write! fellow Tylissa Elisara, follows Wurrtoo the wombat on his quest to marry the love of his life, the sky, while facing his fears and learning the importance of friendship along the way.
It all began in a burrow. The fifty-fifth burrow of Bushland Avenue to be exact. If you were ever lucky enough to find this beautiful clearing on Kangaroo Island where the arching gum trees kiss, you'd know that Wurrtoo's home is the one at the end with the big red trapdoor and large gold doorknob. Can you see it?
For ages 8+.
The Land of Lost Things (Adventures Unlimited, Book 1) by Andy Griffiths, Bill Hope (illus.)
Want to feel closer to your niblets? Andy Griffiths' latest adventure is the perfect read aloud that will take you and your niblets on many crazy adventures! They'll never want you to stop reading!
The funniest, most thrills and spills new adventure series from legendary Andy Griffiths, the author of the bestselling, sales-smashing Treehouse series!
Remember the time we flew to the moon without a rocket? And the time we went to the bottom of the ocean and fought a high-voltage octopus? And how about the time we got lost in the Land of Lost Things? That was one of our most exciting adventures yet! It all started like this . . . For ages 5+.
Amulet: The Stonekeeper (Book 1) by Kazu Kibuishi
It can be hard to get children to read a book! But graphic novels can be a great entry point for reluctant readers. The Amulet series is a captivating story that your niblets are gauranteed to love!
There’s something strange behind the basement door . . . After the tragic death of their father, Emily and Navin move with their mother to the home of her deceased great-grandfather, but the strange house proves to be dangerous. Before long, a sinister creature lures the kids’ mum through a door in the basement. Em and Navin, desperate not to lose her, follow her into an underground world inhabited by demons, robots and talking animals. They enlist the help of a small mechanical rabbit named Miskit, and together they face the most terrifying monster of all – and Em finally has the chance to save someone she loves. For ages 8+.
Check out the rest of the Amulet series here.
Kristy’s Great Idea (The Baby-Sitters Club, Graphic Novel 1) by Ann M. Martin & Raina Telgemeier
Okay, so I did say the things you liked as a child are no longer cool. That was a partial lie – The Baby-Sitters Club is still going strong, and if your niblet isn't huge on reading books, they'll surely love the graphic novel version!
Kristy, Mary Anne, Claudia, and Stacey are best friends and founding members of The Baby-sitters Club. Whatever comes up – cranky toddlers, huge dogs, scary neighbors, prank calls – you can count on them to save the day. Baby-sitting isn’t always easy, and neither is dealing with strict parents, new families, fashion emergencies, and mysterious secrets. But no matter what, the BSC have what they need most: friendship.
Raina Telgemeier, using the signature style featured in her acclaimed graphic novels Smile and Sisters, perfectly captures all the drama and humor of the original novel! For ages 8+.
Check out the rest of The Baby-Sitters Club series here, or the Baby-Sitters Little Sister series for younger readers here.
My Hero Academia, Vol. 1 by Kohei Horikoshi
Manga is all the rage for teens and the violence in this will definitely win you best aunt/uncle. Maybe just don't tell their parents . . .
Midoriya inherits the superpower of the world’s greatest hero, but greatness won’t come easy.
What would the world be like if 80 percent of the population manifested superpowers called Quirks? Heroes and villains would be battling it out everywhere! Being a hero would mean learning to use your power, but where would you go to study? The Hero Academy of course! But what would you do if you were one of the 20 percent who were born Quirkless?
Middle school student Izuku Midoriya wants to be a hero more than anything, but he hasn’t got an ounce of power in him. With no chance of ever getting into the prestigious U.A. High School for budding heroes, his life is looking more and more like a dead end. Then an encounter with All Might, the greatest hero of them all, gives him a chance to change his destiny . . . For ages 14+.
Check out the rest of the My Hero Academia volumes here.
Dress Up Taylor
Is your niblet a Swiftie? Well then this is the perfect gift! It'll keep them entertained for at least a few hours; you may even win sibling of the year for keeping them quiet.
Featuring 12 show-stopping looks – from the 'Love Story' music video to the Eras Tour bodysuits – Dress Up Taylor takes you through the very best of Tay-Tay's fashion moments. With beautifully illustrated, press-out outfits and a sturdy Taylor mannequin, this paper doll book is the ultimate collector's item for Swifties and fashionistas alike.
Also available for Harry Styles fans: Dress Up Harry.
Guts (Vinyl) by Olivia Rodrigo
Vinyls are trending and whether your niblet has a record player or not, they'll love a vinyl of their favourite artist of the moment.
Grammy-winning recording artist Olivia Rodrigo releases her new album, Guts with producer Daniel Nigro, who also collaborated with her on SOUR, her chart-topping, 4x Platinum debut album.
'For me, this album is about growing pains and trying to figure out who I am at this point in my life,' says Olivia Rodrigo. 'I feel like I grew 10 years between the ages of 18 and 20 – it was such an intense period of awkwardness and change. I think that’s all just a natural part of growth, and hopefully the album reflects that.'
DJ Baby by DJ Burton and Andy J. Pizza (illus.)
Want to convert your niblet to music loving from an early age? Then look no further than this adorable and fun board book with actual moving turntables! This was an absolute hit with my nephew!
Let’s get this baby dance party started with DJ Baby, a novelty book with record turntables that spin on every page and bright, funky art from the illustrator of A Pizza with Everything on It!
This boogie-worthy board book with record-spinning novelties helps DJs-in-training practice their skills! Featuring two turntables at the top of the book, young readers can spin, turn, and mix the moving records as they pump up the jams. For ages 1+.
This is Skateboarding by Hannah Wilson and Peter Phobia (illus.)
Is there anything cooler than skateboarding? Prove you're just as cool with a book alllll about skateboarding!
Welcome to skateboarding, where self-expression rules, adventures are wild and every ramp or rail is an exciting new ride!
Join us on a whirlwind journey to celebrate the rise of the global skateboarding scene, from the streets of LA to its first Olympic Games! Check out iconic skateparks and gravity-defying tricks. Meet trailblazers, activists and medal-winning champions, and discover how skateboarding has influenced everything from shoes to art and urban design. For ages 9+.
Jy Goes for Gold (Kimberley Kickers, Book 1) by Carl Merrison, Hakea Hustler, Jy Farrar and Samantha Campbell (illus.)
If your niblet is a footy fan, they are going to love reading all about Jy Farrar in the first book in the Kimberley Kickers series!
I'm Jy Farrar and the dream I had to play professional footy since I was a kid in outback Halls Creek has finally come true.
Let me tell you the story of how I got here – about my mates, my family, growing up in the Kimberley around the bush and the red dirt and spinifex and goannas, playing footy and going to boarding school far away from home.
A footy adventure story based on Jy Farrar's life, by award-winning authors Carl Merrison and Hakea Hustler. For ages 8+.
The Flip Out: Sam Kerr: Kicking Goals #1 by Sam Kerr and Fiona Harris
Sam Kerr is an Australian treasure and your niblets will love reading all about her in the Kicking Goals series!
Sam Kerr is an Aussie Rules fan through and through. When she’s excluded from her team she doesn’t know what to do. Netball? No thanks. Chess? Bleugh.
Her best friends Dylan and Indi think she should flip from Aussie Rules to soccer – and it doesn’t seem so bad at first. The coach is OK. The team seems nice enough . . . But with Chelsea the school bully on her case and the pressure of learning new rules weighing her down, will it all be too much? Will Sam give up – or will she make the flip? For ages 7+.
Find the rest of the Kicking Goals series here.
Poo Bingo
If your niblets are anything like mine, they love a good poop or fart joke, so they are going to delight in playing Poo Bingo!
Discover all you ever wanted to know about poo – and more – with Poo Bingo! Featuring 24 animals and their uniquely shaped poos, this is the bingo game to end all bingo games. Kids will delight in discovering that wombats poo in cubes and that penguins poo in squirts that come in different colours depending on what they’ve eaten! Be the first to fill your game card with animals and poos to win BINGO! For ages 3+.
Wild Animals Magic Painting Book by Abigail Wheatley
Does your niblet love painting? Then gift them this Magic Painting Book! Their parents will love it too because these books are NO MESS!
Just add water to bring majestic creatures and their settings magically to life.
Packed with fascinating scenes showing tigers, turtles, penguins, flamingos and other amazing animals in their natural habitats. Simply brush water over the black and white designs to reveal an array of glorious colours.
Check out the range of magic painting books here.
Murdle Junior: Curious Crimes for Curious Minds by G. T. Karber
Does your niblet love a little bit of mystery? Are you sick of playing Cluedo with them every Christmas? Well Murdle Junior is here to save you! With hours of fun for your niblet to do . . . alone.
Join four junior sleuths on their daring detective journeys deciphering codes, navigating maps and solving mazes to catch the dastardly culprits of fiendish crimes – and earn your own Murdle Junior badge.
With over thirty mysteries featuring key suspects, locations, clues and more to enter into your trusty deduction grid, Murdle Junior: Curious Crimes for Curious Minds is an introduction to a nefarious world kids will love to dive into, using logic and the power of deduction to figure out each whodunnit. For ages 10+.
If you want to get in on the crime-solving action, check out the Murdle puzzle books for adults too!
