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Children's reading lists

30 best Christmas books for kids

A photo of a selection of Raymond Briggs' books on a bookshelf alongside painting tools

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Where to start with...

Where to start with Raymond Briggs’s books

A photo of a Christmas Eve box which includes a copy of The Snowman DVD, Christmas with the Chrystals book, marshmallows, popcorn and a penguin mug

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Crafts & activities

How to make a Christmas Eve box

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Bake Snowman biscuits with Biscuiteers

A selection of classic children's picture books on a bright yellow background

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The best classic children’s picture books

Make a festive Snowman and the Snowdog garland 

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Make a festive Snowman and the Snowdog garland

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Features

Michael Morpurgo retells The Snowman: ‘I’ve told it my way, and I’ve loved doing it’

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News

Penguin Ventures celebrates 40 years of The Snowman with Barbour, Fenwick and The Royal Mint

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10 books to make kind-hearted heroes

The Snowman™ comes home to Penguin Random House UK

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Raymond Briggs wins BookTrust 2017 Lifetime Achievement Award

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The Snowman: The Book of the Classic Film

One winter's night, a snowman comes to life and an unforgettable adventure begins. Raymond Briggs' favourite classic is a true piece of Christmas magic. This timeless story captures the wonder and innocence of childhood and is now recognised throughout the world.

Based on the much-loved film, fly away on a magical journey to the enchanting land of the Snowman! 
 
After the snow settles on a cold winter's day, a little boy builds a Snowman. Later that night, under the glittering stars, the Snowman comes to life! 
 
Together they fly through the night sky on a breathtaking and magical journey, until the sun comes up and it's time to go home... 
 
This edition of the classic tale from Raymond Briggs features stunningly rendered new artwork based on the 1982 film, alongside beautifully written story narration. 
 
The Snowman is the perfect festive read for ALL the family! 
 
Also available for 0-6yrs: 
The Snowman - the classic wordless picture book by Raymond Briggs 
The Snowman and the Snowdog - a picture book based on the classic film sequel 
 
Also available for readers 7+: 
A magical retelling of The Snowman by Michael Morpurgo

The Snowman and the Snowdog

The Snowman flies again . . . In the middle of winter, a little boy's Snowman and Snowdog come to life and take him on a breathtaking and magical adventure.

The Snowman flies again in this follow-up to the much-loved Christmas classic - now celebrating its 10th anniversary! 
 
Billy and his mum have moved into a new house just before Christmas, but Billy isn't very full of festive cheer, as his beloved old dog has passed away. 
 
So when the snow falls and Billy starts to build a Snowman, he knows exactly what to do - he builds a Snowdog too! Then, later that night, something magical happens... and Billy embarks on the most wonderful snowy adventure. 
 
The Snowman is the perfect festive read for ALL the family! 
 
Also available for 0-6yrs: 
The Snowman - the classic wordless picture book by Raymond Briggs 
The Snowman: Book of the Film - a picture book based on the classic film 
 
Also available for readers 7+: 
A magical retelling of The Snowman by Michael Morpurgo

Time For Lights Out

A new book about old age by the much-loved author of The Snowman and Ethel & Ernest

In his customary pose as the grumpiest of grumpy old men, Raymond Briggs contemplates old age and death... and doesn't like them much. 
 
'A beloved genius of storytelling and illustration' Observer 
 
Illustrated with Briggs's inimitable pencil drawings, Time for Lights Out is a collection of short pieces, some funny, some melancholy, some remembering his wife who died young, others about the joy of grandchildren, of walking the dog... He looks back at his schooldays and his time as an evacuee during the war, and remembers his parents and the house in which he grew up. But most, like this one, are about his home in Sussex: 
 
Looking round this house, 
What will they say, 
The future ghosts? 
 
There must have been 
Some barmy old bloke here, 
Long-haired, artsy-fartsy type, 
Did pictures for kiddy books 
Or some such tripe. 
 
You should have seen the stuff 
He stuck up in that attic! 
Snowman this and snowman that, 
Tons and tons of tat.

A mesmerising jumble of jokes, drawings and elderly gripes… All human life – and death – is here in this lucky dip of memories and fears, irritations and idle thoughts… [Time For Lights Out] has black humour galore…and, as always, Briggs’s drawings have a touch of magic about them, conjuring human beings and their foibles out of a few precious lines.

[Time for Lights Out is] direct and personal…on the tragi-comedy of growing old. [Briggs] looks on ageing with a beady but sympathetic eye…and mordant humour all the way through… there are plenty of excellent jokes in this book.

Many congratulations to The Oldie's Raymond Briggs on his elegiac new book, Time for Lights Out. The great author and illustrator takes a funny, sombre, bittersweet approach to old age, with fond thoughts of his grandchildren, parents, childhood and his partner Liz. The book is illustrated with his characteristic understanding of real life... Bliss.

A beloved genius of storytelling and illustration.

Raymond Briggs was born in London in 1934. He is the author of the hugely successful children's books Father Christmas and The Snowman. These books have been translated into many languages and adapted into films, plays and TV cartoons. His other books include Fungus the Bogeyman, Ug, When the Wind Blows, Ethel & Ernest, a biography of his parents, and his latest, Time for Lights Out, a contemplation on old age, told through words and pictures.

In his customary pose as the grumpiest of grumpy old men, Raymond Briggs contemplates old age and death… and doesn’t like them much. 
 
Illustrated with Briggs’s inimitable pencil drawings, Time for Lights Out is a collection of short pieces, some funny, some melancholy, some remembering his wife who died young, others about the joy of grandchildren, of walking the dog… He looks back at his schooldays and his time as an evacuee during the war, and remembers his parents and the house in which he grew up. But most, like this one, are about his home in Sussex: 
 
Looking round this house, 
What will they say, 
The future ghosts? 
 
There must have been 
Some barmy old bloke here, 
Long-haired, artsy-fartsy type, 
Did pictures for kiddy books 
Or some such tripe. 
 
You should have seen the stuff 
He stuck up in that attic! 
Snowman this and snowman that, 
Tons and tons of tat.

The Snowman Pop-Up

One winter's night, a snowman comes to life and a magical adventure begins . . . This special edition includes a magical pop-up scene, with a story based on the beloved picture book by Raymond Briggs. 
 
Christmas wouldn't be Christmas without Raymond Briggs's classic story, The Snowman. This brand-new edition features a magical pop-up scene, and artwork from the much-loved animated film. 
 
With a story inspired by Raymond Briggs' classic picture book, this is a wintery gift edition sparkling with festive magic. 
 
The Snowman is the perfect festive read for ALL the family! 
 
Also available for 0-6yrs: 
The Snowman - the classic wordless picture book by Raymond Briggs 
The Snowman: Book of the Film - a picture book based on the classic film 
The Snowman and the Snowdog - a picture book based on the classic film sequel 
 
Also available for readers 7+: 
A magical retelling of The Snowman by Michael Morpurgo

The Snowman

Spend Christmas with everyone's favourite Snowman! 
 
One winter's night, a snowman comes to life and an unforgettable adventure begins. 
 
Raymond Briggs' classic is a true piece of Christmas magic - narrated entirely through pictures, it captures the wonder and innocence of childhood and is recognised throughout the world. 
 
The Snowman is the perfect festive read for ALL the family! 
 
Also available for 0-6yrs: 
The Snowman: Book of the Film - a picture book based on the classic film 
The Snowman and the Snowdog - a picture book based on the classic film sequel 
 
Also available for readers 7+: 
A magical retelling of The Snowman by Michael Morpurgo

Spend Christmas with everyone's favourite Snowman! This special edition comes with an introduction by Raymond Briggs. 
 
One winter's night, a snowman comes to life and an unforgettable adventure begins. 
 
Raymond Briggs' classic is a true piece of Christmas magic - narrated entirely through pictures, it captures the wonder and innocence of childhood and is recognised throughout the world. 
 
This story is also available as a board book for little hands. 
 
The Snowman is the perfect festive read for ALL the family! 
 
Also available for 0-6yrs: 
The Snowman: Book of the Film - a picture book based on the classic film 
The Snowman and the Snowdog - a picture book based on the classic film sequel 
 
Also available for readers 7+: 
A magical retelling of The Snowman by Michael Morpurgo

Raymond Briggs was born in London in 1934. He was the author of the hugely successful children's books Father Christmas and The Snowman. These books have been translated into many languages and adapted into films, stage shows and animations. His other books include Fungus the Bogeyman, The Bear, Ug, When the Wind Blows, Ethel &amp; Ernest, a biography of his parents, and his latest, Time for Lights Out, a contemplation on old age, told through words and pictures.

Raymond Briggs

Join Father Christmas on his busiest night of the year in this 50th anniversary edition of the hilariously irreverent Christmas classic! 
 
Raymond Briggs, creator of The Snowman, introduces us to a rather grumpy Father Christmas in this brilliantly tongue-in-cheek festive tale. 
 
Father Christmas has awoken from a dream of summer sun to discover it is December 24th, Christmas Eve - the start of his longest night's work of the year! Much merriment ensues as Father Christmas travels the world, with a few issues along the way, to bring joy to children everywhere. 
 
Published 50 years ago, this delightful - and delightfully cheeky - classic story has lost none of its charm. This book was awarded The Library Association's Kate Greenaway Medal. 
 
More brilliant Raymond Briggs stories: 
Father Christmas Goes on Holiday 
The Snowman - a wordless picture book

Raymond Briggs

Father Christmas

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