Why not help your child enter the magical world of books this Christmas? Here local bookshops unwrap a few Christmas winners.

Worm Holes, Bootham

The Gruffalo's Child by Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler (Pan Macmillan, £10.99, recommended age 2-5)

Captivating sequel to the popular children's classic. No Gruffalo should ever set foot in the deep dark wood, the Gruffalo warns his child. But one wild and windy night, she ignores her father's warning and tiptoes out into the snow. After all, the Big Bad Mouse doesn't really exist - does he?

Jonathan Swift's Gulliver retold by Martin Jenkins and illustrated by Chris Riddell (Walker Books £14.99. Age 8 years +)

The classic tale of Gulliver's travels in Lilliput retold for the younger generation and magnificently illustrated in this collectible new edition.

The Various by Steve Augarde (Random House, hardback £12.99/ paperback £5.99, 10 years+)

Abandoned with her eccentric uncle during the holidays, 12-year-old Midge discovers a band of realistic fairies, the Various. Strange, wild and sometimes even deadly, these beings have been a secret since the beginning of time, but clashing with humans they are now under threat.

Little Apple Bookshop, High Petergate

The Magic of Pants, by Kjartan Poskitt (Scholastic, £5.99 Age 6+)

For those of you who have been sitting around waiting for a whole book of magic tricks involving pants to come along, the wait is finally over. Give this to your child at Christmas and they can thrill the in-laws with the Mystery of the Phenomenal Floating Frillies, the Escape from Pantsatraz and other extraordinary pants-related feats. Pants not included.

Brilliance Of The Moon by Lian Hearn (Macmillan, £12.99 Age 13+)

The third instalment of the Tales of the Otori Trilogy, this has all the ingredients of a superb story: love, death, loyalty and betrayal, and an exotic Eastern setting. Lian Hearn has created a timeless world of epic story-telling which appeals to teenagers and adults alike.

A Gathering Light by Jennifer Donnelly (Bloomsbury 6.99 Age 13+)

Teenagers will identify with Mattie, a 16-year-old tied to her poor agricultural existence in America's mountains, struggling to balance her quest to become a writer, a blossoming romance, and her manual chores. She is a likeable and thoroughly realistic protagonist. This is a coming-of-age novel with a murder mystery sub-plot, beautifully written and resolutely wizard-free. A must for young (and old) lovers of good novels.

Waterstones, High Ousegate

Horrible Histories Mad Miscellany by Terry Deary (Scholastic, £9.99)

History with the nasty bits left in. The Mad Miscellany serves up all the dreadful details of horrible history you'll ever need to know - from rotten Roman graffiti to terrible teacher tortures and rude royal nicknames. Want to know the crushing details about execution by elephant? How to soften your skin Georgian-style - using the skins of puppies? History has never been so horrible!

The Grim Grotto by Lemony Snicket (Egmont, £6.99)

It's time to get miserable with the 11th A Series Of Unfortunate Events title. The Grim Grotto rejoins the Baudelaire orphans on their latest adventure. Including all the usual tricks from their evil uncle, Count Olaf, and plenty of edge-of-the-seat moments, this is yet another glimpse into the dark world of Lemony Snicket. With the movie of the series starring Jim Carrey and Jude Law released on December 17, expect it to be big this Christmas.

Diamond Girls by Jacqueline Wilson (Doubleday Children's Books, £10.99)

Dixie Diamond's mum is expecting again, but this time it's a boy. So Dixie and her three sisters, commonly known as the Diamond Girls, are moving to a house rather than their cramped flat. The day of the move is the beginning of a new start and a new life. The book deals with hard-hitting issues such as single parenthood, sibling rivalries, teenage pregnancy and mental health - all with warmth and Wilson's trademark uplifting style.

The Scarecrow And His Servant by Philip Pullman (Scholastic, £10.99)

Pullman's first book for younger readers since I Was A Rat - and he doesn't disappoint. This funny, moving tale tells the story of a scarecrow and his servant - a clever little boy called Jack. The pair embark on an adventure-packed journey. Scarecrow plunges them into terrifying dangers - battle and shipwreck, brigands and tricksters - and it's up to Jack to save the day.

COMPETITION

Waterstones Top Five children's books this Christmas are: The Gruffalo's Child by Julia Donaldson & Axel Sheffler; Horrible Histories Mad Miscellany by Terry Deary; The Grim Grotto By Lemony Snicket; Diamond Girls by Jacqueline Wilson; and The Scarecrow And His Servant by Phillip Pullman

The Evening Press has a complete set of all five books for one reader to win.

Question: what is the name of the scarecrow's servant in the book by Philip Pullman?

To find details of how to enter get your copy of the Evening Press of December 8.

Updated: 08:36 Wednesday, December 08, 2004