Welcome to the Kelpies gift guide! Books make the best presents so read on to find some new favourites for gifting over the festive season. You can also use our Find a Kelpie tool on the left to find the perfect book match for the children in your life, and check out our Kelpies map of Scotland to find a book set near you!

(Not ready for festive season yet? We got you – head over to our Spooky Reads blog to keep the cosy autumnal vibes going a wee bit longer!)

The Nowhere Emporium is open for business!

Top of our list for young fans of fantasy, magic and adventure is The Nowhere Emporium – our special illustrated hardback edition makes a great gift for loyal fans and new readers alike! Step between the pages (through the super-cool door-cut cover and full colour endpapers) and discover a world powered by imagination as young Daniel Holmes, new friend Ellie, and the mysterious Mr Silver battle to save the magical shop that has become their home.

Featuring new black and white illustrations by Mariano Epelbaum, Ross MacKenzie’s Blue Peter Award-winning modern classic gets a new lease of life for a new generation of readers.

Thought-provoking, award-winning novels:

For children who prefer to read about real-life issues, Fidan Meikle’s My Name Is Samim, along with the companion novel, My Name Is Zayn, are absolute must-reads. My Name Is Samim has been honoured with several awards this year – including the Jhalak Prize and the Diverse Book Award – whilst My Name Is Zayn is nominated for the Carnegie Medal!

These beautifully written, heartbreaking-yet-hopeful stories follow Samim and Zayn’s perilous journey from Afghanistan and their subsequent struggle to find a new life in the UK as asylum seekers.

Searching for the Loch Ness Monster!

Looking for a gift that says “Scotland”? Well, you won’t get more Scottish than the legendary Loch Ness Monster! And we’ve got a Nessie book for everyone!

For your littlest readers, check out My First Nessie – a novelty, Nessie-shaped board book where you’ll discover all the things Nessie likes and dislikes.

No Such Thing as Nessie is a fun and friendly picture book in which young Finlay is determined to find proof that Nessie is real – perfect for budding monster-hunters!

For slightly older, more confident readers, Lari Don’s The Treasure of the Loch Ness Monster would make a fabulous gift. This timeless tale of Scotland’s most famous creature is brought to life with atmospheric illustrations by Natasa Ilincic and is destined to become the quintessential Nessie story!

Discover Nessie as you’ve never seen her before in Secret Agent Nessie – the first graphic novel from Kelpies and the perfect stocking filler for a Bunny vs Monkey or InvestiGators fan. Lego comics author Gary Chudleigh tells a fabulously funny, action-packed tale with a cast of larger-than-life characters illustrated by Laura Howell (Beano). Follow Secret Agent Nessie and her W.E.T (Water Espionage Team) pals on a mission to foil their feathered foes’ fishy plans and keep Loch Ness safe!

Extra Special Hardback Collections

Perhaps our favourite type of book to gift is a big, beautiful story anthology. Preferably one with gorgeously atmospheric illustrations!

Theresa Breslin and Kate Leiper’s Illustrated Scottish Treasuries series are a perfect example – Scottish folk tales, myths and legends are masterfully retold for children and brought to life with illustrations that wouldn’t look out of place in an art gallery. Whether your children are into fairy tales, mythical creatures, castles or dragons, they’ll be delighted to unwrap these beautiful books on Christmas day.

Or if you’d like to explore all the Celtic lands, don’t miss Celtic Folk and Fairy Tales – with stories retold by Lari Don and detailed, evocative illustrations by Elise Carmichael. Head to our YouTube channel to watch Lari read an extract and see some of Elise’s stunning artwork!

Perfect Puzzles!

Looking for a relaxing family activity to keep you occupied over the festive holidays? In our opinion, you can’t beat a good jigsaw puzzle!

For younger children, the 300 piece Awesome Scotland Jigsaw for Kids is sure to be a hit – bright, bold and detailed artwork by Moreno Chiacchiera brings the most famous places, people and wildlife of Scotland to life.

For more of a challenge, or if you know an adult in need of some relaxation (!), check out Dragon Flight over Eilean Donan Castle – a 1000-piece jigsaw puzzle with original artwork by the incredible Kate Leiper.

Pair with An Illustrated Treasury of Dragon Tales to make a brilliant bundle for your favourite dragon-lover!

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We hope this post has helped you find the perfect Kelpies book for your young reader! If you’re still looking for inspiration, try our Find a Kelpie tool on the left hand side to search by age, theme, series or genre.

From all at Kelpies HQ, we hope you have a wonderful festive time this year!