All I want for Christmas is books, books, books

With all the books out there, it’s hard to pick the perfect gift for the readers among your family and friends, but luckily we’ve got a wide range of books to suit every bookworm – even the fussy ones. Check out our handy gift guide below.

For the bubs

Our new board book editions of I Love Me by Sally Morgan and Ambelin Kwaymullina, and We All Sleep by Ezekiel Kwaymullina and Sally Morgan are ideal for little ones. The inclusive, vibrant stories are great for introducing babies to the joy of books, and the sturdy format means they’ll survive even the most vigorous of readings.

For little ones

Ian Mutch’s picture book More and More and More explores ideas of consumerism, sustainability and respect for the natural world through the fun tale of collector Henry Harper. Henry loves to catch things in his net to add to his collection, but when he meets Kate, he learns a lesson about the importance of friendships.

For middle readers

James Foley’s S.Tinker Inc. series of graphic novels is a great way to encourage reluctant readers to tackle a whole book. In the latest book, Gastronauts, Sally Tinker, the world’s foremost inventor under the age of 12, travels deep into the belly of baby brother Joe to try and recover her missing brain-enhancing nanobots.
Cristy Burne’s tale Off the Track is the perfect gift for kids who are all about the outdoors, or perhaps even better for those too obsessed with their phones. City boy Harry finds himself stuck on a weekend hike on the Bibbulmun Track with his phone-obsessed Mum, her bestie Ana and Ana’s daughter Deepika. But when night falls, Harry and Deepika find themselves alone, off the track.

For young adults

Writing on disability, sexuality, race, gender, romance and work, the contributors to Meet Me at the Intersection cover a range of representations of what it is to be young in Australia today. Edited by Ambelin Kwaymullina and Rebecca Lim, this anthology of memoir, fiction, poetry and more is the ideal gift for a young, modern reader.

For the literary fiction fan

Steve Hawke’s The Valley is a sweeping epic set in the Kimberley. The lives of four generations of one family revolve around the secrets of a hidden valley, until young Dancer Jiroo begins to discover that it might be the key he needs to unlock the mystery of his missing mother, Milly Rider. A novel about family, Indigenous identity, love, loss and the land.

For the historical fiction fan

David Whish-Wilson’s The Coves explores a little-known part of Australian history through the eyes of 12-year-old protagonist Samuel Bellamy, who journeys from Australia to gold rush era San Francisco looking for his mother. But the city’s streets are run by brutal gangs, and none more deadly than the notorious Sydney Coves.

For the crime fiction fan

Dave Warner’s Clear to the Horizon and Alan Carter’s Marlborough Man have notched up their fair share of award nods this year, and have each received rave reviews – any crime fic fan will devour these riveting police procedurals in one sitting. Carter’s latest book, Heaven Sent, is the fourth in his hugely popular Cato Kwong series, and follows the Freo detective as he investigates a series of murders of homeless people in the port city, only to discover that the killer’s motives are much more personal.

For those who like a bit of drama

Carrie Cox’s debut novel Afternoons with Harvey Beam is a darkly comic tale of one man’s attempt to reconcile with his family and his hometown. Failing radio host Harvey Beam heads back to the small town where he grew up to visit his sick, and probably dying, father. Once the big fish, now he finds himself disconnected from his life and his family, but new opportunities are just around the corner.

For fans of beautiful books

Richard Woldendorp, AM, is Australia’s most renowned landscape photographer, and this latest collection is his best yet. The Tree is Richard’s exploration of Australia’s life-giving natural beauties in all their forms. From desert scrub to lush rainforests, this stunning photography book is the perfect gift for anyone who loves trees, impressive landscapes and beautiful photography.

For art fans

Kathleen O’Connor of Paris by Amanda Curtin is a dazzling and considerate work of narrative non-fiction exploring the life and work of bohemian painter Kathleen O’Connor. Curtin weaves her own exploration of life and art into meticulously researched biographical details, making this the ideal gift for anyone who has ever wondered about what drives an artist.

For armchair travellers

2016 T.A.G. Hungerford Award winner Jay Martin’s travel memoir Vodka and Apple Juice was published to rave reviews in September this year. Charting one woman’s life as a diplomat’s wife in Poland, miles from all she knows, this is a funny, honest and heart-warming read that details the beauty and charm of Poland and the absurdities of diplomatic life.

All of these books and more are available on the Fremantle Press website at www.fremantlepress.com.au and in all good bookstores. Enter the code LOVEFP at the checkout on our website to receive 10% off your order until 25 December 2018. Don’t forget, if you order two or more books it’s free postage throughout Australia.