Children’s books for Christmas gifts
Our 20 great children’s books for Christmas – spectacular picture books to surprise, bewitch and survive longer than one holiday season.
Recommended reading books for primary & secondary aged children in the UK
Dieter Braun is a German illustrator and children’s book author based in Hamburg. Born in 1966 in Dinslaken, North Rhine-Westphalia, he studied communication design at the Folkwang University of the Arts in Essen. Braun is renowned for his distinctive geometric style and vibrant use of colour, which he employs to depict wildlife and natural landscapes in a simplified yet expressive manner.
As a freelance illustrator, Braun has contributed to international publications such as Time magazine, The New York Times, Newsweek, STERN, Elle, and Glamour. His artistic approach combines vector graphics with hand-drawn elements, resulting in illustrations that are both modern and reminiscent of vintage prints. He often draws inspiration from his travels to Africa and Australia, where he observes animals in their natural habitats to inform his work.
In addition to his editorial work, Braun has authored and illustrated several acclaimed children’s books. His notable titles include:
These books are celebrated for their engaging illustrations and educational content, making them popular choices for young readers interested in nature and wildlife.
In 2016, Braun received the Art Directors Club award in Germany, recognising his exceptional contributions to design and illustration.
Our 20 great children’s books for Christmas – spectacular picture books to surprise, bewitch and survive longer than one holiday season.
Animals nonfiction books for children with wildlife, behaviour, conservation, endangered species, animal diversity and evolution titles by Mike Barfield, Julie Beer, Ed J Brown, Dieter Braun, Susan Martineau, Brooke Barker and Moira Butterfield.
Here’s our selection of top new titles coming out in Summer 2025. These reading recommendations include picture books, poetry, early and middle-grade fiction; young adult novels and non-fiction.
Here’s our selection of top new titles coming out in Spring 2024. These reading recommendations include picture books, early and middle-grade fiction; young adult novels and non-fiction.
Season 1, Episode 5 of the School Reading List podcast. With new book post, 30 great books for November 2022, a look at our Christmas present book ideas list and tips for making GCSE literature texts more accessible
Season 1, Episode 4 of the School Reading List podcast. With new book post, 30 great books for October 2022, a look at our recent favourite children’s books survey and tips for promoting children’s books to schools.
Here’s our selection of top new titles coming out in Autumn 2022. These reading recommendations include picture books, early and middle-grade fiction; young adult novels and non-fiction.
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Our latest reading national curriculum year group recommended reading lists:
Picture books for the under 5s | Books for Reception | Books for Year 1 | Books for Year 2 | Books for Year 3 | Books for Year 4 | Books for Year 5 | Books for Year 6 | Books for Year 7 | Books for Year 8 | Books for Year 9 | Books for Year 10 | Books for Year 11