If you’re shopping locally this Christmas to support your high streets and independent retailers, you’ll find something for everyone in your local bookshop.

Independent bookshops are at the heart of the high street, where you’ll receive a warm Christmas welcome and help to find just the right gift, whether you’re shopping for children’s classics, beautiful coffee table books, or the latest bestsellers.

Most booksellers can also order in books if you have something specific in mind, so why not gift the joy of reading (and the promise of some downtime with a book!) this Christmas.

Here are some highlights from this year’s Festive Reads catalogue, bringing you the very latest books published in Wales, in both Welsh and English, in time for Christmas.

Books Council Wales
Some of Books Council of Wales’ top recommendations for children’s tales and non-fiction books (Books Council of Wales)

Fiction

Sabrina’s Teardrop by Leslie Scase - The perfect Victorian thriller

The Luck by Kathy Biggs – A family saga set in America’s rural west

Pearl and Bone by Mari Ellis Dunning – A poetry collection about becoming a mother during a global pandemic

Bwrw Dail by Elen Wyn – A beautiful novel by an up-and-coming author

Nadolig ed. Mererid Hopwood and Tudur Dylan Jones - A collection of brand-new poems about Christmas by well-known poets

Darogan by Siân Llywelyn - Beca and Ceri investigate mysterious and supernatural events in north Wales

Non-fiction

Rock Legends at Rockfields by Jeff Collins – Get your backstage pass to the world-famous Rockfield Recording Studios in Monmouth

Portraits of Tibet by Diane Barker– A beautiful photographic book following Tibetan nomadic families

Ein Urdd Ni by Mari Emlyn - A celebration of Urdd Gobaith Cymru’s centenary, with contributions from some of Wales’ most famous faces

Children and Young Adults

Mae Gan Bawb Deimladau / Everybody Has Feelings by Jon Burgerman and Llinos Dafydd – Perfect to help children understand feelings

Orig – The Fearless Life of Orig Williams by Ioan Morris and Josh Hicks - The story of Wales’ most famous professional wrestler

Nadolig Llawen, Sam / Merry Christmas, Sam by Chris Chatterton by – A book full of festive fun

Posau Fferm i’r Plant Bach / Little Children’s Farm Puzzles by Kirsteen Robson – Keep your children busy this Christmas with these puzzles

Hazel Hill is Gonna Win This One by Maggie Horne – A timely young adult novel on the power of standing up for what is right

Books Council Wales
(Books Council of Wales)

For more recommendations, pop in to your local bookshop:

• Gwisgo Bookworm, Aberaeron

• Siop Inc, Aberystwyth

• Siop y Pethe, Aberystwyth

• Ystwyth Books, Aberystwyth

• Awen Meirion, Y Bala

• Awen Teifi, Aberteifi

• Siop Y Smotyn Du, Lampeter

• Ffab, Llandysul

• Siop Dewi, Penrhyndeudraeth

• Browsers Bookshop, Porthmadog

• Siop Eifionydd, Porthmadog

• Llên Llŷn, Pwllheli

• Bookseller, Pwllheli

• Pen’rallt Gallery Bookshop, Machynlleth

• Siop Lyfraur Senedd-dy, Machynlleth

• The Great Oak Bookshop, Llanidloes

• Siop yr Hen Bost, Blaenau Ffestiniog

Not sure what to buy? With a book token your loved ones can choose for themselves! Available from all your favourite bookshops.