up to 4 years

Molly is a Good Dog (Poolbeg, £3.99): Lucinda Jacob's bilingual story about a mischievous puppy. It's a Jungle Out There (Wolfhound, £8.99): Ed Miliano's lush jungly first picture book. Katy Kat and Beaky Boo Playset (Walker, £14.99 in UK): Lucy Cousins' 3D interactive toy-cum-book. Alfie and the Birthday Surprise (Bodley Head, £9.99 in UK): A new Shirley Hughes book, starring her loveable ragamuffin.

age 5 to 8

When Jessie Came from across the Sea (Poolbeg, £10.99): Stirring tale of emigration, by Amy Hest, illustrated by P.J. Lynch. Great Irish Legends for Children (Gill and Macmillan, £8.99): Sequel to Yvonne Carroll's excellent first book of legends, readably re-told. The Complete My Naughty Little Sister (Methuen, £20 in UK): Dorothy Edwards' collected classics with new illustrations by Shirley Hughes. Cat in the Hat 40th Anniversary Edition (Harper Collins, £12.99 in UK): Good opportunity to discover the world of Dr Seuss, if you haven't yet done so.

age 9 to 12

Enchanted Journeys (O'Brien, £8.99): Robert Dunbar's mix of stand-alone extracts from books by 17 Irish children's writers from the past 50 years. Katie's War (O'Brien Press, £3.99): Aubrey Flegg's Katie has to choose sides during the Irish Civil War. 101 Amazing Things to do with Your Computer (Kingfisher, £12.99 in UK): Full colour activity book with tips on hardware and software. Guide comes with a CD-ROM. Roald Dahl Treasury (Jonathan Cape, £19.99 in UK): Selections, some complete works, background on Dahl - as an introduction, or for a fan. Junior Chronicle of the 20th Century (Dorling Kindersley, £25 in UK): What happened the year you were born? Lively, wellillustrated history. The Even More Amazing Science Pop-Up Book (Watts, £15.99 in UK): Brilliant for kids who are science-mad.

age 12-plus

Sisters, No Way (O'Brien, £4.50): Siobhan Parkinson's award-winning and ingenious story about sisters thrown together when parents marry. Dream Invader (O'Brien, £3.99): Gerard Whelan's chilling story of possession. White Lies (Wolfhound, £3.99): Mark O'Sullivan's tale of an adopted girl, her boyfriend, and her search for her real parents. The Subtle Knight (Scholastic, £12.99 in UK): Second of Philip Pullman's brilliant Northern Lights trilogy will appeal to fans of fantasy. The Ultimate 3D Pop-Up Art Book (Dorling Kindersley, £15.99 in UK): Brilliant introduction to art and artists, for teens and adults. The Ultimate Science Kit (Dorling Kindersley, £35 in UK): Everything you need to make a radio, a toy car and more. Not really for sevenplus, as stated on the book.