In a bid to encourage reading, Hitchin Library have teamed up with Nub News for a 'Countdown to Christmas' list with a daily recommendation of a festive book favourite.

Library boss Rebekah Nicolas will offer a daily book choice for the festive season.

Through hearing stories, children are exposed to a wide range of words. This helps them build their own vocabulary and improve their understanding when they listen, which is vital as they start to read.

Learning to read is also about listening and understanding, as well as working out what's printed on the page.

So, read on for Hitchin Library's festive favourite for today, Thursday, December 10.

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A Countdown to Christmas in Festive Book Favourites

How Many Sleeps till Christmas - is this a question you're facing on a daily basis?!

In today's recommendation, Little Pip is so excited for Christmas that he wakes Daddy Grizzle each morning thinking it's Christmas day, only to be told he has so many days to wait.

This is good news for the two bears as they still have so much to do before the big day arrives, like finding the perfect tree, writing Christmas cards and wrapping up presents.

With a nod to parents on how tiring this season can be, this book is a wonderful celebration of the anticipation of Christmas and the joy to be found in the preparations.

The very best part comes on Christmas morning when one Bear wakes the other to declare it Christmas Day!

(PS There are only 15 sleeps to go…)

Book featured: How Many Sleeps till Christmas by Mark Sperring, illustrated by Sebastien Braun (Puffin Books)

This book can be reserved for free from Hertfordshire Libraries here