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, Wednesday, December 9.

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Our next book focuses on Tyler, who wishes to find an angel for his family's Christmas tree - an angel which looks like him.

An Angel Just Like Me carries a message that is just as important now as it was when this book was published back in 1997 - that of representation.

Tyler and his family are not well represented by the images of angels, Christmas cards or Father Christmas they see in lead up to Christmas, leading to many questions from Tyler, questions will quite rightly linger for the reader too.

Ultimately the book offers a heart-warming story with an opportunity to have essential conversations with children about diversity and representation.

Book featured: An Angel Just Like Me by Mary Hoffman, illustrated by Cornelius Van Wright and Ying-Hwa Hu (Frances Lincoln Children's Books)

This book can be reserved for free from Hertfordshire Libraries here