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 2.[.B]

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We couldn't share a Countdown to Christmas in picture books without Countdown to Christmas, a fun

rhyming book with a couple of surprises at the end.

Bear is giving out a prize a day to the animals in

the wood and whilst some are delighted with their prizes, others aren't so impressed, all the while

Mouse is desperate to be picked for a prize.

Before Mouse receives his prize, he falls sick and fears he will miss his turn but he is reunited with the other animals on Christmas Eve to see all the prizes come

together in the most wonderful way.

As well as the surprise in the story, there is a surprise at the end of the book for readers too as the back inside cover is a lovely picture-flap advent calendar.

Book featured: Countdown to Christmas by Adam & Charlotte Guillain, illustrated by Pippa Curnick

(Egmont Books)

This book can be reserved for free from Hertfordshire Libraries here