Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them by J.K. Rowling – review
BMDH: 'This is a information book about all magical beasts in the wizarding world and all the ones in the muggle world'
What books are great to read aloud?
Listening to stories being read aloud is one of the pleasures of childhood – discover the Book Doctor's favourite read-aloud books and tell us yours
Slightly Naughty but Very Silly Words by Dick and Dom – review
Wizard: 'WARNING: This book will not impress parents!'
Your top science book picks of 2013
GrrlScientist: Which science books would you most like to see under your Christmas tree, and which science books are ones that you are giving to others as holiday gifts this year?
The Adventures of Shola by Bernardo Atxaga – review
Wizard: 'The storyline is very engaging and will make you laugh your socks off and spread a grin on your face'
The River Singers by Tom Moorhouse – review
strawberry5555: 'I loved this book and would love to read the next one in the series!'
The Invention of Hugo Cabret by Brian Selznick – review
BMDH: 'Never in my whole life have I come across a book like this'
Dodger by Terry Pratchett – review
BMDH: 'It's a 335 page book that is brilliantly written with awesome wordplay'
Young Bond series by Charlie Higson – review
BMDH: 'They are some of the best books I have ever read. And I have read a lot'
Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher – review
dewdrop: 'It's not the plot that I loved so much, although it's original in its own right; it's the complex thoughts and emotions that the character expresses'
The Hunger Games: Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins
ABitCrazy: 'You get so caught up in reading the Hunger Games it's like the real world doesn't exist anymore'
Looking at the Stars by Jo Cotterill – review
PetrovaFossil: 'Looking at the Stars is one of the best, if not the BEST book I have ever read.'
Horribly Hilarious Joke Book by Terry Deary – review
Rider: 'It is the best joke book I have ever read'
Lost Worlds by Andrew Lane – review
pinkbookworm: 'It's nice to have an author who occasionally indulges us all in wild flights of fantasy'
The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug – review
The second film in Peter Jackson's Hobbit trilogy sets off at full pelt and maintains its energy, charm and mystery throughout, writes Peter Bradshaw