By Mel Taylor-Bessent (author) , Selom Sunu (illustrator) Part of the The Christmas Carrolls series
"A festabulous, totally christmariffic read!"
Paperback In Stock £7.99 £7.19
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November 2021 Book of the Month
The Carroll family love Christmas. They love it so much they celebrate it every day and in the most over-the-top way possible; Mrs Carroll has even changed her name to Snow by deed poll. Daughter Holly (of course), our central character, loves it too and does everything possible to spread good cheer wherever she goes.
When the family move into their dream home, in Sleigh Ride Avenue, Holly stops being home-schooled and enrols at the local primary. Her arrival in Dickens class causes quite a stir, her new classmates don’t know what to make of her. Sadly, for a while it looks as though Holly will have all that ho-ho-ho happiness knocked out of her.
Don’t worry though, she bounces back, and takes the whole community with her. There’s so much joy, happiness and laughter packed into this book that it’s certain to leave readers feeling full of festive spirit, whatever the time of year – it certainly had your normally bah-humbug reviewer whistling Jingle Bells.
Holly is an irresistible character, her family a delight, there’s a guest appearance by a very distinctive donkey, and you know what, wouldn’t things be better if we did act like it was Christmas every day?
Wish it could be Christmas every day?
Well, for nine-year-old Holly Carroll and her family, it is! Living her merriest life in a house with year-round fairy lights and Christmas trees, a carol-singing toilet and a diva donkey who thinks he's a reindeer, home-schooled Holly tries to spread cheer wherever she goes. But when she goes to a new school with a singing Santa backpack and first day Christmas cards (during a heatwave in September!), she realises not everyone shares her enthusiasm for spreading cheer.
In fact, when the neighbours try to remove the Carrolls from the street and Holly discovers a group of children that may not get a Christmas at all, her snowglobe world begins to crack.
Is the world's most Christmassy girl about to lose her Christmas spirit?
'A Christmas book about kindness and cheer to make even Scrooge's heart melt' Dame Jacqueline Wilson
'As warm and cosy as drinking hot chocolate in your favourite Christmas jumper. A festive feast of fun.' Maz Evans, bestselling author of Who Let the Gods Out
'Fizzing with energy and festive cheer, The Christmas Carrolls is a heart-warming must-read for the Christmas period. Mel's writing sparkles like the star on top of a Christmas Tree.' Jennifer Bell, author of The Uncommoners trilogy
'The Christmas Carrolls is just fabulous! I laughed solidly throughout the whole thing. It's gloriously festive, brilliantly funny and utterly endearing, too. Holly's inventions made me chuckle, as did Mr Bleurgh, while Holly and Archie's friendship was a joy to read. Also, Mel wrote one of the most beautiful descriptions of Christmas Eve I've ever read. The story is warm and wonderful and I loved it.' Abi Elphinstone, author of The Unmapped Chronicles series
Well known in the children's book world as the creator of Authorfy, Taylor-Bessent makes her debut with the story of the world's most Christmassy family. Full of festive giggles and a message about what really matters. - Fiona Noble, The Bookseller
Founder of the hugely successful Authorfy and Little Star Writing, Mel Taylor-Bessent has made her career connecting readers to their favourite authors and encouraging children to write for pleasure. After gaining a Creative Writing degree, Mel launched her first business at the age of 22 and ran creative writing workshops for thousands of children aged 6-12. As a result, she also arranged hundreds of author events and witnessed first-hand the positive impact these interactions had on her students. In 2017, she decided to replicate this via online 'Author Masterclasses' on a website she created called Authorfy.com .
Since then, Authorfy has gone on to win numerous awards, partner with the likes of World Book Day and BookTrust, and is used in classrooms all over the world.
Mel is the best-selling author of The Christmas Carrolls and Race to Imagination Island series and has been writing stories for as long as she can remember. In 2025, Mel was shortlisted for the Ruth Rendell Award in 2025 for her work championing literacy in the UK.
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A funny, festive read about the true meaning of Christmas!
I loved The Christmas Carrolls ! This book sends the message that you should just be yourself. My favourite character was Holly. I liked it when she first spoke to Mr Bleurgh as it was really funny. I also really liked the idea of the cheer-o-meter and all of Holly (and her Dads) amazing inventions, especially the talking backpack! This book is really about the true meaning of Christmas. A fantastic, festive read.... Read Full Review
I absolutely loved this book, it is funny, exciting, energetic and makes you really excited for Christmas. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who loves Christmas.
The Carrolls are a family that absolutely LOVE Christmas! They act like every day is Christmas.
One day the Carrolls move to a new house and start to make it as christmassy as they can. But when Holly starts at her new school the other kids think she is strange. This book is all about teaching people Christmas spirit and how they can show it 365 days a year.
I absolutely loved this book, it is funny, exciting, energetic and makes you really excited for Christmas.... Read Full Review
This book is full of fun, friendship and Christmas magic.
Holly Caroll, a nine-year-old girl, has been homeschooled all her life and when a perfect house for her family on sleigh ride Avenue goes for sale her parents both get jobs. With no time for homeschooling anymore they sent Holly to the local school but everybody, even her new friend Archer, thinks she can turn down Christmas. Will Holly lose all of her Christmas magic? This book was a really interesting read. I enjoyed it very much and I'm looking forward to the rest of the series.... Read Full Review
Wish it could be Christmas every day? Well, for nine-year-old Holly Carroll and her family, it is!
The LoveReading4Kids Editorial Team have read and reviewed The Christmas Carrolls and determined it is suitable for children aged 7-10 years old
The Christmas Carrolls features in the following genres: Books of the Month, Recommendations, Stories about Family and Friends, Children's and Young Adult Fiction, Children’s, Teenage and Educational, Featured Books for 7+ readers, Festive Fiction, Funny, PSHE: Family Issues, Personal Social Health Economic (PSHE), Books Reviewed by our Reader Review Panels, School Stories, Featured Books for 9+ readers
Paperback. £7.19, down from the £7.99 cover price. In Stock.
The Christmas Carrolls was written by Mel Taylor-Bessent and published by Farshore an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers
The Christmas Carrolls has 320 pages
Yes it is part of The Christmas Carrolls series
£7.19, reduced from £7.99. In Stock.
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