Probably the loveliest, most comforting book we've read all year. Caro and her mum move to a new house at the top of a hill. Caro is a little sad, lonely and reluctant to go out and explore her new environs. But in the quiet of her house, a new friend appears just when she needs one most. Both words and pictures are just the right amount of soft, magical and heartfelt. If you buy one book this year, let this be it.
The Snow Lion was written by Jim Helmore, illustrated by Richard Jones and published by Simon & Schuster Children's UK.