There is only one obvious flaw in the children's book marketing miracle that has been Harry Potter: Joanne Rowling has not managed to come up with a fourth in her series of the boy wizard for Christmas.
So what will the 10 to 12-year-old bibliophiles be contenting themselves with at the turn of the century? For the older in the age group, my expert advice is that The Prisoner, by Whitbread prize winner James Riordan (Oxford University Press, £5.99 in UK), is a fine consolation. Set in the second World War in England, it tells of two children who find a fugitive German airman, not much older than themselves, and of how they learn through him that nobody wins in war, no matter who is declared the victor.
It might sound heavy, but is simply and effectively written. My 11-year-old consultant loved it. After all, enthusiastic readers her age have Sophie's World under their belts these days.
Also historical, but diametrically opposed in style, are the cartoon Irish Legends series (Blackwater, £3.99), by Larry O Loughlin. These tell stories such as The Salmon of Knowledge in a jokey way. The drawings by John Leonard are great fun. These slim volumes would be good for any child, even the one you are trying to lure into greater affection for reading.
Forbidden Game by Malorie Blackman (Penguin, £3.99) is one for the lads. A protected boy named Shaun is finally given permission to go on a school trip, but things go wrong. My nine-year-old consultant on this book tells me it stresses the virtues of co-operation and teamwork.
Another book slightly more for boys than girls, which I (age 12 plus) found quite exciting myself, is Survive: Volcanic Fury, by Jack Dillon. (Puffin, £3.99) A professional photographer, his son and two other children become stranded on a volcanic island when the helicopter they have hired for the day crashes after an unexpected belch of steam from the volcano throws it off course. The story galloped along, and at the back there were 20 pages of facts and figures on volcanoes.