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christmas

Cracking Christmas reads

Treasure Islands

And celebrity names top the wish list, according to a recent survey by Waterstones.

But there's something for everyone, from romance to real life, history to horror. Here are just a few front-runners among the massive selection on offer.

For mum

Treasure Islands, by Pamela Stephenson, £18.99: Any women out there who feel stuck in a rut will be inspired by the former comedienne's voyage of discovery, sailing the South Seas, in the wake of Robert Louis Stevenson. It's a liberating read for adventure seekers, from an author who previously penned bestsellers Billy and Bravemouth, about husband Billy Connolly.

Next To You, by Gloria Hunniford, £17.99: The broadcaster and Strictly Come Dancing contender tells the heart-breaking story of her daughter Caron Keating's battle against breast cancer over seven years, until her death last year aged 41. It's a tragic tale, but also paints a picture of a feisty young mother who never gave up hope.

Life Swap, by Jane Green, £14.99: Mum's reading matter would not be complete without a good desperate housewives story from Jane Green, whose previous bestsellers have included Babyville and The Other Woman. Her latest novel centres on a career woman who longs for marriage and children, who swaps places with a rich, married mother for a month - and discovers the grass is not always greener.

For dad

Schott's Almanac 2006, by Ben Schott , £15: Following on from his hugely successful Miscellanies, this entertaining yearbook records everything, from the London bombs and Hurricane Katrina, to the winner of I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here, across 13 sections. It's a great book to pick up and flick through if you want to escape the Queen's Speech.

Untold Stories, by Alan Bennett, £20: This genius English writer brings us a wonderful collection of prose which takes in all his major writings over the last 10 years. In it he reveals much about his background, with an account of the marriage of his parents, the lives and deaths of his aunts and the uncovering of a long-held family secret. Also included are his much-celebrated diaries for the years 1996 to 2004, as well as essays and reminiscences.

For quizzers

The Virgin Book of Kakuro: Book One, £5.99: Move over Sudoku because Kakuro is here - a more challenging Japanese number-based puzzle. This is among a plethora of books published to boost the game's popularity. Others include The Book Of Kakuro: And How To Solve It, Michael O'Mara, £4.99 and the Kakuro Puzzle Book, B T Batsford, £4.99.

For sticklers

Talk To The Hand, by Lynn Truss, £9.99: She had a runaway success with her pedantic take on punctuation in Eats, Shoots & Leaves, and now Lynne Truss is back with an amusing rant on the rudeness of the modern world. She tackles everything from `please' and `thank you' to spitting in public, litter-dropping and other sources of affront. Sticklers will find themselves nodding in agreement with every page.

For star spotters

Extreme: My Autobiography, by Sharon Osbourne, £18.99: The book trade is predicting that Sharon Osbourne's memoir is going to be this year's celebrity must-have, as her trials and tribulations with Ozzie as well as her battle with cancer are revealed.

The Wit And Wisdom Of Reality TV, by A. Housemate, £5.99: This C lister-studded stocking-filler features the best of the worst quotes from a clutch of reality TV participants, including Jordan and Jade Goody. My personal favourite? "Edwina's like the granny that won't die." Gordon Ramsay, Hell's Kitchen.

For sports buffs

Being Freddie, by Andrew Flintoff, £18.99: The Ashes was the sporting highlight of the year, and this book tells the inside story of the world's most exciting cricketer, and the spectacular impact he's had on the game.

Football Heroes, by Chris Martin, £7.99: For dedicated fans who want to wow their mates with their knowledge of facts and figures, players, managers and memorable moments, look no further than this pint-sized stocking filler. Foreword by John Barnes.

David Beckham: My Son, by Ted Beckham, £18.99: The tabloids may have had a field day with David Beckham and his wife Victoria's antics, but in this biography, the football star's father lovingly charts what happened from David's birth to his move to Real Madrid. The book features 300 exclusive images from the family photo albums.

For thriller lovers

Predator, by Patricia Cornwell, £17.99: Another taut page-turner from the queen of the forensic thriller finds Dr Kay Scarpetta investigating the disappearance of a family in Florida - but someone is tracking her every move.

The Take, by Martina Cole, £17.99: This gritty, hard-hitting novelist has made her name out of dangerous, gangland tales. The latest revolves around Freddie Jackson, who is newly released from prison. His wife just wants her husband home but he now thinks he's the Essex equivalent of the Godfather.

For food and wine aficionados

Jamie's Italy, by Jamie Oliver, £20: Jamie Oliver has revolutionised the way we look at school dinners, but has now turned his attention to Italy, as he travels this famously gastronomic country paying homage to the classic dishes of each region and searching for new ideas to bring home. It has everything, from Parma ham to parmesan.

The Richard & Judy Wine Guide, £16.99 Susy Atkins, Joe Wadsack and Jean Marc Sauboua - the experts from Channel 4's Richard & Judy Wine Club - take readers on an easy-to-understand journey through the world of wine, with tasting tips. If the celebrity couple do for drinking wine what they have done for reading with their book club, they won't go far wrong.

The River Cottage Family Cookbook, by Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall and Fizz Carr, £20: Continuing the River Cottage series, this book has something to offer everyone, from toddlers to grandparents. It aims to help families discover the fun of cooking together, and explains all manner of methods, from how to make butter from a jar of cream to how to make your own sausages.

For children

Horrid Henry's Wicked Ways, by Francesca Simon & Tony Ross, £9.99: With more than five million Horrid Henry books and tapes sold in the UK alone, this master of mischief is an icon to many five to eight-year-olds. This new collectable hardback collection of 10 favourite stories has Henry once again vying with his brother Perfect Peter and driving his well-meaning parents to distraction.

More Flanimals, by Ricky Gervais, £9.99: The star of The Office had both children and adults hooked with his creations, and the follow-up explains a few more things you need to know about Flanimals, from the Puggled Humpdumbler to the Twin Plamglotti, born so close together they've swallowed each other's arms by mistake.

Fly By Night, by Frances Hardinge, £12.99: This adventure story about a 12-year-old, set in a fantasy historical world, is guaranteed to grab children's imaginations.

The Times Junior Su Doku, by Wayne Gould, £4.99: Children are going crazy for the number-placing puzzles, and this is a collection of 150 new puzzles specifically for seven to 14-year-olds.