A box set is one of the easiest Christmas presents to get right for a child who likes reading. It looks generous under the tree, it keeps a young reader busy well past Boxing Day, and it costs far less per book than buying titles one at a time. The tricky part is matching the set to the child’s age and reading level.
UK retailer The Book Bundle specialises in discounted book collections, and its children’s range runs from board books to young adult series. We have picked six sets across four age groups. Prices are those shown on The Book Bundle’s website on 4 November 2026; the ‘was’ figures are the retailer’s own comparison prices and may differ from what other shops charge.
Contents
Six Box Sets at a Glance
| Box set | Suggested age | Books | Price (4 Nov 2026) | Listed “was” price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bizzy Bear Advent Calendar Book Collection | Toddlers and pre-school | 24 mini storybooks | £17.99 | £25.00 |
| Ladybird My Once Upon A Time Library | 3 to 5 | 24 hardbacks | £30.99 | £119.76 |
| Matt Lucas: BobLand and The Boy Who Slept Through Christmas | 7 to 9 | 2 | £10.99 | £22.98 |
| Diary of a Wimpy Kid Box of Books | 8 to 12 | 12 (per listing) | £29.99 | £83.88 |
| Horrible Science Bulging Box Set | 8 to 12 | 20 | £36.99 | £119.80 |
| The Hunger Games Deluxe Collection | Teens | 5 | £48.99 | £64.95 |
Age bands follow The Book Bundle’s own categories and product descriptions. Every child reads differently, so treat them as a guide rather than a rule.
Toddlers: Bizzy Bear Advent Calendar
If you want a gift that starts before Christmas Day, the Bizzy Bear Advent Calendar Book Collection packs 24 mini storybooks into one countdown, one for each day of December. The Book Bundle’s description highlights lift-the-flap pages and small formats that fit little hands. At £17.99 it is also the cheapest way here to give a toddler a daily reading habit through the month. Order early: an advent gift is only useful if it arrives before 1 December.
Ages 3 to 5: Ladybird Fairy Tales
The Ladybird My Once Upon A Time Library, shown at the top, collects 24 hardback retellings of classic stories such as The Gingerbread Man, Goldilocks and the Three Bears, Jack and the Beanstalk and The Three Little Pigs. Hardbacks survive being read again and again, and fairy tales are ideal for bedtime because many children already half-know them and love joining in. At £30.99 for 24 books, the price works out at roughly £1.29 per book.
Ages 7 to 9: A Christmas Story From Matt Lucas
For newly confident readers, this two-book Matt Lucas bundle includes The Boy Who Slept Through Christmas in paperback and BobLand in hardback. It is a seasonal pick that is easy to read aloud as a family in the run-up to the big day, and at £10.99 it also works as a stocking filler. Fans of funny, warm stories will likely enjoy both.
Ages 8 to 12: Wimpy Kid and Horrible Science
Jeff Kinney’s Diary of a Wimpy Kid series remains a favourite with reluctant readers thanks to its diary format and cartoon drawings on almost every page. The Book Bundle lists this box at £29.99 as a 12-book set covering the early titles, from the first book through Rodrick Rules, The Last Straw, Cabin Fever and later instalments. Check the listing for the exact titles before ordering if your child already owns some.
For a child who prefers facts to fiction, the Horrible Science Bulging Box Set brings together 20 of Nick Arnold’s books, with titles such as Disgusting Digestion, Chemical Chaos, Shocking Electricity and Ugly Bugs. The series mixes gross-out humour with real science, which makes it a good fit for curious 8 to 12 year olds. At £36.99 it is under £2 per book.
Teens: The Hunger Games Deluxe Collection
For older readers, the deluxe Hunger Games paperback set includes The Hunger Games, Catching Fire, Mockingjay, The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes and Sunrise on the Reaping, according to the listing, in matching covers with patterned page edges. It is the most expensive set in this guide at £48.99, but it is designed to look good on a shelf, which makes it feel like a proper main present for a teenager.
How to Choose the Right Box Set
- Check reading level, not just age. A confident 7 year old may be ready for Wimpy Kid; a reluctant 10 year old may prefer it too.
- Avoid duplicates. Ask parents which titles the child already has, especially for long series.
- Think about format. Hardbacks last longer for toddlers; paperbacks are lighter for school bags.
- Mix fiction and non-fiction. A fact-based set can win over children who say they do not like stories.
- Look at the cost per book. Bigger sets often bring the price per title down sharply.
Ordering Tips for Christmas
Box sets are heavy and popular in December, so it pays to order in November rather than waiting for the last posting dates. Delivery times and charges vary, so check The Book Bundle’s delivery information at checkout. If you are buying several gifts at once, compare delivery costs against the total basket, and keep an eye on the ‘New In’ and bestseller sections, which change often.
It is also worth reading each product page in full. Listings show the condition, format and the list of titles included, and these details matter when the same series is sold in several different bundles.
Final Thoughts
A good box set gives a child weeks of reading rather than a single afternoon. Pick by age and interest: an advent collection or Ladybird fairy tales for little ones, Matt Lucas or Wimpy Kid for primary school readers, Horrible Science for fact fans and The Hunger Games for teens. You can browse the full range at The Book Bundle.
Disclaimer: This article contains affiliate links. If you buy through them we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Prices and availability were checked on 4 November 2026 and may change.
