ALL PICS: MIN RATNA BAJRACHARYA Chilli Wreath Price: Rs 478 Dhukuti

Santa with Sparkling eyes Price Rs 450 Bhatbateni, Saleways and other Departmental stores

With Christmas right around the corner, there is one thing that most, who celebrate, must already be worrying about? presents. With most shops embracing the festive spirit, the capital is now awash with gifts and decorations. But for time-poor shoppers who are struggling for ideas for that perfect gift, Nepali Times has made it easier by picking out a few potentials.

We selected our items from the 11th Fair Trade Fair hosted by UWTC on the 1-2 December.

Participating in the fair were both members and non-members of the Fair Trade Group of Nepal. The event, held to raise awareness about fair trade and promote Nepalese handicrafts, exhibited a wide range of items from beautifully crafted hand-made Christmas decorations to woollen clothes perfect for the winter.

Most of the exquisitely-made Nepalese handicrafts or other items here are sold with a purpose of raising money for various social causes. This fair has finished but those interested can still go to individual shops, such as Dhukuti, Mahaghuti to find these items. Happy Christmas shopping!

Shradha Basnyat

Christmas stocking and candy cane Price: Rs 75 Dhukuti	Christmas bells Price: Rs 56 Dhukutis	Bag Price: Rs 568 Dhukuti	Maithili Mirrors Price: Rs 435 Janakpur Arts & crafts, Sana hastakala
Christmas cards Price: Rs 40 Each	Nepal Nativity Price Rs 468 Departmental Stores	Christmas baubles Price: Rs 143 Dhukuti	Woolen hat Price: Rs 210 Kumbeshwar Technical School

---

Books to fill the stocking

There's no need for English speaking children in Nepal to be starved of the very best of contemporary children's literature.

For pre-schoolers, six delightful new books from Bloomsbury Paperbacks include the eagerly anticipated The Bear in the Cave by Children's Laureate Michael Rosen who also wrote the timeless classic We're Going on a Bear Hunt, which is part of every three-year-old's library. Toddlers from a year up will love the repetition, onomatopoeia and bold illustrations though it lacks the unique charm of Bear Hunt.

Another choice for up to sixes is Does a Sea Cow Say Moo? by Terry Webb Harshman with its witty illustrations and storyline. But for 3-5 year old girls it has to be the Charlie and Lola-styled Princess for a Day by Sarah Dyer, featuring demanding little Clementine and her long suffering brother Mungo who eventually gets his revenge after a day of being bossed around. It even includes a pink shiny crown to wear.

Night of the Veggie Monster is a slightly tired format throwing the spotlight again on a boy who doesn't like his greens but it's a humorous portrayal of a child's tantrum - and one does have to feel for a child who has such grey and sadomasochistic parents.

Marvin Gets MAD! by Joseph Theobald is a sweet and funny tale of a friendship between two sheep that is put to the test, while Where's My Cuddle? by James Mayhew is a beautifully illustrated story of one little boy's game of chase to retrieve the cuddle he refused to take from his mum at the school gate.

But if it's all sweetness and light that you seek at Christmas ? and we are talking sickly, saccharine sweet ? then The Christmas Angels, published by Little Tiger Press, is for you. Parents may cringe but the rhyming couplets and sparkly twee drawings could prove to be winners with four year olds. You have been warned.

Still on a Christmas theme young children will love hunting for and counting all the brightly coloured animals in The Twelve Hidden Days of Christmas, published by Sterling Press. But to truly invoke the spirit of Christmas what could be better than the beautiful children's classic 'Twas the Night Before Christmas - the story of the visit of St Nicholas, published by Walker Books.

The over sevens will enjoy an anthology of school themed poems, supposedly written by the kids themselves, collectively titled First Food Fight This Fall and published by Sterling. As the title suggests the book is American making it tricky for non American children to identify with the 'poets' and school, but it's pretty amusing all the same and boldly illustrated.

For 9-12 year old girls, My sister Jodie, the latest book by prolific award- winning British author Jacqueline Wilson would be sure to hit the right note. It's about two sisters - quiet and studious Pearl and bold and brash Jodie who is adored by Pearl. When their parents get new jobs at a fusty old boarding school, Jodie really doesn't fit but Pearl excels both academically and socially and doesn't need her sister as much as she used to. But when a tragic event occurs, Pearl realises how much she does need her big sister.

And for inquiring minds who want more from a book than reading, there's a growing number of interactive titles and activity books with an educational bent including 501 Science Experiments published by Hinkler Books and Body IQ which includes a glow in the dark skeleton and board game, published by Priddy Books.

Katy Williams

All titles are available at Ekta Books which is opening a dedicated books for Christmas floor on 15 December