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Lydia Marmalade and the Christmas Wish

An unforgettable Christmas classic to entertain the whole family!
By Cariad Lloyd
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Brief Description
When Lydia Marmalade makes a wish on the most magical night of the year, little does she know the chaos she's about to unleash. Could one simple wish start a . . . wish-tastrophe? 'Christmas magic - a book only Cariad could write with such beauty... Read More
Format: Paperback / softback
$1999
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On a dark Christmas evening, sometimes you need magic to light the way forward ... Sparkling Christmas fiction full of heart and humour for children of 9-11: comedian Cariad Lloyd creates an unforgettable seasonal story for all the family. Perfect for fans of A Boy Called Christmas and The Christmasaurus.

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

When Lydia Marmalade makes a wish on the most magical night of the year, little does she know the chaos she's about to unleash. Could one simple wish start a . . . wish-tastrophe?

'Christmas magic - a book only Cariad could write with such beauty and relatability!' Giovanna Fletcher

One winter evening, Lydia Marmalade arrives at Lady Partridge's mansion. She has nothing to her name except her sausage dog, Colin, but she's determined to make this her new home.

Lady Partridge isn't at all keen to make Lydia part of the family. If Lydia doesn't behave herself until the end of the winter season, she'll cast her off entirely. And now her mother's gone, Lydia doesn't have anywhere else to live.

Helped (and often hindered) by a mischievous winter sprite, a grumpy butler and a hungry Colin, Lydia makes a wish on the most magical night of the year. Sometimes you just need magic to light the way forward . . .

The hilarious new Christmas story to read with all the family, from comedian and writer Cariad Lloyd with gorgeous illustrations by Ma Pe. Perfect for fans of A Boy Called Christmas and The Christmasaurus.

Previously published in hardback as The Christmas Wish-tastrophe

Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9781444971491

Publisher: Hachette Children's Group

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 23 October 2025

Country: United Kingdom

Imprint: Hodder Children's Books

Contributors:

  • Illustrated by Ma Pe

Audience: Primary and secondary education, Children

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 22.0mm

Width: 124.0mm

Height: 194.0mm

Weight: 268g

Pages: 304

Collections

Cariad Lloyd Children's Books Children's Christmas Books and Gifts Children's Fiction Children’s, Teenage and Educational Christmas Books and Gifts Young Adult

About the Author

Cariad Lloyd (Author)

Cariad Lloyd is a writer, actor, comedian, podcaster and improviser. She is the creator and host of the award-winning podcast, the Griefcast, where she talks to people about their experiences of grief and death. It won Podcast of the Year at the British podcast awards in 2018 and was spotlighted by Apple Podcasts in 2022. In 2023, Cariad wrote the critically acclaimed, Times bestseller You Are Not Alone, based on her grief lessons from the show. Cariad has also appeared in Peep Show, Alan Partridge, Have I Got News for You, QI and a number of other comedy shows on TV and radio. She is one of the creators of hit improv show Austentatious and co-hosts Sara and Cariad's Weirdos Book Club podcast with Sara Pascoe.

Ma Pe (Illustrator)

Ma Pe is an Italian cartoonist and illustrator. She started drawing as a child. She tried to devote herself to other things, but the love for drawing was too strong. She loves cats (for now she only has two, but there are always more) and flowers, and both elements are never missing from her illustrations. Although she always wears black, she has an inordinate passion for pink.

She has been working in the world of illustration since 2019.

Also by Cariad Lloyd

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    The perfect book for opening up honest conversations with young children about grief and death, whether they have lost a loved one, or are simply curious and at the age of asking questions. When a little girl hears people saying how sorry they are that she's lost her very special grandma, she only has one question... where did she go?...
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  • Where Did She Go?
    The perfect book for opening up honest conversations with young children about grief and death, whether they have lost a loved one, or are simply curious and at the age of asking questions. When one little girl's grandma is nowhere to be seen, and everyone keeps saying how sorry they are that the family have lost her, she makes it...
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  • You Are Not Alone
    NEW STATESMAN, THE TIMES AND EXPRESS BOOK OF THE YEAR 2023 “Full of sense, heart and hope . . . the friend you need when you’re grieving” – PHILIPPA PERRY “This book is a game-changer. Read it before you need to” – DR KATHRYN MANNIX “It’s honest and warm and funny (in all the right places)” – JULIA SAMUEL When...
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  • You Are Not Alone
    THE TIMES NO. 7 BESTSELLER 'A blackly funny, honest, thought-provoking and compassionate book' THE TIMES ‘Full of sense, heart and hope’ PHILIPPA PERRY ‘Cariad Lloyd has changed the way we speak about grief’ SARA PASCOE _______________ Welcome to the club. I’m still here now, all these years later. You don’t leave once you’ve joined; it’s a life membership. Grief eases...
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  • The Christmas Wish-tastrophe
    When Lydia Marmalade makes a wish on the most magical night of the year, little does she know the chaos she's about to unleash. Could one simple wish start a... wish-tastrophe? The Christmas Wish-tastrophe is filled with Christmas magic—a book only Cariad could write with such beauty and relatability! - Giovanna Fletcher Full of wit and larger-than-life characters - The...
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