Lottie Brooks’s Twelve Disasters of Christmas
Twelve festive stories in which Christmas plans go wrong, with Lottie telling her own most disastrous one.
Lottie Brooks’s Twelve Disasters of Christmas is a festive short stories title by Katie Kirby. In the children’s bestseller list we checked on 7 November 2026, it was number 4. This guide explains what the book is about, who it suits, how to talk about it and what to read next.
What is Lottie Brooks’s Twelve Disasters of Christmas about?
This festive collection holds twelve Christmas stories, most of them centred on characters other than Lottie. The tales include a first Christmas, a prank that backfires, a child who becomes the star of a school show and a girl who helps her football team. Lottie also narrates her own most disastrous Christmas.
It is a standalone treat for fans of the Lottie Brooks diaries, and because each story is short, it is a good pick for a busy December when reading time comes in small pieces.
Lottie Brooks’s Twelve Disasters of Christmas: book details
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Author | Katie Kirby |
| Series | Lottie Brooks (festive story collection) |
| Format | Hardback |
| Publisher | Puffin |
| Published | 8 October 2026 |
| Length | 240 pages |
| Genre | Festive short stories |
| Age guide | 9 to 12 |
| ISBN (edition listed) | 9780241769416 |
Ages marked as “suggested” are our own guidance, not the publisher’s. Editions and dates can differ between shops, so check the listing for the copy you want.
Why children enjoy Lottie Brooks’s Twelve Disasters of Christmas
- Short stories suit a December routine, so you can finish one in a single sitting.
- Familiar characters such as Molly, Jess, Bella, Toby, Poppy and Burger Tom pop up, as does Lottie’s cousin Fwankie.
- The humour is warm and embarrassing in a way tweens recognise.
Reading and talking tips
Use these prompts to make reading time a conversation:
- Read one story a night as a countdown, like a mini advent calendar.
- Ask: “Which disaster would be the worst to have at Christmas?”
- Let your child pick the order, since the stories stand alone.
About Katie Kirby
Katie Kirby writes the Lottie Brooks series, comic diaries about the ups and downs of life as a tween, illustrated with drawings throughout.
Read more on our Katie Kirby author page.
If your child likes this, try…
- The Seriously Epic Holiday of Lottie Brooks by Katie Kirby, number 11 in the list.
- The Catastrophic Friendship Fails of Lottie Brooks by Katie Kirby, number 16 in the list.
- Nina Peanut: Major Drama Alert by Sarah Bowie, number 15 in the list.
Browse the whole list in our Top 20 children’s books, or use our books by age guides to find your next read.
Frequently asked questions about Lottie Brooks’s Twelve Disasters of Christmas
What age is Lottie Brooks’s Twelve Disasters of Christmas for?
The publisher suggests ages 9 to 12.
Is this one of the numbered Lottie Brooks diaries?
No. It is a festive collection of twelve stories, so you can read it without following the main diaries in order.
When should I buy it?
It came out on 8 October 2026, so it is already on shelves for the Christmas run-up. See our Christmas book guides for more ideas.
Where to find it: your local library, an independent bookshop or an online retailer. Library membership is free in Ireland; see our guide to using your library.