Wise owls and reading go together but meeting one eye to eye in your favourite bookshop is unexpected. The best party in December where families are welcome has to be Blackwell's Christmas Family Day.

Tomorrow the live owls are joined by puppets - staff at the Broad Street shop in Oxford have written the script and designed the scenery. Music, face painters and storytellers add to the fun, which is all free.

In league with Father Christmas, on the first floor, Blackwell's historian, Rita Ricketts, doubles up as a storytelling fairy godmother. There will be seasonal music with Abingdon Brass Band and a chance for the whole family to join in community carol singing, led by the choir of Corpus Christi.

Events manager Zool Verjee said: "The family day is now an annual event and is eagerly anticipated by staff and customers alike. The shop buzzes and the atmosphere is infectious.

"Adults should enjoy the music, mince pies and mulled wine. New this year is the poetry competition. Children from five to 15 can bring their poems to the store, hear them read aloud, and be in with the chance of winning a prize."

There will also be the very popular treasure hunt. This time it is called Hunt the Snowman, with more good prizes for the winners.

Of course, while children are enjoying themselves, there is an opportunity for adults to look round the bookshelves. Grandparents like me need advice on what books are cool' to buy for their grandchildren, so I asked children's bookseller Salma Caller.

"We are in love with My Dads a Birdman by David Almond. Polly Dunstan is a fantastic illustrator, as is David Roberts. He has illustrated Iggy Peck Architect, by Andrew Beaty. This is aimed at a younger age group, four to eight-year-olds. Parents will enjoy reading it with their children because of the amusing pictures.

"The film Golden Compass is introducing Philip Pullman's Dark Materials trilogy to even more teenagers. I admire Hazel by Julie Hearn. It is historical fiction based on the suffragettes."

If you can't make tomorrow, Alice in Wonderland will be performed by the Oxford Storypods at the store at 2pm on Saturday, December 8, and for adults there will be cheese and port tasting on December 15.

For further details call Blackwell's on 01865 333694.