Barrie Saves Christmas by Stephen Mangan

Barrie Saves Christmas by Stephen Mangan is a fully illustrated festive adventure about a St Bernard, two children and a secret tunnel network that helps deliver Father Christmas’s presents. Its silly humour and Christmas-rescue plot make it a seasonal story option for children, with the listing suggesting a reading age of 7–10.

At a glance

A fully illustrated Christmas adventure by Stephen Mangan and artist Anita Mangan.
Barrie is a St Bernard who would rather nap by the fire than take on rescue missions.
The plot features a network of underground tunnels used by squirrels to carry presents from Father Christmas’s workshop.
A mysterious elf threatens the tunnels, bringing Barrie and the children into a Christmas Eve rescue.

Price

£4.74Save 41%

Reference price: ~~£7.99~~

Price checked: 12 Nov 2026

View offer Ahead of Black FridayExplore the selection

Often bought together

The Great Reindeer Rescue (the laugh-out-loud, highly illustrated, future Christmas classic from bestselling Stephen Mangan)

£4.99

Lottie Brooks’s Twelve Disasters of Christmas: Twelve festive short stories from the mega-bestselling author: 12

£7.49

Pros and cons

Pros

Illustrations are part of the described story, rather than a separate activity feature.
The Christmas setting, comic dog character and clear rescue plot give it a specific seasonal appeal.
The 304-page length offers a substantial story for children ready for a longer book.

Technical specifications

10 specifications

Book details
Publisher	Scholastic
Publication date	8 Oct. 2026
Edition	1st
Language	English
Print length	304 pages
ISBN-10	0702344168
ISBN-13	978-0702344169
Reading age	7 - 10 years, from customers

Dimensions and installation
Weight listed	200 g
Dimensions	12.8 x 2.6 x 19.6 cm

What to know before buying

The listing gives a publication date of 8 Oct. 2026 and a reading age of 7–10 years, with the age specifically attributed to customers. Check that the edition and timing suit your needs.

Who is it for?

A good fit for

Children who enjoy illustrated, humorous Christmas adventures.
A seasonal gift for a child interested in dogs, festive mysteries and rescue stories.
Families looking for a Christmas-themed story to read together.

Less suited to

Readers looking for a non-seasonal story or a factual book.
Buyers seeking a confirmed age recommendation from the publisher rather than customer-attributed age information.

Barrie Saves Christmas by Stephen Mangan · photo 2 — Additional product photo 2

Customer reviews on Amazon

4.6 / 5 · 104 ratings

5 stars78%78%
4 stars14%14%
3 stars5%5%
2 stars0%0%
1 star3%3%

Aggregate customer ratings lean positive, with most ratings in the five-star category, alongside a smaller spread of lower ratings. Without written feedback, those figures do not explain what readers liked or disliked. They offer limited guidance on whether the illustrated, comic Christmas adventure suits a particular child.

Frequently asked questions

What is Barrie Saves Christmas about?

Barrie, a reluctant St Bernard, and two children try to stop a mysterious elf from sabotaging the underground tunnels used to deliver Father Christmas’s presents.

Who wrote and illustrated the book?

The listing credits Stephen Mangan as the author and Anita Mangan as the artist.

What age is the book listed for?

The details show 7–10 years, but specify that this age comes from customers.

How long is the book?

The listing states a print length of 304 pages.