Still looking for that elusive Christmas present for your mum / dad / brother / sister / aunt / uncle / cat / imaginary friend or relative? Today's Guardian features an exclusive, seasonally-themed extract from A. A. Milne's The Sunny Side, a collection of essays, poetry and other writings which Snowbooks' has single-handedly brought back from undeserved obscurity for your reading and gifting pleasure:

"Now that the "festive season" (copyright) is approaching, it behooves us all to prepare ourselves in some way to contribute to the gaiety of the Christmas house-party. A clever conjurer is welcome anywhere, and those of us whose powers of entertainment are limited to the setting of booby-traps or the arranging of apple-pie beds must view with envy the much greater tribute of laughter and applause which is the lot of the prestidigitator with some natural gift for legerdemain."

Read the full extract on the Guardian website, and buy the book at Amazon.co.uk, or a Waterstones near you.