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Original poster

Which Julia Donaldson books are most suitable for toddlers?

97 replies

Holidaydreamingg · 09/11/2023 14:36

DC who has just turned 2 absolutely loves reading with us. Her favourite books are the Acorn Woods series and anything else with flaps in!

I’d like to get her some other Julia Donaldson board books for Christmas - which ones are the shortest/aimed at younger readers? I was thinking perhaps Tiddler, Room on the Broom and Gruffalo?

Thanks!

OP posts:
Apossum · 09/11/2023 14:57

Oh and the snail and the whale!! That’s so sweet.

Apossum · 09/11/2023 14:57

Aw my son loves those lift flap books too. I got him the gruffalo, the gruffalo’s child, a squash and a squeeze and room on the broom board books from the works the other day, he loves those.

bombass · 09/11/2023 14:54

Any! I have the majority (apart from a couple which I personally don't like) and read them to my 4 month old. Even if they can't understand them/follow the story, it's the pattern of speech they engage with and the pictures.

My favourites are stick man, snail & the whale & a squash and a squeeze :)

fearfuloffluff · 09/11/2023 14:51

I think the Gruffalo is best for that age. The others can be wordy - the kids will like the language rhythm but the meaning will go over their heads.

We loved Jez Alborough at that age - Duck in the Truck and Hug particularly. Also the Usborne peep inside books with loads of flaps. We started with those when DD was about 2 and still reading them 5 years later!

RenegadeMrs · 09/11/2023 14:50

Also, there's an owl in my towel is another Julia Donaldson board book with flaps suitable for very young readers.

Wrongsideofpennines · 09/11/2023 14:50

My daughter is coming up to 3. We got a few for her birthday last year and did the exhibition at The Lowry in the summer. Her favourites are The Gruffalo's Child, A Squash and a Squeeze and Stickman. My favourite is Monkey Puzzle. We listen to the audio books in the car all the time too.

I don't think she aimed them at 2 year olds as there are some difficult concepts to grasp, like in The Gruffalo them understanding its not the mouse the animals are afraid of. But the rhymes are catchy and the BBC adaptations are lovely.

WeightoftheWorld · 09/11/2023 14:46

I think DC1 was more like 2.5 til they started getting into JD books but I appreciate it depends on the child. My DC2 has just turned 2 and he isn't interested in them yet, too long. He loves the very hungry Caterpillar

DuploTrain · 09/11/2023 14:44

My 2yo likes gruffalo (we have a push and pull board book version), and a squash and a squeeze.

Tiddler is a bit longer and DS doesn’t quite grasp the storyline yet/ isn’t interested.

I also recommend the paperback versions of acorn wood… they’re much bigger. I find the flaps are very small and fiddly on the board book versions.

FedUpOfInstaMum · 09/11/2023 14:44

RenegadeMrs · 09/11/2023 14:42

I can't read Paper Dolls without crying!

My little ones both loved Room on the Broom, What the Ladybird Heard and the Snail and the Whale. The youngest also likes Superworm.

But really, any of them are worth a go.

It's a bit emotional, isn't it? It most certainly stirs something within 🥹

imjusthere4 · 09/11/2023 14:44

I would say all of them… along with the stories the pictures in the book are great which little ones would like.

FedUpOfInstaMum · 09/11/2023 14:43

@Holidaydreamingg I think they are all aimed at toddlers + really. I read all the JD books to my boy from around 2.5 years to be honest, we had the paper backs also. The only board book we had was Stickman.

Seasidesusy · 09/11/2023 14:43

All of Julia Donaldson books are great for toddlers. My 21 month old particularly loves Room on the Broom and Superworm. He can recite most of both stories from memory. He has a mix of board books and paperbacks and he’s very good with them.
Search your local charity shops as we’ve managed to get a few for 50p in ours!

RenegadeMrs · 09/11/2023 14:42

I can't read Paper Dolls without crying!

My little ones both loved Room on the Broom, What the Ladybird Heard and the Snail and the Whale. The youngest also likes Superworm.

But really, any of them are worth a go.

Beamur · 09/11/2023 14:41

Tiddler is perfect for little ones.
A squash and a squeeze is good too.

Cyclingforcake · 09/11/2023 14:41

All of them. She doesn’t need board books. Room on the broom is our favourite. My DD could recite it before she could really talk!

Smartiepants79 · 09/11/2023 14:40

Julia Donaldson is really for kids age 3-6

Original poster
Holidaydreamingg · 09/11/2023 14:40

FedUpOfInstaMum · 09/11/2023 14:37

Followed closely by Paper Dolls 💙

I’ve heard this one is lovely! But they don’t do a board book version so I presumed it was aimed at kids a little older (maybe 3-5?)?

OP posts:
Smartiepants79 · 09/11/2023 14:40

Pip and posy are great for that age - axel scheffler.

Original poster
Holidaydreamingg · 09/11/2023 14:39

Delete

OP posts:
FedUpOfInstaMum · 09/11/2023 14:37

Followed closely by Paper Dolls 💙

newnamenewmane · 09/11/2023 14:37

All of them! They are fab.

FedUpOfInstaMum · 09/11/2023 14:37

Stick Man is my all time fave 💙