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The Ugly Five by Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler - what did your child think?

52 replies

SorchaMumsnet · 04/09/2017 17:40

Introducing the new picture book by The Gruffalo creators, Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler. The Ugly Five is perfect for readers aged 3+. Find out more about the brains behind this book and so many others.

Meet Wildebeest and Warthog, Spotted Hyena, Lappet-Faced Vulture and Marabou Stork. People call them the Ugly Five - but are they really?

On safari, Julia Donaldson was introduced to the admired 'Big Five': Lion, Leopard, Elephant, Rhino and Buffalo. However, she was more intrigued by the 'Ugly Five' and made them the stars of her new story – brought to life by Axel Scheffler's pictures.

We ask all winners to share their child's thoughts on the book. Everyone who posts their detailed feedback by midday, Monday 20 November will be entered into a prize draw to win a £100 Love2shop voucher.

Buy the book on Amazon

This giveaway is sponsored by Scholastic Kids

Book giveaways T&Cs apply

The Ugly Five by Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler - what did your child think?
OP posts:
BearAusten · 24/10/2017 18:14

Even though my son is seven, he enjoyed reading this rhyming book. He liked the illustrations and appreciated the overall message of the book, that a person who loves another, will think that individual to be lovely, even if the whole world thinks otherwise. He was particularly struck by the pages on various Fives (Little, Big, Shy and Ugly animals) and was interested why the Little Five should have part of the Big Five's names (Ant Lion etc)

Excellent illustrations, but the rhymes do not flow as well as Julia Donaldson's earlier picture books such as Squash and a Squeeze and The HIghway Rat. Moreover, there is less of a plot/story than her pictures books which we knew of old. I suspect that we were a little spoilt by the early ones. All in all however I would say this is a great picture for young children. Quite a bit superior than an awful lot out there.

jesterkat · 24/10/2017 10:10

We received our copy this morning, will read tonight and see what sir thinks!

Santress · 23/10/2017 20:07

Got the book through this morning and my boys couldn’t wait until bedtime to read it. They are lovers of room on a broom and the gruffalo so big Julia Donaldson fans already.

They loved that the book was about real animals and really felt for them for thinking they were ugly. The sheer joy when the babies came out calling them the lovely five was amazing.

We have been learning and researching a lot of animals recently at home so they really loved the pictures of the different animals in the back and have told me they will be drawing them tomorrow 😊

Annimousey · 23/10/2017 19:20

We received our book today and I read it to my eldest who is almost 5.

We absolutely loved it! We're massive Julia Donaldson fans and she has authored some of our favourite children's books so we were really excited to give this one a read.

The book is in rhyming form, which is something my son loves as we're massive poetry fans and he loves stories with a rhythm.

It also has a good moral too - that someone could feel the ugliest person in the world but that someone out there will think they're the most loveliest. :)

In all we loved the book!

GetHappy · 23/10/2017 12:45

Oooh - hope mines at home when I get there

NerrSnerr · 23/10/2017 12:29

Ours has just arrived. It’s the hardback edition as well. Will have a very excited 3 year old after preschool :-)

user1495997773 · 18/10/2017 20:52

Me neither! Have they been sent out yet MNHQ?

GetHappy · 18/10/2017 16:57

I still haven’t received my copy - has anyone else?

GetHappy · 10/10/2017 18:51

Thank you. Have also replied to the email

frenchfancy17 · 10/10/2017 18:19

Thank you! Have replied to the email too :)

MNHQ
SorchaMumsnet · 10/10/2017 11:43

Hi folks - we're just looking into this now! Flowers

OP posts:
NerrSnerr · 10/10/2017 10:24

We haven't received ours yet either.

user1495997773 · 10/10/2017 07:12

Nope, still not received our copy. Glad it's not just me!

SarahWB · 09/10/2017 17:41

We haven't received ours yet either.

frenchfancy17 · 08/10/2017 18:53

Me either. Though it had been a while.

GetHappy · 07/10/2017 20:48

I haven't received mine!

frenchfancy17 · 07/10/2017 09:03

Has anyone recieved their copy yet?

GetHappy · 26/09/2017 19:59

Received my email to say I have been successful in obtaining a free copy!!

Can't wait to read with DD!!

GetHappy · 13/09/2017 20:28

Fingers crossed for a copy.

DD and I love her books .... current favourite A squash and a squeeze

user1495997773 · 07/09/2017 21:20

Great, I've managed to complete my details now. Keeping my fingers crossed X

FlowerTink · 07/09/2017 13:35

Applied :) My DD loves their books!

MNHQ
SorchaMumsnet · 06/09/2017 09:33

Apologies - both links are now working :)

OP posts:
PacificDogwod · 05/09/2017 21:26

Hang on, the link in the first paragraph of MNHQ's OP worked for me just there Smile

PacificDogwod · 05/09/2017 21:24

Link is not working for me either.

PacificDogwod · 05/09/2017 21:24

Oh, I love JD Smile
We once saw her and her husband perform Stickman. In German.
Neither one of them speak German but they thought they'd give it a bash Grin
They were magnificent. I love people who don't take themselves too seriously.

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