ROOM ON THE BROOM IS THE GREATEST STORY EVER!!!!

[DANCESwithHughJackman]

This isn't up for discussion so if you don't think so bog off but I've just read it to dd and I don't know who enjoyed it more, her listening or me reading!

it is so good, I am always amazed when I read it (there's only two duff-ish lines in it, rest is magical)

We've just bought Monkey Puzzle. I LOVE reading it but I hate the way DH reads it - he doesn't put nearly enough effort into it! I make the little monkey sound both exasperated and forlorn, whereas DH just reads the words!

I would say Room on the Broom is the second best. I honestly think that Snail and the Whale is virtually perfect. There is not a single spare word and both the rhyme and metre are impeccable - you can't not read it aloud.

We got the CDs for the car in the summer and I was actually a bit disappointed in Imelda Staunton's characterisation of the snail - makes it all a bit weedy and Scottish when I had it down as being brave and valiant and testing its own boundaries.

I was going to start a thread saying this but thought i would look like an arse with too much time on my hands!

Monkey Puzzle is pants, though!

Room on the broom is ok - but, and I think I'm gonna get lynched here, a bit boring.

Gruffalo definately much better. That and the gruffalo's child are the best out of the Donaldson/Shaeffer books imo. The rest do let them down a bit.

Mum turned into a monster book is fantastic - ds loves it, but gets a little scared. Great for making him behave

My favourite are ht elarge family ones thoug by Jill Murphy.

The Snail is softly spoken, gets very wistful about being so small, but is surprisingly steely when setting out to rescue the Whale.

The Whale, meanwhile, sounds like Dory 'speaking Whale' in Finding Nemo.

It is a LOVELY book, although if I'm feeling a bit fragile I can find it difficult to get through the bit with the Whale getting stranded, sniff sniff.

I have a love/hate relationship with Monkey Puzzle, it was the first book DD wanted over and over again - a lovely milestone, but oh did I ever want to throw it out of the window sometimes ...

please can I just implore you all to read this Magic_Paintbrush

you will love it, promise!

just can't get fond of Snail And Whale

do love The Smartest Giant In Town - just LOVE the illustrations in particular in this one

By the way on that bit where the whale gets stuck have you noticed that the children are drawing pictures of the Gruffalo?

Know what you mean about it being a bit overwhelming if you are feeling fragile - I think it is the perfectness of its simplicity. (Tis official: am pseud)

"Back to the dock, and the flock on the rock..."

I agree that Room on the Broom is the best. Really rollicking rhymes, and a lovely simple message about co-operation. We have even re-enacted it with the dds using props; dd1 was the witch, dd2 was the cat, dh was the narrator and I doubled as prop master and dragon .

By comparison, the Gruffalo has lovely illustrations but a relatively complex story that doesn't seem very coherent, and it does get rather repetitive after a while.