Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Children's books

Join in for children's book recommendations.

Original poster

Best & worst Julia Donaldson book? (In your opinion)

247 replies

Mummy2022FT · 27/07/2023 19:24

Just interested.

For me I love Tabby McTat and Smeds & the Smoos. Least favourite is Stickman.

Wbu?

OP posts:
DutchCowgirl · 27/07/2023 20:46

My oldest son is 12 now and he still knows most of the Gruffalo by heart. His favorite JD books however were Snail and the whale and Superworm. My favorite was Room on the broom.
My youngest son was a big fan of Stickman and Zog and the flying doctors.

My least favorite is Zog because of the stars and the competition in the classroom. And the Smartest Giant because of that dirty dress of the Giant, the drawings are unpleasant to watch.

tolerable · 27/07/2023 20:47

charlie cooks favourite book.
its just got it all going on!

aperolspritzbasicbitch · 27/07/2023 20:48

Worse are Princess Mirror-Belle and the dragon pox, spinderella and what the ladybird heard on holiday.

Paper dolls is beautiful, room on the broom is an absolute classic.

weegiemum · 27/07/2023 20:48

My dc are teenagers+ so I'm not totally up to date.

Didn't like stickman much, and my favourite is the Snail and the Whale, it makes me cry at the end when all the snails go off travelling!

usedupallmynames · 27/07/2023 20:49

I think my favourite is Monkey Puzzle as it's the first one we read when DS was a baby. Tiddler and Snail and the Whale are up there too.

Tabby McTat for worst - dull and just didn't like the message. We got it from the library in February 2020 and ended up with it in the house for about 4 months due to the library being closed. Maybe I just negatively associate it with lockdown...

DogsAreAGirlsBestFriend · 27/07/2023 20:50

Love: The Detective Dog and The Hospital Dog (I’m surprised by the number of mums I know that have never heard of these)

I like a lot of the others, Stick Man, Zog, Room on the Broom, Monkey Puzzle…

Hate: The Scarecrows Wedding. Completely agree with the PP who says it’s missed its mark, it’s so inappropriate! I had to explain to my 3yr old what a cigar was!! I would love to discreetly lose it in the recycling 😂

LittleBear21 · 27/07/2023 20:53

Love: Paper Dolls, Snail and the Whale, Tyrannosaurus Drip, Room on a Broom and Charlie Cook.

Dislike: The Highway Rat. It's just a little long for me, but DH loves it.

Can't wait to get some of the ones I haven't heard of that are listed here.

StrongGirlsClub · 27/07/2023 20:55

My favourite books have changed over time. When my oldest was born I could recite the Tales from Acorn Woods books almost word for word. We also loved Sugarlump and the Unicorn.

My least favourite are probably the Princess and the Wizard, the Smartest Giant in Town and Spinderella.

Megamopyeah · 27/07/2023 20:56

Forgot about the highway rat, that is the worst imo. Paper dolls is lovely.

Original poster
Mummy2022FT · 27/07/2023 20:56

I didn't know JD's son commit suicide.... that's awful. Now I look at Stickman in a completely different way (written after his death I think in his memory - but don't quote me on that bit)

OP posts:
user1471474138 · 27/07/2023 20:58

Worst is the singing mermaid, soo long and boring to read
best is a toss up between stick man , snail and the whale and room on the broom

lilyfire · 27/07/2023 20:59

I loved A Squash and A Squeeze when mine were little as we lived in a two bedroom flat with three children and I found it really consoling.

fairislecable · 27/07/2023 20:59

Best: Jack and the Flum Flum Tree, Highway Rat and Tiddler

Worst: Tyrannosaurus Drip, Smeds and Smartest Giant.

As a grandmother to 7 I have read them many many times.

seveno · 27/07/2023 21:01

We have a rule in our house which means if a child wants What the Ladybird Heard read to them, dad has to read it because I HATE IT so much

Original poster
Mummy2022FT · 27/07/2023 21:02

Haha. I know what you mean; making animal sounds becomes tedious

OP posts:
Uremindmeofthebabe · 27/07/2023 21:04

My fave is Stickman followed closely by Paper dolls.

My worst is any of the Zogs or Charlie Cooks favourite book.

Uremindmeofthebabe · 27/07/2023 21:08

I forgot about Tyrannosaurus Drip, that's the worst!!

LittleBear21 · 27/07/2023 21:08

I forgot Sharing a Shell! I love that one and so does DS.

Derrymum123 · 27/07/2023 21:09

Best - The smartest Giant in town and The Smeds and the Smoos.

Worst - Spinderella. Not too keen on Zog either.

Uremindmeofthebabe · 27/07/2023 21:10

There's a new one called The Baddies?
I've not read it though yet.

IsGoodIsDon · 27/07/2023 21:10

I love the Paper Dolls.
also like the Gruffalow, room on a brim and snail and the whale.

I hate Tyrannosaurus Drip. I had to hide it so I didn’t have to read it.
also not a fan on Tabby McTat its such a long and boring book but the kids loved it.

Chanhedforthis · 27/07/2023 21:11

Room on the Broom

Hate Smeds and the smoods

Weloveflowerss · 27/07/2023 21:11

I think her books are overrated, not a fan of any of them and don’t really get the hype but what do I know, kids obviously love them 🤷‍♀️

ichundich · 27/07/2023 21:14

Best: What the Ladybird Heard and Room on the Broom
Worst: The Smartest Giant in Town, Stickland, Zogg

PurpleChrayne · 27/07/2023 21:14

Best: Tabby McTat
Runner-up: Room on the Broom

Worst: Highway Rat
Second worst: Stick Man