Which Julia Donaldson books are most suitable for toddlers?

[Holidaydreamingg]

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!

Honestly so many of them, I don't necessarily agree with those saying that some are for older children, it will depend on the children. Even if there are some aspects of the story that go over their heads, the main thing is that they are enjoying the story and the flow and rhythm and rhyme are great for developing their literacy skills.

My two year old loves The Highway Rat, The Gruffalo, The Gruffalo's Child, The Snail and the Whale, Zog and Zog and the Flying Doctors and The Smeds and The Smoos. She is another who will recite many of them back by memory.

We live in Scotland but I have Italian parents and so I am also speaking Italian to my kids at home, we have a number of the books in English and in Italian and have some just in Italian (Tabby McTat/Gatton Randagio, Room on a Broom/La Strega Rossella and Monkey Puzzle/Dov'é la mia mamma) and she loves these ones too. We also have the Scots-Language versions of The Gruffalo's Child/The Gruffalo's Wean and The Highway Rat/The Reiver Rat.

I think Julia Donaldson is an incredible children's author. I'm not keen on a couple like The Ugly Five or The Smartest Giant in Town but she's incredibly talented.

I love Night Monkey, Day Monkey

Simpler ones are Monkey Puzzle, Gruffalo, Squash and Squeeze.

More complex: Highest Rat, Smartest Giant, Room on Broom, Stickman.

As an aside Slinky Malinki (the Christmas one) is fantastic!

I love Tiddler! DD is 3 and enjoys Zog, Stick Man and Tiddler. She particularly enjoys yelling “TIDDLER’S LATE!” and when I substitute her friends names for the school fish. She’s not that fussed about the Gruffalo or Snail & the whale, Tabby McTat etc yet.

My eldest was reciting them from around 18 months - knew paper dolls off by heart. Not a brag.

My littlest has no interest in books unless they have buttons 😅

So it's completely dependent on what kind of toddler you get!

There's a hidden Gruffalo in all of them - the first thing we used to do with a a new JD book was to search for it! Completely brilliant books.

We have The Paper Dolls as a board book - purchased quite some time ago, but you might be able to find it still?

Stick Man is good for Christmas, as it's sort of festive.

Is there!!!!!!

Oh yes! All of the Axel/Julia collaborations have a Gruffalo hidden away - you now need to go and check right away!

Monkey Puzzle. We had the board book and my then toddler would say the, "no no no" bits 🥹 but yes, both mine loved her books when they were teeny.

@jm9138 I wasn't keen on The Baddies either. It was okay but not my favourite.

Gruffalo, room on the broom, snail and the whale, monkey puzzle, stick man and zog are well liked in this house

Of course it depends on the child, and a children can enjoy a book at any age, but every author has a target audience in mind when they write a book and I don't think there's anything wrong with saying you feel a book is aimed at slightly older children. It's not saying younger children can't enjoy them too.

Often it will be subjective and child dependent. For example, someone above was surprised nobody had mentioned Detective Dog yet, presumably because their child loved it at that age. I dare say they did, but personally I wouldn't suggest this one for a 2 year old (as brilliant as it is) as it's quite long and wordy. I imagine Julia Donaldson had children age 4+ in mind when she wrote that one, especially as it's set in a school, but that doesn't mean some 2 year olds won't love it too. It just wouldn't be at the top of my recommendation list at that age when there are so many other equally brilliant but shorter and simpler texts aimed at that age group.

Her newest picture book, The Oak Tree, and is simply stunning. The historical content makes it perfect for children around Year 2 upwards (7+), despite being a picture book. I dare say many people will buy it for toddlers, simply because of Julia Donaldson's reputation, and I'm sure some of those toddlers will enjoy the pictures and the rhythm, despite not having a clue what is going on in the story. But there's no doubt in my mind that toddlers would not have been her intended target audience for that particular book. There's nothing wrong with that.

Given that Julia Donaldson also writes some simple chapter books, it goes without saying that some of her books are definitely aimed at a slightly older audience.

Super Worm and The Smartest Giant In Town!

Literally all of them!

Monkey Puzzle definitely. It’s still my favourite now. Followed closely by Stick Man.

My DDs loved her books, The Gruffalo, A Squash And A Squeeze, Room On The Broom. I can’t remember the other tiles, sorry.

ohh enjoy every moment! Read them all. My dcs are 16, 14 and 9 now. Just about get to read all of the what the ladybird heard series occasionally now with dc3. I miss the days of the gruffalo / gruffalo’s child, Charlie cook’s favourite book etc.

A Squash and a Squeeze, The Smartest Giant in Town, Zog, Tabby McTat, The Gruffalo were all favourites here. Most of JD's books are suitable for a 2 year old really!

It's so funny seeing what different toddlers have found scary - my 2.5 year old refused the Gruffalo (which he sometimes likes) this morning because he said it was a bit too scary, but has never had any issue with Tabby McTat (which I was required to recite from memory on long car journeys when he was barely 2), Stick Man, or Superworm (which I find quite threatening when the crow is planning to eat him!).

Totally agree with @BoleynMemories13 too about Detective Dog. DS was given a board book edition of that and I've always found it odd that they even make it, because when he was little enough to need board books the story was way too long to hold his attention. He quite likes it now, but it would be better suited to a slightly older child.

I think I love them all. My 3yo current favourite is Charlie Cooks Favourite Book

I picked up A Squash and a Squeeze which we really liked! I think it’s about as long as DD would listen to at the moment.

Going to try Monkey Puzzle next!