Julia Donaldson books

[Queensize]

Ds is very into Julia Donaldson's books and he seems to have his favourite on rotation. There are some I flipping hate reading over and over - some or just too repetitive but he seems to love those! The Smartest Giant is not one I enjoy... I do like Monkey Puzzle though. What are your favourites/least favourites?

Oh, until I read Saucery's posts, I was going to criticise Stick Man as a typical male hero's quest narrative while the woman holds things together at home. You see the same thing in Tabby McTat - father and son go off to find Fred while Socks waits patiently. I find those in particular (and others - why does the Gruffalo have no female characters at all? I admit to always making the owl a she) quite male-centred. The Snail and the Whale is a refreshing change from that, as well as being one of the better-flowing texts. Also love the concept of Charlie Cook - but again, mostly male figures.

All that said, my children loved/love them (the youngest is just growing out of them - but many a time we've been on the playground and I've had to act out the whole Gruffalo, which she knew by heart, with her). We had audiobooks of some of the books when my older two were younger and the dog in the Smartest Giant had a French accent. My 17yo and I still say 'but I keep getting stuck in ze mud!' when we are having trouble doing something.

Squash and a Squeeze 😍😍

Also think the Gruffalo is so clever, and then the Gruffalo’s Child is so good too. Overdone but for good reason.

We’re currently enjoying The Girl, the Bear and the Magic Shoes, and also Sugarlump and the Unicorn

Also love Charlie Cook’s Favourite Book! Forgot about that one.

Find Tabby McTat and Largest Giant irritating to read rhythm and rhyme -wise!

The ugly five and super worn were always firm favourites on the schools mystery reader days!

I love Tiddler, just got back from hols where my 3 year old and 1 year old wanted to read it repeatedly- the rhythm is so catchy!

Love Paper Dolls but it makes me cry.

Love Tiddler, Charlie Cook, smeds and smoos. Absolutely cannot stand rhyming rabbit, the rabbit has far too much to say. I skip bits in that one. Dd2 is loving them all at the moment, at nearly 5 she's the perfect age.

Tyrannosaurus drip 💛

I love the Snail and the Whale.

But some of the rhymes in her books don't scan in a Scottish accent and that really pisses me off.

The Whale and the Snail is lovely and makes me a little weepy at the end!

We love the smeds and the smoos!

Love Snail and the Whale, smeds and the smoos and smartest giant in town.

The only thing that irks me is there are some rhymes that don't work with a Yorkshire accent. I dare some for some other accents too!

Eg scarf and giraffe don't rhyme when I say them and it feels quite jarring and brings me out of the story.

Although sometimes I put on my best posh accent to make sure they do rhyme 😂

Paper Dolls is hands down my favourite. I also love Stick Man.

Monkey Puzzle is my absolute fave. Also love Paper Dolls, but it makes me tear up a bit where the granny is in the land of memories.

Not a huge Scarecrows Wedding or Smartest Giant fan.

Love Tyrannosaurs Drip though!

It depends how old I think. My just turn 2 year old loves Cave baby and paper dolls, she knows them word for word. Tyrannosaurus drip is a good one and also room on the broom.

Love Stickman, The Gruffalo, The Paper Dolls, and The Snail and The Whale. Not a big fan of Superworm or The Highway Rat but don't hate them.

We also love the CD of her songs - the shopping trolley one the squash and rhe squeeze in particular.

I got Paper Dolls out of the library not long after having DD1. Big mistake. DH found me absolutely sobbing after reading it to her

Really don't like Charlie Cook. Love Smartest Giant, Squash and a Squeeze.

I like Tiddler. DD is obsessed with Smartest Giant and I am not a fan.

DH and I have a theory that the animals are all working together to con the giant out of his clothes. Otherwise how do they all know each other at the end? (Can you tell we have had to read this wretched book far too many times?!)

Highway rat
Paper dolls 😭😭😭😭😭

Singing mermaid
Tiddler

My sons total favorite

Squash and a squeeze, Tiddler, Gruffalo and What the Ladybird Heard here. My LO's faves are Animalalphabet and Counting Creatures, which are less about the writing but have some of the most wonderful illustrations!

Tabby McTat is read every night
I’ve tried to branch out to Room on the Broom and the Highway Rat but 22 month old is having none of it!