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

[SorchaMumsnet]

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.

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This giveaway is sponsored by Scholastic Kids

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

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.

My daughter absolutely loves this book that I won. She was thrilled when it arrived (she loves opening any of my packages) and she was wowing when she saw what was inside.
We received it quite late but we have read it quite a few times already, both me and my husband have read it to our daughter and she stays quiet and settled while we are doing so. She loves it just before she drops off to sleep.
She loves the rhyming within it, she is a fan of that and it's something to grip her attention as she goes along with the sounds and rhythms that I make with my voice to coinside with the words. The repitition is also something she likes and is aware of and often I have to stop and she is reiterating some of the words to me. She also loves the beautiful, colourful pictures which I have to say I agree with, it is so beautifully illustrated.
I am going to be doing her bedroom up after Christmas and having a book corner with shelves and a little tipi and this is definitely going to be taking pride of place there. I can see this being read for a good few years to come.
Thank you by the way! :).

My daughter got it from the school book fair. She loves it 😊 it’s a new favourite and I will read it to her brother too when he is older x

I read it to DS (nearly 5) on the day it arrived, and his big sister (7) wandered in to hear it too.

DD liked the message, that's it's who we are and not what we look like that matters, and got it straight away. It needed to be explained to DS.

DS enjoyed picking out the different animals, the illustrations are lovely and have some great little touches like the chameleon/ gecko in the tree.

It feels a bit more educational than some of their previous books- the lists of different animals, and lots of counting to 5. But a great book and it doesn't take away from the story.

Me and DD have been reading this since we received our copy.

DD absolutely loves Julia Donaldson books so we was so excited to have won this to add to our collection.

I really enjoy the way all her books rhyme I think this makes them so much more enjoyable to read and I think the repetition makes DD remember bits of the books easier.

I thought the story was fun and sends a good message out about the way we, as children or adults, use an inconspicuous bias without realising.

It was also good for me to see how DD used empathy towards “the ugly five”.

Overall, a fab book!! It’s a ten from us

Should be unconscious not inconspicuous

Wow what a great book for teaching children to be nice to each other.
As soon as the first song was sang the kids said that is nasty.
It made it a really easy way to discuss bullying and how we should be nice to each other and ourselves.

We only got our copy today so I've only read it to DD (aged 34m) a couple of times. She really enjoyed the rhyming, although I'm not sure if she understood all the words, and she loved the illustrations as she's animal mad. She sounded so cute saying their names, I might have to record her trying to say Marabou Stork! I liked the moral of the story too, I think we all need reminding sometimes that beauty is only skin deep! Thanks for sending the book to us X

I've read this a few times to my children. I wasn't that convinced the first time I read it, but it is growing on me.

The rhymes aren't as smooth as in some of the other books so it has taken a few times to get the rhythm right.

My children, especially my 4yo DD, really loved the story line though and it was nice to have a story with a moral tale that didn't feel completely forced as they so often can do in children's books.

The illustrations, as you'd expect, are wonderful although I've just realised that I need to see if Axel has popped a Gruffalo or other previous characters in as the children always love spotting them!

I’ve read this a few times to DD (3) but she doesn’t seem very interested, although maybe my singing voice is putting her off.

It’s a good story although we still prefer the gruffalo, stick man and what the ladybird heard. The illustrations as always are lovely.

I’ll persevere a few more times but I fear that it’s going to be put on the bookshelf and not brought down again.

We have now received our book and my children both love it! My son age 5 thought it was great they turned into the lovely five from the ugly 5 at the end. My daughte aged 4 wanted it read again and started to join in with the rhyme. The added facts at the end about the animals really interested my son too.
I think it will turn into a favourite re-read bedtime story for my 2!

Great rhymes - we made up our own tune for the song & dd & dns loved seeing the babies.

Lovely story overall.

I have been reading this with my 3 year old. It took a couple of goes for her to like it but now she loves it. She loves the babies and we have spent hours counting the animals at the back. It’s on the bedtime story shelf for us.

Another brilliant book from the super-duper talented Duo. 'The Ugly Five ' is a funny and absolutely charming book to share.

This book is based on what happened when Julia Donaldson went on Safari in Africa. The tour guide pointed out the Ugly Five, they really do exist. I especially love the ending.

My 2yo enjoyed this book as we've just visited a safari park recently. She loves naming the animals she knows. The illustrations just make this book perfect. Thanks for the great book Mumsnet.

My children aged 6 and 4 both loved this book. I always find that Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler write brilliant stories which my son and daughter both equally love and it was the same with 'The Ugly Five'.

We loved the rhymes, the story and of course the brilliant illustrations. They loved the message, especially the fact that it was the children who spoke the truth!

Like others we loved the double spread of the Big Five, Little Five, Shy Five and Ugly Five at the end of the book.

Ah we loved the book - i was a bit hesitant when the story revolved around ugliness. However the moral is that everyone is lovable - regardless of looks. I really loved it and so did my six year old. He liked the rhyming format and it is the same lovely quality as the rest of julia donaldsons books.

Another great book by a favourite author in our house. We loved reading this together as soon as it came. A great story and illustrations that helped the book come alive. I would recommend this book to anyone.

Thanks for the opportunity to get our hands on Donaldson's latest! We enjoyed it, like for everyone else, she is a favourite in our household too. Here is the complete review:

onerightword.blogspot.co.uk/2017/11/the-ugly-five-julia-donaldson.html

We have got nearly all Julia Donaldson’s books & love them all. This is no exception, it’s a great story with an important meaning behind it. I’m not too sure about my singing though!!

My little one really enjoyed the book. Especially the rhymes.
He loves the animals and has grown really fond of the ugly five.
I like it that the moral at the end is quite simple but strong!

What a fabulous book! My 4 year old loved it. Brilliant rhyming, great illustrations and really good descriptions of the ugly five. Lovely ending too about loving you however you look. We enjoyed looking at the safari animals at the back of the book, big five, little five, shy five, ugly five, all in all a really good book perfect for the preschooler onwards. Thanks mumsnet :)

We received this book last week. Julia Donaldson is one of our favourite writers so couldn't wait to give this one a go. It's another brilliant story. In fact I think it's been written with parents in mind. I actually got goosebumps on the last page and felt it was written for me and about some of my insecurities.

Thank you for sending us this book.

We are big fans of Donaldson & Scheffler and were so pleased to hear of their new book, especially as it is based in the Bushveld and we have spent many years in Southern Africa. This book does not fail to disappoint, fab illustrations and rhyming too. My son and I have spent hours reading and finding animals in the pictures, not just the Ugly 5 too! A wonderful addition to the collection. Thanks for the giveaway copy.

onerightword.blogspot.co.uk/2017/11/the-ugly-five-julia-donaldson.html

I had posted this review earlier. But now have updated it. My 4 year old boy comes back to it as his bedtime book and enjoys going over the "We are the ugly one, two, three, four and five". He loved finding words that rhyme too...surely a bit hit!