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Books/book club

THE GRUFFALO

(17 Posts)
Howjado Sat 12-Jul-14 10:27:10

I have just heard Julia Donaldson being interviewed on Radio 4, and heard about the Gruffalo for the first time. Looked on the internet with a view to buying a copy but soon realised this maybe was not the right book yet for my granddaughter's first birthday. I am sure you Grans must be very familiar with the works of Julia Donaldson. What do you recommend? I thought maybe "The Gruffalo Sound Book"?

Soutra Sat 12-Jul-14 10:51:57

Why should it not be suitable? My DGSs knew it off by heart as well as the best know nursery rhymes! Bear Hunt is another that they knew almost as soon as they could talk after countless repetitiobs at bedtime! I have to admit I do not know t he "SoundBook" you mention but trust me ANYTHING Gruffalo-related is going to be popular!

grannyactivist Sat 12-Jul-14 11:26:04

I agree with Soutra. My 17 month old grandson loves The Gruffalo and thoroughly enjoyed the recent Gruffalo trails in the forest. The Sound Book will be just right for a one year old.

MiceElf Sat 12-Jul-14 11:42:23

It's a wonderful book - and film and socks and pyjamas and all the other spin offs. The verse and rhythm of the language is superb and the tale is a classic of a weaker creature outwitting bigger and stronger ones found in traditional stories the world over. The Gruffalo's Child is brilliant too.

MiceElf Sat 12-Jul-14 11:43:44

Hairy McLairy of Donaldson's Dairy is a real treat too.

Soutra Sat 12-Jul-14 12:17:50

And he is dead ringer for my grand-dog Basil a lurcher/poodle cross!

rosequartz Sat 12-Jul-14 14:32:24

Yes, The Gruffalo, Going on a Bear Hunt (perhaps nearer the age of 2, it is VERY scary!!)

The Owl Babies is a lovely book too and DGD2 likes filling in the final line on each page for me! ('I want my Mummy' said Bill.)

thatbags Sat 12-Jul-14 14:36:33

Room on the Broom is by the same author and also completely fabulous.

rosequartz Sat 12-Jul-14 20:27:51

Oh yes, we have Room on the Broom trails here, must investigate that in the summer holidays!

Deedaa Sat 12-Jul-14 21:08:46

I bought GS2 a Gruffalo's Child costume for Christmas and he looked SO adorable! GS1 loved Going on a Bear Hunt, but went through a long spell when we weren't allowed to look at the page where they found the bear because it was so scary. For some reason he didn't mind the pages where they were being chased by the bear!
We took him to stage shows of The Gruffalo and The Bear Hunt and he loved them both.
There is a lovely parody for parents (can't remember the author) called We're All Going on a Bar Hunt!

Soutra Sat 12-Jul-14 23:23:52

Oh yes I "won" a copy of that from GN. Made a brilliant stocking filler for SIL!!

rosequartz Sun 13-Jul-14 10:58:45

Deedaa grin

That reminded me of this https://www.google.co.uk/#q=nonnie+hazlehurst+go+to+sleep

Saw her in a great series on Australian TV last year and didn't recognise her as the same person. We missed the final two episodes - why don't they bring some of the better Australian tv over to the UK (admittedly some of it is terrible).

Humbertbear Sun 13-Jul-14 21:57:13

Julia Donaldson has written some wonderful books for children. My three GC love The Singing Mermaid.

Deedaa Sun 13-Jul-14 22:24:18

rosequartz SiL showed me that book - it rang so many bells grin

rosequartz Sun 13-Jul-14 23:03:49

I was wondering if I should have posted it blush
Not in front of the children - please don't use the link to try to get DGC to sleep!

GrandmaH Tue 15-Jul-14 09:17:15

I started reading Gruffalo to my eldest GS at 3 months- I'm sure they enjoy the rhythm of being read to very early. I could recite it by GC 3. I have read it to all the others too & am waiting for the new GS to be old enough to be read to ( he is only newborn).
We have all Julia's books & they are firm favourites- Tiddler, Room on a Broom & Gruffalo's Child in particular. I am always pleased when they choose a JM book for me to read for them- you can get such good voices for her characters. I was very shocked to hear Gruffalo on TV with a Robbie Coltrane Scottish accent as I had always made him more of a gruff Neddy Seagoon.

I would recommend it for any child- it can be made very funny & not scarey at all. Now when I read the Hobbit to my boys Gollum terrified them- what a cruel Mum!! I think children quite like to be a bit scared as long as they are being cuddled at the same time.

Deedaa Tue 15-Jul-14 21:34:11

My son was nearly 30 before he admitted that he'd always been terrified by the Muppets poster I put up in his bedroom - and I thought it was so jolly!