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Julia Donaldson
Waterstone's Children's Laureate 2012 - 2014.
Click here to read an article from The Telegraph where Julia outlines outlines her manifesto as the new Children’s Laureate.
You can also follow the Children's Laureate's blog - click here.
Julia Donaldson is the author of over 150 books for children and her 1999 book The Gruffalo, illustrated by Axel Scheffler, is now a children's classic and publishing phenomenon, selling 3 million copies worldwide. She is also the Patron of Artlink Central, a charity which puts artists, musicians and storytellers into schools, hospitals, prisons and community spaces to work with children and adults and help them develop their talent and creativity.
Julia Donaldson was selected as the Children’s Laureate 2011-2013, and was awarded an MBE just days after the announcement. Julia lives in Glasgow with her husband, Malcolm, and their family. Below are the answers to some questions we asked Julia.
Q. When did you decide to be a writer?
A. For my fifth birthday, my father gave me a very fat book called The Book of a Thousand Poems. I loved it. I read the poems, recited them, learnt them, and then started making up some of my own. Although I wanted to be a poet all those years ago, I later decided I would rather go on the stage. That didn’t quite work out, so I did other jobs – teaching and publishing. But somehow I’ve ended up doing what I wanted to do when I was five years old. I have a theory that this happens to quite a lot of people.
Q. When did you start to write books?
A. In 1993, when one of my songs, ‘A Squash and a Squeeze’ was made into a book. Before that I wrote songs for children’s television.
Q. Your book Tiddler is coming out in paperback. What gave you the idea for that story?
A. I’ve been snorkelling a few times and love the colourful underwater world of fish and coral. Also, I often used to be late for school and was quite good at making up excuses, like Tiddler.
Q. How many books have you written?
A: I’ve just counted, and I make it 152! That sounds a lot but 60 of those are very short phonic reading books for schools, called Songbirds.
Q. Have you written any longer books?
A. Yes. I’ve written three chapter books about naughty Princess Mirror-Belle, who comes out of a mirror, and a novel called The Giants and the Joneses, about three children who are captured by a girl giant.
Q. What are your hobbies?
A. Walking, cycling, playing the piano, singing. I’m also interested in wild flowers and fungi.
Q. Do you have any pets?
A. I have three cats. Campsie is female, and Gizmo and Goblin are her big tough sons. Their favourite hobby is going in the garden, getting their paws muddy and then walking all over whatever I have just been writing. (And they gave me the idea for yet another book, Tabby McTat.)
Featured Books, with extracts by Julia Donaldson
Julia Donaldson
Playgroup has begun. Time to have some fun. A comforting story for any child starting at, or already attending, a playgroup. Perfect for reading aloud, even the youngest toddler will enjoy Goat's antics.
Format: Hardback - Released: 03/02/2012
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Julia Donaldson
The Children's Laureate and best-selling author of The Gruffalo, Julia Donaldson has carefully created the Songbirds Phonics series to support children who are learning to read. Julia Donaldson has captivated children all over the world with her lively and engaging...
Format: Paperback - Released: 13/01/2012
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Julia Donaldson
Learn about colours, numbers, opposites and animals with this fabulous set of four bold, bright board books now available in a miniature slipcase. A perfect gift for young Gruffalo fans with small paws! Click here for the Gruffalo official website.
Format: Multiple copy pack - Released: 05/01/2012
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Julia Donaldson
The Children's Laureate and best-selling author of The Gruffalo, Julia Donaldson has carefully created the Songbirds Phonics series to support children who are learning to read. Julia Donaldson has captivated children all over the world with her lively and engaging...
Format: Paperback - Released: 05/01/2012
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Julia Donaldson
The Children's Laureate and best-selling author of The Gruffalo, Julia Donaldson has carefully created the Songbirds Phonics series to support children who are learning to read. Julia Donaldson has captivated children all over the world with her lively and engaging...
Format: Paperback - Released: 05/01/2012
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Julia Donaldson
The Children's Laureate and best-selling author of The Gruffalo, Julia Donaldson has carefully created the Songbirds Phonics series to support children who are learning to read. Julia Donaldson has captivated children all over the world with her lively and engaging...
Format: Paperback - Released: 05/01/2012
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Julia Donaldson
Two stories in one! - Follow the Swallow and Spinderella - in this great bind-up of two titles, perfect for children bridging the gap between picture books and chapter books. It's part of Egmont's highly sought after and hugely respected...
Format: Paperback - Released: 02/01/2012
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Julia Donaldson
Baby and Toddlers. Hardback and CD Audio. Children’s Laureate Julia Donaldson’s third wonderful song book is packed full of the words and music for a host of songs including one for the Gruffalo’s Child to sing a part on their own...
Format: Hardback - Released: 07/10/2011
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Julia Donaldson
Best-selling author of The Gruffalo, Julia Donaldson has teamed up with prize-winning illustrator Emily Gravett to create a wonderfully witty story about a cheeky little Cave Baby. When the Cave Baby scribbles on the walls of his cave he is...
Format: Audiobook On Cd - Released: 01/10/2011
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Julia Donaldson
Make your own play scenes with the magnets and backgrounds provided in this robust and enjoyable addition to the best-selling title. There are thirty magnets of the favourite characters and the scenery as well as fun activities such as The...
Format: Novelty book - Released: 02/09/2011
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Julia Donaldson
Shortlisted for the Galaxy Children's Book of the Year Award 2011 Best-selling author/ illustrator combination Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler have teamed up for another great adventure. Many of the creatures that appear in The Gruffalo feature in this rollicking adventure...
Format: Hardback - Released: 01/09/2011
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Julia Donaldson
Winner of the Galaxy Children's Book Award 2010. The creators of the best-selling Gruffalo have invented a delightful new character – Zog the little dragon who always wants...
Format: Paperback - Released: 01/09/2011
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Julia Donaldson
Newly-appointed Children’s Laureate Julia Donaldson’s boisterous shipboard adventure is deliciously suffused with magic and nonsense. Granny’s purple spots are diagnosed as a bad case of the moozles so Jack sets off to find the only cure - the fruit of...
Format: Hardback - Released: 01/07/2011
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Julia Donaldson
Children’s Laureate Julia Donaldson takes readers on an exciting adventure in a farmyard during which a ladybird manages to stop a daring robbery. Listening to all the sounds around her, the ladybird picks up the thieves’ dastardly plan and tells...
Format: Novelty book - Released: 01/07/2011
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Julia Donaldson
A first introduction to the best-selling Gruffalo for little hands. All the deliciously scary features of The Gruffalo are laid bare before the happy ending of his very unfriendly self is revealed. An ideal addition to any buggy.
Format: Board book - Released: 03/06/2011
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Julia Donaldson
A Lovereading4kids 'Great Read' you may have missed 2011 selection. Award winning Children's Laureate Julia Donaldson has created a delightfully entertaining picture book that celebrates poems of all kinds. All the rabbits are sick of hearing the rhyming rabbit’s poems for...
Format: Hardback - Released: 03/06/2011
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Julia Donaldson
A brand-new baby range for all young Gruffalo fans in buggy book format! Join the Gruffalo as he takes a stroll through the Deep Dark Wood in this bold, bright and portable buggy book. Spot the rustling leaves and scuttling...
Format: Board book - Released: 03/06/2011
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Julia Donaldson
A Lovereading4kids 'Great Read' you may have missed 2011 selection. The best-selling author and illustrator team of the Gruffalo, Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler have created a heart-warming story about loyalty and friendship. When Tabby McTat the busker’s cat gets separated...
Format: Paperback - Released: 02/06/2011
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Julia Donaldson
Best-selling author of The Gruffalo, Julia Donaldson has teamed up with prize-winning illustrator Emily Gravett to create a wonderfully witty story about a cheeky little Cave Baby. When the Cave Baby scribbles on the walls of his cave he is...
Format: Paperback - Released: 06/05/2011
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Julia Donaldson
Flutter like a butterfly or wriggle like a snake! Wonderfully expressive illustrations show favourite Gruffalo characters vividly in action. Click here to see more books in this series.
Format: Board book - Released: 15/04/2011
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Julia Donaldson
Red fox, green trees and, of course, a brown Gruffalo. The world of the Gruffalo is sorted into a range of colours in this visually delightfully concept book. Click here to see more books in this series.
Format: Board book - Released: 15/04/2011
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Julia Donaldson
A Lovereading4kids 'Great read you may have missed 2011' selection. Bold images from the best-selling The Gruffalo make counting from 1-5 a joy! 1 Gruffalo (obviously!), 2 squirrels and more. Knowing the characters from the stories makes counting simple and fun. Click...
Format: Board book - Released: 15/04/2011
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Julia Donaldson
The Gruffalo and his friends introduce the key concepts of big and small, long and short, fast and slow. Lovely images make their points strikingly in this handsome, large-format book. Click here to see more books in this series.
Format: Board book - Released: 15/04/2011
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Julia Donaldson
Celebrate Red Nose Day and raise money for Comic Relief with this special edition Gruffalo sticker activity book. It is packed with fun games, jokes, recipes, colouring and drawing, over 250 stickers and some fantastic fundraising ideas! Why not transform...
Format: Paperback - Released: 18/02/2011
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Julia Donaldson
Weary parents everywhere will be delighted with this Sound Book version of the best selling favourite, The Gruffalo. Now, they can read the story and share Axel Scheffler’s wonderful illustrations but are let off adding their own sounds effects. Instead,...
Format: Novelty book - Released: 29/09/2010
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Julia Donaldson
Best-selling author and illustrator Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler have teamed up again to create a heart-warming story about loyalty and friendship. When Tabby McTat the busker’s cat gets separated from the busker he begins a new life on his...
Format: Paperback - Released: 06/09/2010
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Julia Donaldson
Winner of the Galaxy Children's Book Award 2010. The creators of the best-selling Gruffalo have invented a delightful new character – Zog the little dragon who always wants...
Format: Hardback - Released: 06/09/2010
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Julia Donaldson
Best-selling author of The Gruffalo, Julia Donaldson has teamed up with prize-winning illustrator Emily Gravett to create a wonderfully witty story about a cheeky little Cave Baby. When the Cave Baby scribbles on the walls of his cave he is...
Format: Hardback - Released: 06/08/2010
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Julia Donaldson
A picture book for kids that love Adventure. An original and witty version of a traditional tale which shows what happens when two stories get blended into one. The Troll lives under the bridge – which is where he...
Format: Paperback - Released: 02/07/2010
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Julia Donaldson
A Picture Book for kids that love Animals. Winner of the Scottish Book Award 2010 (0-7 years category). Bestselling author Julia Donaldson and illustrator Lydia Monks have teamed up for another brilliant picture book. Right in the farmyard among all the noisy...
Format: Paperback - Released: 05/03/2010
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Julia Donaldson
There's a hullabaloo at the seaside when a toddler takes his friends on a stroll to the end of the pier. Hurry scurry, flip flop, toddle waddle. With jaunty rhymes and bright, bold pictures even the youngest child will love this simple, playful...
Format: Paperback - Released: 01/01/2010
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Julia Donaldson
The best-selling Gruffalo is back in a new, interactive format in this make-your-own book. Gruffalo fans will love the chance of creating their very own version of a favourite story as they recreate scenes in this magnetic edition. Lots of...
Format: Board book - Released: 02/10/2009
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Julia Donaldson
Creators of The Gruffalo, best selling author/ illustrator Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler are back with another bestseller on their hands. “Stick Man lives in the family tree/ with Stick Lady love/ And his children three”. But one day Stick...
Format: Paperback - Released: 07/09/2009
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Julia Donaldson
Best-selling author and illustrator Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler have teamed up again to create a heart-warming story about loyalty and friendship. When Tabby McTat the busker’s cat gets separated from the busker he begins a new life on his...
Format: Hardback - Released: 07/09/2009
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Julia Donaldson
Fans of The Gruffalo’s Child will love retelling their favourite story in their own way with the reusable stickers of the very special characters. There are also games, puzzles and colouring in activities to add to the fun. A brilliant...
Format: Paperback - Released: 04/09/2009
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Julia Donaldson
A picture book for kids that love Adventure. An original and witty version of a traditional tale which shows what happens when two stories get blended into one. The Troll lives under the bridge – which is where he...
Format: Hardback - Released: 03/07/2009
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Julia Donaldson
Bestselling character The Gruffalo makes the perfect centre piece for a party. This pack contains everything needed to create a brilliant themed event filled with all the details of the fabulous Gruffalo world. There’s a party book with suggestions of...
Format: Mixed Media Product - Released: 05/06/2009
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Julia Donaldson
Book and CD. Best-selling author/ illustrator of The Gruffalo have created a fantastic new character with Tiddler, the little fish who tells some big stories! Showcasing their remarkable talent at the top of their game, they tell the story of tiddler with humour,...
Format: Mixed Media Product - Released: 01/06/2009
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Julia Donaldson
Firmly established as a modern classic which is loved by children the world over, this handsome special edition says Happy 10th Birthday to The Gruffalo. Along with the original story there is an introduction by Julia Donaldson about how the...
Format: Paperback - Released: 06/03/2009
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Julia Donaldson
Winner of the Scottish Book Award 2010 (0-7 years category). Best-selling author and illustrator Julia Donaldson and Lydia Monks have teamed up for another brilliant picture book. Right in the farmyard among all the noisy animals with their MOOs! and QUACKS!...
Format: Hardback - Released: 06/03/2009
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Julia Donaldson
A thrilling corkscrew of a novel that twists and turns weaving several strands of story into one compelling narrative, and the first novel from an established and bestselling picture book author for younger readers. Orphaned after the death of her...
Format: Paperback - Released: 02/03/2009
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Julia Donaldson
Not only can you read and reread the much loved story of the Gruffalo in this complete work of art but you can open the pop-up stage to act out the adventures of the little brown mouse, or even create...
Format: Novelty Book - Released: 07/11/2008
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Julia Donaldson
Creators of The Gruffalo, best selling author/ illustrator Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler are back with another bestseller on their hands. “Stick Man lives in the family tree/ with Stick Lady love/ And his children three”. But one day Stick...
Format: Hardback - Released: 01/09/2008
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Julia Donaldson
Best-selling author/ illustrator of The Gruffalo have created a fantastic new character with Tiddler, the little fish who tells some big stories! Showcasing their remarkable talent at the top of their game, they tell the story of tiddler with humour,...
Format: Paperback - Released: 01/09/2008
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Julia Donaldson
A mix up with eggs has a placid duckbill dinosaur being brought up by T-Rex’s – clearly this causes hilarious problems. With Julia Donaldson’s irresistible, rollicking rhyming text and David Roberts’ glorious illustration, this bold and brilliant picture book crackles with wit. A future...
Format: Paperback - Released: 04/07/2008
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Julia Donaldson
How the world looks by night and by day is nicely contrasted in this entertaining story of two different life styles, which can sometimes – just – meet in the middle. Night Monkey and Day Monkey live in contrasting worlds....
Format: Mixed Media Product - Released: 02/06/2008
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Julia Donaldson
“A mouse took a stroll through the deep dark wood. A fox saw the mouse and the mouse looked good.” So begins the story of how a clever little mouse outwits his big scary enemy. The tasty little mouse needs...
Format: Hardback - Released: 05/10/2007
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Julia Donaldson
A book of nine songs and music together with an accompanying CD including her most famous Room on the Broom. Julia may well be one of the UK’s best-loved picture book authors but she is also a very talented song...
Format: Mixed Media Product - Released: 05/10/2007
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Julia Donaldson
A book of nine songs and music together with an accompanying CD including her most famous Room on the Broom. Julia may well be one of the UK’s best-loved picture book authors but she is also a very talented song...
Format: Mixed Media Product - Released: 05/10/2007
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Julia Donaldson
New fangled techniques can spoil a good story but here, the use of glitter on every page is nothing short of inspirational. And now with accompaning CD. It provides that wonderful opportunity for children to linger on each spread and...
Format: Mixed Media Product - Released: 07/09/2007
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Julia Donaldson
A Picture Book for kids that love Magic. New fangled techniques can spoil a good story but here, the use of glitter on every page is nothing short of inspirational and provides that wonderful opportunity for children to linger...
Format: Paperback - Released: 07/09/2007
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Julia Donaldson
Best-selling author/ illustrator of The Gruffalo have created a fantastic new character with Tiddler, the little fish who tells some big stories! Can they be true? A bouncy, rhyming text delights while the jewel bright illustrations bring alive the feeling...
Format: Hardback - Released: 03/09/2007
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Julia Donaldson
A mix up with eggs has a placid duckbill dinosaur being brought up by T-Rex’s – clearly this causes hilarious problems. With Julia Donaldson’s irresistible, rollicking rhyming text and David Roberts’ glorious illustration, this bold and brilliant picture book crackles...
Format: Hardback - Released: 06/07/2007
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Julia Donaldson
There's chaos in the clothes shop when the animals go on a glorious shopping spree. Zebra's zip is stuck and Toad's tracksuit is far too big, but Flamingo finds a stylish bag, and Caterpillar's shoes are really cool. You've never seen a fashion...
Format: Paperback - Released: 06/04/2007
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Julia Donaldson
A Picture Book for kids that love Magic. New fangled techniques can spoil a good story but here, the use of glitter on every page is nothing short of inspirational and provides that wonderful opportunity for children to linger...
Format: Hardback - Released: 06/10/2006
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Julia Donaldson
A book of nine songs and music together with an accompanying CD including her most famous Room on the Broom. Julia may well be one of the UK’s best-loved picture book authors but she is also a very talented...
Format: Mixed Media Product - Released: 06/10/2006
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Julia Donaldson
Rarely do mainstream publishers feel they can justify the publication of plays so we’re particularly delighted to be able to introduce to you this lovely collection, from the queen of song and verse, perfect for the family to act out...
Format: Paperback - Released: 04/08/2006
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Julia Donaldson
This is a complete gem from doyen of the picture book world, Julia Donaldson following the adventures of a hat after it blows of Rosie's head - but will she ever get it bacK?Rosie’s Hat is an absolute must for baby...
Format: Paperback - Released: 07/07/2006
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Julia Donaldson
A brilliant rendition played out by some absolutely delightful animals on how not to behave. Sheep, goose and others behave badly whilst rabbit gets angry when everyone seem unable to behave at all. As ever, there’s a moral...
Format: Paperback - Released: 07/04/2006
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Julia Donaldson
Magic and mayhem princess style – so if your child is desperate to be a princess this will be right up her street. Packed with stacks of fun, Miror-belle is a character not to be missed.
Format: Paperback - Released: 07/04/2006
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Julia Donaldson
Frisk the fox cub loves exploring day and night even though his mum says exploring should be done only at night. When he decides to follow Jenny to school one day, all sorts of exciting things happen…Like the Blue and...
Format: Paperback - Released: 05/09/2005
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Julia Donaldson
Shortlisted for the Blue Peter Prize 2007 'Most Fun Story with Pictures.' Another gem from the prize-winning creators of The Gruffalo. There are lots of reading jokes in this book within a book, within a book: pirates and robbers settle...
Format: Hardback - Released: 02/09/2005
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Julia Donaldson
The tiny hermit crab loves his new shell. He doesn't want to share it - not with a blobby purple anemone and a tickly bristleworm. But life in the rock pool proves tougher than Crab thinks, and soon he finds...
Format: Paperback - Released: 06/05/2005
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Julia Donaldson
Age 0-5+ Giggle along to these wonderful rhymes whether you’re with your toddler in the nursery or the car. Full of action and noise it’s guaranteed to get kids engaged and stimulated to love poetry. Julia’s verse jumps off the...
Format: Paperback - Released: 01/04/2005
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Julia Donaldson
Age 5+ Crazy Mayonnaisy Mum is packed with all sorts of hilarious poems and rhymes. This book comes complete with some fantastic illustrations by Nick Sharratt.
Format: Paperback - Released: 04/03/2005
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Julia Donaldson
For my family and me this is still one of THE best picture books ever published. It was first published some 13 years ago, was Julia and Axel’s first collaboration and is now years later an absolute classic. Simply told...
Format: Paperback - Released: 20/06/2004
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Julia Donaldson
A useful book about the Environment. If bestsellers were decided upon by the number of prestigious awards a book had won then this one, with echoes of Edward Lear would be the blockbuster of all time. Julia really is a past-master...
Format: Paperback - Released: 05/09/2003
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Julia Donaldson
A wonderful story about a blackbird and the many animals he involves in getting a message to his friend Apollo the swallow thousands of miles away in Africa. This is a Blue Banana title, perfect for developing readers who, either...
Format: Paperback - Released: 15/04/2002
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Julia Donaldson
A book of nine songs and music together with an accompanying CD including her most famous Room on the Broom. Julia may well be one of the UK’s best-loved picture book authors but she is also a very talented song...
Format: Hardback - Released: 21/09/2001
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Julia Donaldson
“A mouse took a stroll through the deep dark wood. A fox saw the mouse and the mouse looked good.” So begins the story of how a clever little mouse outwits his big scary enemy. The tasty little mouse needs...
Format: Paperback - Released: 27/08/1999
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