With Gruffalo Granny coming out recently I couldn't not do a post celebrating the collection of Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler picture books that we love so dearly in our whānau!
With some of the most memorable characters and best storylines, as well as the absolute epitome of excellent rhyming storytelling - there is no doubt that the stories we read and enjoy the most in our family are the ones that are so generously gifted to the world by Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler. The combination of Donaldson's love of language and inventive imagination, with Scheffler's uniquely glorious illustrations that bring the stories to life, are what make these picture books some of the best out there in my very humble opinion as someone who has to read plenty of storybooks every day.
“I opened a book and in I strode. Now nobody can find me. I've left my chair, my house, my road, My town and my world behind me." - Julia Donaldson
#15 A Squash and a Squeeze
This feels SO harsh but I just find this one okay? And Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler have so many top tier books that being in place 13 still makes it better than 75% of all the other picture books out there. This one is about a woman who thinks her house is too small until she tries to fit an entire farm of animals inside and realizes maybe there is enough space after all. Feels like there is a lesson in there for most of us.
#14 Superworm
Superworm is super long, and super strong, and this story is pretty good but a litttttle repetitive. My daughter loves this one for the bug inclusion, and for the dramatic adventure, and the illustrations are on point with small surprises to find each time you read. I like this one, but not as much as my faves that are higher on the list!
#13 The Scarecrows' Wedding
Again, despite it being close to the bottom of the list, I really do still love this story about wedding preparations gone wrong, and a third love interest who comes along and threatens the adorable relationship at the heart of the story (and, spoiler alert!, starts a fire!). Why is it so low on my list? I think purely because I find the whole thing a bit stressful.
#12 Tiddler - The Story-Telling Fish
A little fish with a big imagination who is always late for school but with a tall tale to explain away his lateness. We have only recently bought a copy of this one so I think it doesn't have the familiarity factor yet which is why it has ended up in spot #12.
#11 The Smartest Giant
This heartwarming story about George always gets me right in the feels. He buys a whole new outfit after getting tired of being scruffy, and then ends up giving his outfit away piece by piece until he's back to square one - but this time with a whole community who are grateful for his generous spirit. It's just rather lovely.
#10 Charlie Cook's Favourite Book
Another one I have used in the classroom, this book is genius in the way it links together a journey of interconnected stories - each found within the other (Christopher Nolan could never). The format is engaging and novel and would be such a fun prompt for kids to write their own stories afterwards.
#9 Jonty Jentoo - The Adventures of a Penguin
A plucky little penguin decides to leave the zoo and set off to find his true home at the South Pole. This one reminds me a bit of Snail and the Whale in it's ecological setting and conversations that it sparks, but to me its not quite as expertly done. Still good though, top 10!
#8 - Zog! (And Zog and the Flying Doctors)
Some may say I'm cheating by including two in one place, and to that I say - this won't be the only time I do so. My blog, my rules?
Zog is a great character, highly relatable in that he tries his best but often still falls short (literally). I love The Flying Doctors and the way the story builds on Zog, in fact I may even love it more as they defeat stereotypes and smash the patriarchy one illness at a time.
#7 The Highway Rat
This villainous story is inspired by Alfred Noyes famous poem, The Highwayman, and I think exemplifies why Julia Donaldson's stories are so great not just for kids but for adults too. The use of language and placing us the reader, in the seat of the main character who is the 'bad guy', is quite unusual for a picture book but the comeuppance at the end is so delicious.
#6 Monkey Puzzle
This story is shorter than some of the others, but so cleverly thought up by the genius that is Julia Donaldson's brain. A monkey is trying to find his mum, a butterfly is trying to help, and miscommunications and misunderstandings are rife. The reveal at the end is pure genius.
#5 Tabby McTat
How could you not love a story about a busker's cat who sings out of tune? This story breaks your heart but then puts it back together by the end when all is okay. My toddler in particular loves the robbery scene, iykyk. This would be higher up on the list if I didn't have to myself sing badly as part of the storytelling.
#4 The Snail and the Whale
A tiny snail longs to see the world and finds a friend in a ginormous friendly whale who helps her out with her dream. This story is one of my favourites because I love the way it inspires a love for the natural world (one of my favourite things for picture books to do!), and it's such a gorgeous story about friendship and compassion for one another. This would be my top pick for a classroom teacher looking to add a new picture book to the repertoire!
#3 Room on the Broom
As someone who forgets and loses literally everything I relate to the witch in Room on the Broom a little toooo much, but I do love reading this story. It's a clever plot with a dastardly dragon bad guy, and an excellent climactic ending. Also the broom itself is such a feat of imagination and engineering. Obsessed.
#2 The Smeds and The Smoos
Okay this one almost takes out top spot because it's a Romeo & Juliette inspired story about two families of aliens who live on a far away planet, and Janet and Bill who fall in love despite their family's conflict. Sounds like an intense storyline for a kids book but somehow it just WORKS. I also love the made up words and language used, and the creativity of the planets and the "lubular lake" and so on. Exquisite.
#1 - The Gruffalo (all of them!)
“Don't call me good! I'm the scariest creature in this wood.”
I can't choose between The Gruffalo, The Gruffalo's Child, and the newest addition to our own home collection, Gruffalo Granny. They are all perfection in storytelling form. The perfect mix of peril and trickery, wonderful illustrations and rhyming words that make for delightful storytelling. If I had to pick a top TOP favourite it would be The Gruffalo's Child - it's just a top tier story. The mouse is an incredible character, small but SO clever, the Gruffalo's child is brave and gutsy and a little bored, and the Gruffalo himself is, like any other parent, just trying to get a little sleep.
Gruffalo Granny is obviously the newest Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler collab and I'll be honest, on first read I was surprised at how little Gruffalo Granny there was, but on further rereads I think it's stellar and so clever with its little throwbacks and easter eggs about earlier stories.
Let us know what your favourite Julia Donaldson stories are!
Lizzy makes sure the Book Hero bookstore is an integral part of our local Hobsonville community, welcoming readers of all ages with a genuine kindness and love of books. The Fantastic Mr Fox ignited her passion for books as a child, and now she’s read thousands of books and loves matching the right book to the right reader - both in our bookstore and online. When she’s not recommending her next favourite read, she’s enjoying life’s small joys and adding to a home library so large her husband Edd is constructing a massive bookshelf to try and keep up.