1
of
1
Books and Crooks and Other Plays
Brief Description
Books and Crooks and Other Plays features four fun-to-act plays for children aged 10+ from the bestselling author Julia Donaldson. Each play includes helpful, simple guidance on running time and cast, and is beautifully illustrated in black and white by Kate Pankhurst! Ranging from adaptations of...
Read More
Format: Paperback / softback
$2100
$2300
Elsewhere:
Unit price
/
Unavailable
OVERNIGHT NZ-WIDE DELIVERY
Found a better price? Request a price match
Books and Crooks and Other Plays
$2100
$2300
Elsewhere:
Unit price
/
Unavailable
Four original, fun to perform plays for children, from the author of The Gruffalo.
Four original plays from classroom favourite Julia Donaldson, perfect for upper KS2
Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and
still learning, it may not be perfect - your
feedback is welcome!
Description
Books and Crooks and Other Plays features four fun-to-act plays for children aged 10+ from the bestselling author Julia Donaldson. Each play includes helpful, simple guidance on running time and cast, and is beautifully illustrated in black and white by Kate Pankhurst!
Ranging from adaptations of traditional tales to original and contemporary short plays, Books and Crooks and Other Plays is an entertaining book of plays that is perfect for schools (key stage two) and at home.
Includes the following plays:
- Top of the Mops
- Problem Page
- Books and Crooks
- Persephone with musical score
Discover more original Julia Donaldson plays with The Three Billy Goats Gruff and Other Plays and The Trial of Wilf Wolf and Other Plays!
Book Details
INFORMATION
ISBN: 9781035011773
Publisher: Pan Macmillan
Format: Paperback / softback
Date Published: 21 August 2025
Country: United Kingdom
Imprint: Macmillan Children's Books
Contributors:
- Illustrated by Kate Pankhurst
Audience: Children
DIMENSIONS
Spine width: 13.0mm
Width: 130.0mm
Height: 200.0mm
Weight: 138g
Pages: 192
About the Author
Julia Donaldson is the author of some of the world's best-loved children's books, including modern classics The Gruffalo and The Gruffalo's Child, which together have sold over 17 million copies worldwide, and the hugely successful What the Ladybird Heard adventures. Julia also writes fiction, including the Princess Mirror-Belle books illustrated by Lydia Monks, as well as poems, plays and songs - and her brilliant live shows are always in demand. She was Children's Laureate 2011-13 and has been honoured with a CBE for Services to Literature. Julia divides her time between West Sussex and Edinburgh.
Also by Julia Donaldson
View all-
Tiddler
The funny and fabulous rhyming picture book from the number one bestselling author and illustrator of The Gruffalo, Stick Man and Zog. The smallest fish can tell the tallest tales... ‘Sorry I'm late, Miss. I set off really early, but on the way to school, I was captured by a squid. I wriggled and I struggled till a turtle came...Paperback$1700Elsewhere:$1999Unit price /UnavailableIn StockShips today -
Stick Man
Stick Man lives in the family tree with his Stick Lady Love and their stick children three... It's dangerous being a Stick Man. A dog wants to play with him, a swan builds her nest with him. He even ends up on a fire! Will he ever get back to the family tree?Paperback$1800Elsewhere:$2199Unit price /UnavailableIn StockShips today -
The Gruffalo
"A mouse took a stroll through the deep dark wood. A fox saw the mouse and the mouse looked good." Walk further into the deep dark wood, and discover what happens when a quick-witted mouse comes face to face with an owl, a snake ... and a hungry Gruffalo! Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler's The Gruffalo is an undisputed modern...Paperback$1499Elsewhere:$1899Unit price /UnavailableIn StockShips today -
The Gruffalo
A mouse took a stroll through the deep dark wood. A fox saw the mouse and the mouse looked good. Walk further into the deep dark wood, and discover what happens when a quick-witted mouse comes face to face with an owl, a snake... and a hungry Gruffalo! Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler's The Gruffalo is an undisputed modern classic...Board book$1300Elsewhere:$1499Unit price /UnavailableIn StockShips today -
11% offTabby McTat (Early Reader)
Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler's purr-fect picture book is now available in an appealing read-alone format. Me, you and the old guitar. How perfectly, perfectly happy we are. MEEE-EW and the old guitar. How PURRRR-fectly happy we are! Tabby McTat is purr-fectly happy, singing along all day with Fred the busker. But when Fred gives chase to a thief, the...Paperback$800Usually:$899Unit price /UnavailableIn StockShips today -
Monkey Puzzle 25th Anniversary Edition
Join in the fun and help little Monkey find his mum with this special twenty-fifth anniversary edition of the bestselling classic Monkey Puzzle, featuring the much-loved original story plus additional bonus content. Where is Monkey's mummy? It's not too much fun being lost in the jungle, and little monkey wants his mum. Kindly butterfly is keen to help, but they...Paperback$1500Elsewhere:$1799Unit price /UnavailableIn StockShips today -
The Gruffalo: A Pop-Up Flap Book
Meet all your favourite characters from the deep dark wood in this brilliant lift-the-flap, pop-up board book based on the bestselling classic picture book, The Gruffalo. Take a stroll through the deep dark wood to find out who is scared of the Gruffalo! Lift the flaps to see Mouse, Owl, Snake and Fox pop up off the page - and...Board book$1499Unit price /UnavailableIn StockShips today -
tonies: Julia Donaldson - The Snail and the Whale & The Smartest Giant in Town Tonie Audio Character
Enjoy two popular tales by the unstoppable duo Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler, The Snail and the Whale and The Smartest Giant in Town. Follow the adventures of a tiny snail who hitches a ride on the tail of an enormous whale, their journey filled with icebergs and volcanoes, sharks and penguins before disaster strikes. Can the tiny snail save...3 years or older / Toddlers / Preschoolers$3499Unit price /UnavailableIn StockShips today -
The Snail and the Whale
"How I long to sail!" said the tiny snail. One little snail longs to see the world and hitches a lift on the tail of an enormous whale. Together they go on an amazing journey, past icebergs and volcanoes, sharks and penguins, and the little snail feels so small in the vastness of the world. But when disaster strikes and...Paperback$1500Elsewhere:$1700Unit price /UnavailableIn StockShips today -
The Gruffalo and Friends Advent Calendar Book Collection 2025
Count down to Christmas with this advent calendar collection of twenty-four mini activity, song, and rhyme books, based on the bestselling picture books by Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler. Enjoy a book every day with this fantastic festive collection, including colouring, drawing, and activity books inspired by the family-favourite picture books, The Gruffalo, Room on the Broom, The Snail and...Hardback$3799Elsewhere:$4499Unit price /UnavailableOut 29 Sep 2026Pre-order -
tonies: Julia Donaldson - Stickman Tonie Audio Character
Travel can be frustrating. Take poor Stick Man. All he wants is to go home to the family tree, but the journey is taking a long old time. So if you’re preparing for a long journey of your own, why not bring Stick Man along to keep your little travellers company? OK, it’s not the family tree, but if your...4 years or older / Preschoolers / 3 years or older$3499Unit price /UnavailableIn StockShips today -
Room on the Broom
"How the cat purred and how the witch grinned, As they sat on their broomstick and flew through the wind." The witch and her cat fly happily over forests, rivers, and mountains on their broomstick until a stormy wind blows away the witch's hat, bow, and wand. Luckily, they are retrieved by a dog, a bird, and a frog, who...Paperback$1500Elsewhere:$1899Unit price /UnavailableIn StockShips today
More from Julia Donaldson
-
Tiddler
The funny and fabulous rhyming picture book from the number one bestselling author and illustrator of The Gruffalo, Stick Man and Zog. The smallest fish can tell the tallest tales... ‘Sorry I'm late, Miss. I set off really early, but on the way to school, I was captured by a squid. I wriggled and I struggled till a turtle came...Paperback$1700Elsewhere:$1999Unit price /UnavailableIn StockShips today -
Stick Man
Stick Man lives in the family tree with his Stick Lady Love and their stick children three... It's dangerous being a Stick Man. A dog wants to play with him, a swan builds her nest with him. He even ends up on a fire! Will he ever get back to the family tree?Paperback$1800Elsewhere:$2199Unit price /UnavailableIn StockShips today -
The Gruffalo
"A mouse took a stroll through the deep dark wood. A fox saw the mouse and the mouse looked good." Walk further into the deep dark wood, and discover what happens when a quick-witted mouse comes face to face with an owl, a snake ... and a hungry Gruffalo! Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler's The Gruffalo is an undisputed modern...Paperback$1499Elsewhere:$1899Unit price /UnavailableIn StockShips today -
The Gruffalo
A mouse took a stroll through the deep dark wood. A fox saw the mouse and the mouse looked good. Walk further into the deep dark wood, and discover what happens when a quick-witted mouse comes face to face with an owl, a snake... and a hungry Gruffalo! Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler's The Gruffalo is an undisputed modern classic...Board book$1300Elsewhere:$1499Unit price /UnavailableIn StockShips today -
11% off
Tabby McTat (Early Reader)
Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler's purr-fect picture book is now available in an appealing read-alone format. Me, you and the old guitar. How perfectly, perfectly happy we are. MEEE-EW and the old guitar. How PURRRR-fectly happy we are! Tabby McTat is purr-fectly happy, singing along all day with Fred the busker. But when Fred gives chase to a thief, the...Paperback$800Usually:$899Unit price /UnavailableIn StockShips today -
Monkey Puzzle 25th Anniversary Edition
Join in the fun and help little Monkey find his mum with this special twenty-fifth anniversary edition of the bestselling classic Monkey Puzzle, featuring the much-loved original story plus additional bonus content. Where is Monkey's mummy? It's not too much fun being lost in the jungle, and little monkey wants his mum. Kindly butterfly is keen to help, but they...Paperback$1500Elsewhere:$1799Unit price /UnavailableIn StockShips today -
The Gruffalo: A Pop-Up Flap Book
Meet all your favourite characters from the deep dark wood in this brilliant lift-the-flap, pop-up board book based on the bestselling classic picture book, The Gruffalo. Take a stroll through the deep dark wood to find out who is scared of the Gruffalo! Lift the flaps to see Mouse, Owl, Snake and Fox pop up off the page - and...Board book$1499Unit price /UnavailableIn StockShips today -
tonies: Julia Donaldson - The Snail and the Whale & The Smartest Giant in Town Tonie Audio Character
Enjoy two popular tales by the unstoppable duo Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler, The Snail and the Whale and The Smartest Giant in Town. Follow the adventures of a tiny snail who hitches a ride on the tail of an enormous whale, their journey filled with icebergs and volcanoes, sharks and penguins before disaster strikes. Can the tiny snail save...3 years or older / Toddlers / Preschoolers$3499Unit price /UnavailableIn StockShips today -
The Snail and the Whale
"How I long to sail!" said the tiny snail. One little snail longs to see the world and hitches a lift on the tail of an enormous whale. Together they go on an amazing journey, past icebergs and volcanoes, sharks and penguins, and the little snail feels so small in the vastness of the world. But when disaster strikes and...Paperback$1500Elsewhere:$1700Unit price /UnavailableIn StockShips today -
The Gruffalo and Friends Advent Calendar Book Collection 2025
Count down to Christmas with this advent calendar collection of twenty-four mini activity, song, and rhyme books, based on the bestselling picture books by Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler. Enjoy a book every day with this fantastic festive collection, including colouring, drawing, and activity books inspired by the family-favourite picture books, The Gruffalo, Room on the Broom, The Snail and...Hardback$3799Elsewhere:$4499Unit price /UnavailableOut 29 Sep 2026Pre-order -
tonies: Julia Donaldson - Stickman Tonie Audio Character
Travel can be frustrating. Take poor Stick Man. All he wants is to go home to the family tree, but the journey is taking a long old time. So if you’re preparing for a long journey of your own, why not bring Stick Man along to keep your little travellers company? OK, it’s not the family tree, but if your...4 years or older / Preschoolers / 3 years or older$3499Unit price /UnavailableIn StockShips today -
Room on the Broom
"How the cat purred and how the witch grinned, As they sat on their broomstick and flew through the wind." The witch and her cat fly happily over forests, rivers, and mountains on their broomstick until a stormy wind blows away the witch's hat, bow, and wand. Luckily, they are retrieved by a dog, a bird, and a frog, who...Paperback$1500Elsewhere:$1899Unit price /UnavailableIn StockShips today
More from Children's Books
View all-
New ReleaseRoyalslinger
K Pop Demon Hunters fans will love this! Graci Kim is back with the second book in her exciting and fantastical Slinger series where dragons and phoenixes roam the skies of Seoul; meals magically appear based on your mood; and dreams literally come to life. Praise for Dreamslinger: “A mind-blowingly original fantasy adventure—Graci Kim has done it again!”—Rick Riordan, New York Times #1...Paperback$1999Elsewhere:$2400Unit price /UnavailableIn StockShips today -
New ReleaseDetective Beans and the Map of Mystery
Enjoy this new DETECTIVE BEANS adventure in the bestselling and award-winning graphic novel series by Li Chen! Your favourite kitten detective is back with a new mystery to solve . . . and treasure to find! When Captain Scuttlebeard gives Beans a treasure map, Beans is determined to find the prize at the end. The clues take him all over...Paperback$1900Elsewhere:$2200Unit price /UnavailableIn StockShips today -
New ReleaseMei Mei the Bunny
Mei Mei the Bunny is Laufey's picture book debut about a bunny learning to believe in herself through music. Experience a heartwarming tale of self-belief in this enchanting picture book by GRAMMY Award-winning musician Laufey. Meet Mei Mei, a little bunny with a big dream—to spread joy through her music! As her debut recital at the H'Opera House draws near,...Hardback$3199Elsewhere:$3800Unit price /UnavailableIn StockShips today -
New ReleaseHunted: Wolf Girl 15
Just when Wolf Girl is finally reunited with her father, he is torn away from her once more, and Gwen vows to stop at nothing to track him down. But danger is closing in: a giant snow leopard and a mysterious hooded figure are hot on their trail. As Gwen and the pack race through deep caverns to snowy peaks,...Paperback$1699Elsewhere:$1899Unit price /UnavailableIn StockShips today -
New ReleaseWhat If You Could
From the former prime minister of New Zealand comes a guide for teens on chasing your dreams and embracing the unexpected qualities that truly make a person strong. When Jacinda Ardern became prime minister of New Zealand, she was one of the youngest people in the world leading a country. Many people thought she would never succeed — herself included....Paperback$2599Elsewhere:$3000Unit price /UnavailableIn StockShips today -
New ReleaseLonasei and the Mystery of Origin Grove
Eleven-year-old Lonasei is lonely — she wishes her older sister Eva Grace wasn't so mean, and that her mum Aria didn't have to work so much. But when Aria inherits her childhood home, Lonasei discovers she can enter her late Aunt Malia's paintings and experience the memories within. Through them, she discovers that her mother had another sister, Agnes, who went...Paperback$2199Elsewhere:$2799Unit price /UnavailableIn StockShips today -
New ReleaseThe Case of the Viral Video: Violet and the Velvets 3
Violet and the Velvets can hardly believe they've come so far in the BandChamps competition with only hard work, a smidge of talent, and a whole lot of thinking outside the box. This time, they get to record their new song in a proper recording studio and star in their very own music video! But Violet is letting her perfectionism...Paperback$1600Elsewhere:$1899Unit price /UnavailableIn StockShips today -
Dawn Raid: The Apology
This sequel to Dawn Raid follows Sofia Savea’s family, 50 years later, as Sofia's grandson becomes involved in the quest for a government apology. INVERCARGILL, 2020 Wow, I thought I knew a bit about the dawn raids, but this is HUGE. It happened to my OWN family and I never knew! I had no idea that Granfia and her family...Paperback$1800Elsewhere:$2099Unit price /UnavailableIn StockShips today -
New ReleaseBig Bang Bread
In this time-travel storybook and cookbook with a cosmic twist, take a journey through time and space to discover the secrets of baking! Did you know that bread is made from stardust? Board the rocket and blast off on an adventure through time and space to discover the secrets of a home-baked loaf! Big Bang Bread is a kids' time-travel...Paperback$1800Elsewhere:$2100Unit price /UnavailableIn StockShips today -
B is for Bird
From award-winning artist, Lily Emo, comes a beautiful celebration of birds. Paired with a fun rhyming story, gorgeous illustrations, and fold-out pages, this book is set to be a favourite for everyone and the perfect gift. Make your way through the alphabet with this stunning book featuring a cast of familiar birds. From albatross to fantails, gannets to quail, and...Hardback$1999Elsewhere:$2499Unit price /UnavailableBackorderShips mid August -
Signed CopyNew ReleaseThe Curse of the Carnivorous Cactuses
(Sam: Nothing could be as bad as being covered in icky purple blobs ... wait, what does carnivorous mean again?) The gang is determined to defeat Glam-Evil and her nasty curses so that they can save their park and get back for Shackleton and Amelia's very first sleepover. But Glam-Evil has a few new tricks up her ultravillainous sleeve ......Paperback$1400Elsewhere:$1499Unit price /UnavailableIn StockShips today -
17% offNew ReleaseBluey: Rain
It's raining! Bluey is trying to dam the water in the front yard, but does she need Mum's help? Join Bluey as she plays in the water when a heavy summer rain thunders over the Heeler home. Can Mum stop Bluey from dirtying the house? Featuring: A nearly wordless picture book with visual storytelling that mimics the dialogue-free episode. A...Hardback$1500Elsewhere:$2100Unit price /UnavailableIn StockShips today
Why buy from us?
Book Hero is not a chain store or big box retailer. We're an independent 100% NZ-owned business on a mission to help more Kiwis rediscover a love of books and reading!
Service & Delivery
Our warehouse in Auckland holds over 80,000 books, toys, board games and puzzles in-stock so you're not waiting for your order to arrive from overseas.
Auckland Bookstore
We're primarily an online store, but for your convenience you can pick up your order for free from our bookstore, which is right next door to our warehouse in Hobsonville.
Our Gifting Service
Books make wonderful thoughtful gifts and we're here to help with gift-wrapping and cards. We can even send your gift directly to your loved one.
