Picture Books
Tyrannosaurus Drip
illustrated by David Roberts
Macmillan
isbn 978-1-4050-9000-1
Whoever heard of a vegetarian T Rex? When a baby Duckbill dinosaur ends up in the Tyrannosaurus nest, he feels very out of place, and his gruesome new family nickname him Drip. But this little dinosaur is not as weedy as he looks. In fact, he's a real hero!
"A honking, hooting success" The Bookseller
“The roaring, hooting, monster success of the season” The Times
“rollicks along very engrossingly” Independent
“Comic, dynamic and charming” Sunday Times
Tyrannosaurus Drip has been long-listed for the 2008 Kate Greenaway Prize.
Click here to see Julia and Malcolm singing the Tyrannosaurus Drip song
Follow the Swallow
illustrated by Pam Smy
Egmont
isbn 1-4052-1788-X
Chack the blackbird is trying to get a message to Apollo the swallow. We follow dolphins, camels and crocodiles, under oceans and through deserts to help get the message across.
"A charmer of a story . . . an enchanting picture book, this is genuinely gripping because of the well-crafted story and warm pictures.” Independent
(This title is also available as a Blue Banana book, with illustrations by Martin Ursell. See Early Readers.)
Fly, Pigeon, Fly
(jointly with John Henderson)
Illustrated by Thomas Docherty
Little Tiger
isbn 184506187X
John Henderson was one of my adult students when I was writer in residence in Easterhouse, Glasgow, and this story is based on a true event from John’s childhood.
When a boy finds a young pigeon, half-starved, in a derelict warehouse in Glasgow, he takes the bird home, looks after him and teaches him to fly. Da says that Percy the pigeon should be set free but the boy wants him to stay for ever . . .
“A warm and thoughtful story that treats difficult issues with tact and subtlety” The Guardian
“one of those books you want to press into the hands of passers-by, whatever their age” The Herald
One Ted Falls Out of Bed
illustrated by Anna Currey
Macmillan,
isbn-0333947827
This is perhaps the picture book text which I feel most proud of, as I’d always wanted to write a simple yet exciting rhyming adventure which would also be a sort of counting book. I wrote it in 2000 but it was hard to find the right illustrator. It was worth waiting for Anna Currey, though – her pictures are so warm and humorous and perfectly capture the atmosphere of the night-time bedroom, and her teddy bear is adorable.
There is also a board book version, and a book and CD pack, with Saskia Wickham .
"Another little miracle from Julia Donaldson… it has the robust feel of a classic." The Bookseller
Rosie's Hat
Illustrated by Anna Currey
Macmillan,
isbn 1405000074
One little girl, one smart hat, a sudden gust of wind . . . and we're off on a whole hatful of adventures!
A rhyming story with sound effects for children to join in with.
“The simple rhyming text is perfect for younger children whilst the older child will enjoy the adventure and twist to the tale.” Children's Buyers Guide
Sharing a Shell
illustrated by Lydia Monks, with glitter on every page
Macmillan,
isbn 1405020482
Look! A crab, a crab with no shell,
Running along by the sea . . .
When the little hermit crab finds a shiny new shell he doesn’t want to share it – not with a blobby purple anemone and a tickly bristleworm. Join Crab, Blob and Brush in the rock pool for a sparkly story of sea, shells and friendship.
There is also a board book edition.
"sunny glittery story…. clear characterful pictures and jolly verse for reading out loud" The Independent
"Bright, bold and fun." Publishing News (Book of the Month)
Click to see Julia and Malcolm sing the Sharing a Shell song
The Princess and the Wizard
illustrated by Lydia Marks
Macmillan,
isbn 978-0-230-52917-5
A fairy story about colours
By changing her colour and changing her shape
The princess may try seven times to escape.
But each time Princess Eliza changes – into a blue fish, a yellow chick, a red fox or a black cat – the wicked wizard finds her and sets her another horrible task. Will this plucky princess be able to outwit him and escape back to the palace in time to cut her birthday cake?
There is also a book and CD edition, with Imelda Staunton
"A sparkly princess and an equally sparkly, though somewhat darker, wizard battle it out across some glorious colour spreads. . . an exceptionally pleasing replay of a familiar story” – The Guardian
The Magic Paintbrush
illustrated by Joel Stewart
Macmillan,
isbn 0333964438
I order you to paint a tree
And make it very big.
Instead of leaves, paint golden coins -
A hundred on each twig.
When the greedy emperor hears about Shen’s magic brush, all he can think about is gold. How can a little village girl stand up to him?
"A beautiful book" The Observer
"The best recent picture book" The Daily Telegraph
Chocolate Mousse for Greedy Goose
illustrated by Nick Sharratt
Macmillan,
isbn 1-405-02190-X
“Chocolate mouse!” says greedy Goose.
“Don’t just grab it,” says angry Rabbit.
Good manners aren’t on the menu at this meal. Duck won’t eat his carrots, Moth is eating the cloth, and Sheep would rather sleep than wash the dishes.
A simple rhyming picture book with extra tough pages, suitable for toddlers.
There is also a board book, and a book and CD pack, with Michael Fenton-Stevens
“A perfect marriage of words to pictures” The Independent on Sunday
“It's another winner” Evening Standard
Hippo Has a Hat
Illustrated by Nick Sharratt
Macmillan, £9.99
isbn 1-405-02191-8
“Lots of clothes! Let’s try them.
Maybe we can buy them.”
There’s chaos in the clothes shop when the animals go on a glorious shopping spree.
A simple rhyming picture book with extra tough pages for toddlers.
There is also a book and CD pack, with Michael Fenton-Stevens
Wriggle and Roar
– Rhymes to Join in with
illustrated by Nick Sharratt
Macmillan,
isbn 1405021667
Whenever I’m tired of being me
I swing around like a chimpanzee.
Seventeen brightly illustrated rhymes which children can join in, either with noises or actions.
short-listed for the Early Years book award.
There is also a book and CD pack, with Justin Fletcher
"This book will animate, engage and stimulate babies and have nursery classes jumping about with noisy enthusiasm." The Sunday Times (Book of the Week)
"the perfect way to tire out lively toddlers… It’s timeless, irresistible and will encourage our youngest readers to be book-lovers for ever." The Bookseller
Conjuror Cow
illustrated by Nick Sharratt
Puffin,
isbn 0-14-056848-4
Everyone’s waiting,
The lights have gone low.
So open the curtains
And on with the show!
Conjuror Cow is putting on a magnificent magic show – but can she make a white rabbit jump out of a hat? Turn the special novelty pages and find out.
"an instant hit. My children love its bold, primary colours and its simple – deliberately faulty - magic." The Observer
Night Monkey Day Monkey
illustrated by Lucy Richards
Egmont,
isbn 0-7497-4893
“Hey!” said Day Monkey. “There’s a banana!
How can it manage to fly?”
Night Monkey laughed and said, “Don’t be daft,
That banana’s the moon in the sky.”
Night Monkey and Day Monkey’s worlds are as different as . . . night and day! But in laughing at each other’s misunderstandings they learn to be the best of friends.
There is also a board book edition.
"A charmingly rhythmic poem… a clever way of reassuring small children about night-time." The Evening Standard
"Reassuring and funny, this is ideal bedtime reading for bright children." The Independent on Sunday.
A Squash and a Squeeze
illustrated by Axel Scheffler
Macmillan,
isbn 1405004770
“Wise old man, won’t you help me, please?
My house is a squash and a squeeze.”
This was my first book, published in 1993, but it started its life earlier still, as a song which I wrote for children’s television. There is also a Big Book and an audio version which includes both story and song (I sing the part of the little old lady!)
"a bit of a classic… a goat on the bed and a cow on the table tapping out a jig? My readers collapsed in heaps, and then had to have it read again. And again." Vivian French in The Guardian
There is also an audio edition with Imelda Staunton, Steven Pacey and Julia.
The Gruffalo
illustrated by Axel Scheffler
Macmillan,
isbn 0333710932
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 the quick-thinking mouse comes face to face with an owl, a snake and a hungry gruffalo . . .
The Gruffalo won the Smarties prize, the Blue Peter prize for Best Book to Read Aloud and the Experian Big Three award. The audio version (which also includes The Gruffalo song) won the Spoken Book Award for Best Children’s Audio. The book has sold over two million copies and there are 38 foreign editions.
There is also a gift book edition, a Gruffalo activity book, a Gruffalo jigsaw book, a board book, a Big Book and a soft toy. The Gruffalo has even appeared on Broadway, in the Tall Stories play based on the book, which frequently tours the UK. For performing details visit, www.tallstories.org.uk. There is a video of the play, produced by Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Really Useful Company.
"a modern classic" The Observer
There is also an audio edition with Imelda Staunton.
The Gruffalo has his very own site at www.gruffalo.com! Here you can check out my diary, play games and join the Gruffalo Gang
Click here to see Julia and Malcolm singing one of the songs from the book
Monkey Puzzle
illustrated by Axel Scheffler
Macmillan,
isbn 0333720016
“I’ve lost my mum!”
“Hush, little monkey, don’t you cry,
I’ll help you find her,” said Butterfly.
But somehow Butterfly keeps getting it wrong. Will Monkey ever find his mum?
As well as the book there is an audio version, including the Monkey Puzzle song, which won a silver award in the Spoken Book Awards. There is also a board book and a Big Book version.
"The really outstanding new animal picture book for children over two… it will make you all laugh over and over again" The Independent on Sunday
There is also an audio edition with Imelda Staunton.
Room on the Broom
illustrated by Axel Scheffler
Macmillan,
isbn 0333903382
How the cat purred and how the witch grinned
As they sat on their broomstick and flew through the wind.
But how many passengers will one broomstick take? And what about the dragon who fancies “witch and chips” for tea?
Room on the Broom has been translated into 21 languages and has won 5 book awards (Scottish, Sheffield, Stockport, Norfolk and Blue Peter). The audio version, which includes the Room on the Broom song, also won the Spoken Book Award for the best audio for 6 and under. There is also a board book and a Big Book version.
"Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler have come up with another gem… we loved it." The Independent
There is also an audio edition with Josie Lawrence.
The Smartest Giant in Town
illustrated by Axel Scheffler
Macmillan,
isbn 0333963962
George wishes he wasn’t the scruffiest giant in town. So when he sees a new shop selling giant-size clothes he decides it’s time for a new look. But on his way home he meets various animals who desperately need his help . . . and his clothes!
The book was short-listed for the Blue Peter, Red House, Sheffield and Portsmouth book awards. The audio version, which includes George’s song, won the Spoken Book gold award for best audio for 6 and under.
There is also a board book and a Big Book version
"My absolute favourite of this year’s picture books… Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler are a combination made in heaven." The Independent on Sunday.
"Who could resist?" The Sunday Times
There is also an audio edition with Imelda Staunton and Steven Pacey.
The Snail and the Whale
illustrated by Axel Scheffler
Macmillan,
isbn 033398224X
The sea snail slithered all over the rock
And gazed at the sea and the ships in the dock.
And as she gazed she sniffed and sighed.
“The sea is deep and the world is wide!
How I long to sail”
Said the tiny snail.
This is probably my favourite of all the books I have written for Axel Scheffler to illustrate, perhaps because I feel I have captured something of the soulful whimsy of the Edward Lear poems I enjoyed as a child.
The Snail and the Whale won the 2004 Early Years award for the best pre-school book, the 2005 Blue Peter award for Best Book to Read Aloud, and the 2007 Giverny award for Best Science Picture Book. The audio version, which includes The Snail and the Whale song, won the Spoken Book gold award for best audio for 6 and under.
There is also a board book, a Big Book version and an audio edition with Imelda Staunton.
"Bold and brilliant, wise and wacky." The Times
"A joy to read aloud" The Guardian
The Gruffalo’s Child
illustrated by Axel Scheffler
Macmillan,
isbn 1405020466
One snowy night when the Gruffalo snored
The Gruffalo’s Child was feeling bored.
The Gruffalo’s Child was feeling brave
So she tiptoed out of the gruffalo cave . . .
I had been resisting the idea of writing a sequel to The Gruffalo until I began to wonder how the Gruffalo would feel about the mouse five years later. Supposing in the Gruffalo’s mind he had become the Big Bad Mouse, to be avoided by all gruffalos big and small, what then?
The Gruffalo’s Child won the W.H. Smith Children’s Book of the Year award at the 2005 British Book Awards. It was also short-listed for the Red House Childrens’ Book Award.
There is also a Gruffalo’s Child jigsaw book and a board book version.
The Tall Stories play based on the book frequently tours the UK. For performing details visit, www.tallstories.org.uk.
"A variation on the relationship between the canny mouse and the gentle but huge and ugly Gruffalo, so deliciously played out in The Gruffalo, is wittily recreated in this welcome encore." The Guardian
"The Gruffalo’s Child achieves the impossible - an even more endearing, witty and delightful book than its parent." The Bookseller
Charlie Cook’s Favourite Book
illustrated by Axel Scheffler
Macmillan,
isbn 1-405-03470-X
A book-within-a-book-within-a-book-within-a-book . . . complete with pirates, ghosts, knights and aliens.
short-listed for the Blue Peter Book Awards and for the Scottish Royal Mail Book Awards.
“Younger readers will delight in the drama of Donaldson’s vivacious rhyming text and the panache of Scheffler’s illustrations.” Guardian
“a glorious celebration of books and reading” Scotsman
Tiddler
illustrated by Axel Scheffler
Alison Green Books ,
isbn 978-0-439943-77-2
Tiddler is a little fish who tells the tallest tales in the ocean. But did he really ride a seahorse? Did he really meet a mermaid. And what about the scariest story of them all – the one about the fishermen and the net?
“A pleasing romp” The Guardian
“Picture book perfection” Independent on Sunday
Fox’s Socks
illustrated by Axel Scheffler
Macmillan,
isbn 0333966236
Poor old Fox
Has lost his socks.
Readers can help him find them by lifting the flaps - but they will discover a lot of other clothes first. Printed on tough paper for young hands, this is one of the four books in the Acorn Wood series.
"Humorous lift-the-flap story book which uses clever rhyming text to introduce new words and encourage interaction." Prima Baby
Postman
Bear
illustrated by Axel Scheffler
Macmillan,
isbn 0333966244
A rhyming lift-the-flap story about a bear delivering birthday invitations to his friends. Part of the Acorn Wood series, printed on extra sturdy paper suitable for toddlers.
"A lovely story and a perfect length for children to share." Carousel
Rabbit’s Nap
illustrated by Axel Scheffler
Macmillan,
isbn 0333987381
Rabbit’s feeling sleepy. She curls up in a chair.
Tap tap! Who’s there? Oh dear, it’s builder bear.
And then there’s the band of mice, the wood-chopping fox and the bell on Hedgehog’s bicycle – will Rabbit ever doze off?
One of the four lift-the-flap books in the Acorn Wood series, printed on tough paper for toddler’s hands.
"My one year old daughter is absolutely enchanted by this book and just loves lifting the cardboard flap and revealing the animals underneath… All her other books are sitting on the shelf gathering dust - she always just grabs this one!" Amazon reader
Hide-and-Seek Pig
illustrated by Axel Scheffler
Macmillan,
isbn 0333966252
In this rhyming story for toddlers, hen hides from pig and readers can lift the flaps to help him find her. One of the four Acorn Wood books printed on extra sturdy paper.
Tales from Acorn Wood
Macmillan
isbn 1-405-05389-5
This is a compilation of three rhyming lift-the-flap books, Rabbit’s Nap, Postman Bear and Hide-and-Seek Pig, which are all also published separately (see above). It has extra tough pages and is suitable for toddlers.