Latest news with #JuliaDonaldson
Time Out
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Time Out
The Smeds and The Smoos
This review is from 2023. Kids' theatre company Tall Stories has been touring its stage version of 'The Gruffalo' for over 20 years now – it's almost the same age as Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler's iconic picture book. Though the company has dipped its toes in other waters, there's no denying that it has found a niche: the other shows in its current repertoire are a version of 'Gruffalo' sequel 'The Gruffalo's Child' (returning to the West End this Christmas!), plus Donaldson and Scheffler's much-loved 'The Snail and the Whale' and 'The Smeds and the Smoos'. Directed by Toby Mitchell, latest show 'The Smeds…' has been knocking around in touring form for a year or so but finally makes its West End debut this summer. And it's very charming, in a predictable way. Tall Stories is ruthlessly efficient at the whole 'take a bedtime story that you can read in five minutes and stretch it to an hour' thing. An opening reference to '2001: A Space Odyssey' is a hoot, there are some nice songs from John Fiber and Andy Shaw, and Barney George's sets and Yvonne Stone's puppets do a decent job of channelling Scheffler's eccentric, cuddly vision of space, as feuding tribes of aliens – the red Smeds and the blue Smoos – set out on a galactic odyssey to find their youngsters Bill and Janet, who have eloped together. Though it can't really compete in visual pizazz with the BBC's recent animated version, it is pretty much a faultless exercise in modestly budgeted kids' stage adaptation. Personally, I can't help but wish Tall Stories demonstrated a bit more audacity: their take is very much What You Expect, and the Kubrick gag at the start is basically as off-piste as it gets. But it absolutely does the trick: kids who love the book will surely love the play, and if you were already considering taking your little ones to 'The Smeds and the Smoos', you absolutely should.
Daily Mirror
6 days ago
- Daily Mirror
'I visited Chessington with my toddler and there's one thing no one tells you'
My family and I embarked on a little adventure to Chessington World of Adventures and it turned out to be the perfect short break for our young family. Although a lot of parents might think it's a waste to go with a young child as they probably can't go on most rides, for us it was the best two days. With my two-year-old in tow, we were invited to stay at the Chessington Safari Hotel in one of the delightfully themed Room on the Broom rooms. We arrived on a Saturday afternoon, greeted by the warm and welcoming staff at the Safari Hotel. The hotel itself is designed with families in mind, and the theming is exceptional. Our Room on the Broom room was straight out of a storybook, with wall art, soft furnishings, and a witch above our bed. It's inspired by Julia Donaldson's beloved tale that my toddler is obsessed with. My daughter was so excited from the moment we walked in to the hotel - then we entered the room and she was jumping up and down when she saw the witch's hat and broomstick on the wall. Not only that, we were greeted with a little gift in the room, including the popular book, Freddo chocolate bar and the dragon cuddly toy. To top it off, our room had the incredible view of Safari animals, we could see Zebras literally outside our room which was so exciting for all of us. We spent the first day settling in and exploring the hotel. There's a fun kids' play area in the reception and plenty of space for little ones to stretch their legs or even watch TV. In the early evening, we joined the toddler mini disco downstairs. Watching my two-year-old bop along to familiar tunes with other little ones was a highlight in itself. The disco was well-organised, not too loud, and full of energy, which was just perfect for her age. She did not want to leave! Even days later she spoke about it and said "I went to the disco with my friends at Chessington". Clearly a core memory made. After all that dancing, we were ready for some food. Rather than eating in the hotel restaurant, we opted for a local meal just outside the resort. There are a few nearby spots that offer a quieter dining experience if you want a little break from the hustle and bustle. It was nice to have a relaxed dinner before returning to the hotel to get a good night's sleep. Day two began bright and early. Staying at the Safari Hotel comes with the amazing perk of early entry into the park, which meant we could beat the crowds and get on some rides before the queues built up. But first, we of course headed down to breakfast. The hotel breakfast buffet was a dream, especially when catering to toddlers. From fluffy pancakes and fresh fruit to full English fry-ups and continental pastries, there was something for everyone. My little one happily munched her way through mini croissants, strawberries, and a small bowl of scrambled eggs. It really set us up for the day ahead. At 0.9 metres tall, my two-year-old was able to go on a surprising number of rides. So, at 9am our first stop was the Room on the Broom experience, which was just a few steps away from the hotel and a gentle start to our theme park day. It brought the book to life in a wonderfully immersive way, with animatronics, lights, and gentle movement. The great part was there was absolutely no queue. Next up was the Gruffalo River Ride Adventure, a water-based ride that's also suitable for toddlers. It's dark in places and can be a little bit scary, but the familiar story and music kept my two-year-old completely engaged. The ride ends with a gentle splash which she loved! From there, we made our way to the Elmo's Flying Jumbos ride. This was really cute, it's a cheerful, spinning ride where kids get to sit in colourful flying elephants - what more could a toddler ask for? She squealed with delight as we gently flew up and down and loved going high up! On to her absolute favourite - the truck ride, where she got to "drive" a safari-style truck that goes around a mini course. It gave her the feeling of being behind the wheel, and she beamed with pride. She pointed out every lion, giraffe, and zebra she spotted and kept asking to go back on it! The Banana Boat ride was another big hit; the movement was gentle enough for her to enjoy but fun enough to give her a little thrill. Of course, no trip to Chessington is complete without visiting the zoo and SEA LIFE centre. The zoo is home to lions, tigers, gorillas, and more, but the monkeys were a firm favourite for my toddler. At SEA LIFE, she was mesmerised by the glowing tanks filled with colourful fish, rays, and even small sharks. There's a tunnel that goes underneath one of the tanks, creating an immersive underwater experience, and her little face lit up in amazement and she was trying to spot 'Nemo'. By the end of the day, she was completely worn out - in the best possible way. All in all, our weekend at Chessington World of Adventures was everything I had hoped for: family-friendly, full of age-appropriate fun, and sprinkled with just enough magic to keep our two-year-old excited. The combination of a thoughtfully themed hotel, early access to the park, and a wide range of toddler-suitable attractions made it an ideal mini getaway for us. We're already planning our next visit! To find out more you can visit Chessington's website.
Yahoo
7 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Parents: what is your child's favourite Julia Donaldson book?
From The Stick Man to The Gruffalo, Julia Donaldson's characters have enchanted children and parents the world over. We've ranked our top 15 Julia Donaldson books – but which ones do children like? We would like to hear from parents about their child's favourite, and why.
The Guardian
7 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Guardian
‘Oh no! It's a Gruffalo!' Julia Donaldson's 15 best books – ranked!
Although Julia Donaldson is best known for her work with Axel Scheffler, her books made with other illustrators yield their own delights. Illustrated by Rebecca Cobb, 2012's The Paper Dolls has an irresistible sense of childlike wonder, following a string of cut-out dolls as they explore a house while trying to avoid scissors. Key line They were Ticky and Tacky and Jackie the Backie and Jim with two noses and Jo with the bow. The festive BBC adaptations of Donaldson's work are so beloved that it's easy to overlook how some stories work much better as films than others. Tabby McTat – in which a cat becomes separated from his busker friend – is one of the best. There's a real sense of melancholy to some of the sequences, before the happy ending – exactly what you want at Christmas. Key line The sun went down and the sky grew black. The stars came out, but he didn't come back. Tiddler is a small fish with a big imagination, always coming up with wild excuses for his behaviour. But is there any merit to them? This is Donaldson and Scheffler in pure entertainment mode, and – at least anecdotally – one of the stories that children respond best to. Key line 'Sorry I'm late, Miss. I set off really early but on the way to school I was captured by a squid.' Donaldson has written hundreds of books in her career, but none felt quite as timely as 2019's The Smeds and the Smoos. A Romeo and Juliet story about two aliens whose families hate each other, it's hard to see this as anything other than Donaldson's Brexit book. Scheffler's dedication – 'To all the children of Europe' – makes the link even more explicit. Typical line 'Never, never marry a Smed. My dearest child, are you off your head?' Nick Sharratt provides the illustrations for this sweetly simple book for very young readers. Not a great deal happens here – some animals have a dinner party and none of them behaves very well – but the whole thing is perfectly executed. Key line 'Don't just grab it,' says angry Rabbit. 'I'll lick the bowl,' says furry Mole. Donaldson is at her best when she leans into gothic fairytale darkness. Room on the Broom, where a kind witch and her animal hitchhikers fend off a dragon, is a perfect example of this. Completists might like to know that the book has also been adapted into a Chessington World of Adventures attraction that is about 5% too scary for its intended audience. Key line 'I am a dragon, as mean as can be, and I'm planning to have WITCH AND CHIPS for my tea!' Although she's best known for her picture books, Donaldson has also written a number of early years stories, designed to be the first thing that children read alone. Of these, Princess Mirror-Belle – about a girl's reflection that comes to life and causes havoc – is the most irresistible. Perfect for kids who are just about ready to finally outgrow The Gruffalo. Key line By this stage they had reached the escalator. Mirror-Belle hopped on to it. 'This is fun,' she said. 'Does it go down to the dungeons?' 'No,' said Ellen, riding down beside her. 'It goes down to the food department.' Donaldson and Scheffler's most recent book may cover old ground (like Stick Man, it's a journey story, only this time about a penguin who escapes from the zoo), but it's told with flair and has a pristine rhyming scheme. Plus, who doesn't like penguins? Key line His aunts said, 'Grow up!', 'Eat your fish!' and 'Talk sense!', but Jonty had noticed a gap in the fence. A bit of an outlier for a Donaldson/Scheffler book, in that it only intermittently rhymes. Nevertheless, the message of the story – that it's better to be kind than nicely dressed – is as perfectly pitched as anything Donaldson has ever written. Key line 'Cheer up!' said George, and he took off one of his shiny shoes. 'It was giving me blisters anyway.' Donaldson's first book was initially a lilting reggae song, performed by Floella Benjamin and Derek Griffiths on the children's TV show Play School in the 1970s. But the story – about a woman who learns to live within her means after filling her house with farm animals – works far better as a book, especially when paired with Scheffler's beautifully manic illustrations. Key line The little old lady cried 'Stop, I implore! It was titchy for three and it's teeny for four.' Lydia Monks provides vivid illustrations to this story, about a ladybird who uses her size and silence to thwart a farmyard robbery. Structurally, What the Ladybird Heard is a gem, first carefully laying out the robbers' plan (twice, with a blueprint) only to hilariously subvert it at the climax. Key line The duck on the pond said 'MOO MOO MOO!' 'Two more steps to go!' said Hugh. Donaldson was a songwriter before she became an author, and this is the secret to her success – you don't need to read many of her books to see that they often have choruses. The chorus of The Highway Rat (a story about a greedy rat who learns the error of his ways) is the best of the lot. It's a tricky metre for parents to enter into blind, but it absolutely rewards the effort. Key line 'I am the Rat of the highway – the highway – the highway – Yes, I am the Rat of the highway, and I fancy a duck for tea!' One of her very best. This is in part down to Donaldson's Lear-style rhyme scheme, but mainly because it is completely impossible to separate the text from the images. The story constantly draws the reader's attention to the illustrations ('This is a rock', 'This is the sea', 'This is the teacher') and, given the extremes of scale that Scheffler has to work with, it ranks as some of his best work. Quite frankly, the whole thing reads like a love letter between them. Key line These are the waves that arched and crashed, that foamed and frolicked and sprayed and splashed. An all-time classic. Donaldson's third book was based on the Chinese folktale The Fox that Borrows the Terror of a Tiger, and revolves around a blazingly clever structure. First, a mouse fends off advances from three hungry animals by describing an invented terrifying monster to them. Then, when he realises that the monster is real, he retraces his steps and outwits everyone in the process. But you knew that, of course, because you've read it a million times. Key line 'Oh help! Oh no! It's a Gruffalo!' Ostensibly a sequel to The Gruffalo's Child (which features a toy stick man), this is just about as epic as picture books get. A stick loses his family, and has to make an Odyssean journey home. There are real stakes here; the moment when Stick Man awaits what seems like certain death would be impressive in any story, but the fact that this is a book for toddlers makes it doubly so. Key line Stick Lady's lonely. The children are sad. It won't feel like Christmas without their Stick Dad.
The Guardian
7 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Guardian
Parents: what is your child's favourite Julia Donaldson book?
From The Stick Man to The Gruffalo, Julia Donaldson's characters have enchanted children and parents the world over. We've ranked our top 15 Julia Donaldson books – but which ones do children like? We would like to hear from parents about their child's favourite, and why. We ask that the parent/guardian fills in the form below, rather than your child. Your responses are secure as the form is encrypted and only the Guardian has access to your contributions. One of our journalists will be in contact with you, as parent or guardian, before we publish, so please do leave contact details. Please include as much detail as possible. Please note, the maximum file size is 5.7 MB. Your contact details are helpful so we can contact you for more information. They will only be seen by the Guardian. Your contact details are helpful so we can contact you for more information. They will only be seen by the Guardian. If you include other people's names please ask them first.
