The World of Julia Donaldson!
Stories for kids but lessons for the grown-ups!
Memorable characters, unique settings and brilliant storytelling — the very hallmarks of Julia Donaldson’s creations! It was in July 2021 when I stumbled upon picture books for kids. Since then, it has been quite a lovable ride down the rabbit hole!
My days were filled with Oliver Jeffers’ crayon series while I spent my nights finishing Eric Carle’s books in one breath! As I continued my journey of exploring the world of the kids, my hands fell on The Gruffalo! Donaldson’s story with Axel Scheffler’s colourful illustrations brought the natural world alive like never before!
That was the beginning! From The Gruffalo to The Detective Dog, I picked up her books and got introduced to the world, my interest growing with every book, just like a child who encounters her stories for the first time. Brilliantly illustrated and creatively designed, Julia Donaldson’s books opened a new world where every anthropomorphic character has a voice and retains a personality of their own.
While it’s almost close to impossible to choose my favourite book amongst Donaldson’s wonderful creations, here are three of them that I can read anywhere, anytime and any number of times!
The Gruffalo
The award-winning partnership that started with Macmillan’s A Squash and A Sneeze perhaps found its greatest expression in this book. Recognised as one of England’s favourite bedtime stories, this is an eternal story that narrates the journey of a small mouse through the dark, deep woods, meeting hungry animals along the way and finally encountering his imaginary and scary being.
Zog and the Flying Doctors
This is the story of Princess Pearl and how she tends to the creatures of her land with the help of her expert doctor crew. From a sunburnt mermaid to a unicorn with two horns — patients seek help as Princess Pearl soothes the pain and discomfort of every animal she sees. But what happens when the King falls ill? Is Princess Pearl able to bring him back to health? More importantly, is she allowed to do so?
The Snail and the Whale
Conveying the message that every little help matters, this book presents a snail and a whale as they bond over a trip to diverse lands, exploring various sights, smells and sounds. With the environment at its heart, the story uniquely captures the budding companionship of the two animals and how their friendship is tested.
Julia Donaldson’s books are action-packed and humourous with unforgettable characters driving the plots forward. Having a well-constructed beginning, middle and end; the stories take their readers through a rollercoaster of emotions where at the end of the day, problems are solved, lost or stolen things are rediscovered and characters become more mature and experienced.
The best part about her books is the constant rhythm that keeps the stories engaging and well-paced. Through the use of simple and similar-sounding words, Donaldson paints a beautiful picture that is hard to resist! With Scheffler’s bright masterstrokes, the illustrations add charm to the stories and gift the characters their true identities.
More than anything else, Julia Donaldson celebrates diversity in her books — be it in the form of humourous plotlines or comical characters steeped in fantasy. Rightly having transcended the boundaries of time and space, her books narrate humane stories and present a world as seen through the unadulterated, innocent and loving eyes of a child.
