It’s not often that a book inspires us to write a review, but twice recently The Bug has enjoyed a book enough that he has insisted on writing a blog post. He wrote recently about the latest graphic novel, Robotslayer, and as soon as we’d finished reading The Giants and the Joneses it was the first thing he wanted to do.
Review – The Giants and The Joneses
In a reversal of the standard Jack and the Beanstalk tale, Julia Donaldson describes how a land of giants live in fear of the small people (iggly plops). Until one day a giant child climbs down a magic beanstalk and returns with 3 iggly plop children… and a sheep. Jumbeelia begins by caring for her charges, but then the fall into the hands of her irritating brother, Zab. The Bug has this to say:
Zab is very nouty but in the end he helps Jumbeelia from forlling off the edge of the land. Poppy was biten by a sprachcin (kitten) she was put in a cage Colete tride to let her out of the cage and she did it! I rote my own sentensis:
There is a dictionary at the back of the book we cepte haveing to look at the back to now wate the words say but we soon nuou what they sade, and even startid speeking groilish.
Julia Donaldson is famous for picture books such as The Gruffalo, and Stick Man, but we’ve recently discovered her fiction for older children, and it’s every bit as good. Peppering the narrative with occasional ‘Groilish,’ the language of giants, she drew us to the dictionary for a while, until gradually we found ourselves reading English/Groilish with ease, and chatting about Bobbaleely’s (babies) we spotted in the street!.
An easy read for GG, at 9, it is completely readable by her 6 year old brother. But don’t let them read it alone – it’s a story old and young will enjoy equally 😉
Oooh, I might have to check this out! I love Julia Donaldson. 🙂
I had no idea she had written non-picture books – it’s a really good read
I’ve heard of this book, but never yet read it. I can’t wait until next year when my 5 year old son is a little more confident and can give it a go 🙂
I’d say give it a go Jenny. I read it to my kids together, and I’d say the story is good for all ages really – it’s just a question of taking it slowly with a younger child.
Kitty loves Julia following a project on her at school. We were reading the Paper Dolls the other evening and she stopped me reading to ask if it was a Julia Donaldson book, which I was well impressed by. I’ve hunt this one out for Kitty as she’s in that awkward stage between books being too ‘babyish’ and others being a bit too hard to read.
This would be brilliant for her, and she could probably read it on her own, but actually I really enjoyed reading it with mine.
We love Julia’s younger children book range, and I never realised that she did ones that are aimed at older children *mental note to search Amazon*. I love that Bug was inspired to write a little review of the book himself, well done Bug!
They both really loved it Sarah, and what’s more, I enjoyed it too. Now that’s a winning kids book!
How wonderful this sounds brilliant. I had no idea Julia Donaldson did books for older children. Poppy absolutely adores so many of her books, we seem to have loads now, so it’s great there are more options later on. Love Beely Bobbaleely, might adopt that as a new nickname!
I have to get my hands on this book, we’ve been fans of other JD books but haven’t had a look at this yet, sounds ace 🙂 x
It’s really nice to have one of her books for older children.
Julia Donaldson is an absolute favourite in our house. Love love love her work.