▷▷▷▷▷ Great Price for $4.07

The Gruffalo Review

Full review at [...]

This month's DFF Book Club title of choice is The Gruffalo by Julia Donaldson
with illustrations by Axel Scheffler. Last month I didn't know about this book. It's not one that I grew up with, it's not something I found in an op shop, and in fact, I don't actually own a copy (yet).

So what is it about this book that has won my heart in less than a month?

I was first introduced to The Gruffalo by our public library system. In scheduling the girls' activities, I signed them up for today's Gruffalo party, hosted at our local library. It was a free event, and I simply thought it would provide an afternoon's entertainment in the middle of the week.

In preparation for today's event and so that the girls would understand what the party was about, I decided to check out the book and read it to them in advance. I also borrowed Donaldson's The Gruffalo Song and other songs CD and book kit.

And we started listening to the songs and reading the book. Again and again. And again.

It wasn't a bad story -- a mouse walks through a forest, meets some bad characters and uses his wits to make up his friend the "Gruffalo" so he doesn't get eaten. Except that the Gruffalo turns out to be real -- and he wants to eat the mouse too!

But the clever, little mouse wins (of course).

The book is written in rhyme. It's repetitive. There are some great (very British) words and lots of alliteration thrown in, making it fun to read. I love it when the Gruffalo says, "Astounding." It's the sort of book that you could easily memorise. Or act out. Or both. How about turning it into a play? (Already been done.)

Really, I must be living under a rock. Either that, or I don't get out enough. Because I had never heard of The Gruffalo before. It turns out that this book is quite a worldwide sensation (or maybe that's just propaganda). The BBC even made it into a 30-minute animation, sticking very closely to the book's script.

The song on the CD enhanced our enjoyment of the book. Julia Donaldson sings her own songs, and her voice isn't crash hot, but it's passable. My estimation for her has also risen since I've seen some over her videos. She sings and performs well for the pre-school-aged crowd, and doesn't appear to mind the losing her dignity for the sake of the audience.

I really hate the over-marketing that cheapens a good book, but in this case I've been delighted with the song and the film that came from the story. I'd recommend both highly with the book.

And because I'm still not sure that it really is that well-known, I've hunted the best Youtube videos so you can see The Gruffalo for yourself!

To read this full review, please visit: [...]

The Gruffalo Overview

This title presents a rhyming story of a mouse and a monster. Little mouse goes for a walk in a dangerous forest. To scare off his enemies he invents tales of a fantastical creature called the Gruffalo. So, imagine his surprise when he meets the real Gruffalo.

Available at Amazon Check Price Now!

Customer Reviews

Great book for (almost) all ages - Michelle Lefferts - Washington, D.C.
This book kept my husband's and my interest when our twin boys were 0-12 months - most other board books are pretty boring for an adult reader; this one is not. And when the boys were 0-12 months, if they got fussy while we were out of the house, the boys would love it when I would recite it from memory. Now that the boys are 18 months, they don't quite have the attention span to sit through the whole book, but my 2 1/2-year-old niece loves it for the story.

Great book and recording - S. Nicol -
This has been a favorite book of my 2.5 year old's for a long time, and I was so happy to find a recording so she could listen to it at bedtime. It's an entertaining rendition with cute background effects/music. My only critique is that it has to be turned down quite low as the background music can be a bit loud at times.

Kids Want to Hear Again & Again! - Ami - Southern CA
My son received this book when he was 2 1/2 and it was an instant hit in our family! This tale of a mouse out-smarting a number of forest creatures, INCLUDING the imaginary Gruffalo entertains both children and parents alike. It's rhyming text and repetition also lend it to easy memorization by children, and my son loves to "read" it aloud with us. When my 3yr old niece came to visit, she loved hearing this story before bed as well. It is now one of my favorite books to give as a gift! We also bought the companion book, "The Gruffalo's Child" and my son enjoys it, too. As a kindergarten teacher, I believe The Gruffalo should be on every child's bookshelf!

*** Product Information and Prices Stored: Aug 25, 2010 02:22:05

Books Teens

Wednesday, August 25, 2010