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Mr Magnolia

Quentin Blake
Red Fox
Age 3-5

This much-loved classic picture book, introduces us to the world of Mr Magnolia, a character who is full of life and fun despite having only one boot. The rhyme is humorous and surprising, and shows him playfully dancing with his sisters, giving scooter rides to his friends and juggling fruit in the market place.

It’s a perfect book for young readers, inspiring a love of rhyme and the joy of reading.

Share the story

Talk about the picture
Spend time looking and talking about the cover. What do they think Mr Magnolia is like? Why do they think that? Is there anything they would like to find out about him? Talking together about the book builds children’s interest in the story and they are keen to turn the pages to find out more.

Read aloud
Read the story aloud, talking together about the pictures as you do. Encourage children to guess what the rhyming word will be by leaving space for them to join in. They can find clues in the pictures, too.

Join in
Read the story again and leave spaces for children to join in with the story. They can add their own responses to the dramatic events.

Tell the story
After hearing the story a few times, children will get to know it quite well. Encourage them tell it to you in their own words, with some words or phrases from the story, using the pictures to help them.

Watch the Story
This fabulous version from BBC’s old Words and Pictures programme starts around a minute in.

From TributeToThePast

Things to make and do

Play the story
Children can use props such as a hat, scarf or single boot to dress up and act out the story as Mr Magnolia himself. With a cardboard tube or toy instrument as a trumpet they could dance to the rooty toot! It’s a really good way for them to get to know the character well and helps to build their confidence with books and stories.

Make a picture
Using pens or paint and paper, children can make a picture of a favourite part of the story, show their picture to someone else and talk about it.

Find the rhyme
Go on a word hunt to see how many words rhyme with ‘boot.’ Read it aloud together and listen for the rhyme.

Make a game
Print the game sheet and cut out the cards to play a matching game – you can print two copies to make more cards. See if children can sort the words into groups that look the same, eg all the ‘oot’ words in one group and the ‘ute’ words in another. What other spellings make the same sound?

Make up a story
See if you can make up a new story about Mr Magnolia together. Perhaps beginning ‘Mr Magnolia had only one shoe….’ You can play with the rhyme, taking it in turns to invent a new line.

Find out more

Cockatoos

Patrick

Zagazoo

Clown

The Green Ship

Quentin Blake has also illustrated many books by other writers including Roald Dahl and Russell Hoban

| admin | August 7, 2014

Our top 10 rhyming picture books

Rhyming picture books hold a special place in the realm of children’s literature, captivating the imaginations of young readers and their families with their melodic language and vibrant illustrations. These books use rhyme and rhythm to engage readers, making the experience of reading both enjoyable and memorable. One of the primary benefits of rhyming picture books is their ability to make language fun and accessible. The predictable patterns of rhyme help children anticipate and recognize words, which can enhance their early reading skills. The rhythmic flow of the text also aids in phonemic awareness, helping children understand the sounds within words and how they fit together. This foundational skill is crucial for developing proficient reading abilities later on, also follow https://troycarter4congress.com.

Rhyming picture books are an important way to help young children acquire a natural feeling for rhyme and pattern in language. Here are a selection of some of our favourites:

Animal Boogie
Debbie Harter
Barefoot Books
Age 0-5

Down in an Indian jungle, children and animals have fun boogie-woogie-ing together by stomping, shaking, flapping, leaping, slithering and swaying.

See an animated version here.

The Cat in the Hat
Dr Seuss
Random House
Age 3-7

A classic rhyming story of the Cat in a hat who transforms a dull day into pure joy.
This hilarious book transforms children into readers too!
See the animated version here.

(See also: Green Eggs and Ham, Wacky Wednesday, Hop on Pop and more)

Dinosaur Roar
Paul and Henrietta Stickland
Dutton Books
Age 3-5

Dinosaurs roar, dinosaurs galore in this irresistible tale of dinosaurs weak and strong,
above and below, who gather for a memorable lunch. A great, rambunctious joining-in rhyme.
Click here to see lovemybooks activities.

Hairy Maclary from Donaldson’s Dairy
Lynley Dodd
Puffin
Age 3-7

A memorable, cumulative rhyme about a gathering of distinctive dogs. Unforgettable characters and great pictures (see also Slinky Malinky).

Lottie Potter wants an Otter Jeanne Willis, Leonie Lord (illus)
Harper Collins
Age 3-7

Lottie Potter is very keen to have a pet, and only an otter will do! She finds Mr Trotter’s shop which is full of otters and Lottie makes her choice. But this otter turns out to be an absolute rotter! So Lottie’s search for the perfect pet continues.

This is a rhyming picture book with a very satisfying rhythm which skips along delightfully making it a great read aloud and easy for children to join in with too. The story is very silly but great fun and the illustrations add to the humour.

Mister Magnolia
Quentin Blake
Red Fox
Age 0-5

Everyone loves Mr Magnolia and his rooty-toot trumpet. He is full of fun and the joys of life even though he has only one boot. Life is complete when he receives a unique present. Children will love the exuberance and humour.(See also All Join In).
Click here to see lovemybooks activities.

Oi Dog
Kes & Claire Gray, Jim Field (illus)
Hodder
Age 5-7

‘Oi Dog!’ is a wonderful and sophisticated rhyming game of a book. The rules are animals have to sit on something which rhymes with their name, from cats sitting on gnats to cheetahs sitting on fajitas. Frog, who in the prequel ‘Oi Frog!’ was squashed by dog, takes charge of the rules in this book and gets his own back. This is quite a tongue twister to read aloud but enormous fun, children could try to guess what each animal might have to sit on and perhaps come up with alternatives of their own. The brilliant illustrations add to the humour.

See a trailer for the prequel, Oi Frog here

This is the Bear
Sarah Hayes, Helen Craig
Walker
Age 3-7

A delightful rhyming story of ‘sibling’ rivalry. Dog is jealous of Bear for the boy’s affections and nudges him into the bin. All ends well when Bear is safely retrieved after his adventure. Thought and speech bubbles reveal what the characters are really thinking.

What the Ladybird Heard
Julia Donaldson, illustrator Lydia Monks
Macmillan
Age 3-5

Ladybird may be tiny but she’s the heroine whose clever plan saves the cow from being stolen by two crafty robbers at the farm. She just needs a little help from her noisy friends. Watch and listen to the author singing the song of the book here.

See our activities for What the Ladybird Heard

(See also : The Snail and the Whale, The Gruffalo, The Gruffalo’s Child, Room on the Broom and more).

Where’s My Teddy?
Jez Alborough
Walker
Age 5-7

Bear and Eddie are frightened when thy bump into each other in the woods, until they realise they have something important in common. They both love their love their Teddy Bears! A humorous, touching tale of vulnerability. (See also It’s the Bear!, My Friend Bear, Duck in the Truck and more).
Click here to see lovemybooks activities.

| admin | April 16, 2015

NEW Complete list of books and activity pages

Here’s a complete list of all our book activity pages – click on the link and it will take you to the activity page

V = Video
AB = Activity Book

A

Aaaarrgghh Spider Lydia Monks V

The Acorn Edward Gibbs

Albert Talbot Master of Disguise Ben Manley, illus. Aurélie Guillerey V

Alfie Gets in first Shirley Hughes V

Almost Anything Sophy Henn

The Animal Boogie Debbie Harter V

The Astounding Broccoli Boy Frank Cottrell Boyce, illus. Steve Lenton AB

Avocado Baby John Burningham

B

The Bad Bunnies Magic Show Mini Grey

Banana! Ed Vere V

Bear and Bird Jarvis V

The Bear and the Piano David Litchfield V

Bear Shaped Dawn Coulter-Cruttenden V

Beetle Boy MG Leonard V AB

Be Brave Little Penguin Giles Andrae, illus. Guy Parker Rees

The Bed Book Sylvia Plath and Cindy Wume V

Beegu Alexis Deacon

Betty goes Bananas Steve Antony V

Big Green Crocodile Jane Newberry, illus. Carolina Rabei V

A Big Mooncake for Little Star Grace Lin V

The BFG Roald Dahl AB

Billy and the Beast Nadia Shireen V

Billy’s Bucket Kes Gray, llus Garry Parsons V

Biscuit Bear Mini Grey V

A Bit Lost Chris Haughton V

Black Cat White Cat Silvia Borando

Blue Chameleon Emily Gravett

Blue Monster Peter Horacek V

Bog Baby Jeanne Willis, ill. Gwen Millward

Boot: Small Robot Big Adventure Shane Hegarty AB

Boundless Sky Amanda Addison, illus. Manuela Adreani

The Boy at the Back of the Class Onjali Rauf, illus. Pippa Curnick AB

The Boy who Climbed into the Moon David Almond AB

The Boy who Sailed the World Julia Green, illus. Alex Latimer

Brown Bear Brown Bear, What Do You See? Bill Martin Jnr, illus Eric Carle

Buckle and Squash and the Monstrous Moat Dragon Sarah Courtauld

Burglar Bill Allan Ahlberg, illus Janet Ahlberg V

C

Car, Car, Truck, Jeep Katrina Charman, illus. Nick Sharratt V

Can I Sit in the Middle Susanne Strasser V

Charlotte’s Web EB White V AB

The Chinese Emperor New Clothes Ying Yang Competine, illus David Roberts V AB

Chocolate cake Michael Rosen, illus Kevin Waldron V

The Christmas Eve Tree Delia Huddy, illus Emily Sutton

Cinderella of the Nile Beverley Naidoo V AB

Clean up! Nathan Bryon, illus. Dapo Adeola

Clever Polly & the Stupid Wolf Catherine Storr

The Comet Joe Todd Stanton

The Cooking Club Detectives Ewa Jozefkowicz

Coyote’s Soundbite – a poem for our planet John Agard, illus. Piet Grobler AB

The Crocodile who didn’t like water Gemma Merino V

D

The Darkest Dark Chris Hadfield, illus The Fan Brothers V

The Dawn Chorus Suzanne Barton

Dear Dinosaur Chae Strathie, Nicola O’Byrne

Dear Zoo Rod Campbell

Dig dig digging Margaret Mayo, illus Alex Ayliffe V

Diggersaurs Michael Whaite V

Dinosaur chase Benedict Blathwayt

Dinosaur roar Paul Strickland, illus Henrietta Strickland

Dinosaurs and all that rubbish Michael Foreman V

Do not enter the monster zoo Amy Sparkes, illus Sara Ogilvie

Don’t worry little crab Chris Haughton

A Dog So Small Philippa Pearce V

Dogger Shirley Hughes V

A Dollop of Ghee and a Drop of Wisdom Chitra Soundar, illus. Uma Krishnaswamy V

Down by the station Jess Stockham

The Dragon in the Library, Louie Stowell

Dragon Mountain Katie and Kevin Tsang V AB

The Drum Ken Wilson Max, illus Catell Ronca V

Dylan’s amazing dinosaurs EJ Harper, illus Dan Taylor

E

Each Peach Pear Plum Allan Ahlberg, illus Janet Ahlberg V

The Elephants umbrella Laleh Jaffari, illus Ali Khodai V

The Emerald Forest Catherine Ward, illus Karen Littlewood V

Eliot Midnight Superhero Anne Cottringer, illus Alex T Smith

Elmer David McKee V

Eloise Undercover Sarah Baker AB

The Everywhere Bear Julia Donaldson, illus Rebecca Cobb

The Explorer Katherine Rundell AB

The Extraordinary Gardener Sam Boughton V

Everybody’s Welcome Patricia Hegarty, illus Greg Abbott

F

Fair Shares Pippa Goodhart, illus Anna Doherty

Farha loves mangoes, Sarthak Sinha

Farmer Duck Martin Waddell, illus Helen Oxenbury

The Fastest Tortoise in Town Howard Calvert, ill. Karen Obuhanych

Fire Fox Alexandra Page, illus. Stef Murphy V

The Firework Maker’s Daughter Philip Pullman AB

Five little men in a flying saucer Dan Crisp V

Five Minutes Peace Jill Murphy

Flora and Ulysses, the illuminated adventures Kate Camillo V AB

Flooded Mariajo Ilustrajo V

The Forgettery Rachel Ip, ill. Laura Hughes

Fortunately the Milk Neil Gaiman, illus Chris Riddell

Frindleswylde, Natalia and Lauren O’Hara

Gaspard the Fox Zeb Soanes, illus. James Mayhew

G

Gerald the lion Jessica Souhami

The Ghost train Allan Ahlberg, illus Andre Amstutz V

Gigantic Rob Biddulph V

The Gigantic Turnip Alexsei Tolstoy, illus Naimh Sharkey V

Gina Kaminski Saves the Wolf Craig Barr Green, illus Francis Martin

Giraffes Can’t Dance Giles Andreae, Guy Parker Rees V

The Girl and the dinosaur Hollie Hughes, illus Sarah Massini

Gloria’s Porridge Elizabeth Laird, illus. Toby Newsome

The Glassmaker’s Daughter Diane Hofmeyr, Illus Jane Reay V

Goodbye Grandma Melanie Walsh

Goodnight Spaceman Michelle Robinson, illus Nick East V

Grace and Family Mary Hoffman, illus Caroline Binch V

Granpa John Burningham V

A Great Big Cuddle Michael Rosen, illus Chris Riddell V

Grobblechops Elizabeth Laird, illlus Jenny Lucander V

The Gruffalo Julia Donaldson, illus Axel Scheffler

Grumpy Frog Ed Vere V

H

The Hairy toe Daniel Postgate V

Halima Superhero Princess Emily Joof, illus. Asa Gilland V

Handas surprise Eileen Browne V

Hairy MacLary from Donaldson’s Dairy, Lynley Dodd V

Harry and the bucket of dinosaurs Ian WhyBrow, illus Adrian Reynolds

Have you seen Elephant David Barrow V

Here come the aliens Colin McNaughton

The Highwayman Alfred Noyes V AB

The Highway Rat Julia Donaldson, illus Axel Scheffler V

Honey biscuits Meredith Hooper, illus Alison Bartlett

Hooray for Fish Lucy Cousins V

Hooray for Bread Allan Ahlberg, illus Brice Ingman

Hortense and the Shadows O’Hara Sisters

How to hide a lion Helen Stephens V

I

I am Absolutely TOO Small for school Lauren Child V

I am Henry Finch Alexis Deacon

I Love you Blue Kangaroo Emily Gravett V

I want to be in a scary story Sean Taylor

I was made for you David Lucas

If I had a dinosaur Gabby Dawnay, illus Alex Barrow

If I Had a Sleepy Sloth Gabby Dawnay, illus Alex Barrow

If you meet a dinosaur Paul Bright, illus Hannah George

In the dark dark wood Jessica Souhami

Into the Forest, Anthony Browne

Iris and Isaac Catherine Rayner V

The Iron Man Ted Hughes AB

J

The Jasmine Sneeze Nadine Kaadan

Jolly Christmas Postman Allan Ahlberg, illus Janet Ahlberg V

The Journey Home Frann Preston Gannon

Julian is a mermaid Jessica Lowe

The Jumblies Edward Lear V AB

Just like Grandpa Jazz Tarah.L.Gear, illus. Mirna Imamovic

K

Katie & the dinosaurs James Mayhew

The King who Banned the Dark Emily Haworth Booth

The King With Dirty Feet Sally Pomme Clayton, illus. Rhiannon Sanderson

Kipper’s Birthday Mick Inkpen V

Knuffle Bunny Mo Willem V

L

The Last Wolf Mini Grey

Last: The Story of the White Rhino Nicola Davies V

Leon the Extraordinary Jamar Nicholas V

The Lighthouse Keeper’s Lunch Ronda and David Armitage V

Lima’s Red Hot Chilli David Mills, ill. Derek Brazell V

The Lion Inside Rachel Bright

Little Bad Man and the Killer Aunties Humza Arshad and Henry White, Illus Aleksei Bitskoff V AB

Little Monkey Marta Altés V

Little Mouse’s Big Book of Fears Emily Gravett

Little Red and the Very Hungry Lion Alex T Smith

LIttle Rabbit Foo Foo Michael Rosen, Arthur Robins (illus)

The Littlest Yak Lu Fraser, ill. Kate Hindley V

Look Up! Nathan Bryon, illus Dapo Adeola

Lost and Found Oliver Jeffers

Lullabyhullababboo Mick Inkpen

Lulu gets a cat Anna McQuinn, illus Rosalind Beardshaw

The Lumberjack’s beard Duncan Beedie

Luna Loves library day Joseph Coelho, illus Fiona Lumbers

Lunchtime Rebecca Cobb

M

Macavity T S Eliot V AB

Man on the Moon, a Day in the life of Bob Simon Bartram

Mango and Bambang, The Not-a-Pig Polly Faber, illlus Clara Vulliamy

The Marvellous Moon Map Teresa Heapy, illus David Litchfield

Matisse’s Magical Trail Tim Hopgood, illus Sam Boughton

Max the Brave Ed Vere

Maybe… Chris Haughton V

Meg and Mog Helen Nicholl ,illus Jan Pienkwski

Miró’s Magic Animals Antony Penrose V

Mister Magnolia Quentin Blake

Meet the Parents Peter Bently, illus Sara Ogilvie

Mog the Forgetful Cat Judith Kerr

Monkey and Me Emily Gravett

Mr Bunny’s Chocolate Factory Elys Dolan

Mr Gumpy’s Outing John Burningham

Mrs Noah’s pockets Jackie Morris, illus James Mayhew

My Brother is a Superhero David Solomons AB

My Dad Anthony Browne

My Green Day Melanie Walsh

My Must-Have Mum   Maudie Smith, illus. Jen Khatun

My Sister is an alien Rachel Bright

N

Naughty Bus Jan and Jerry Oke

A New House for Mouse Petr Horacek

The New Neighbours Sarah McIntyre

The New Small Person Lauren Child

The Night Pirates Peter Harris, illus Deborah Allwright

Nimesh the Adventurer Ranjit Singh, illus Mehrdokht Amini

Noah’s Gold Frank Cottrell Boyce, illus Steven Lenton AB V

No Dinner Jessica Souhami

Not Now Bernard David McKee

O

The Odd Egg Emily Gravett

Oh No George! Chris Haughton

Oi! Get off our train John Burningham

Oliver’s Vegetables Vivian French, illus Alison Bartlett

On Sudden Hill Linda Sarah, illus Benji Davies

On the Moon Anna Milbourne, illus Benji Davies

Once upon a star James Carter, illus Mar Hernandez

One dog and his boy Eva Ibbotson AB

Orange Pear Apple Bear Emily Gravett

Ottoline and the Yellow Cat Chris Riddell

The Outlaw Varjak Paw SF Said V AB

The Owl and the Pussycat Edward Lear

P

Pandora Victoria Turnbull

The Paper Dolls Julia Donaldson, illus Axel Scheffler

Pattan’s pumpkin Chitra Soundar, illus Frane Lessac

Peace at Last Jill Murphy

Peck Peck Peck Lucy Cousins

Penguin Huddle Ross Montgomery and Sarah Warburton (illus) V

Phoenix S F Said V AB

Pirate Stew Neil Gaiman, illus. Chris Riddell V

Please Mr Magic Fish Jessica Souhami

Please Mr Panda Steve Antony

Pom Pom is Super Sophy Henn

The Princess and the Greedy Pea , Leigh Hodgkinson

Pugs of the Frozen North Philip Reeve, illus Sarah McIntyre

Puppet David Almond, illus Lizzie Stewart AB

Pumpkin Soup Helen Cooper

Q

Quiet Tom Percival, ill. Richard Jones V

Quill Soup Alan Durant

Q Pootle 5 Nick Butterworth

R

Rama & the Demon King Jessica Souhami

Red Car Red Bus Susan Stegall

Rigatoni the Pasta Cat Michael Rosen, Illus. Tony Ross

Robin’s Winter Song Suzanne Barton

Rocketmole Matt Carr

Room on the Broom Julia Donaldson, Illus Axel Scheffler

Rosie’s Walk Pat Hutchins

S

The Secret Sky Garden Linda Sarah

Saving Winslow Sharon Creech AB

The Seamaiden’s Odyssey Berlie Doherty, illus Tamson Rosewell AB

Secret of the Tattered Shoes Jackie Morris, illus. Ehsan Abdollahi V AB

Shark in the park Nick Sharrat

Shhh! Sally Grindley, illus. Peter Upton

Shh we have a plan Chris Haughton

Shifty McGifty and Slippery Sam Tracey Corderoy, illus Steven Lenton

The Skull Jon Klassen V

Silly Suzy Goose Petr Horacek

The Snail and the Whale Julia Donaldson, illus Axel Scheffler

Snow Sam Usher

The Snowbear Sean Taylor

The Snowflake Benji Davies

So Much Trisha Cooke, illus Helen Oxenbury

The Something Rebecca Cobb

Sona Sharma, Looking After Planet Earth Chitra Soundar, illus Jen Khatun AB

Sophie and the new Baby Catherine & Laurence Anholt

Space Dog Mini Grey

Space Tortoise Ross Montgomery, illlus David Litchfield

Stanley’s Stick John Hegley, illus Neal Layton

Steven Seagull Action Hero Elys Dolan

Stomp Chomp Big Roars! Here come the Dinosaurs Margaret Mayo, illus Alex Ayliffe

Stomp Dinosaur Stomp Kate Umansky, illus Nick Sharratt

Stop the Clock Pippa Goodhart, illus. Maria Christiana V

The Storm Whale Benji Davies

A Story about Afiya James Berry, illus Anna Cunha

Sunk! Rob Biddulph

Superbat Matt Carr

SuperJoe does not do cuddles Michael Catchpool, illus. Emma Proctor

Super Milly and the Super School Day Stephanie Clarkson, illus. Gwen Millward V

T

Tad Benji Davies

The Tale of Angelino Brown David Almond AB

10 things I can do to help my world Melanie Walsh

Ten Delicious Teachers Ross Montgomery, illus. Sarah Warburton V

The Three Happy Lions Louise Fatio, illus. Roger Duvoisin

Tilly and the Time Machine Ade Edmondson, illustrated by Danny Noble

That rabbit belongs to Emily Brown Cressida Cowell

There’s a rang tan in my bedroom James Sellick, illus Frann Preston-Gannon

There’s a tiger in the garden Lizzy Stewart V

This is Our House Michael Rosen, illus Bob Graham

The Thunk Michelle Robinson, illus. Deborah Allwright

Tidy Emily Gravett

Tiger Walk Dianne Hofmeyr, illus Jesse Hodgson

The Tiger who came to Tea Judith Kerr

The Tin Forest Helen Ward, illus Wayne Anderson

Titch Pat Hutchins

Tomorrow Nadine Kaadan

Tom’s Sausage Lion Michael Morpurgo AB

Toys in space Mini Grey

Traction man is here! Mini Grey

Train Judi Abott

The Train Ride June Crebbin, illus Stephen Lambert

Tyger SF Said, iIllus Dave McKean V AB

Tyrranosaurus Drip Julia Donaldson

U

Uncle Gobb and the Dread shed Michael Rosen, illus Neal Layton

V

Valentine’s Guest House Sam Sharland V

Varjak Paw SF Said AB

The Velveteen Rabbit Margery Williams, illus William Nicholson V

The Very Hungry Caterpillar Eric Carle

W

The Way Back Home Oliver Jeffers

The Weed Quentin Blake

We are Definitely Human X.Fang

We’re going on a Bearhunt Michael Rosen, illus Helen Oxenbury

We’re Going to Find the Monster Malorie Blackman, illus. Dapo Adeola V

What the Ladybird Heard Julia Donaldson, illus Lydia Monks

Whatever Next Jill Murphy

The Wheels on the Bus Annie Kubler

Where my feet go Birgitta Sif

Where the Wild Things Are Maurice Sendak

Where’s my Teddy? Jez Alborough

Where’s Spot? Eric Hill

Window Jeannie Baker

When the Sky Falls Phil Earle V AB

The Wolf Wilder Katherine Rundell V AB

The Wooden camel Wanuri Kahiu, illus Manuela Adreani

Y

You’re snug with me Chitra Soundar

Z

The Zebra’s Great Escape Katherine Rundell, ill. Sara Ogilvie V AB

Zombierella Fairy Tales Gone Bad Joseph Coelho, illus. Freya Hartas V AB

| admin | October 7, 2019

The BFG

Roald Dahl, Quentin Blake (illus)
Puffin
Age 6-9

Roald Dahl’s BFG is one of the most memorable characters in children’s fiction and this (reportedly) is Dahl’s favourite of all his books.

The story tells of Sophie, living in an orphanage, who is snatched from her bed one night by a giant who takes her far away. Fortunately for Sophie, this is a kind and friendly giant who spends his days catching dreams and his nights blowing them into the bedrooms of sleeping children. The other giants are not at all friendly however and when Sophie finds out they are planning to steal children from their beds in England and eat them she hatches an urgent plan. Sophie and the BFG, with the help of the Queen, save the day. The evil giants are captured and their punishment is to eat a diet of disgusting ‘snozzcumbers’, until then the BFG’s only food.

This is an exciting adventure story set in an imaginary magical parallel world where dreams are created. The story is, at times, scary but full of humour, sadness, acts of bravery and friendship. Moral dilemmas such as the difference between stealing and borrowing provide plenty to talk about, as does ‘Gobblefunk’ the BFG’s made up language which is great fun, ‘scrumdiddlyumptious’ in fact!

The latest edition illustrated above includes a cover image from the 2016 Spielberg feature film, an introduction by Dahl’s daughter Lucy and a list of characters.

Watch a trailer for the movie here

Talk about the story

Which bits of the story did you like most? Did any scene stay in your mind?
Which part was the funniest, scariest, saddest or most exciting?
Talk about dreams and what you remember of them, what ‘ingredients’ would your child like to mix to make a lovely dream?
Talk about the BFG’s funny words and phrases, the ones you each remember and liked. It might be fun to use some of them in everyday conversation eg ‘Is I right or is I left?’
Talk about the BFG ‘borrowing’ a book for fifty years, should he have done this?

Things to make and do

Make a book
Make a zig zag book together. Children can draw the main characters from the story in it, add labels and notes about each character.

Make a dictionary
Children could use a notebook or make a sewn book to list some of the BFGs words and phrases in his special language ‘Gobblefunk’ and write what they mean. They could do this as they read the book or go back to the book when they have finished to collect words.

Make a dream jar
Give children an empty plastic jar or bottle so that they can try ‘mixing’ a dream. They could do this for example, by colouring cotton wool with paint, see here for ideas.

When they have finished children can make a label for their dream jar .

Dress up like the BFG
Collect some old clothes so your child can dress up like the BFG. You could make big ears together and a cardboard tube trumpet.

Try role playing some of the things the BFG does such as taking phenomenal leaps. Take photos of your child dressed up as the BFG and choose a few to print out or share.

Write a menu…
for the BFG or a shopping list for the royal kitchen in case the BFG comes for breakfast at the Palace again. See our template here.

See our print-off activity book with some of these ideas and other activities

Find out more

Find out about dream catchers in Native American Indian Culture

Make a dream catcher

Find out more about giants in mythology and literature

How many other stories about giants can you think of?

Find out more about Roald Dahl: Visit the Roald Dahl Museum in Buckinghamshire

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory

Fantastic Mr Fox

James and the Giant Peach

The Magic Finger

Boy and Going Solo (autobiographical)

Read the Fantastic Mr Dahl by our patron Michael Rosen which looks at the ‘ingredients’ which make Dahl a fantastic writer for children.

Find out more about illustrator Quentin Blake
Books written and illustrated by Quentin Blake include:

Mister Magnolia – see lovemybooks ideas

Cockatoos

Patrick

Clown

Buy the BFG

| admin | August 29, 2016

The Weed

Quentin Blake
Tate Publishing
Age 3-7 years

When the Meadowsweet family find themselves at the bottom of a deep crack in the earth, they have to depend on Octavia, their talkative mynah bird, and a very unusual seed to rescue them and help them climb back into the world.

With echoes of the beanstalk, this joyfully illustrated fable for our times shows human reliance on the natural world and each other for survival, growth and happiness.

Share the story

Read aloud

Read the story aloud, taking time to talk together about the pictures as you do. Encourage children to imagine what might happen next and turn the page to see if their predictions were right. Talking about the book deepens children’s enjoyment and understanding of the story.

Join in
Read the story again, this time leaving spaces for children to join in.

Talk about the story

Read aloud, pausing to talk about the illustrations, and consider how the family could escape. Before turning the page, predict what might happen next.
How do the Meadowsweet family feel at the beginning of the book and how do they feel at the end of the story? What has made a difference?
Talk about the different characters in the story, your favourite and why.
What is the story is about? What do the Meadowsweet family discover is important by the end of the book?