Stick Man

This is another fantastic book by Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler. WOW! A while ago my mum bought Alice (my 2 year old) 'The Gruffalo' and since then we've never looked back. When I came home with 'Stick Man' Alice sat on her bed and listened to the WHOLE story without one word. She didn't turn the pages quickly / comment on the pictures / ask for a biscuit - nothing. She just wanted to hear the story and soak in the beautiful illustrations.

I don't quite know why Julia Donaldson's books work so well with Alice. Perhaps it's the rhythm and rhyme, perhaps the illustrations, perhaps the combination of both and perhaps the wonderful story lines. But this has overnight become a firm favourite.

And, if your child starts talking about a tiger in the book (there isn't one), have a look at the cat near the end. As Alice says: 'thought was a cat. Wasn't. Was a TIGER.'

You can't read this and then look at a dog chasing a stick in the same way ever again. I'm very grateful to this partnership - long may they bring out such brilliant books.