What the Ladybird Heard
Macmillan
Age 3-7

Two robbers have a cunning plan; to steal the fine prize cow from the farm. Luckily a little ladybird hears them and works out a clever way for the farm animals to trick them.

Rhythm, rhyme and repetition make this story fun to read aloud and encourage children to join in. The illustrations are lovely, detailed and colourful with a glittery ladybird which is fun to spot too.

Share the story

Read aloud
Before you begin reading the book talk about the cover. Which animals will be in this story? Then look at the double page spread at the beginning. What is happening on the farm? Have you been to a farm?

As you read the story to your child pause when your child wants to talk about the illustrations and what is happening. Can they spot the glittery ladybird on every page?

It would be fun to vary your voice as you read, with animal noises and whispering for the ladybird and the robbers.

Join in
When you read the book again your child can join in with parts of it, for example the animal noises and the loud ‘Splosh!’ when the robbers fall in the pond. They might like to whisper a message to you, just like the ladybird does.

Talk about the story

Talk about how the ladybird and the animals tricked the robbers. What is happening in the illustration on the final end paper? Which page do children like best? Share your favourite parts of the story.

Things to make and do

Draw a map of the farm and the robber’s plan

Story play
Act out part of the story pretending to be the robbers with a map, and a torch (real or improvised with a cardboard tube) tiptoeing quietly and turning left and right.

Have fun whispering different messages and secret plans to each other.

Play a game
Use the farm picture at the beginning of the story to play a game together.

First time – take turns pointing to an animal and your partner has to make the animal’s sound.

Second round – when you point to an animal your partner has to make the wrong sound!

Write a letter
Write a letter from the robbers to the farmer to say sorry for trying to steal the cow. 

Find out more

Watch Julia Donaldson and her husband Malcom sing a song about the story here

Look out for ‘What the ladybird heard next’ by Julia Donaldson and Lydia Monks

Read more books by Julia Donaldson here

Titles include:

Room on the Broom

Snail and the Whale

The Gruffalo

Read more books by Lydia Monks here

Titles include

Aaaarrgh Spider

Go Go Gorilla

Mungo Monkey Goes to School

Buy online

Julia Donaldson, David Roberts (illus)
Macmillan Books   
Age 5-7

This is the story of a duckbilled dinosaur egg that lands in a Tyrannosaurus’ nest. Problems begin when the egg hatches and Drip, a vegetarian dinosaur  finds himself surrounded by a family of fierce carnivores. A story about not fitting in, Julia Donaldson’s use of rhyme and rhythm make it great for reading aloud and joining in.

Share the story

Read aloud
Before beginning the story look at the cover together, opening it out to see the whole dinosaur on the front and back cover. Talk about what might happen in the story.

Join in
As you re read the book encourage children to join in with the refrains such as ‘Up with rivers! Down with water!’ And ‘SPLASH!’

Talk about the story
Which pages did children like best? Choose your favourites and discuss them.

Talk about why Drip didn’t fit in and wanted to run away.

Tell the story
Using the pictures in the book or model dinosaurs children could tell the story in their own words.

Watch a video

Watch Julia Donaldson and her husband Malcolm singing a song about Tyrannosaurus Drip here 

Things to make and do

Play the story
Using green and red plasticine or playdough make some duckbilled and tyrannosaurus dinosaurs.

Place a blue cloth on the floor or a table to represent the river and arrange the model dinosaurs on each side. Children can act out parts of the story.

Make a nest of dinosaur eggs
Make a nest out of materials such as twigs, dried grass or screwed up newspaper.

Finely crack some hard boiled eggs, dip in food colouring and peel after a few hours to make mysteriously patterned eggs to put in your nest. See here for more detail: 

Write a menu for Drip
What kind of food would Drip like? Talk about what Drip wanted to eat in the story and other foods he might like. Children could make a menu especially for him.

Find out more

Read more books by Julia Donaldson, titles include:

* The Gruffalo

A Squash and a Squeeze

* Room on the Broom

* The Snail and the Whale

The Stick Man

* See more lovemybooks ideas

Find out more about dinosaurs here, here and here.

See here for more dinosaur themed activities.