Her rhyming tales have enchanted children and parents the world over – but which is the best? From a busker’s cat to a greedy rat, it’s time to rate the hits
Parents: what is your child’s favourite Julia Donaldson book?
Although Julia Donaldson is best known for her work with Axel Scheffler, her books made with other illustrators yield their own delights. Illustrated by Rebecca Cobb, 2012’s The Paper Dolls has an irresistible sense of childlike wonder, following a string of cut-out dolls as they explore a house while trying to avoid scissors.
Key line They were Ticky and Tacky and Jackie the Backie and Jim with two noses and Jo with the bow.
The festive BBC adaptations of Donaldson’s work are so beloved that it’s easy to overlook how some stories work much better as films than others. Tabby McTat – in which a cat becomes separated from his busker friend – is one of the best. There’s a real sense of melancholy to some of the sequences, before the happy ending – exactly what you want at Christmas.
