Category Archives: Julia Donaldson

The Snail and the Whale: An Intrepid Snail Sails The Seas

The Snail and the Whale by Julia Donaldson is fantastical tale on a snail who travels the world on a great, big humpback whale.

Quick Takes

  • Readability – Just doable by Agent C (6.5 years old)
  • Reading time – 7 minutes
  • Adventure Boyz Rating – 8/10
  • Perfect for – A bedtime book to snuggle up to

What Makes It A Favourite?

Dad’s View

This is a go to book that has taken on legendary status in our household as it is just a great original story. I would put this in the same arena as Tabby McTat for a classic children’s book that is an enjoyable read and doesn’t try to preach too much (I don’t think there is a moral to the story here… unless it’s about reading the fine print on salsa labels).

I suppose it’s not unlike good taco. Tasty, easy to eat and decent nutritionally. Yes, a taco.

The Kids’ Take

Agent C loved the adventure of this book

Agent B enjoyed the idea of a snail who would travel on a the back of whale.

Buy or Borrow It?

Buy. Like Tabby McTat, this is all time favourite in our household. I highly recommend this one as a gift for your own family or another’s.

Tabby McTat by Julia Donaldson Review: A Busker Cat’s Adventure

Quick Takes

  • Readability – Agent B (6 years old) could read most of it
  • Reading time – 5-7 minutes
  • Adventure Boyz Rating – 8/10
  • Perfect for – a whimsical bedtime story (and for those who like cats!)

What Makes It A Favourite?

Tabby McTat is an all-time favourite in our household that we’ve read over ten times – more so since we’ve gotten a cat of our own (named Kit Cat). Tabby McTat is a hardy busker’s (Fred) cat whose life takes a turn when his owner is hospitalised, leaving McTat to fend for himself. McTat ends up finding a partner and living a very different, very domesticated life. He loves his new life and new family, but can’t help but wonder where his owner has gone (and the life he once lead).

And often he said, “What’s happened to Fred?”
And his paws took him back to the square.
But a conjuror stood where the pair once sat,
And he pulled out this…
And he pulled out that…
And people threw coins in the tall black hat,
But he busker was never there.

Dad’s View

This phonetically fun book to read. Like all great kids books, on one hand it is a simple story about a cat living a rather romanticised life as a busker, who then becomes accustomed to more ‘boring’ life as living a a house with a cat and human family of his own. Sound familiar?

There’s a part in this tale where McTat makes the hard decision to temporarily leave his family to find Fred. That had a bit of feels. I guess we are all like McTat?

The Kids’ Take

Agent C likes the storyline of McTat’s life, which starts off as a busker’s cat, getting ‘married’ and then parenthood. He also likes the reference to Fred eating bacon and bread, which sparked a semi-regular breakfast for the kids of, well, bacon and bread!

Agent B is likes that it is about a cat (I know, I know, it’s because we have a beloved cat of our own), and that it tells a story about a father and his son.

Buy or Borrow It?

We’ve bought this one! It is having a second (and third) wind in our household since the arrival of our own cat!