Wednesday, 5 February 2025

Oh Don't You Know, There's No Such Thing As...


 ...A Gruffalo
I was quite thrilled to read last week that Julia Donaldson has become the UK's best selling author, by volume, since accurate records began. She has beaten J K Rowling to the top spot. My family love her books [is it really five months since Jess went to see Zog at the Theatre, wearing her doctor's outfit?]
I didn't intend to do two  book reviews in one week, but when I took the Duplo into the Hospice Shop, I picked up this book for £1,

It is based on the recipes referenced in the original story, like Gruffalo Crumble and Roasted Fox. The author is not named, but it is all very well thought out.




















There are breakfast dishes, and sweet treats, and in between you can find snacks and main meals. I like the fact that two thirds of the recipes are savoury, and even the sweets are not too heavy on added sugar [eg the Mouse's Nut And Date Bars are sweetened with fruit]
The illustrations are delightful, interspersing pictures from the original book with photographs of the food. And they are so inventive, and look very tasty
Snake's Logpile House is a stack of lengths of celery [stuffed with peanut butter and raisins, or cream cheese and poppy seeds]
I think these would make delightful foods to serve at a Gruffalo themed party.
There are Turned Out Toes[ mini beef burgers] Poisonous Warts [pea and feta frittatas] Orange Eyes [Cheesy Quiches] and Roasted Fox [sweet potato wedges]
Terrible Tusks are fruit skewers, and of course there is Owl Ice Cream [with bananas and almonds] And finally a Gruffalo Cake
I am looking forward to Rosie arriving for half term, and we can try out some of these recipes. Then I can give a proper review. But it will be 5* I expect
I came across a lovely YouTube clip of the story. The BBC animated film is excellent [I do not know if this link will work]
But here is Julia herself, with friends, retelling the story beautifully. She plays the part of the mouse....

Does your family love Ms Donaldson's books too?
Which food from the book would you choose to eat?





4 comments:

  1. What a beautiful book! I loved Julia Donaldson and I sometimes flicked through those books even when I wasn't reading them to bear. They are so beautifully crafted.

    And it's just in time because we have a birthday coming up and that book would be perfect as a gift.

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    1. The recipe instructions are carefully marked with "join in" gruffalo paws 🐾wherever it is an activity which is safe for children. And each one ends with a Twists and Tips box, suggesting substitute ingredients, and helpful hints. With adult supervision it would work with children age 2½+ I think

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  2. I've never really had much to do with the Gruffalo - shocking really, but it's usually been below my year group!!

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    1. Kezzie I am SHOCKED. How do you not know this? You must go to your Early Years dept ASAP and ask to borrow a copy. It would be a great basis for a music lesson because all the children know the story so well. You could do a Peter and the Wolf type composition with different instruments for the animals...🐭🦊🐍🦉

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