Where were you when you read the book?
Sitting on the floor in the living room. Dylan was very excited to see it (he knew the tv version before reading the book!)
What did you / your child enjoy about the book?
Pretty much everything. Dylan was enthralled and excited to get his own copy and be able to take in all the words and pictures. That sounds obvious, but he spent ages poring over each page, really looking at every detail (Look, a worm! It’s the fox!) and loved getting involved with the bits he remembered.
It’s a delightful tale. You can see why it’s become so well known and is one of our best books for 4 year olds. Dylan loved controlling the pace of the book, and after a couple of reads (he demanded an immediate re-read) he was echoing quite a large chunk of it.
On occasion, going through a book can feel like something I’m driving, but this felt more like a shared activity than spending time reading TO him. We acted out a few of the scenes and he jumped in joyful excitement at all the right points.
I wonder how much of my performance and reading style is influenced by having seen the TV adaptation – and likewise – his responses to it.
The balance of words to pictures on each page seems perfect. Some of the other books we’ve read recently can lean too much in one way or the other, meaning he loses interest and needs to be coaxed back to paying attention – not here!
Any Surprises / Feedback?
No surprises. Having seen the film so often it felt like reading an old friend. My partner and I ended up reading it together to him on a second run-through – one of us narrating, the other doing the characters, which he loved. He was very involved, and there’s lots of scope to act the story out as it’s being read.
On a rating out of 5, how likely would you recommend it to other parents?
5. There’s a reason it’s become a classic. From the marvellous mouse to the gruesome Gruffalo, the characters all have their own personalities - and it’s great to read with your little one.