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Julia Donaldson Activities and Videos

Discover fun and educational Julia Donaldson activities and videos to engage young readers and bring beloved storybooks like The Gruffalo and Room on the Broom to life through crafts, songs, and learning ideas.

Julia Donaldson Books

We are so excited to announce that Julia Donaldson is this month’s featured author for the Virtual Book Club for Kids! 

Julia Donaldson Author Study

Julia Donaldson is a British author, playwright, and former Children’s Laureate, best known for her much-loved children’s books like The Gruffalo, created with illustrator Axel Scheffler. Born in London in 1948, she began her career writing songs for children’s television before moving into writing books. Her big break came in 1999 with The Gruffalo, which quickly became a modern classic thanks to its catchy rhymes and imaginative storytelling.

Donaldson has written many other popular books, including Room on the Broom and Stick Man, and she served as the UK Children’s Laureate from 2011 to 2013. Her stories are known for their rhythmic text, memorable characters, and wide appeal to young readers around the world. With dozens of bestsellers to her name, Julia Donaldson is considered one of the most influential children’s authors of her time.

Fun Facts about Julia Donaldson for Kids

Here are 5 fun facts about author Julia Donaldson:

  • She wrote songs before books – Before becoming a famous author, Julia wrote songs for children’s television shows, including Play School.
  • The Gruffalo almost didn’t happen – She originally planned to write a story about a tiger, but changed it to a made-up creature called the Gruffalo because “tiger” didn’t rhyme easily!
  • She loves performing – Julia often puts on live shows of her books, acting out the stories with costumes, songs, and puppets.
  • Her husband helps her on stage – Her husband, Malcolm, plays music and joins her in performances for children.
  • She’s written over 200 books – Many of them are for schools and learning, not just the famous storybooks we see in shops!

Books by Julia Donaldson

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Julia Donaldson’s books are known for their catchy rhymes, fun characters, and imaginative stories that are perfect for young children. Many of her most popular books, like The Gruffalo, Room on the Broom, and Stick Man, are illustrated by Axel Scheffler and have become modern classics.

Her stories often feature animals, adventure, and themes like friendship, bravery, and kindness. With rhythmic language and playful storytelling, her books are not only fun to read aloud but also help children develop a love of reading.

Here’s a look at our favorites from her collection of books she’s written…

One unique fact about Julia is that she is from the United Kingdom. We’ve shared quite a bit about the United Kingdom on our site and now we can add authors to it! Truthfully I wanted to know more about her and explore her work with my daughter.

We checked out her website and found that she’s involved in many things from writing to singing to performing! We actually learned that many of her books originated from songs. Although she’s famous for the Gruffalo, she’s love to be known for all the many other books s he’s written too! We discovered that there are so many videos of her. Many include her husband Malcolm singing too!

It was quite fun to be able to get to know her and to show my daughter how the writing process works. She even shares her brainstorming notebook in one of the videos below.

For beginning story writers I love showing kids how the process works for even adults. Do you have an author’s notebook set up for your child?

Author Julia Donaldson

Julia Donaldson Official Website

Book Activities for Julia Donaldson’s Books

Gruffalo Activities

Room on the Broom Activities

Stick Man Activities 

Videos of Julia Donaldson

Julia Donaldson’s stories have been brought to life on YouTube through a delightful collection of videos that include animated adaptations, read-alouds, and performances. These videos feature beloved tales like The Gruffalo, Room on the Broom, and Stick Man, often accompanied by engaging illustrations and narration.

Some videos showcase Donaldson herself reading her books, offering a personal touch that fans cherish. These YouTube offerings provide an accessible and entertaining way for children and families to enjoy her stories, promoting literacy and a love for reading through visual and auditory storytelling.

If you’re interested in exploring these videos, here are some you might enjoy:

Enjoy watching and immersing yourself in the magical world of Julia Donaldson!

Get to know both author Julia Donaldson and illustrator Alex Scheffler and how they worked together to create so many wonderful stories!

In of of the videos author Julia Donaldson shares props from her performances and how at age twelve she was influenced by Shakespeare in a little performance. Do you read Poetry with  your kids? Do you create shows with them? Use Julia’s books to inspire you to start!

Here’s videos of all of Julia Donaldson Songs for you to explore.

For more videos and resources check out her Julia Donaldson’s Website

Pinterest Boards & Websites We LOVE for

Julia Donaldson Virtual Book Club for Kids

Exploring Julia Donaldson’s works offer readers a delightful journey into the world of children’s literature, where imagination and learning go hand in hand. Her stories, rich with rhythm and engaging narratives, have become staples in classrooms and homes alike. By integrating her books with interactive activities and videos, you can enrich the reading experience for your child, making it both educational and fun.

Whether you’re a parent, educator, or simply a fan, delving into the world of Julia Donaldson promises endless opportunities for creativity and connection.

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    Comments

    2. Thanks for the great collection of videos. Can't wait to watch all of them and look through all the Pinterest boards!

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