Now that we are into the Spring season, it’s a great time to visit the farm. One particular farm that children love to visit (as do I) is the farm in the children’s classic picture book What the Ladybird Heard, written by Julia Donaldson and illustrated by Lydia Monks. It is bursting with colour, rhythm and charm, the kind of story that invites young readers to smile when picking it up, giggle at the antics of the farmyard animals and join in with the animal noises long before the final page. For families looking to share a lively, interactive read‑aloud, this book is a delight from start to finish and an excellent start to the What the Ladybird Heard series of books.
The story centres on a quiet little ladybird who lives on a bustling farm filled with noisy animals. There is of course a cow that moos, a that dog barks, a fat red hen that clucks, a goose that hisses, a duck that quacks, a horse that neighs, a hog that oinks, a sheep that baas, a cat that miaows while another purrs and the ladybird that never says a word. But this isn’t just a story about farmyard animals making noises, it is a tale of theft! Also on the farm come two bumbling thieves, Hefty Hugh and Lanky Len. They have hatched a plan to steal the farmer’s prize cow! But it is the it’s the smallest and quietest creature on the farm who becomes the unexpected hero. With quick thinking and a clever plan, the ladybird rallies the animals to outsmart the crooks in a wonderfully chaotic and satisfying twist.
Overall, What the Ladybird Heard is definitely a true classic when it comes to children’s picture books – it is not only a fun read but it gets everybody joining in, both children and adults! And the ladybird never says a word.
What the Ladybird Heard is a 32 page story told in rhyming verse about an attempted robbery and how the ladybird and farm animals thwart the bumbling thieves. It is also charming tale of teamwork and cleverness – it’s playful, musical and irresistibly fun to read aloud. The story bounces along with a rhyming confidence that makes the youngest listeners, and even the oldest, feel part of the story. The repetitive text and animal sounds, turns the reading experience into a shared performance. It encourages participation, whether you’re reading one‑on‑one at bedtime or sharing it with a group of eager listeners.
While the pages tell a fun story about two not so mastermind criminals, it also demonstrates that even the quietest voices can make a big difference and how working together as a team can help overcome problems.
And no picture book is complete without the illustrations. While the story is lots of fun, the illustrations by Lydia Monks elevate the story further. The images on the pages are bright and expressive, full of personality. While full of character with different farm animals and farmyard scenes, eagle-eyed readers will also be able to spot the little ladybird in every scene – some obvious and some not so, making it not just a storybook but a seek-and-find adventure that gets children engaged with the story.
What the Ladybird Heard is a vibrant, joyful rhyming picture book that young readers and families will enjoy. The language is great, the artwork is dazzling and it gets all readers involved, especially when it comes to the animal noises – there is definitely plenty of “moo‑ing” along the way.
If you’re building a home library for little ones, this is a must‑have – it is been a true favourite of Young Page Turners for years. And the 15th Anniversary Edition of the book has a rather cool foil cover and bonus material from its creators.
Rating: 5/5
RRP: £7.99 (Paperback)
For more information, visit www.juliadonaldson.co.uk. Available to buy from Amazon here.
