Regular readers of my blog will know that in our house reading is a favourite pastime. The twin’s (age 4) favourite bedtime stories at the moment are What the Ladybird Heard and What the Ladybird Heard Next by Julia Donaldson and Lydia Monks. So we were delighted when the third book in the series came for review; What the Ladybird Heard on Holiday.
In What the Ladybird Heard on Holiday, Hefty Hugh and Lanky Len are back for a third adventure and this time they have left the farm and headed for London, to get rich with a very ambitious theft.
This is the third book in the hugely popular What the Ladybird Heard series. Hefty Hugh and Lanky Len have headed to London to continue their crime spree after twice being thwarted by a little spotty ladybird on the farm. Rather than trying to steal a fine prize cow or the fat red hen they have set their sights higher, they want to steal the Queen’s crown! To do this they need to steal a monkey from the zoo so they can get it to climb through the Queen’s bedroom window and steal her crown.
The little spotty ladybird also happens to be on holiday in London at the same time and overhears the 2 dastardly criminals and their plots. So, with the help of the zoo animals and the Queen’s corgi’s a plan is devised to stop them getting away with it.
Overall, we just loved this book! The boys have the previous 2 books in the series and have nearly worn them out as they have been read that much. Once they saw this new book when they came in from school, they couldn’t wait to look at it and I read it to them 4 times BEFORE they went to bed and once again for their bedtime story!
Written in humorous rhyming verse, it is a story that children will love. And if they have read the previous 2 books they will love following the ladybird’s adventures and meeting new animals. Instead of the well-loved cow, hen, goose, duck, horse, hog, sheep, dog, cats and a farmer we have a crocodile, tiger, lion, monkeys, elephant, camel, hyena, hummingbird and the Queen’s corgi’s.
What the Ladybird Heard on Holiday is a fabulous instalment in this wonderful series by Julia Donaldson. It has been beautifully illustrated by the very talented Lydia Monks. With bright colours and excellent depictions children will very easily de able to follow the story. And don’t forget to look out for the glittery ladybird within the pages!
A fantastic tale that readers of all ages will enjoy.
Rating: 5/5
RRP: £11.99 (Hardback) / £6.99 (Paperback)
Available to buy from Amazon here.