What the Ladybird Heard, by Julia Donaldson, ill. Lydia Monks
All the animals on the farm have something to say, a unique voice of their own to celebrate loudly – except the ladybird. She is quiet as can be, until the night she overhears a devious plan to steal the prize-winning cow and organizes the other animals into action, foiling the plot and saving the day, all in a wee whisper.
This tale of a tiny hero is a winner as much for its nicely bouncy rhymes as for its unspoken message about the value of the silent observer. The animals’ plan here is a great one, too, utilizing those same animal voices to fool the thieves (something I haven’t read before!) and the book is kept in a nice balance – simple, short, but possessed of clever little details.
Monks’ signature jaunty illustrations are well-pitched for this story and age group, and are particularly good for fun stories like this one (she also illustrated a silly favourite in our house, Falling For Rapunzel, to great effect). I’m not convinced of the need for the featured glitter on the cover and the ladybug throughout the book, but neither does it detract. A cute farmyard romp with a twist!
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