Latest news with #Gruffalo
Glasgow Times
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Glasgow Times
'Much-loved' Gruffalo trail near Glasgow has reopened
Children in East Dunbartonshire can once again enjoy the magic of the Gruffalo story with the return of the much-loved trail at Kilmardinny Nature Reserve. A collection of seven carved wooden characters from the iconic children's book by Julia Donaldson have once more taken up residence in the park at Kilmardinny Loch near Bearsden. The characters will also appear on a new carved wooden seat. The Gruffalo Trail was first introduced in 2012 and became a popular attraction for children and the young-at-heart. The carvings were removed from the park in 2023 due to weather damage. 'Much-loved' Gruffalo trail near Glasgow has reopened (Image: SALLY G) The reinstatement of the trail has been commissioned and installed by the Council's Streetscene Technical Support team. Councillor Paul Ferretti, convener of the Place, Neighbourhood and Corporate Assets committee, welcomed their return and was joined by children from Bearsden Early Years Centre to officially open the Gruffalo Trail. The kids were happy to see the trail reopened (Image: SALLY G) Councillor Ferretti said, 'I am delighted to see The Gruffalo Trail return to Kilmardinny Loch. It was previously a much-loved feature which attracted visitors from East Dunbartonshire and beyond, and I'm sure that will be the case again. 'The Trail brings another element of enjoyment to this picturesque area by providing a wonderful, free activity for families.' The carvings include a large Gruffalo, Gruffalo's Child, Little Brown Mouse, Fox, Owl, Snake and Frog.
The Guardian
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Guardian
‘We think Princess Pearl is a feminist icon': readers' favourite Julia Donaldson books
Last week, Stuart Heritage ranked his 15 favourite books by Julia Donaldson, and readers have responded with their own opinions, along with memories of reading her beloved stories to their children. Here are some of the most popular picks from the Gruffalo author's gigantic oeuvre. Monkey Puzzle is my three-year-old daughter's favourite book. She's bilingual, and – for this book specifically – she always wants me to read it in Arabic. So it's 'La, la, la!' instead of 'No, no, no!', otherwise she doesn't like it (and she lets me know about it). Her Arabic is much better because of this book, at least when it comes to animal-related vocabulary. We went to a zoo the other day, and she referred to the elephant's trunk in perfect (Sudanese) Arabic – a proud parenting moment for me. Affa, Glasgow My son is multisensory-impaired, he has nystagmus and unilateral hearing loss, and has always loved stories as somewhere that he can completely immerse himself. Julia Donaldson's have always appealed and, though it's difficult to know how much of the detail in the illustrations he can see, he loves to point out the characters or items of interest. Monkey Puzzle is often revisited, and if there's a part that I misread then it will be corrected. He particularly loves naming all of the animals after I have read the 'No, no, no!' part and we will often repeat these to each other in the day and laugh. I know that this is something that will always bring a smile to his face. William, East Sussex Fifteen years later I can recite The Gruffalo word for word. My son insisted on me reading it to him at bedtime every night for the best part of a year! If I ever go on Mastermind it would be my specialist subject! UncleKarlM My daughters are now 14, 17, and 20. Julia and Axel [Scheffler]'s books are as indelibly imprinted in my memory as the Ladybird books I read as a nipper in the 70s. When the animated version of The Gruffalo was broadcast for the first time I sat us all down excitedly to watch (they were still of an age where they would mostly listen to anything I had to say) – within seconds I was in bits. All those years of reading it to them, but it was like someone was reading it to me. Very embarrassing. stripsidebob My children used to give me belly laughs all the time. One of my favourites was when my son was four and I was reading The Gruffalo to him and his older cousin who was visiting. I got to the bit just before the real Gruffalo appears and he stopped me and said earnestly to his cousin: 'There's a Gruffalo along in a minute.' Like most things that cause a complete collapse this probably doesn't sound funny to other people but I was laughing so much I couldn't speak for five minutes. WithoutPurpose I think The Paper Dolls is an amazing book; definitely my No 1. It touches on so many themes: imagination, loss, memories, cruelty, play and the way traditions are passed down through generations. Such a talented combination of author and illustrator to cover all of that in a relatively low number of words and a few pages. Most importantly, it's still simple and entertaining enough for little ones to understand and enjoy. Both my kids are too old for it now, but I've kept a copy, and hope to be able to read it to grandkids one day. ProfyleNeim Sign up to Bookmarks Discover new books and learn more about your favourite authors with our expert reviews, interviews and news stories. Literary delights delivered direct to you after newsletter promotion Paper Dolls never fails to move me to tears, absolute heartbreaker. Like a flash-forward to the kids leaving home. Had to stop reading it coz they kept asking me if I was all right. JosephFrady My son absolutely loves this book. When he watches the animation he just laughs and laughs. We listen to the soundtrack in the car, too, and he greets people saying: 'Stand and deliver!' which is both hilarious and mortifying. Susannah Mohammed Our two-year-old, Phoebe, loves all of the Julia Donaldson books but her favourite is Zog. From a very young age she loved the illustrations of the brightly coloured dragons and all of Zog's mishaps. We think Princess Pearl is a feminist icon for challenging traditional stereotypes about what girls can do and she has inspired our daughter to want to be a doctor and look after people (and dragons) when she grows up. Amy Peck, Chelmsford
Daily Record
6 days ago
- Daily Record
Scotland's best 'whimsical fairy walks' for family day out this summer named
The country's top fairy trails have been crowned. Scotland's top "whimsical fairy walks" for a family day out this summer have been named. The list was put together by experts at VisitScotland. With June almost over and the middle of summer on the horizon, now is a great time to head out on a family walk. For those who are looking for something to do with their little ones, Scotland is home to numerous fairy walks. VisitScotland shared a roundup of "whimsical fairy walks to explore in Scotland". A total of 11 trails and gardens across the country are featured on the list. One Scottish fairy walk singled out by the experts is Ardkinglas Woodland Garden near the hamlet of Cairndow in Argyll. The garden is known for its popular Gruffalo and Fairy trails. The Gruffalo trail at Ardkinglas Woodland Garden uses boards that show extracts from the Scots version of the famous book to link the story to the surroundings. The 400-metre-long walk features sculptures of characters Mouse and Gruffalo and features recognisable landmarks from the book such as Tod's den, Hoolet's home, and Snake's logpile house. Meanwhile, the garden's Fairy trail is situated in the lower part of the woodlands. It includes a number of specially designed fairy houses for little ones to discover. VisitScotland praised Ardkinglas Woodland Garden for its "atmospheric woodland" and "cathedral-like canopy of soaring trees". The experts also described the attraction as "spellbinding" for both children and adults. A second "whimsical" walk in Scotland named by VisitScotland is The Secret Forest at Kelburn Estate. The estate, which is most well-known for its colourful castle, is home to the Secret Forest. The Secret Forest is comprised of a labyrinthine trail through the estate's surrounding woodlands. It includes houses for giants, swamps for crocodiles, and even a 35-feet-high Pagoda. Elsewhere, VisitScotland also singled out the Loch Lomond Faerie Trail. Located in the village of Luss along the western shore of Loch Lomond, the trail offers a "delightful adventure through our enchanting woodlands" according to its website. The Loch Lomond Faerie Trail features fairy houses, sparkly wings, and "magical" mushrooms. All tickets also include a visit to Faerie Tale Farm, which is home to animals such as Highland Cows, donkeys, goats, and sheep. Another fairy walk named among the most "whimsical" in Scotland is The Bubbling Toad in Gorebridge. Situated just outside of Edinburgh, the attraction features a 'Hollow' filled with scrolls and hanging charms and an area for 'potion-making'. VisitScotland stated: "Scotland's fairy trails and magical walks are perfect for all ages. From castle grounds to city parks, these family-friendly routes will enchant you with awe-inspiring landscapes that feel lifted from a fantasy tale. "Whether you're exploring with little ones or seeking an imaginative escape, these trails promise magic at every turn." More information and the full list of "11 Whimsical fairy walks to explore in Scotland" can be found on the VisitScotland website.
Time Out
17-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Time Out
The Smeds and The Smoos
This review is from 2023. Kids' theatre company Tall Stories has been touring its stage version of 'The Gruffalo' for over 20 years now – it's almost the same age as Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler's iconic picture book. Though the company has dipped its toes in other waters, there's no denying that it has found a niche: the other shows in its current repertoire are a version of 'Gruffalo' sequel 'The Gruffalo's Child' (returning to the West End this Christmas!), plus Donaldson and Scheffler's much-loved 'The Snail and the Whale' and 'The Smeds and the Smoos'. Directed by Toby Mitchell, latest show 'The Smeds…' has been knocking around in touring form for a year or so but finally makes its West End debut this summer. And it's very charming, in a predictable way. Tall Stories is ruthlessly efficient at the whole 'take a bedtime story that you can read in five minutes and stretch it to an hour' thing. An opening reference to '2001: A Space Odyssey' is a hoot, there are some nice songs from John Fiber and Andy Shaw, and Barney George's sets and Yvonne Stone's puppets do a decent job of channelling Scheffler's eccentric, cuddly vision of space, as feuding tribes of aliens – the red Smeds and the blue Smoos – set out on a galactic odyssey to find their youngsters Bill and Janet, who have eloped together. Though it can't really compete in visual pizazz with the BBC's recent animated version, it is pretty much a faultless exercise in modestly budgeted kids' stage adaptation. Personally, I can't help but wish Tall Stories demonstrated a bit more audacity: their take is very much What You Expect, and the Kubrick gag at the start is basically as off-piste as it gets. But it absolutely does the trick: kids who love the book will surely love the play, and if you were already considering taking your little ones to 'The Smeds and the Smoos', you absolutely should.
BBC News
12-06-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Zog: Royal Mint's new coin to mark dragon's 15th anniversary
Zog is appearing on special 50p coins to mark the anniversary of the popular picture has been 15 years since since Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler's enthusiastic but accident-prone dragon was first design features Zog flying, complete with tiny wings and a determination to earn a golden star at Dragon new coin is the latest addition to the Royal Mint's childhood characters collection - which also includes The Gruffalo and The Gruffalo's Child. Julia Donaldson, the author behind Zog, said she was delighted with the news."When I wrote his story 15 years ago, I never imagined he would fly so far into people's imaginations. "Seeing our determined dragon on a 50p piece would definitely earn him a golden star from Madam Dragon," she explained. Illustrator Axel Scheffler added: "Drawing Zog with his big friendly face and clumsiness has always been such a joy. "To see my illustrations transformed onto a coin is an incredible honour."The Royal Mint - which produces and distributes coins in the UK - said they were "thrilled" to add Zog to an official 50p coin as part of the childhood characters character coins have included the Snowman, Paddington Bear, and Wallace and Gromit.
