Review by Hag and Con
Christmas Day at 16:35 (BBC ONE) Hag 5 Stars/ Con 51 Stars out of 5
Parent View:
Hilarious and charming family film – the ‘Wallace and Gromit’ for Christmas 2012. Must see TV!!
Room on the Broom Special – Julia Donaldson answer’s ‘Kidz Random Questions’
What is your favourite part of the Gruffalo? Kaeto age 6
The part when the Gruffalo appears.
How many books have you written? Adam age 7, Lola age 6, Shardae age 7, Sonny age 6, Millie age 6
I have written 165 books. (64 of them can be bought in shops, and the other 101 are for schools.)
Where do you write your books? Serena age 7
In my head when I’m in the bath or out for a walk. (I do have my own study, too, and sometimes I write on trains or in the library.)
Do you type the words on a laptop or write them? George age 6
When I’m writing a rhyming book I start off with a pencil or pen, writing in a big exercise book and doing lots of doodles along the way. If the book isn’t going to rhyme I often write it on the computer.
Why do you think your most famous book is the Gruffalo? Lana age 6
Maybe because it’s about a monster.
How old are you? Nife age 6, Lilly age 6
My birthday is 16th September 1948 so you can work it out!
Do you still enjoying writing books? Damiloju age 7
Yes – it’s hard work but fun too.
What is your favourite book? Joseph age 7
It keeps changing. At the moment I have two: “The Snail and the Whale” for younger children and “The Giants and the Joneses” for older ones.
Do you ever change the endings to your books? Taonga age 7
Not usually. I plan the endings before I start writing. But sometimes I change what happens in the middle.
What is your latest book? Josie age 6
I have two, The Singing Mermaid which has pictures by Lydia Monks and Superworm, illustrated by Axel Scheffler.
Hag and Con with Axel
What was your first story? Ashley age 7
A Squash and a Squeeze.
Who did you most enjoy working with during the writing of the Gruffalo’s child? Hag age 8
I loved seeing Axel Scheffler’s pictures (specially the ones of the Gruffalo’s cave.) But I didn’t really work with Axel. He lives in London and I’m in Scotland so it would be hard!
Do you only write story books? Isabel age 6
I also write plays and poems. You can find out all about them on my website, www.juliadonaldson.co.uk
Have you any children? Faith age 6
I have two grown-up sons, Alastair and Jerry. And I have two little grandchildren, Poppy (Alastair’s daughter who is two) and Leo (Jerry’s son who is nearly a year old.)
‘Room on the Broom’ will premier on BBC One as a highlight as their schedule this Christmas. From the creators of The Gruffalo and featuring an all star cast, it promises to be a beautifully animated half hour special.
