THE HIGHWAY RAT by Julia Donaldson

“Give me your pastries and puddings!
Give me your chocolate and cake!
For I am the Rat of the Highway
and whatever I want I take.”

So let me start by saying in our house we LOVE Julia Donaldson books. So many to choose from – The Gruffalo, A Squash and a Squeeze, Room on a Broom, Toddle Waddle (this one is brilliant for babies and very young children.. my son made us read so many times we know it by heart!)

The Highway Rat however has it all, a baddie, a goodie and a fantastic tale about a rat who steals all the food from all the animals, until a plucky duck comes up with a cunning plan. My eldest (2 1/2 years) is completely obsessed with this book (particularly when my husband reads it in a really funny voice!) It’s written in the style of The Highwayman by Alfred Noyes (thankfully not as dark or gruesome!) The illustrations are vivid and bright (by Axel Scheffler). There’s a moral to the story but it doesn’t come across as preachy or patronising. Would say the age range is from 2-6. Definitely one for the bookshelf!