book cover

What the Jackdaw Saw

by Julia Donaldson, illustrated by Nick Sharratt

Interest age: 5+
Reading age: 6+

Published by Pan Macmillan, 2015

  • Picture books
  • Poetry and rhyme
  • Deafness
  • Disability

About this book

An excited Jackdaw is just desperate to tell everyone about his birthday party. So he flies over land and sea, city and forest, inviting all the animals to come. However, one after another, various creatures respond by simply touching their heads. Whatever are they doing?

What the distracted jackdaw has failed to realise is that is he flying towards a violent thunderstorm - and he's soon engulfed by a huge black cloud; leaving his feathers decidedly ruffled. It's only when he complains to a helpful owl that no one had warned him, that the jackdaw is finally enlightened - the animals had been signing the word for 'danger'.

This ingenious tale is brought to life by Julia's energetic rhyming text and Nick Sharratt's delightfully inclusive cast of characters, dancing, prancing, strumming and swinging their way across the pages. Whilst What the Jackdaw Saw will of course be welcomed by all those who use sign language, this is very definitely a book for all children. Its highly entertaining story combined with a powerful universal message about effective communication is relevant and appealing to all.

The book is enhanced still further by the inclusion of some British Sign language at the end, enabling any child to try signing key words from the story for themselves.

About the author

Julia Donaldson is one of today's most popular writers. Her bestselling titles include The Gruffalo, The Gruffalo's Child and Room on the Broom. Although she is best-known for her picture books, Julia also writes longer novels, plays and songs. She lives in Glasgow and spends a lot of time on stage performing her brilliant sell-out singalong shows!

Julia Donaldson was the Children's Laureate 2011-13.

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