What the Ladybird Heard

by Julia Donaldson & Lydia Monks
What the Ladybird Heard cover
Good Books rating 4.56
Children's Fiction
Technical:
  • ID: 298
  • Added: 2025-09-10
  • Updated: 2025-09-10
  • ISBN: 9781529051490
  • Published: 2021-01-01
  • Reviews: 4

What the Ladybird Heard is a charming rhyming picture book by Julia Donaldson, illustrated by Lydia Monks, that features a tiny, quiet ladybird living on a bustling farm. When she overhears two crafty robbers, Hefty Hugh and Lanky Len, plotting to steal the farmer's prize cow, she quietly devises a clever plan to stop them. The story is celebrated for its rhythmic verse, vibrant illustrations, and a fun interactive element of spotting the ladybird on every page. Beyond the engaging plot, the book conveys an important message about courage and the power of small voices, showing that even the quietest and smallest can make a big difference. It has become a modern classic, widely loved for read-aloud sessions with children, and is available with an audio CD read by Alexander Armstrong. The story also inspired several sequels continuing the ladybird's adventures, making it a staple in children's literature for teamwork, ingenuity, and fun farmyard antics.

Reviews
Books for Topics · 2025-09-10
brilliant 4.50

This review celebrates the book as a brilliant rhyming adventure with a cast of beloved farm animals, perfect for reading aloud and engaging young children.

The review emphasizes the dynamic partnership between Julia Donaldson and Lydia Monks, praising the rhyming verse and distinctive, bright illustrations that bring the story to life. The quiet ladybird's cleverness in outsmarting the robbers is highlighted as a charming element that adds to the book's appeal, making it an enduring modern classic for children.

Quick quotes

    What the Ladybird Heard is a brilliant rhyming adventure from the stellar picture-book partnership of Julia Donaldson and Lydia Monks.

    With brilliant rhyming verse from Julia Donaldson, author of The Gruffalo, and bright, distinctive illustrations from award-winning illustrator, Lydia Monks.

    This much-loved modern classic is perfect for reading aloud.

Bibliophiles · 2025-09-10
inspirational 4.50

This children's book is celebrated for its clever protagonist, engaging rhymes, and vivid illustrations that inspire readers to root for the underdog.

The review focuses on the cleverness of the ladybird who outsmarts the bumbling burglars, showcasing bravery and wit as key themes. It emphasizes the book’s playful language and vibrant illustrations as tools that captivate young readers, encouraging them to cheer for a small but resourceful hero. The story is praised for demonstrating that courage and intelligence can overcome physical size and strength, making it a meaningful read for children.

Quick quotes

    A delightful children's book that follows the story of a clever little ladybird who outsmarts a pair of thieves.

    Through its engaging rhymes, playful language, and vibrant illustrations, the story captivates young readers.

    The smallest creature on the farm proves that bravery and wit can triumph over size and strength.

Kids Book Cafe · 2025-09-10
engaging 4.50

Julia Donaldson's storytelling is praised for its entertainment value, thematic depth, and the clever resolution by the quiet ladybird that unites the animals to save the farm cow.

This review applauds Julia Donaldson's mastery in crafting entertaining and thematic stories that are unique yet carry meaningful lessons. The reviewer admires how the usually silent ladybird overhears the thieves and devises a clever plan, involving the animals switching places and mimicking each other's sounds, to outsmart the robbers, creating an engaging and educational narrative for young children.

Quick quotes

    Julia Donaldson is a master in the craft of providing entertaining stories.

    Every story of hers has a theme and a lesson and is intriguing but every story is also very different.

    The thieves land up in the duck pond and are arrested.

Ivy's Library · 2018-06-02
delightful 4.75

The story is praised for its lively rhythm, colorful illustrations, and a meaningful message about the power of quiet voices to make a difference.

This review highlights the book's perfect combination of a tight, bouncy rhythm and bold, colorful animal illustrations by Lydia Monks, which together make the story engaging for young readers. The reviewer appreciates the interactive element of spotting the tiny ladybird on each page and values the underlying message that you don't have to be the biggest or loudest to change the world, as sometimes the smallest and quietest can have the greatest impact.

Quick quotes

    Everything about this book is spot on, from the tight, bouncy rhythm to the bold and colourful animal illustrations.

    There’s also an added extra which fascinates Ivy every time we read it – the opportunity to try and spot the tiny ladybird on every page.

    You don’t have to be the biggest or the loudest to change the world. Sometimes the quietest voice and the smallest gesture can make all the difference.

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