The Grinny Granny Donkey by Craig Smith

Illus. by Katz Cowley. Scholastic, 2020. ISBN: 9781775435976.
(Age: 4+) Recommended. Older children will love this hilarious sequel to The wonkey donkey and The dinky donkey, and will have fun calling out 'Hee Haw' and trying to remember the story as it accumulates along the way. This time the donkey is a grandmother:
There was a sweet donkey who lived on the heath.
She was so funny with her false teeth . . .
And her teeth provide much of the humour in the story as she looses them, sips her favourite brew, dunks biscuits, goes for a walk, puts on her jewellery and plays her banjo. Children will enjoy following the journey of this fabulous grandmother with her glitzy jewellery, smart glasses and most of all her love for her family. By the end of the song, each verse building on the previous one, children will be trying to say 'a grinny granny plunky-plinky swanky clinky-clanky zonky dunky-drinky clunky donkey!' They can sing along to the song, which is available on Craig Smith's website where there are also links to other songs that he recorded.
The illustrations are incredible, the donkey's false teeth feature prominently and the blue coat and strange eyebrows add to the humour. A little butterfly-like fairy can also be seen on each double page spread and will be another feature for the curious child to follow as they read the story.
A celebration of grandmothers, The granny granny donkey will be a hit with children. Themes: Donkeys, Verse, Sing-along, Read aloud, Humour, Family.
Pat Pledger