The Grinny Granny Donkey

Wonky Donkey

by Craig Smith, Katz Cowley (Illustrations)

From the internationally-bestselling creators of The Wonky Donkey comes a third member of the family!
There was a sweet donkey who lived on the heath.
She was so funny with her false teeth...
Hee Haw!
Another sequel to the laugh-out-loud viral sensation, The Wonky Donkey, is here! This time, readers will meet Dinky Donkey's grandma: a grinny granky plunky-plinky swanky clinky-clanky zonky dunky-drinky clunky donkey!
Brought to life by Craig Smith's signature playful verses and Katz Cowley's charming illustrations, The Grinny Granny Donkey is just as much fun as her offspring.

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Humor, Animals, Family, Kids, Fiction

24 pages, Paperback

Published November 10, 2020

About the author

Author and musician Craig Smith was born in Clyde, central Otago, in 1972. Shortly after, the family moved to Queenstown where he, his mother and five brothers and sisters grew up. He now lives in Christchurch.

As a child Craig remembers telling his mother, 'When I grow up, I'm going to become a musician.' Her answer was 'You can't do both!' and she was right. When writing songs for the adult arena, Craig couldn't escape his childish side and was soon writing songs for non-grown-ups.

In late 2007 he released his first kids’ album, Not Just for Kids. The first track from this album, 'Wonky Donkey', won the APRA New Zealand Children’s Song of the Year 2008. He turned this song into his first children’s book by teaming up with illustrator Katz Cowley. He is working on turning more of his kid’s songs into books with a CD of the songs included in the future.

Source: https://www.storylines.org.nz/Storyli...

Reviews

[Debbie Wentworth Wilson · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the Wonky Donkey series, the Grinny Granny Donkey introduces the reader to Wonky Donkey's sweet mom who lives on the heath. Though not a romance, you will come away loving the delightful old girl. My daycare students had loved The Wonky Donkey, and I'm sure they will love this book also. Author Craig Smith gives the reader and listeners plenty of opportunities to HEE HAW along with Granny Donkey. I'm looking forward to buying this for my youngest granddaughter for Christmas.

I read this book aloud three times for the sheer delight of trying not to get my tongue twisted.

[Xavier · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is quite a treasure. The book itself does not have a strong story line, but it does offer a nice pattern similar to “The Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly”. At the very end, one of the donkeys has a physical abnormality, which was an opportunity to discuss differences. Overall, I think this is a decent book.

[Diana · Rating 4 out of 5]

I adore this series of books. This one focuses on the grandma donkey. Lots of tongue twisting words. "There was a sweet donkey who lived on the heath, She was so funny with her false teeth. Hee Haw! But her teeth kept falling out! She was a clunky donkey." is how it starts. so humorous, and I love the zany illustrations. She finally sees her son Wonky Donkey and her granddaughter Dinky Donkey at the end, and then she turns into a grinny granny donkey.

[Live, Laugh, Love · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love these books!

[Samantha · Rating 4 out of 5]

Clever idea to incorporate a Gramma, but not as good as the original Wonky Donkey!

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

A cute read-out-loud storybook for young and old alike with beautiful illustrations. After all, isn't there some "plunky-plinky", "dunky-drinky" in all of us.

[Tara Engel · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not as good as the original by this author.

[Nazia Shafik · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed The Wonky Donkey and The Dinky Donkey but this is a bit meh. It doesn't rhyme aswel as the other two. Still a pretty sweet book.

[Brenda · Rating 3 out of 5]

Funny, just not as funny as the Wonky Donkey. Definitely a tongue twister.

[Polly Batchelor · Rating 2 out of 5]

"Hee Haw! But her teeth kept falling out!"

This was mine and Jenson's read for last night as he wasn't in the mood for a chapter book.

I struggled with this one. I didn't like the rhyming style as much as the previous books. I felt it was clumsy and I kept stumbling on certain words - Jenson didn't mind, he knows what I am like. However we both enjoyed making the hee haw noises, even if we sounded nothing like donkeys.

I did enjoy that granny has false teeth, reminded me of my own nanna- whose nickname is Nanna Teeth. When I was younger, one day when I was round her house having a roast dinner, I remember her false teeth fell out straight into her Yorkshire pudding filled with gravy - You don't forget little things like this.

[Bianca · Rating 2 out of 5]

I bought this for my daughter to give myself a break from the Dinky Donkey. She loves that book! It’s a meltdown preventer so a great tool for us. I was hoping that this would be a great alternative. While she seemed to enjoy it, I personally did not. The writing feels clunky and not as polished as the Dinky Donkey. I found myself tripping over words that should have been smooth. All in all, I’m really glad my child isn’t at an age to pick books to read each night because this one would not be fun.

[Anik - MamaBearsBookshelf · Rating 5 out of 5]

This kid's book is about Dinky Donky's grandmother who is a sweet donkey who lived on the heath. She has false teeth.

This book is so sweet and funny. My son totally loved the images and the play with the words. I honestly think any younger kid will love this book. The illustrations are so pretty. We really enjoyed this book, we will be checking out the others in the collection for sure.

I would like to give a big thanks to scholastic Canada for sending me a copy.

[Dina · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you are looking a book to share with your students, may I recommend this book? I loved this book--its text is so funny, plus it is repetitive (which many kids like), has an endearing plot about this granny who loves her granddaughter Dinky, and is a bit of a tongue twister! Highly recommend--I am looking forward to adding this book to our library collection, so I can suggest this title to my students!

[Chazlin Foster · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely LOVE this book too! It is so funny and cute, with the best illustrations. It is the perfect feel-good story for students both young and older. It will surely make them feel like they miss their grandma but also have a good laugh while they are at it. It has the cutest and sweetest ending. I love this series of books so much I can't even explain it! I will reccommend it to anyone, anywhere.

[Kristine Graham · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a funny little read perfect to keep the attention of little ones whilst encouraging slightly older children to read with you.

We enjoy reading this with a 1 year old, 4 year old and 6 year old and whilst my comedic abilities may not be stage worthy, I regularly get a giggle. It's often the go to book on the shelf!

[Sharon Aitchison · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love purchasing and giving the Wonky Donkey books to my great niece and 2 great nephews ~ and then I get to read them to them! My two great nephews live 700 miles from me, but we read together over Facetime. Then I mail the book to them. The Wonkey Donkey series of books are great fun for adult and child. They are extremely creative!

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was written after the original book gained its viral internet fame being read by “the Scottish Granny” and so is dedicated to her and her grandson, Archer.
It’s a lovely addition to the series with more fun word play and brings Wonky Donkey and Dinkey Donkey in at the end too.
A really fun one to read aloud!

[Sandra · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am a fan of the book the Wonky Donkey. One of my best friends bought the Grinny Granny Donkey for me this week and I was thrilled. I read the book to my husband as soon as he came home from work. I am looking forward to reading this to my grandkids and also my parents, both of whom are in their 80's. I am sure they will enjoy it as much as I do.

[Ellon · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was fun to read the “she was a ....donkey” part out loud! (And yes I read that part out loud despite s the fact that I’m home alone 🤣). The rest of the text was slightly clunky but I enjoyed it overall.

[Mickie Cottle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good

Mickie\ My grand daughter love these books.The poems really make them happy and the illustrations are lovely. My 4 year old granddaughter wants to I ow where the mother donkey is.

[Deborah J Miles · Rating 2 out of 5]

Having read The Wonkey Donkey and thoroughly enjoyed the video of the Scottish Granny cracking up reading it, I fully expected another tongue-twistingly, rip-roaringly good read with my granddaughter. Unfortunately I wasn't as impressed with this book, which I found difficult to read.

[Brandon Shank · Rating 3 out of 5]

Wonkey and dinky donkey are phenomenal, in this one to me the rhythm seems more forced and not as fluent. Almost like a comedy with a bunch of quotable lines then the sequel try’s to force what came natural before

[Kirsti Call · Rating 3 out of 5]

Amusing cumulative story!

[Rebecca Hart · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not as funny as Wonky Donkey to me

[Ashlee · Rating 1 out of 5]

I obviously missed the appeal of this book. It was weird to read and pointless. My kids were bored and didn't even want to finish it.

[Lynn Davidson · Rating 4 out of 5]

"There was a sweet donkey who lived on the heath" - this is how the story begins. This funny tale involves false teeth, and an accumulation of comical words to humour the reader. Great illustrations.

[Cris · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love this series!! This one is about Grandma Donkey. It continues the series with the cute, tongue tied rhythms.

[Irene Deen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another winner

I got this book because I loved the first and second books so much! My grandkids love when I read to them.

[Barbara Lovejoy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Some time ago I read the book "Flash" and fell in love with donkeys. Therefore, when I saw this book, I wanted to read it. It is a CUTE story! The illustrations are great!

[Katelin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very cute book with lots of rhyming and fun sounds.