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Cook & The King
There once was a very hungry king
Who needed a cook like anything . . .
. . . but the king is very fussy, and none of the cooks he tries can make a dish that tastes just right. Then the most unlikely of chefs comes along: the shuffling, shaking Wobbly Bob. He’s scared of everything, from catching fish to digging for potatoes, but can he convince the hungry king to give him the job?
The Cook and the King is a brilliantly funny story from the fantastic picture book partnership of Julia Donaldson and David Roberts, creators of Tyrannosaurus Drip. With clever rhyming verse and richly detailed illustrations, this is sure to become a firm favourite with children and adults alike.
Who needed a cook like anything . . .
. . . but the king is very fussy, and none of the cooks he tries can make a dish that tastes just right. Then the most unlikely of chefs comes along: the shuffling, shaking Wobbly Bob. He’s scared of everything, from catching fish to digging for potatoes, but can he convince the hungry king to give him the job?
The Cook and the King is a brilliantly funny story from the fantastic picture book partnership of Julia Donaldson and David Roberts, creators of Tyrannosaurus Drip. With clever rhyming verse and richly detailed illustrations, this is sure to become a firm favourite with children and adults alike.
32 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2018
About the author
Julia Donaldson
1,174 books1,713 followersGrowing up
I grew up in a tall Victorian London house with my parents, grandmother, aunt, uncle, younger sister Mary and cat Geoffrey (who was really a prince in disguise. Mary and I would argue about which of us would marry him).
Mary and I were always creating imaginary characters and mimicking real ones, and I used to write shows and choreograph ballets for us. A wind-up gramophone wafted out Chopin waltzes.
I studied Drama and French at Bristol University, where I met Malcolm, a guitar-playing medic to whom I’m now married.
Busking and books
Before Malcolm and I had our three sons we used to go busking together and I would write special songs for each country; the best one was in Italian about pasta.
The busking led to a career in singing and songwriting, mainly for children’s television. I became an expert at writing to order on such subjects as guinea pigs, window-cleaning and horrible smells. “We want a song about throwing crumpled-up wrapping paper into the bin” was a typical request from the BBC.
I also continued to write “grown-up” songs and perform them in folk clubs and on the radio, and have recently released two CDs of these songs.
One of my television songs, A SQUASH AND A SQUEEZE, was made into a book in 1993, with illustrations by the wonderful Axel Scheffler. It was great to hold the book in my hand without it vanishing in the air the way the songs did. This prompted me to unearth some plays I’d written for a school reading group, and since then I’ve had 20 plays published. Most children love acting and it’s a tremendous way to improve their reading.
My real breakthrough was THE GRUFFALO, again illustrated by Axel. We work separately - he’s in London and I’m in Glasgow - but he sends me letters with lovely funny pictures on the envelopes.
I really enjoy writing verse, even though it can be fiendishly difficult. I used to memorise poems as a child and it means a lot to me when parents tell me their child can recite one of my books.
Funnily enough, I find it harder to write not in verse, though I feel I am now getting the hang of it! My novel THE GIANTS AND THE JONESES is going to be made into a film by the same team who made the Harry Potter movies, and I have written three books of stories about the anarchic PRINCESS MIRROR-BELLE who appears from the mirror and disrupts the life of an otherwise ordinary eight-year-old. I have just finished writing a novel for teenagers.
When I’m not writing I am often performing, at book festivals and in theatres. I really enjoy getting the children in the audience to help me act out the stories and sing the songs. When Malcolm can take time off from the hospital he and his guitar come too. and it feels as if we’ve come full circle - back to busking.
I grew up in a tall Victorian London house with my parents, grandmother, aunt, uncle, younger sister Mary and cat Geoffrey (who was really a prince in disguise. Mary and I would argue about which of us would marry him).
Mary and I were always creating imaginary characters and mimicking real ones, and I used to write shows and choreograph ballets for us. A wind-up gramophone wafted out Chopin waltzes.
I studied Drama and French at Bristol University, where I met Malcolm, a guitar-playing medic to whom I’m now married.
Busking and books
Before Malcolm and I had our three sons we used to go busking together and I would write special songs for each country; the best one was in Italian about pasta.
The busking led to a career in singing and songwriting, mainly for children’s television. I became an expert at writing to order on such subjects as guinea pigs, window-cleaning and horrible smells. “We want a song about throwing crumpled-up wrapping paper into the bin” was a typical request from the BBC.
I also continued to write “grown-up” songs and perform them in folk clubs and on the radio, and have recently released two CDs of these songs.
One of my television songs, A SQUASH AND A SQUEEZE, was made into a book in 1993, with illustrations by the wonderful Axel Scheffler. It was great to hold the book in my hand without it vanishing in the air the way the songs did. This prompted me to unearth some plays I’d written for a school reading group, and since then I’ve had 20 plays published. Most children love acting and it’s a tremendous way to improve their reading.
My real breakthrough was THE GRUFFALO, again illustrated by Axel. We work separately - he’s in London and I’m in Glasgow - but he sends me letters with lovely funny pictures on the envelopes.
I really enjoy writing verse, even though it can be fiendishly difficult. I used to memorise poems as a child and it means a lot to me when parents tell me their child can recite one of my books.
Funnily enough, I find it harder to write not in verse, though I feel I am now getting the hang of it! My novel THE GIANTS AND THE JONESES is going to be made into a film by the same team who made the Harry Potter movies, and I have written three books of stories about the anarchic PRINCESS MIRROR-BELLE who appears from the mirror and disrupts the life of an otherwise ordinary eight-year-old. I have just finished writing a novel for teenagers.
When I’m not writing I am often performing, at book festivals and in theatres. I really enjoy getting the children in the audience to help me act out the stories and sing the songs. When Malcolm can take time off from the hospital he and his guitar come too. and it feels as if we’ve come full circle - back to busking.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 90 reviews
July 11, 2018
As soon as I saw this was so excited to see it was written by Julia Donaldson! My kids absolutely adore her books. And as suspected, my son (and even my 1 year old daughter) loved reading it! It is now the number one requested book in our house! I have had to read it to them twice today already!
The hungry king needs a new cook! But Wobbly Bob is a bit scared. Of EVERYTHING! Will he get the job of the new cook even though he seems to be too scared to even cut chips?
Its a cute and delightful witty story about the hungry king’s search for a new cook. The illustrations are colourful, beautiful and the rhymes are heaps of fun! My son loves the ending of the story and laughs every time! He loves it when the cook exclaims “I’m scared, I’m scared, I’m terribly scared!”
Easily a 5 star read for the whole family! Loads of fun!
Many thanks to Pan Macmillan for a copy of The Cook and the King for my kids and I to review!
For more reviews check out my Blog
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The hungry king needs a new cook! But Wobbly Bob is a bit scared. Of EVERYTHING! Will he get the job of the new cook even though he seems to be too scared to even cut chips?
Its a cute and delightful witty story about the hungry king’s search for a new cook. The illustrations are colourful, beautiful and the rhymes are heaps of fun! My son loves the ending of the story and laughs every time! He loves it when the cook exclaims “I’m scared, I’m scared, I’m terribly scared!”
Easily a 5 star read for the whole family! Loads of fun!
Many thanks to Pan Macmillan for a copy of The Cook and the King for my kids and I to review!
For more reviews check out my Blog
April 13, 2019
Another good story from the prolific pen of Julia Donaldson - this time accompanied by fun illustrations by David Roberts.
Written in Donaldson's usual accomplished style, but without the illustrations normally provided by her usual collaborator Axel Scheffler - this somehow lacks the magic of classic Donaldson/Scheffler.
A fun and entertaining read though.
Written in Donaldson's usual accomplished style, but without the illustrations normally provided by her usual collaborator Axel Scheffler - this somehow lacks the magic of classic Donaldson/Scheffler.
A fun and entertaining read though.
May 24, 2018
I might be getting old but I haven’t regressed into children’s story books and one single verb sentences.
Old folk were kids however, some even had the delight of reading to their children and in later life still the joy of sharing books with grandchildren.
Julia Donaldson is a recognised author of children’s stories. The Gruffalo being one most kids know without fail. So we are talking about a writer with some nous and clout. It seems her skills of making up stories has been passed onto her son who recounts his own made up tales at bedtime. The result of all this talent is The Cook and the King. I had not heard of it prior to reading it and I am not aware it is the name of a pub.
It is a marvellously funny and repetitive story that will enthuse and assist children as they listen to the words. They form a familiar rhythm as the story progresses and once you start reading it you almost immediately feel you’ve read it before.
Common words are hungry king, anything, I’m scared and I’ll help you.
As in tales of trying to find a prince for a daughter here the king exhausts the finish cooks in the land. He samples the dishes and none are exactly right. Then he notices a timid fellow in cook’s attire who would love the job but at each turn doesn’t have the confidence or courage to perform even the simplest of tasks.
The poor fellow even gets the king to share perfect meal idea and if he could serve it to the king the prestigious job would surely be his.
What follows is an insight into a modern way of working together; in the process both have fun and I’m guessing the king as never been more content with his monarchy and office.
As with all brilliant children’s books the final words are missing. You will have to listen carefully but a little voice will say “Again.” and if not too tired “Again please.”
A sure winner can’t fail to please and motivate kids to read and learn. Warning before reading this book to a child please obtain the parent/guardian’s permission first.
Old folk were kids however, some even had the delight of reading to their children and in later life still the joy of sharing books with grandchildren.
Julia Donaldson is a recognised author of children’s stories. The Gruffalo being one most kids know without fail. So we are talking about a writer with some nous and clout. It seems her skills of making up stories has been passed onto her son who recounts his own made up tales at bedtime. The result of all this talent is The Cook and the King. I had not heard of it prior to reading it and I am not aware it is the name of a pub.
It is a marvellously funny and repetitive story that will enthuse and assist children as they listen to the words. They form a familiar rhythm as the story progresses and once you start reading it you almost immediately feel you’ve read it before.
Common words are hungry king, anything, I’m scared and I’ll help you.
As in tales of trying to find a prince for a daughter here the king exhausts the finish cooks in the land. He samples the dishes and none are exactly right. Then he notices a timid fellow in cook’s attire who would love the job but at each turn doesn’t have the confidence or courage to perform even the simplest of tasks.
The poor fellow even gets the king to share perfect meal idea and if he could serve it to the king the prestigious job would surely be his.
What follows is an insight into a modern way of working together; in the process both have fun and I’m guessing the king as never been more content with his monarchy and office.
As with all brilliant children’s books the final words are missing. You will have to listen carefully but a little voice will say “Again.” and if not too tired “Again please.”
A sure winner can’t fail to please and motivate kids to read and learn. Warning before reading this book to a child please obtain the parent/guardian’s permission first.
February 2, 2020
The King is VERY hungry, and needs a cook, interviews several, none up to his standard, then along comes Wobbly Bob, who is a "bit of a wimp, but I'd love the job". And away they go...…….
The illustrations are quite humorous, as is the dialogue.....
The illustrations are quite humorous, as is the dialogue.....
Read
July 6, 2018Review to come.
It's a cute little story with a good rhythm, but there seems to be something lacking in terms of what we have come to expect from Julia's work.
It's still good fun and kids will still enjoy it, but it's not up there with some of her other work.
This would be a good one for Donaldson's younger fans, as there is quite a lot of repetition, with the same routine (and similar wording) - of the king telling the cook what to do, the cook saying how scared he was, and the king doing the job himself - being repeated four times in this short book.
It's a cute little story with a good rhythm, but there seems to be something lacking in terms of what we have come to expect from Julia's work.
It's still good fun and kids will still enjoy it, but it's not up there with some of her other work.
This would be a good one for Donaldson's younger fans, as there is quite a lot of repetition, with the same routine (and similar wording) - of the king telling the cook what to do, the cook saying how scared he was, and the king doing the job himself - being repeated four times in this short book.
May 16, 2019
I saw where it was going fairly early on, but it was really enjoyable and entertaining watching it unfold, despite the fact that I HATE RHYMING BOOKS.
June 26, 2018
Review to follow!
July 9, 2019
This is the favorite of the books I've read to Alena the past two days. It's funny. I like the illustrations. I would like to read more by this author and illustrator.
January 30, 2024
I thought the pictures were nice, and I liked that the cook was named Wobbly Bob.
May 6, 2019
This is really cute and I love the illustrations style.
May 16, 2019
In this humorous, rhyming book, a king shows off cooking skills he doesn't know he has. Great illustrations and a classic feel.
Veg*n parents note: The major storyline involves preparing fish and chips. We see the cook and the king going out to see on a boat and capturing fishes in a net. Later, we see dead fish (with X-ed out eyes) being fried in a pan. Finally, the fish are eaten by the cook and the king. Veg*n families may want to preview this one and decide if they'd rather choose a book that more closely reflects their values.
Veg*n parents note: The major storyline involves preparing fish and chips. We see the cook and the king going out to see on a boat and capturing fishes in a net. Later, we see dead fish (with X-ed out eyes) being fried in a pan. Finally, the fish are eaten by the cook and the king. Veg*n families may want to preview this one and decide if they'd rather choose a book that more closely reflects their values.
February 23, 2020
Een grappig boek met geweldige prenten door David Roberts over een koning die een kok zoekt en ervoor kiest om een bangige kok aan te nemen. Ik vond het al hilarisch dat hij dat deed, maar het boek werd daarna alleen maar beter en wat was ik trots op de koning. Zoveel boeken laten een koning zien als iemand die afstandelijk is, maar deze doet echt zijn best om de kok te helpen en hem comfortabel te laten zijn. Hopelijk overwint de kok ook de rest van zijn angsten.
Leuk dat je aan het begin de hofdames de poster waarin de kok wordt gezocht ophingen en aan het einde weer opruimden.
Leuk dat je aan het begin de hofdames de poster waarin de kok wordt gezocht ophingen en aan het einde weer opruimden.
August 1, 2019
Poor rhyming, syntax, plot and illustrations were not my cup of tea. "Like anything" is not the most appealing descriptor, particularly for the elected activities.
August 25, 2019
Hilarious!
October 5, 2019
'The Cook and the King' by Julia Donaldson, illustrated by David Roberts, is a cute story that shows how working together, and sometimes working alone with someone by your side, can lead to success. When the King hires Wobbly Bob to be his new cook, he gets more than he bargained for. Wobbly Bob tells the King from the moment he is hired that he is a “bit of a wimp” but would love the job. The King, eager to have someone fill the position, takes Bob on, but soon he finds himself catching the fish, chopping potatoes, frying everything up, and more. Wobbly Bob is too scared to do any of these things. The King, though, takes on the challenge, encouraging Wobbly Bob to let him help. In the end, the final product is made by the King, but he is shown to have enjoyed the process of working with Bob to do the work and make the food, priding Bob (and himself, by extension) on a job well done.
Also author of 'The Gruffalo,' Julia Donaldson has a knack for fitting words together and working with her illustrators to make the images spring to life. This book does well with that, and it captures a lot of themes, from kindness and growth to teamwork and independence. Donaldson also uses a nice amount of rhyming and repetition to make the book accessible to young readers.
Beth Rodgers, Author of 'Freshman Fourteen' and 'Sweet Fifteen,' Young Adult Novels
*Review originally posted at YABooksCentral.com*
Also author of 'The Gruffalo,' Julia Donaldson has a knack for fitting words together and working with her illustrators to make the images spring to life. This book does well with that, and it captures a lot of themes, from kindness and growth to teamwork and independence. Donaldson also uses a nice amount of rhyming and repetition to make the book accessible to young readers.
Beth Rodgers, Author of 'Freshman Fourteen' and 'Sweet Fifteen,' Young Adult Novels
*Review originally posted at YABooksCentral.com*
February 18, 2022
This book reminds me of a story about an older king in his 50s marrying a dowager queen of a certain age. She’d had a husband who could play the slide trombone while he wanted a queen who could bake him zwieback cookies. He couldn’t play an instrument and she didn’t bake. But, after getting to know each other, they discovered they liked one another very well indeed. So they agreed to marry and never mention the words “slide trombone” or “zwieback” Then one day, they’re both out of sorts and say the forbidden words…
The king in this story is persnickety, quarrelsome and impossible to please when it comes to his food tastes. Then he meets a wimpy cook who apparently can’t cook for beans.
The ensuing story shows the king learning to take care of his own needs while teaching the squirrelly chef what really needs doing in the kitchen. The book is funny and a sly mini-documentary on getting people to help themselves. After all, we only truly appreciate a reward when we’ve earned it fairly and through our own efforts.
The ending is amusing and not what you’d expect but it’s a cute story nonetheless. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I suddenly have a craving for fish and chips.
The king in this story is persnickety, quarrelsome and impossible to please when it comes to his food tastes. Then he meets a wimpy cook who apparently can’t cook for beans.
The ensuing story shows the king learning to take care of his own needs while teaching the squirrelly chef what really needs doing in the kitchen. The book is funny and a sly mini-documentary on getting people to help themselves. After all, we only truly appreciate a reward when we’ve earned it fairly and through our own efforts.
The ending is amusing and not what you’d expect but it’s a cute story nonetheless. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I suddenly have a craving for fish and chips.
August 7, 2019
In this new fairy tale, a hungry king needs to find a cook. After trying many cooks and rejecting them all, he ends up with Wobbly Bob. The king then asks for his favorite dish—fish and chips—but Wobbly Bob is “terribly scared” about every aspect of food preparation. The king looks sympathetically on the shaking cook and helps him to prepare the meal. Through the pictures, readers see that the king really enjoys catching the fish and chopping up potatoes for chips. When they finally sit down to eat, he decides Wobbly Bob is the perfect cook for him!
I appreciated the elements borrowed from classic fairy tales present in the repetition of Wobbly Bob’s speech and the tasks of preparing the king’s meal. Colorful, eccentric details in the illustrations - like one fierce-looking cook and a Viking longship - intrigued me as well. Rhyming text makes this a great book to read out loud!
Elizabeth L. / Marathon County Public Library
I appreciated the elements borrowed from classic fairy tales present in the repetition of Wobbly Bob’s speech and the tasks of preparing the king’s meal. Colorful, eccentric details in the illustrations - like one fierce-looking cook and a Viking longship - intrigued me as well. Rhyming text makes this a great book to read out loud!
Elizabeth L. / Marathon County Public Library
August 10, 2019
A king in search of a royal cook auditions a chef who is afraid of everything, and together they make fish and chips.
Set in a pseudo-medieval kingdom, a finicky king is unable to find a cook to his liking until Wobbly Bob applies for the job. To test his culinary skills, the king requests he make fish and chips, and Wobbly Bob is so nervous that the king agrees to help him. His majesty ends up doing most of the work without realizing it. Naturally, he is pleased with the meal and hires Wobbly Bob as the royal chef.
The text has a strong rhyme scheme with repetitive phrases.
This is a silly story with no real moral. Picky eaters may relate to the king's predicament in not enjoying the meals that they are served and wish to make their own meals.
Set in a pseudo-medieval kingdom, a finicky king is unable to find a cook to his liking until Wobbly Bob applies for the job. To test his culinary skills, the king requests he make fish and chips, and Wobbly Bob is so nervous that the king agrees to help him. His majesty ends up doing most of the work without realizing it. Naturally, he is pleased with the meal and hires Wobbly Bob as the royal chef.
The text has a strong rhyme scheme with repetitive phrases.
This is a silly story with no real moral. Picky eaters may relate to the king's predicament in not enjoying the meals that they are served and wish to make their own meals.
October 1, 2019
Cute picture book that is a twist on the Little Red Hen. Hungry king doesn't like any of the dishes various cooks serve him. He tries out another cook, who is a "wimp", and the wimp gets the king to do all of the prep work, AND the cooking. At the end, the cook, still clueless, shares the meal with the cook and hires him.
Illustrations by David Roberts (of Rosie Revere Engineer fame) are awesome. Lots of movement, lots to look at and explore. They follow the story well.
My only hesitation about this book is the fact that I felt the rhyme of "like anything" to "king" is one that I don't think kids will even understand that idiom. Maybe I'm wrong. Because it's a necessary repetitive phrase, the very first rhyme on page 1 would have to be restructured.
Illustrations by David Roberts (of Rosie Revere Engineer fame) are awesome. Lots of movement, lots to look at and explore. They follow the story well.
My only hesitation about this book is the fact that I felt the rhyme of "like anything" to "king" is one that I don't think kids will even understand that idiom. Maybe I'm wrong. Because it's a necessary repetitive phrase, the very first rhyme on page 1 would have to be restructured.
Read
August 27, 2022When kids get to about four years of age they start grasping the more subtle aspects of narrative, like irony and role reversal, and start finding humor in understanding things that the characters in the story seem oblivious to. Such is the case with this book, which I used for the first time yesterday in a library program with a group of four-year-olds. They loved it. I was pleasantly surprised when the kids started joining in with Wobbly Bob's refrain of "I'm scared! I'm scared! I'm terribly scared!"
As great as this is for a story-time, the wonderful illustrations are best seen close up, so it would great as a one-to-one book as well.
As great as this is for a story-time, the wonderful illustrations are best seen close up, so it would great as a one-to-one book as well.
January 14, 2020
A king wants a cook who will cook his meals exactly the way that he likes them. Scads of aspiring royal chefs audition without any luck, but it's Wobbly Bob (afraid of absolutely everything) who inadvertently reveals the solution. Just don't tell Wobbly Bob or the king: one would fear the outcome, and the other would likely pout.
It's funny, a joy to read with a steady cadence and good rhymes, and nicely illustrated with detailed drawings.
It's funny, a joy to read with a steady cadence and good rhymes, and nicely illustrated with detailed drawings.
August 27, 2021
We thoroughly enjoyed the book. We laughed it out and re-read the book so many times. My daughter renamed the book as The Hungry King and The Cook. Humour is a genre we love to read. Also, we enjoy books from Julia Donaldson, one of the prime reasons why we picked this book.
That little mouse in the book stole our attention too. As a parent reader, I enjoy enacting the book to my daughter. It has helped her understand the characters and the story much better. That helps her retell the story with lovely actions on her own.
I would highly recommend this to every early reader.
That little mouse in the book stole our attention too. As a parent reader, I enjoy enacting the book to my daughter. It has helped her understand the characters and the story much better. That helps her retell the story with lovely actions on her own.
I would highly recommend this to every early reader.
August 11, 2024
This is a different artist from Axel. It's sort of weird artwork and yet funny and awesome. It's set in Renaissance times and the costumes drawn are wild and hilarious. I love it.
Julia tells the story in her signature rhymes. She is so good at rhyming and it drives her storytelling. I love it.
The King is looking for a chef that can cook. Sadly, no one in the kingdom is able to satisfy him. He meets this scaredy-cat cook. The King asks him to cook Fish and Chips. Each time, the King gives him a task, the cook says, I can't, I'm too scared and the King ends up doing it.
So, the King likes the kings cooking. It's a delightful story, really. I can see kids loving this story.
Julia tells the story in her signature rhymes. She is so good at rhyming and it drives her storytelling. I love it.
The King is looking for a chef that can cook. Sadly, no one in the kingdom is able to satisfy him. He meets this scaredy-cat cook. The King asks him to cook Fish and Chips. Each time, the King gives him a task, the cook says, I can't, I'm too scared and the King ends up doing it.
So, the King likes the kings cooking. It's a delightful story, really. I can see kids loving this story.
May 26, 2018
It will only take the adult reading this to their child until halfway to know the real moral behind the story, but rest assured this is such a wonderful book they'd better get used to it, as they'll be reading it more than a few times. I might not have given the artwork itself a full five stars – rather a decent four, with some fun details – but the bounce of the rhyming text and the fun of the simple tale come with timeless appeal.
July 19, 2019
Another rip-snorter from Ms. Donaldson, and nice to see her words visualised by a different artist this time. The kids (and wife) loved this book like anything. Almost as much as the Gruffalo. By the time we needed to return it to the library, Jack had memorised the text in record time. (He has a great stalling technique too – asking me to identify everything in the garden in the “dig” two-page spread). Interesting story to go with the rhymes, too, ripe for lots of contextual analysis. 10/10
October 3, 2019
"There once was a very hungry king/Who needed a cook like anything./So he tried out lots and lots of cooks/With their pots and their pans and their how-to-cook books." And so starts a book about a king who desperately wants to find a cook who can prepare a meal to his liking, but with time, readers learn that if you want something done to your exact liking, you should do it yourself. A sweet story, though it doesn't flow as easily as some of Donaldson's other books.
July 13, 2018
This is a nicely illustrated and well written quick read that young children will definitely enjoy.
There is nothing revolutionary going on here and this isn't one of Julia Donaldson's finest works but none of that really matters when it's a book children will enjoy and will want to read again and again.
There is nothing revolutionary going on here and this isn't one of Julia Donaldson's finest works but none of that really matters when it's a book children will enjoy and will want to read again and again.
October 13, 2020
I really enjoyed this book about a king who couldn’t find the right cook and ended up cooking his own dinner because the last chef was too scared. Julia again uses lots of repetition which is effective for the children to join in with the story. This book shows how people could be scared of doing certain things as they would see the danger however the kind did it and was absolutely fine.
November 8, 2022
Rhyming text and illustrations with an old-fashioned feel to them tell the story of a hungry king looking for a new cook. However, the king is super picky and the cook who finally gets the job is super clever. A bit of a silly story which would make a good read aloud for the right reader and the right group of kids.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 90 reviews