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The Smartest Giant in Town
George wished he wasn't the scruffiest giant in town
So, one day, he sees a shop selling giant-size clothes, he decides it's time for a new look. With smart trousers, a smart shirt, stripy tie and shiny shoes, George is a new giant.
But on his way home, he meets various animals who desperately need his help ... and his clothes!
"My absolute favourite of this year's picture books ... Julia Thompson and Axel Scheffler are a combination made in heaven." - The Independent on Sunday
"Who could resist?" - The Sunday Times
So, one day, he sees a shop selling giant-size clothes, he decides it's time for a new look. With smart trousers, a smart shirt, stripy tie and shiny shoes, George is a new giant.
But on his way home, he meets various animals who desperately need his help ... and his clothes!
"My absolute favourite of this year's picture books ... Julia Thompson and Axel Scheffler are a combination made in heaven." - The Independent on Sunday
"Who could resist?" - The Sunday Times
32 pages, Paperback
First published September 1, 2002
About the author
Julia Donaldson
1,172 books1,697 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 322 reviews
March 30, 2019
Love, love, love Julia Donaldson and the kindest giant in the town!
August 21, 2019
What a nice story! My 7 years old daughter had to read it for her summer homeworks, we read it together. The story is very simple, the giant after having bought new clothes for himself, met new people in need or in dangerous situations, so he gave them little by little her new clothes and accessories in order to let them stay better. A very cute way to learn generosity and friendship. she likes this book very much! the pictures by Alex Sheffler are wonderful!
April 17, 2019
Another pretty book by Julia Donaldson and illustrator Axel Scheffler.
George the Giant gives all his new clothes to his little animal friends who need them.
In the end, he may not be the smartest giant in town but he is definitely the kindest.
George the Giant gives all his new clothes to his little animal friends who need them.
In the end, he may not be the smartest giant in town but he is definitely the kindest.
September 9, 2022
The combination of Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler work so well together as writer and artist and they do not disappoint in 'The Smartest Giant'. Who could not feel sorry for Scheffler's Giant, named George, when he is 'the scruffiest giant in town' and who could not feel so proud of him when he is kitted out in all new clothes that make him the smartest giant in town?
But ... after he had bought a smart shirt, a smart pair of trousers, a smart belt, a smart stripy tie, some smart socks with diamonds up the sides, and a pair of smart shiny shoes, it all goes downhill!
On his way home from the shop where he had purchased his new outfit he meets various animals, all of whom are in some sort of distress. And, being the big, kindly giant that he is, he offers each of the articles of his new clothes to relieve the hardship of the animals that he meets.
A giraffe, whose neck is very cold, receives his tie to use as a warm scarf; a goat on a boat on a river had lost his sail so George donates his shirt to help get the goat and boat on its way; a family of mice had lost their house in a fire so George donates one of large shoes to make a new home for them; a fox, who was out camping, had dropped his sleeping bag in a puddle and it was soaking so George gives him one of his socks to sleep in; a dog who cannot get across a bog receives George's large belt to make a path across it. After all this George's trousers fall down and he proclaims 'I'm the coldest giant in town!'
So back he goes to the shop where he purchased his new clothes and where he left his old ones. Unfortunately the shop was closed and George was sad. But, out of the corner of his eye he espies a bag with something familiar poking out of the top. It was his old clothes so he puts them on and happily declares, 'I'm the cosiest giant in town.'
He danced back home along the road to find outside his house all the animals he had helped and they were carrying an enormous box. They told George to open it and inside was a gold paper crown and a card. On the card was a verse that was taken from the verses that George had made up as he disposed of each article of his clothes as he returned home.
It ended with the words, 'the KINDEST giant in town' ... and so he was!
A lovely story.
But ... after he had bought a smart shirt, a smart pair of trousers, a smart belt, a smart stripy tie, some smart socks with diamonds up the sides, and a pair of smart shiny shoes, it all goes downhill!
On his way home from the shop where he had purchased his new outfit he meets various animals, all of whom are in some sort of distress. And, being the big, kindly giant that he is, he offers each of the articles of his new clothes to relieve the hardship of the animals that he meets.
A giraffe, whose neck is very cold, receives his tie to use as a warm scarf; a goat on a boat on a river had lost his sail so George donates his shirt to help get the goat and boat on its way; a family of mice had lost their house in a fire so George donates one of large shoes to make a new home for them; a fox, who was out camping, had dropped his sleeping bag in a puddle and it was soaking so George gives him one of his socks to sleep in; a dog who cannot get across a bog receives George's large belt to make a path across it. After all this George's trousers fall down and he proclaims 'I'm the coldest giant in town!'
So back he goes to the shop where he purchased his new clothes and where he left his old ones. Unfortunately the shop was closed and George was sad. But, out of the corner of his eye he espies a bag with something familiar poking out of the top. It was his old clothes so he puts them on and happily declares, 'I'm the cosiest giant in town.'
He danced back home along the road to find outside his house all the animals he had helped and they were carrying an enormous box. They told George to open it and inside was a gold paper crown and a card. On the card was a verse that was taken from the verses that George had made up as he disposed of each article of his clothes as he returned home.
It ended with the words, 'the KINDEST giant in town' ... and so he was!
A lovely story.
February 14, 2012
An adorable cumulative tale of a giant who longs to be the spiffiest giant in town. He leaves his white robe and sandals (coincidence, or meant to evoke images of a certain religious figure?) and buys some spiffy new giant clothes from a shop that just opened. But, he soon meets a giraffe with a very cold neck (and it turns out the giant-tie is a perfect size for a scarf), and a mouse whose house burned down (and a giant's shoe is really just the right size for a mouse-house), etc. Soon, our kind-hearted giant no longer has his spiffy clothes, but perhaps he has something even better... This is a sweet tale about being content with what you have and giving to those who have not. The cast of animal characters is fun, and of course there's that delicious anticipation kids will probably have wondering whether the giant is going to give away his pants and will we see him in his *giggle* underwear!? ;-)
December 8, 2021
This spiffy giant is also the kindest person in town! George, the giant, was once the scruffiest giant in town so he decides to change his image, by buying all new clothes. George can change who he is on the outside but George is still George, on the inside. I soon discover that clothes do not make who this giant is, George is one special giant who has a heart of gold.
As soon as George puts on his new spiffy clothes, his step is lighter as he looks happier and his mood improves. George looks fantastic! Just outside the clothing shop, George hears the cry of despair. A giraffe George finds a sad giraffe who explains to George his problem when he inquires. Although George doesn’t have exactly what the giraffe needs, he improvises and helps the giraffe as best as he can. Walking away, George sings a song about being a spiffy giant even though, he has given giraffe one of his newly acquired pieces of clothes. Continuing to walk home, George comes to the river and finds a goat in distress. Oh George! Without batting an eye, George helps goat out the best that he can too. Goat is grateful as George walks away singing his song, adding another line to it, mentioning goat. George has now given away 2 pieces of his newly acquired clothes and his song keeps getting longer. Georger continues to walk home and I couldn’t wait to see what would happen in the end.
I thought this book was entertaining and clever. I liked how George’s mood improved when he got his new clothes but as he helped individuals, his mood continued. So, what made him scruffy at the beginning of the book? I liked the character of George and I liked how the author put this book together. There are a few great messages/teachable moments in this book. The illustrations were colorful and I enjoyed just looking at them on their own. 5 stars
As soon as George puts on his new spiffy clothes, his step is lighter as he looks happier and his mood improves. George looks fantastic! Just outside the clothing shop, George hears the cry of despair. A giraffe George finds a sad giraffe who explains to George his problem when he inquires. Although George doesn’t have exactly what the giraffe needs, he improvises and helps the giraffe as best as he can. Walking away, George sings a song about being a spiffy giant even though, he has given giraffe one of his newly acquired pieces of clothes. Continuing to walk home, George comes to the river and finds a goat in distress. Oh George! Without batting an eye, George helps goat out the best that he can too. Goat is grateful as George walks away singing his song, adding another line to it, mentioning goat. George has now given away 2 pieces of his newly acquired clothes and his song keeps getting longer. Georger continues to walk home and I couldn’t wait to see what would happen in the end.
I thought this book was entertaining and clever. I liked how George’s mood improved when he got his new clothes but as he helped individuals, his mood continued. So, what made him scruffy at the beginning of the book? I liked the character of George and I liked how the author put this book together. There are a few great messages/teachable moments in this book. The illustrations were colorful and I enjoyed just looking at them on their own. 5 stars
August 28, 2020
Hartverwarmend mooi en lief verhaal. Erg lekker voor te lezen door de herhaling en de rijm erin.
September 3, 2011
This book portrays a gentle giant who thinks of others first rather than himself. He was known as the ‘scruffiest giant’ in the town. He buys himself some smart new clothes, however, when he meets animals on his way home that are in need of help he gives them one piece of clothing. They are used as a scarf, as a sail, as a house, and as a sleeping bag. It explains to children the topic of helping others when in need. The book itself is full of illustrations and full of descriptive words, for example, ‘a smart stripy tie.’ The use of rhyme is evident in the book with repetition along the way. This is excellent to help the children recognise what previously happened while adding to the rhyme making it more exciting. I really enjoyed this book as it is an important topic to teach children but it is explained brilliantly through different characters and brilliant illustrations.
October 22, 2017
A nice story about being kind, the giant wishes to be the smartest in town but as he comes across animals that need his clothes for a scarf, a home and a path. He gives them away and ends up as the kindest giant in town.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 13, 2017
Predivna.
August 28, 2019
Another corker from the Dynamic Duo! If I had a shelf for favourite giant books, this would go on it, alongside Oscar Wilde’s The Selfish Giant and Road Dahl’s The BFG!
August 8, 2021
I like this book because the giant was helping the animals.
January 23, 2014
Another winner from Donaldson & Scheffler. First we got Room on the Broom, then A Squash and a Squeeze. Next came The Gruffalo and The Gruffalo's Child. Then Charlie Cook's Favourite Book and
The Smartest Giant in Town
. Six books in, and Donaldson's yet to drop the ball - she's the most consistently excellent, fun, easy to read aloud, and imaginative picture book author I've found (so far).
The core thread of The Smartest Giant is a cumulative rhyme. The giant has a heart of gold, but he's very scruffy looking, so he buys some smart new clothes. As he strolls along, he meets various animals in distress and donates his new clothes, one piece at a time, to help them out which builds into a charming little poem...
My tie is a scarf for a cold giraffe,
My shirt's on a boat as a sail for a goat,
My shoe is a house for a little white mouse,
One of my socks is a bed for a fox,
My belt helped a dog who was crossing a bog
Because it dips in and out of the repeating, cumulative poem, it lacks the momentum of some of the other books - like Room on the Broom - and as such doesn't hold my little boys attention quite as well (he's only 19 months old). So a solid three stars, not a million miles shy of four.
After this I read: And Another Thing...
The core thread of The Smartest Giant is a cumulative rhyme. The giant has a heart of gold, but he's very scruffy looking, so he buys some smart new clothes. As he strolls along, he meets various animals in distress and donates his new clothes, one piece at a time, to help them out which builds into a charming little poem...
My tie is a scarf for a cold giraffe,
My shirt's on a boat as a sail for a goat,
My shoe is a house for a little white mouse,
One of my socks is a bed for a fox,
My belt helped a dog who was crossing a bog
Because it dips in and out of the repeating, cumulative poem, it lacks the momentum of some of the other books - like Room on the Broom - and as such doesn't hold my little boys attention quite as well (he's only 19 months old). So a solid three stars, not a million miles shy of four.
After this I read: And Another Thing...
March 2, 2017
Another great book by Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler. The boys recognized their work right away and thought it was going to be another Gruffalo story. They were bummed when it wasn't but pleased by the end of the story. A great tale about being kind, thoughtful, selfless, and a good sharer.
December 15, 2018
I read this to my granddaughter as a bedtime story.
The story and the illustrations were lovely and the moral of the story was fab. It proves that by showing kindness to others, that kindness will be returned to you. A lovely moral to the story and my granddaughter enjoyed it.
The story and the illustrations were lovely and the moral of the story was fab. It proves that by showing kindness to others, that kindness will be returned to you. A lovely moral to the story and my granddaughter enjoyed it.
March 23, 2016
julia donaldson ve axel scheffler çocuk kitabı söz konusuysa muhteşem 2liye oynarlar. donaldson'un scheffler'siz kitapları aynı tadı vermiyor.
June 16, 2018
Cute children's story about sharing and kindness.
April 9, 2024
As a tall person, I relate to this 😮💨
September 16, 2012
The Smartest Giant in Town is a fantastic picture book, aimed at Early Years learners, which contains a heart-warming story, excellent visual aids and rhymes that are repeated and added to as the narrative continues.
It tells the story of a Giant named George who, fed up of wearing his scruffy old gown, decides to splash out on a whole new set of clothes. Proud of his new attire, George sets off from the clothes shop on his way home, but is interrupted by a series of animals in distress, for example a giraffe with a cold neck, a family of mice whose house has burnt down or the goat who needs a sail for it’s boat. Due to George’s huge generosity, he dispenses each of his new items of clothing to solve each of the animal’s dilemmas, justifying each donation to himself; in giving his scarf to a the giraffe he notes it was itching his neck. Not only this, but George adds a line to his rhyme that started as he left the shop, and is repeated throughout the story, each time culminating in ‘but look me up and down, I’m the smartest giant in the town’.
This continues until George has given away all of his clothes bar his old underpants.
The story finishes when George finds his old gown, as well as a letter from all of the animals he has helped recounting his rhyme and culminating in ‘he’s the smartest giant in the town’.
This book works on several different levels for children. Firstly, the illustrations are excellent. On each page there is the picture of George with one item less of clothing, as well as several animals. This provides plenty of opportunity to ask children questions to check their understanding. The rhyme that is added to and repeated throughout the book provides rhythm for younger learners who are unable to read, and memory challenge for elder readers. Finally, there is a moral to the story that is valuable to children; it reinforces the idea of kindness to each other, and kind acts being appreciated.
At a time when my 2.5 year old niece is interested in nothing that cannot be watched on the I Pad, The Smartest Giant in Town had her captivated throughout take off and landing on a transatlantic flight, and there can be no better mark of approval.
It tells the story of a Giant named George who, fed up of wearing his scruffy old gown, decides to splash out on a whole new set of clothes. Proud of his new attire, George sets off from the clothes shop on his way home, but is interrupted by a series of animals in distress, for example a giraffe with a cold neck, a family of mice whose house has burnt down or the goat who needs a sail for it’s boat. Due to George’s huge generosity, he dispenses each of his new items of clothing to solve each of the animal’s dilemmas, justifying each donation to himself; in giving his scarf to a the giraffe he notes it was itching his neck. Not only this, but George adds a line to his rhyme that started as he left the shop, and is repeated throughout the story, each time culminating in ‘but look me up and down, I’m the smartest giant in the town’.
This continues until George has given away all of his clothes bar his old underpants.
The story finishes when George finds his old gown, as well as a letter from all of the animals he has helped recounting his rhyme and culminating in ‘he’s the smartest giant in the town’.
This book works on several different levels for children. Firstly, the illustrations are excellent. On each page there is the picture of George with one item less of clothing, as well as several animals. This provides plenty of opportunity to ask children questions to check their understanding. The rhyme that is added to and repeated throughout the book provides rhythm for younger learners who are unable to read, and memory challenge for elder readers. Finally, there is a moral to the story that is valuable to children; it reinforces the idea of kindness to each other, and kind acts being appreciated.
At a time when my 2.5 year old niece is interested in nothing that cannot be watched on the I Pad, The Smartest Giant in Town had her captivated throughout take off and landing on a transatlantic flight, and there can be no better mark of approval.
October 14, 2013
The Smartest Giant in Townby Julia Donaldson
Age I would use it for: 5-7
Brief Synopsis:
George the giant goes around town helping all the animals with his new smart clothes; tie for a giraffe, shirt for a goat’s boat, shoes for a mouse house. He sing’s around town about the clothes he has given “I am the smartest giant in town” whilst his clothing dwindles and he becomes more and more scruffy.
My Opinion:
As a short story I found it quite a tedious read. The repetitive cycle of events; giant giving his clothing, him singing about it, getting more and more scruffy, was too long and repetitive, as a cause I didn't care what was going to happen. However I do think that this is a very sweet story with an important moral of helping others and being kind.
Uses In The Classroom:
I wouldn't read it aloud to a class, but would want it as part of a class library. The language and on-going sentences provide good practice for silent and assessed reading, for children to progress in reading for progression from year 1 to year 2.
I would use certain parts of the book to demonstrate how unconventional material can be used to make resources. In the story, a shirt is used to make a sail; this is a great starting point to start an extended geography and design and technology lesson for 5 – 7 year old's. For example; the concept of renewable materials and recycling, children will make their own items that have a beneficial function to solve a bigger problem. Such as old shoes to plant flowers; recycled bottles to make bird feeders; old clothes to make cushions, stuffed toys, which can then be donated to a charity of the class’s choice. The last idea can be extended to teaching the class about the moral of the story, to give to those that need help.
Age I would use it for: 5-7
Brief Synopsis:
George the giant goes around town helping all the animals with his new smart clothes; tie for a giraffe, shirt for a goat’s boat, shoes for a mouse house. He sing’s around town about the clothes he has given “I am the smartest giant in town” whilst his clothing dwindles and he becomes more and more scruffy.
My Opinion:
As a short story I found it quite a tedious read. The repetitive cycle of events; giant giving his clothing, him singing about it, getting more and more scruffy, was too long and repetitive, as a cause I didn't care what was going to happen. However I do think that this is a very sweet story with an important moral of helping others and being kind.
Uses In The Classroom:
I wouldn't read it aloud to a class, but would want it as part of a class library. The language and on-going sentences provide good practice for silent and assessed reading, for children to progress in reading for progression from year 1 to year 2.
I would use certain parts of the book to demonstrate how unconventional material can be used to make resources. In the story, a shirt is used to make a sail; this is a great starting point to start an extended geography and design and technology lesson for 5 – 7 year old's. For example; the concept of renewable materials and recycling, children will make their own items that have a beneficial function to solve a bigger problem. Such as old shoes to plant flowers; recycled bottles to make bird feeders; old clothes to make cushions, stuffed toys, which can then be donated to a charity of the class’s choice. The last idea can be extended to teaching the class about the moral of the story, to give to those that need help.
Read
September 25, 2011In this story George, the main character, is the scruffiest giant in town. He desperately wants to be the smartest giant in town instead, so he goes to the shop and buys himself a whole new outfit of smart clothes and leaves behind his old brown sandals and patched up gown. Along his way home he comes across a number of animals in trouble, so he helps them with his new clothes and ends up giving away all the new clothes and having no clothes to wear for himself. He goes back to the shop to buy more new clothes and is distraught when the shop is closed, but he finds his old clothes outside the shop and happily puts them back on. When he gets home all the animals that he helped that day are waiting outside with a gold paper crown and a card that says he is the “kindest giant in town”. The story is told in prose but it has rhyming parts, which the giant sings to himself. Young children would enjoy this inclusion of rhyme and song. The vivid, bold and entertaining illustrations, in which there are giants and normal sized people all together in the town, would captivate children. There is a lesson to be learned from this story, which is that if you do a good deed you will be rewarded, as the giant was in this story. It is better to be kind than to worry about material possessions. This book would be suitable to read aloud to toddlers and infants up to five years old.
October 11, 2011
'The Smartest Giant in Town' is another Julia Donaldson classic. It tells the story of a giant who buys himself some new clothes only to disperse them to various creatures around the town. He gives one of his socks to a fox to use as a sleeping bag and his scarf to a giraffe and this goes on until he ends up with very few clothes and decides to put his old worn clothes back on. The moral of this story is that what is on the inside is more important than what is on the outside. At the end of the story his kindness brings him new friends who rename him the kindest giant in town.
This story includes lots of rhyme and repetition that children will enjoy joining in with and the colourful illustrations by Axel Scheffler that usually accompany Donaldson's stories. This story would appeal most to nursery and reception aged children as it has a very simple and predictable storyline which children of this age would be able to understand and follow. It could be used to enhance a topic on clothes, be included in discussions about being kind and extended by getting children to match the article of clothing to the animal it was given to. Older children in year 1 could use it as an introduction to using rhyming words and writing their own poetry.
This story includes lots of rhyme and repetition that children will enjoy joining in with and the colourful illustrations by Axel Scheffler that usually accompany Donaldson's stories. This story would appeal most to nursery and reception aged children as it has a very simple and predictable storyline which children of this age would be able to understand and follow. It could be used to enhance a topic on clothes, be included in discussions about being kind and extended by getting children to match the article of clothing to the animal it was given to. Older children in year 1 could use it as an introduction to using rhyming words and writing their own poetry.
April 10, 2012
I thoroughly enjoyed this story. I enjoyed it as an adult and the chn loved it too. It puts across the message of sharing with those less fortunate and also of how good friendship can be. The basic story-line for this book is about the scruffiest giant in town becoming the smartest giant in town. The giant decides to treat himself to a new outfit yet, when seeing others in need, ends up giving away all of his new clothes (leaving him with nothing). Then, towards the end, the creatures he helped return the favour and help out their new friend. The giant is portrayed as a gentle giant, as opposed to a 'bad' giant. I feel that this adds a different element to the story aswell.
I've read this book with a class of year 3/4 children, and with my nephews aged 4 and 9, and they all loved it. As a class, the children were recalling parts of the story after having read it only once before. The rhyming and repetitive nature of the story make it easy to remember, and the pictures are fantastic on every page. The description of each item also helps you to imagine what the giant is wearing, whilst introducing the children to extended vocab. This book appeals to children of different ages, and is one I have added to my collection of story books.
I've read this book with a class of year 3/4 children, and with my nephews aged 4 and 9, and they all loved it. As a class, the children were recalling parts of the story after having read it only once before. The rhyming and repetitive nature of the story make it easy to remember, and the pictures are fantastic on every page. The description of each item also helps you to imagine what the giant is wearing, whilst introducing the children to extended vocab. This book appeals to children of different ages, and is one I have added to my collection of story books.
June 23, 2012
This is yet another brilliant book by Julia Donaldson. The story is about a giant named George that buys a new set of clothes because he feels that he does not want to be "the scruffiest giant in town." Thus, he buys himself a new outfit that makes him look like the smartest giant in town. However, when George was on his way home, he comes across various different animals that need his help and he gives them different items of his clothes as he believes that they need them more than he does. In the end, George realises that his old clothes make him "the cosiest giant in town." As a result of his all his kind efforts, the animals that he helped make him a card outlining that he is " the kindest giant in town."
May 1, 2012
I think this is a good book for children to read, it teaches generousity and thinking of others before yourself. The story is centered around a kind hearted giant who has shabby clothes and wants to look smart. He manages to to buy a smart outfit and has seemingly achieved his goal. He then however begins to hand out his large clothes to people who are more needy of them than he. He realises that these are all material things and in the end is just as happy in his old clothes. He accumulates many friends along the way on the back of his generous behavior. I think this is a wonderful book with excellent detailed pictures. All three of my children love this book and it is one that I would highly recommend.
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May 9, 2012The Smartest Giant in Town by Julia Donaldson is a endearing book. It tells the story of a Giant that is upset by the fact that he doesn't own any smart, clean clothes. However, one day he spots a shop with wonderful clothes and picks the finest of them all. As he walks along the town he meets a giraffe, a goat, some mice, a fox and many more animals. Each animal has their own worry and problem, but the kind Giant helps them by giving them his smart new clothes.
This wonderful book with beautiful illustrations not only teaches the children of rhyme, it also has a caring message which runs throughout it. It has a lovely message of caring and helping others. It also has the message that material things are not always needed in life.
I think this is a wonderful book with a great message.
This wonderful book with beautiful illustrations not only teaches the children of rhyme, it also has a caring message which runs throughout it. It has a lovely message of caring and helping others. It also has the message that material things are not always needed in life.
I think this is a wonderful book with a great message.
June 8, 2012
By Julia Donaldson, Axel Scheffler
I love this story and already can’t wait to read it to my year 2 class. The thought of a friendly giant in town is a winner for me, cool idea and allows your imagination to wonder. George the scruffiest giant in town wants to be the smartest giant so he buys himself a new outfit, smart shoes, trousers, shirt and tie. When walking home he comes across an array of animals in trouble, so he helps each animal by giving away his new clothes. The animals return and show their appreciation for his gentle, kind a generous nature.
The pictures are great, colourful illustrations by Alex Scheffler. It has a range of descriptive language and informative vocabulary. Rhyming and repetition makes the story memorable. Good for EYFS and I would say KS1.
I love this story and already can’t wait to read it to my year 2 class. The thought of a friendly giant in town is a winner for me, cool idea and allows your imagination to wonder. George the scruffiest giant in town wants to be the smartest giant so he buys himself a new outfit, smart shoes, trousers, shirt and tie. When walking home he comes across an array of animals in trouble, so he helps each animal by giving away his new clothes. The animals return and show their appreciation for his gentle, kind a generous nature.
The pictures are great, colourful illustrations by Alex Scheffler. It has a range of descriptive language and informative vocabulary. Rhyming and repetition makes the story memorable. Good for EYFS and I would say KS1.
December 3, 2018
I really like this book because it encourages children to be kind and to share. Throughout this book, there is a lot of repetition which children can eventually pick up on. The most common repeated phrase is "But look me up and down - I'm the smartest giant in town!" When reading this book with a class, children can be encouraged to join in so they remain engaged throughout the book.
This book can really help children develop their understanding of superlatives because 'smartest' and 'scruffiest' are both superlatives and they are both used within the book. We could get the children to think about other superlatives that they could use within this book and then they can start to build a bank of superlatives which they can use in their work in the future.
This book can really help children develop their understanding of superlatives because 'smartest' and 'scruffiest' are both superlatives and they are both used within the book. We could get the children to think about other superlatives that they could use within this book and then they can start to build a bank of superlatives which they can use in their work in the future.
October 20, 2011
This book tells the story of a scruffy giant who buys some smart clothes. He meets lots of animals who need different things and he donates items of his new clothing to the animals. He thinks he is the smartest giant in the town. He then finds himself without any clothes because he has given them all away and goes back to the shop to buy more clothes however the shop is closed. He finds his scruffy clothes again He then finds a parcel from all the animals he helped out with a lovely note. This is a lovely story for year one or two. Illustrations are really good and the children can join in with the story as it has nice repetitive rhyming in it.
February 4, 2022
An amazing book that teaches about kindness and the gift of giving. The scruffiest giant in town buys himself a set of new clothes making him the spiffiest giant in town now. But after a set of encounters with unfortunate individuals, during which he gives a piece of his new clothing to help those in need, he is back wearing his scruffy outfit, but is also a proud owner of "the kindest giant in town" title.
The fantastic duo - Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler made yet another great read-aloud with great rhythm, great rhyme and an amazing message. I've read it to a Kindergarten class and they LOVED it, but the book would be great for all elementary students.
The fantastic duo - Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler made yet another great read-aloud with great rhythm, great rhyme and an amazing message. I've read it to a Kindergarten class and they LOVED it, but the book would be great for all elementary students.
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