Now, as a seasoned movie critic and writer, I'm thrilled to share my insights and recommendations with you. The movie adaptation of ‘The Highway Rat,’ directed by Jeroen Jaspaert, stays true to the original book’s storyline. 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. Look at the use of rhyming words in the story. Can you think of other words which rhyme with the ones used?

As we close this exploration, we are left with an even deeper appreciation for this heartwarming story. We will uncover the book summary, the differences between the book and the movie, and delve into the picturesque locations that inspired the film’s creators. 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.We have also managed to link it to art - we created Wanted posters for the Highway Rat. The children had to use their literacy skills to describe the rat and his terrible crimes, and then got the opportunity to be artistically creative as well. This seemingly teaches him a lesson, and, thinner, greyer and meeker, the Rat lands a job in a shop ... what kind of shop is for you to guess, but believe me it is probably an easy guess! Imagine that one of the animals in the story is being interviewed by the police. What would they tell the police about their encounter with the Highway Rat?

Some of her other notable books include ‘Zog’, ‘Tabby McTat’, and ‘The Snail and the Whale’. ‘The Highway Rat’ book club questions In this post, I will be exploring various aspects of this beloved children’s book and its animated adaptation. As the story develops, the Highway Rat’s horse has to carry more of the things that he has stolen. How much might each of these things weigh? How much would the horse have to carry in total? This timeless quality allows children from different cultures and time periods to relate to the story and its characters. ‘The Highway Rat’ film locations: A travel guideThe Highway Rat gets fat from eating everyone else’s dinner. Can you think of a healthy diet to help him keep fit? Find out about the police and how they help people in society. Could you invite a member of the police force to your school to talk to you about their jobs? What questions would you ask them? There are several memorable quotes from ‘The Highway Rat’ that have resonated with readers and viewers alike. Though ‘The Highway Rat’ is an animated film, the creators drew inspiration from various real-life locations. We have spoken about how the book rhymes, and how it can be read in a rhythmical way. The second time that we read it, the children were able to join in with some of the repetitive sentences, which they all really enjoyed.

Find out about the highwaymen of the past. What did they do? Do you know the names of any famous highwaymen? Throughout my academic journey, I delved into the rich history of cinema, analyzing groundbreaking films and studying the techniques used by master storytellers.If you loved ‘The Highway Rat’, you might also enjoy other works by Julia Donaldson, like ‘The Gruffalo’ and ‘Room on the Broom’. The Highway Rat terrorises the local village. Cunning, daring and altogether selfish, he delights in stealing the locals’ food. But they won’t stand for it much longer. The story teaches valuable lessons about greed and kindness, presented in an engaging and entertaining way.

As a parent, you might be wondering if ‘The Highway Rat’ is suitable for your children. Rest assured, both the book and the movie are excellent choices for kids. While there is currently no video game adaptation of ‘The Highway Rat’, it’s not hard to imagine how the story could be translated into an interactive medium.Aubry’s music perfectly complements the story, enhancing the mood and atmosphere throughout the film. Curiosities and fun facts about ‘The Highway Rat’ Look at the use of speech marks within the story. Could you use these to turn the story into a play and perform it to others? 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. His unique storytelling style has made him a favorite among viewers. Similar media to ‘The Highway Rat’