The Scarecrows' Wedding

"The Scarecrows' Wedding" by Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler is a delightful journey through love, friendship, and unexpected twists. As scarecrows Betty O'Barley and Harry O'Hay plan their DIY wedding, the story unfolds with endearing simplicity and playful rhymes. However, when Harry goes missing and is replaced by the mischievous Reginald Rake, the tale takes a darker turn. Reginald's cigar-smoking and misguided attempts at wooing Betty lead to calamity, adding a layer of complexity to what initially seemed like a lighthearted wedding planning story. (While Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler's decision to include a cigar-smoking scarecrow element may be contentious, I have immense faith in their storytelling prowess. Julia Donaldson has clarified that she has no intention of promoting smoking in children's literature. Donaldson emphasized that Reginald Rake's actions serve to illustrate the negative consequences of smoking, rather than glamorize it. She underscored that smoking is portrayed as harmful in the story and reiterated her commitment to promoting positive messages in children's books.)Despite its occasional dark moments, the book ultimately celebrates the power of love, friendship, and resilience. It's a delightful read that will enchant children and adults alike, leaving a lasting impression with its charming characters, clever storytelling, and vibrant illustrations.

Great story and pics. Nicely written. Kids enjoy story.

The grand daughters love it

This captivating story of two scarecrows planning their wedding is full of humor and the feeling of autumn. The illustrations are colorful and wonderfully detailed. Purchased this for my 5 year old granddaughter, who often asks to hear it twice in one sitting.

I love Julia's books but this isn't a favorite. I gave only 3 stars because I don't like the smoking part. The rest is cute but all her other books are more appropriate for children in my opinion. I love looking for the hidden Graffalo!

As grandparents of four, all under 5 years old, we were delighted to be introduced to the work of Julia Donaldson through her book and animated production, available on Netflix, of 'Room On The Broom'. We immediately purchased the hardback book and each of our grandkids can recite it verbatim! Since then we have purchased the 'Room On The Broom' dolls (witch, cat, dog) and several of the other works by Ms. Donaldson. The illustrations are wonderful and each book is delightful and imaginative. The children love each and every one!

Another great treasure from our favorite children’s book author. My daughter loves her stories, the rythym of her writing really flows well when read out loud.

Always 5 stars for Julia Donaldson & Axel Scheffler.

Great book ...great author . Love her books ( Gruffalo,Gruffalos child ..What the ladybird heard,A Squash and a Sqeeze,Tiddler) All fun to read ,lots of pattern . Favorites of my grandchildren

As usual a great book from Julia Donaldson. My grandchildren enjoy it nearly as much as I do 😉Not sure about cigar smoking in the story though

Love this book and the author, we can’t get enough!

Compré este cuento porque lo estaban trabajando en el cole de mi hija. Es un cuento muy bonito y con ilustraciones muy chulas. A mi hija le gusta que lo leamos antes de dormir muchas noches.

A cute story about two scarecrows, Betty O'Barley and Harry O'Hay and their quest to have a delightful scarecrow wedding. The rhyme in the book is great, children can figure out the words when you read it to them. It is a lengthy story too, the perfect length for a bedtime story. The illustrations are sweet, as Axel Scheffler always does. Harry O'Hay is the hero in the story, but all the creatures work together. The size of the book is great too, 24cm x 28cm and the font is a good size for adults and children beginning to read. I would recommend this to a friend and our school library.