What the Jackdaw Saw by Julia Donaldson and Nick Sharratt (With support from Life and Deaf children's charity) - Published by Macmillan Children's Books

The hugely important Life and Deaf Children's Deafness Charity gathered together a children's workshop with deaf children and ex-children's laureate and superstar author Julia Donaldson to collaborate on this fantastic story book. "What the Jackdaw Saw" written with help from deaf children, and illustrated by Nick Sharratt, is a brilliant book that introduces sign language along with a story that really piques a child's curiosity.

Jackdaw has decided to throw a party, and as he flies around town and country, he spies all his friends going about their daily business.

"Come to my party!" shouts Jackdaw, but instead of replying, other animals look at Jackdaw and touch their heads. What on earth is going on?

Again and again Jackdaw meets animals doing the same strange thing. As we bounce along to Julia's perfect rhymes, it was brilliant to see Charlotte really trying to puzzle out what was happening. "Why ARE the animals doing that, Daddy?" she kept asking. I wouldn't reveal anything until the end, when a frustrated and flustered Jackdaw encounters the very reason why all the animals are looking alarmed and touching their heads. We'll let you find out the answer yourselves because we don't want to spoil the surprise!

Once children have finished the story (and have demanded it read again and again, mark my words!) they can have a lot of fun practicing their sign language just like the animals in the story and learning new ways to communicate with children with hearing problems.

Julia Donaldson (herself a sufferer with hearing loss) has pulled out all the stops to produce a thoroughly engaging, thrilling and somewhat mysterious story here that is complimented by brilliant illustrations showing us exactly how to 'sign' some of the things we'll find in the book.

You can find out more about the book, and the Life and Deaf organisation on Macmillan's website for the book: http://www.panmacmillan.com/book/juliadonaldson/whatthejackdawsaw
Charlotte's best bit: Charley's visit to the dentist. Rinse please!

Daddy's Favourite bit: Brilliant fun for tiddlers, beautifully illustrated and told

(Kindly sent to us for review by Macmillan Children's Books)