The Giants and the Joneses

by Julia Donaldson, Greg Swearingen (Illustrator)

Overview

Jumbeelia the young giantess loves to hear the old story about the iggly plop who climbed up the bimplestonk to the giants' land of Groil. Then, one day, she throws a bimple over the edge of Groil.
Down, down, down Jumbeelia climbs—right down into the land of the iggly plops, where she discovers Colette, Poppy, and Stephen Jones; puts them into her canvas bag; and carries them back to Groil.
Soon the children find themselves shut in her dollhouse, with no visible means of escape. With danger surrounding them at every turn, the children must use all their wits to survive and figure out a way to get back home. . . .

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780312379612
Publisher:	Square Fish
Publication date:	05/27/2008
Edition description:	First Edition
Pages:	224
Sales rank:	404,649
Product dimensions:	5.26(w) x 7.52(h) x 0.62(d)
Age Range:	8 - 10 Years

About the Author

Julia Donaldson is the author of more than fifty books and plays for children, including One Ted Falls Out of Bed, The Snail and the Whale, The Gruffalo, winner of the Smarties Book Prize, and Tyrannosaurus Drip, a picture book on the Feiwel and Friends Spring 2008 List. She grew up in London and now lives in Glasgow, Scotland, with her family.

Greg Swearingen is a graduate of Columbus College of Art and Design. He was awarded the Norman Rockwell Museum at Stockbridge Award from the Society of Illustrators in 1998. He lives in Rexberg, Idaho.

Editorial Reviews

Jumbeelia the young giantess loves to hear the old story about the iggly plop who climbed up the bimplestonk to the giants' land of Groil. Then one day, she throws a bimple over the edge of Groil… With its wit, suspense, and invented words, this miniaturized adventure will delight young readers of Harry Potter.

Gr 3-5-Most giants in Groil disregard the fairy tale about the tiny thief who once climbed a plant up to their land, but young Jumbeelia is sure that the pocket-sized "iggly plops" must exist. She drops a mysterious seed over the cloud edge, and, sure enough, a "bimplestonk" grows in the night. She climbs down to the miniature world where she collects some souvenirs, including three children-Collette; her brother, Stephen; and their baby sister, Poppy. The humans attempt to communicate with their huge captor, but, like all giants, Jumbeelia speaks only Groilish, and, in any case, she is too large to hear them. She installs the children in her dollhouse and plays nicely with her new "toys," but her brother is jealous and wants the iggly plops for his own. When he gets hold of them, he plays cruel, dangerous games with them, even forcing Stephen into deadly combat with a colossal wasp. The children resolve to escape, but the giant world is filled with dangerous objects and enormous creatures, including a very hungry cat and a mad old giant with a grudge against humans. The use of Groilish adds the appeal of a secret code to the story. All dialogue among the giants is written strictly in their own language. In-text translation is rare, although almost everything is clear in context. Dictionaries are provided so that young readers can become proficient in the lingo. An exciting story with a subtle message about respect and cooperation.-Elaine E. Knight, Lincoln Elementary Schools, IL Copyright 2005 Reed Business Information.

School Library Journal

In search of legendary "iggly plops," Jumbeelia climbs down the "bimplestonk" and finds a lawn mower, a sheep and three children whom she pops into her collector's bag and takes back to Groil, her giant's world in the clouds. As the kidnapped "iggly plops," Collette, Steven and baby Poppy, come to understand their predicament, from Jumbeelia's harmless first welcoming kiss and delicious French fry, and the eventual signs of growing neglect, their old careless relationship changes and becomes caring. Collette's deepening introspection and fear grows, as she recognizes in Jumbeelia and herself the symptom of a casual collector: boredom. The plot quickens when Zab, Jumbeelia's brother, takes control. No longer animated dollhouse toys, in Zab's grip, they are helpless play-action figures to be tortured, forcing the children to drastic action. An invented Giant language that may entice young readers to the back to decipher the English-sounding picturesque language-or may drive them away-makes coincidence and quick resolutions a little less irritating. This reverse Jack in the Beanstalk feels like-and will be-a children's movie. (Fiction. 8-10)

Kirkus Reviews

'The Giants and the Joneses had humour, suspense and an invented language that enthralled me' – Evening Standard

‘Every night at bedtime, millions of children – pyjamas on, teeth reluctantly brushed – curl up to read or listen to a Donaldson story’ – Guardian

‘Children will love this miniaturised adventure . . . it's set to be a giant hit’ –The Herald

From the Publisher