Room on the Broom
A rhythmic, rhyming adventure where animals join a witch on a broomstick. Children can join in on the repetitive questions and supply the "Yes!" answers before the characters do.
Room on the Broom by Julia Donaldson is estimated to take about 10 minutes to read aloud (834 words, about 3 sentences a page), and it lands best with children aged 3-6.
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- Estimated read-aloud time
- about 10 minutesEstimated read-aloud time
- Word count
- 834Counted words
- Sentences per page
- 3Sentences per page
- Re-read tolerance
- 5/5still good at forty
- Vocabulary level
- 3/5a few new words
- Best for
- Ages 3-6Our editorial fit
Our review
The repetitive pattern of characters asking for a ride keeps young children engaged and participating. The story builds steadily, leading to a high-energy chase that provides a much-needed third-act excitement.
It is a great choice for a bedtime story because the rhythm is soothing, but the plot is engaging enough to hold a preschooler's attention until the end.
Themes
- witches
- friendship
- dragons
- rhyme
Books like Room on the Broom
Matched by refrain, density, length, and listener—not just the subject.
Questions parents ask
How long does it take to read Room on the Broom aloud?
About 10 minutes at an unhurried pace, including a standard allowance for page turns, pictures and participation, from a word count of 834. Stopping for a longer conversation on every page will add more time.
What age is Room on the Broom actually for?
Ages 3-6 in our testing, which is narrower than the publisher's range. With 3 sentences a page and vocabulary at 3 out of 5, it asks for that much attention span and no more.
Does Room on the Broom survive being read on repeat?
Yes - this is one of the few that is still fine on the fortieth reading, which is why it scores 5 out of 5 with us.
Is Room on the Broom a good book for a child who will not sit still?
It helps that it rhymes, and it has a refrain a child can join in with, and it asks the child questions to answer out loud. Those three features are what keep a wriggling toddler listening, far more than the subject matter does.
Will my child memorise Room on the Broom?
Probably, and fast. The book leans on a repeated refrain, and at 5 out of 5 for re-read tolerance it survives the nightly repeats that get a book memorised. Expect your child to chant the pattern back before they can actually read.
Can a beginning reader read Room on the Broom on their own?
Not yet. At vocabulary level 3 out of 5 and 3 sentences a page, it is a read-aloud book rather than a first solo read. Read it to them now, and hand it over in a year or two.
What themes does Room on the Broom cover?
We tag it with witches, friendship, dragons and rhyme. Those are the threads that actually run through the book, not just the ones on the cover, which is how it earns its place on our themed lists rather than a keyword match.
Lists Room on the Broom is on
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