The Wonky Donkey
As a donkey's description grows longer and more ridiculous, the sentence becomes a massive tongue-twister. Children love the challenge of the final page, which is best enjoyed when the adult reads it with all the silliness it deserves.
The Wonky Donkey by Craig Smith is estimated to take about 6 minutes to read aloud (402 words, about 2 sentences a page), and it lands best with children aged 2-5.
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- Estimated read-aloud time
- about 6 minutesEstimated read-aloud time
- Word count
- 402Counted words
- Sentences per page
- 2Sentences per page
- Re-read tolerance
- 4/5repeat friendly
- Vocabulary level
- 2/5everyday words
- Best for
- Ages 2-5Our editorial fit
Our review
This is a cumulative rhyme that rewards repeated readings. The humor comes from the increasing complexity of the description and the eventual challenge of getting through the final, long sentence.
It’s a great choice for a high-energy reading time where you want to see a child's face light up with the anticipation of the "big" finish. It’s more of a performance than a quiet read.
Before you buy it
This works best when read like a song. If you read it too flat, the effect is lost, and the inclusion of words like 'hanky-panky' might bother some parents.
Themes
- cumulative rhyme
- donkeys
- silliness
- song
Books like The Wonky Donkey
Matched by refrain, density, length, and listener—not just the subject.
Chicka Chicka Boom Boomabout 5 minutes estimated · 5/5 re-read
The Spiffiest Giant in Townabout 12 minutes estimated · 4/5 re-read
Pete the Cat: I Love My White Shoesabout 4.5 minutes estimated · 5/5 re-read
Hop on Popabout 5 minutes estimated · 4/5 re-read
We're Going on a Bear Huntabout 6 minutes estimated · 5/5 re-read
Questions parents ask
How long does it take to read The Wonky Donkey aloud?
About 6 minutes at an unhurried pace, including a standard allowance for page turns, pictures and participation, from a word count of 402. Stopping for a longer conversation on every page will add more time.
What age is The Wonky Donkey actually for?
Ages 2-5 in our testing, which is narrower than the publisher's range. With 2 sentences a page and vocabulary at 2 out of 5, it asks for that much attention span and no more.
Does The Wonky Donkey survive being read on repeat?
Yes. It survives a fortnight of nightly repeats, which is the real test.
Is The Wonky Donkey 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 The Wonky Donkey?
Probably, and fast. The book leans on a repeated refrain, and at 4 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 The Wonky Donkey on their own?
It is closer than most picture books. With 2 sentences a page and plain vocabulary (2 out of 5), a confident early reader can attempt it, though it is written to be read aloud first.
What themes does The Wonky Donkey cover?
We tag it with cumulative rhyme, donkeys, silliness and song. 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.
