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Quick answer: If your child loves Room on the Broom, try The Gruffalo, Stick Man, Zog, The Snail and the Whale, A Squash and a Squeeze and Winnie the Witch. They share rhymes, humor and animal friends, with Julia Donaldson's lively rhythms.
Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler's 2001 picture book follows a kind witch whose broom gets more and more crowded as she picks up a cat, a dog, a bird and a frog. Kids love the rhyme and the repeated pattern. These 15 books keep the fun going with more Donaldson-Scheffler books and similar rhyming stories for ages 2 to 6.
Table of Contents
Quick Picks at a Glance
| Book | Author | Ages | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Gruffalo | Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler | 2-6 | fans of Donaldson |
| The Gruffalo's Child | Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler | 2-6 | readers who loved the first |
| Stick Man | Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler | 2-6 | holiday readers |
| Zog | Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler | 3-7 | dragon fans |
| The Snail and the Whale | Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler | 2-6 | readers who like adventure |
| A Squash and a Squeeze | Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler | 2-6 | readers who like repetition |
| Superworm | Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler | 2-6 | bug lovers |
| The Highway Rat | Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler | 3-7 | readers who like villains |
| The Smartest Giant in Town | Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler | 2-6 | kids who like kindness |
| Monkey Puzzle | Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler | 2-5 | toddlers |
| Winnie the Witch | Valerie Thomas and Korky Paul | 3-7 | witch fans |
| Meg and Mog | Helen Nicoll and Jan Pienkowski | 2-6 | readers who like classics |
| Where the Wild Things Are | Maurice Sendak | 3-7 | readers who want a classic |
| The Bear Hunt: We're Going on a Bear Hunt | Michael Rosen and Helen Oxenbury | 2-6 | interactive readers |
| The Very Hungry Caterpillar | Eric Carle | 1-5 | toddlers |
1. The Gruffalo by Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler
A clever mouse invents a monster called the Gruffalo to scare predators. Rhyming, funny and perfect for reading aloud.
Best for: fans of Donaldson.
2. The Gruffalo's Child by Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler
The Gruffalo's daughter sneaks out to find the Big Bad Mouse. A cozy follow-up with the same rhymes.
Best for: readers who loved the first.
3. Stick Man by Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler
Stick Man is taken away from his family tree and must get home. Funny and warm.
Best for: holiday readers.
4. Zog by Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler
A young dragon at school learns skills with the help of a girl. Fun and silly.
Best for: dragon fans.
5. The Snail and the Whale by Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler
A tiny snail hitches a ride on a whale and saves the day. A story about friendship.
Best for: readers who like adventure.
6. A Squash and a Squeeze by Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler
An old woman's house is too small until her animals move in and out. Funny and rhythmic.
Best for: readers who like repetition.
7. Superworm by Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler
Superworm uses his length to rescue friends and defeat a wizard. Rhyming and heroic.
Best for: bug lovers.
8. The Highway Rat by Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler
A rat steals snacks from animals until a clever duck stops him. Rhyming, cheeky and fast.
Best for: readers who like villains.
9. The Smartest Giant in Town by Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler
A giant gives away his clothes to friends. Sweet and funny.
Best for: kids who like kindness.
10. Monkey Puzzle by Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler
A little monkey looks for his mother and meets a helpful butterfly. Rhyming and sweet.
Best for: toddlers.
11. Winnie the Witch by Valerie Thomas and Korky Paul
Winnie turns her black cat green so she can see him, and trouble follows. Funny and colorful.
Best for: witch fans.
12. Meg and Mog by Helen Nicoll and Jan Pienkowski
Meg the witch and her cat Mog have funny spells. A classic with bold art.
Best for: readers who like classics.
13. Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak
Max sails to an island of wild things. A famous picture book about imagination.
Best for: readers who want a classic.
14. The Bear Hunt: We're Going on a Bear Hunt by Michael Rosen and Helen Oxenbury
A family goes on a bear hunt, with sounds for each place. Great for acting out.
Best for: interactive readers.
15. The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle
A caterpillar eats through a week of food and becomes a butterfly. A classic.
Best for: toddlers.
How We Chose These Books
Every pick is a real, widely available book that shares something specific with Room on the Broom: its tone, its themes, its pace or the kind of characters it puts at the center. We mixed well-known favorites with a few less obvious titles, and we noted who each book suits best so you can match it to the reader. Where a book belongs to a series, we list the first volume so you can start at the beginning.
How to Choose
For more Donaldson, begin with The Gruffalo and Stick Man. For witches, read Winnie the Witch or Meg and Mog. For repeated patterns, choose A Squash and a Squeeze. For interactive fun, try We're Going on a Bear Hunt. A simple plan is to read one rhyming story a night and let your child chime in on the repeated lines. Halloween is a great time to read these.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What age is Room on the Broom for?
It is recommended for ages 2 to 6.
Who illustrated it?
Axel Scheffler, who also illustrated The Gruffalo.
Is there a movie?
Yes. An animated short film aired in 2012.
Is it only for Halloween?
No. It works any time of year, though witches make it a fall favorite.