A new addition to our Julia Donaldson Collection: The Smartest Giant in Town

24th September 2024

We’re thrilled to add The Smartest Giant in Town to our library of accessible books for blind and visually impaired children! It’s the fourteenth adaption by family-favourite Julia Donaldson to land in our collection.

The characters, stories and settings created by Julia Donaldson hold a special place in the hearts of so many families and children. Her rhyming tales bring joy and laughter to many, brought to life by her partnerships with Nick Sharratt, Lydia Monks and, perhaps most famously, Axel Scheffler.

A young girl with blonde hair sits on the floor. On her lap she has a tactile version of the Smartest Giant in Town and is feeling the tactile illlustrations. She is looking at the camera and smiling.

Whenever we release a new Julia Donaldson book, we know it’s going to be hugely popular! Last year, our accessible Touch to See adaptions of her books were loaned out a staggering 1,230 times. It’s about to get much higher as we add a fourteenth book to the mix – The Smartest Giant in Town.

The Smartest Giant in Town is a heart-warming tale of a scruffy giant who gradually gives away all of his possessions, little by little, to those more in need. With messages of kindness, sharing and empathy told through engaging catchy rhyme, we can’t wait for our young library members to follow the friendly giant’s journey through touch and sound.

Actor Jim carter sits in a recording studio with headphones on. He is holding up a tactile page from the Smartest Giant in Town for blind children and looking at the camera smiling.

The illustrations by superstar illustrator Axel Scheffler have been lovingly handcrafted into tactile versions by an army of volunteers in our Newbury studios.

Each book comes accompanied with an audio description by our longstanding supporter and friend Jim Carter (Downton Abbey), who guides little fingers over the raised images to help young readers build up a picture in their mind and ‘see’ through touch.

Throughout the book, braille is added onto clear plastic pages to promote independent and shared reading.

Listen to a snippet from Jim’s audio guide!

The project has the seal of approval from our friend Axel Scheffler too! He said:

“I am a big supporter of Living Paintings and seeing my work adapted so blind and visually impaired children can experience it through touch and sound is very special indeed. In the visual world of children’s books, it really is the combination of words and pictures that gives the full experience, so I’m always thrilled when Living Paintings bring my illustrations to life for blind children. When I illustrate, I do so for all children. Working with Living Paintings makes that truly possible.”