I brought this for my niece and nephew as a great addition to their already bursting bookcase. They absolutely loved it. Reginald Rake really reminded us of their grandad because he has a similar tractor to the book and he coughs when he smokes. If you haven't read this or any Julia Donaldson story before then you should start with this as it is brilliant. The story and the characters are well thought out and bring the book alive. This is not just for children but great for adults and big kids alike.

The wordplay is beautifully judged, with illustrations that compliment and amuse. The artwork is superb, as might be expected. I was surprised to see a character in the book that smoked. However, children do see people smoking when they are out and about. And the book does make the point that smoking is a very bad idea. In fact, when I read it to a 4 year old, she never mentioned the smoking bit or remarked on it at all. So perhaps it’s more of a shock for the adult readers of this book. With the book I purchased. The front cover could also be used as a poster. Overall, an excellent book.