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What the Ladybird Heard #2
What the Ladybird Heard Next
Join everyone's favourite ladybird in this fantastically funny farmyard caper from the stellar picture book partnership of Julia Donaldson and Lydia Monks, creators of What the Ladybird Heard .
Those crafty robbers Hefty Hugh and Lanky Len are out of jail, and they're heading back to the farm with another cunning plan to cause trouble. They've been stealing eggs from the fat red hen, but now they're setting their sights higher and are planning to steal the fat red hen herself! Fortunately the quiet, clever ladybird is on their trail, and she and her farm animal friends have a plan of their own. With slapstick action, animal noises and a mysterious Snuggly Snerd bird, What the Ladybird Heard Next is a story you'll be reading over and over again.
Enjoy more adventures with the clever little ladybird in What the Ladybird Heard, What the Ladybird Heard on Holiday and What the Ladybird Heard at the Seaside .
Those crafty robbers Hefty Hugh and Lanky Len are out of jail, and they're heading back to the farm with another cunning plan to cause trouble. They've been stealing eggs from the fat red hen, but now they're setting their sights higher and are planning to steal the fat red hen herself! Fortunately the quiet, clever ladybird is on their trail, and she and her farm animal friends have a plan of their own. With slapstick action, animal noises and a mysterious Snuggly Snerd bird, What the Ladybird Heard Next is a story you'll be reading over and over again.
Enjoy more adventures with the clever little ladybird in What the Ladybird Heard, What the Ladybird Heard on Holiday and What the Ladybird Heard at the Seaside .
32 pages, Paperback
First published September 10, 2015
14 people are currently reading
349 people want to read
About the author
Julia Donaldson
1,244 books1,955 followersGrowing up
I grew up in a tall Victorian London house with my parents, grandmother, aunt, uncle, younger sister Mary and cat Geoffrey (who was really a prince in disguise. Mary and I would argue about which of us would marry him).
Mary and I were always creating imaginary characters and mimicking real ones, and I used to write shows and choreograph ballets for us. A wind-up gramophone wafted out Chopin waltzes.
I studied Drama and French at Bristol University, where I met Malcolm, a guitar-playing medic to whom I’m now married.
Busking and books
Before Malcolm and I had our three sons we used to go busking together and I would write special songs for each country; the best one was in Italian about pasta.
The busking led to a career in singing and songwriting, mainly for children’s television. I became an expert at writing to order on such subjects as guinea pigs, window-cleaning and horrible smells. “We want a song about throwing crumpled-up wrapping paper into the bin” was a typical request from the BBC.
I also continued to write “grown-up” songs and perform them in folk clubs and on the radio, and have recently released two CDs of these songs.
One of my television songs, A SQUASH AND A SQUEEZE, was made into a book in 1993, with illustrations by the wonderful Axel Scheffler. It was great to hold the book in my hand without it vanishing in the air the way the songs did. This prompted me to unearth some plays I’d written for a school reading group, and since then I’ve had 20 plays published. Most children love acting and it’s a tremendous way to improve their reading.
My real breakthrough was THE GRUFFALO, again illustrated by Axel. We work separately - he’s in London and I’m in Glasgow - but he sends me letters with lovely funny pictures on the envelopes.
I really enjoy writing verse, even though it can be fiendishly difficult. I used to memorise poems as a child and it means a lot to me when parents tell me their child can recite one of my books.
Funnily enough, I find it harder to write not in verse, though I feel I am now getting the hang of it! My novel THE GIANTS AND THE JONESES is going to be made into a film by the same team who made the Harry Potter movies, and I have written three books of stories about the anarchic PRINCESS MIRROR-BELLE who appears from the mirror and disrupts the life of an otherwise ordinary eight-year-old. I have just finished writing a novel for teenagers.
When I’m not writing I am often performing, at book festivals and in theatres. I really enjoy getting the children in the audience to help me act out the stories and sing the songs. When Malcolm can take time off from the hospital he and his guitar come too. and it feels as if we’ve come full circle - back to busking.
I grew up in a tall Victorian London house with my parents, grandmother, aunt, uncle, younger sister Mary and cat Geoffrey (who was really a prince in disguise. Mary and I would argue about which of us would marry him).
Mary and I were always creating imaginary characters and mimicking real ones, and I used to write shows and choreograph ballets for us. A wind-up gramophone wafted out Chopin waltzes.
I studied Drama and French at Bristol University, where I met Malcolm, a guitar-playing medic to whom I’m now married.
Busking and books
Before Malcolm and I had our three sons we used to go busking together and I would write special songs for each country; the best one was in Italian about pasta.
The busking led to a career in singing and songwriting, mainly for children’s television. I became an expert at writing to order on such subjects as guinea pigs, window-cleaning and horrible smells. “We want a song about throwing crumpled-up wrapping paper into the bin” was a typical request from the BBC.
I also continued to write “grown-up” songs and perform them in folk clubs and on the radio, and have recently released two CDs of these songs.
One of my television songs, A SQUASH AND A SQUEEZE, was made into a book in 1993, with illustrations by the wonderful Axel Scheffler. It was great to hold the book in my hand without it vanishing in the air the way the songs did. This prompted me to unearth some plays I’d written for a school reading group, and since then I’ve had 20 plays published. Most children love acting and it’s a tremendous way to improve their reading.
My real breakthrough was THE GRUFFALO, again illustrated by Axel. We work separately - he’s in London and I’m in Glasgow - but he sends me letters with lovely funny pictures on the envelopes.
I really enjoy writing verse, even though it can be fiendishly difficult. I used to memorise poems as a child and it means a lot to me when parents tell me their child can recite one of my books.
Funnily enough, I find it harder to write not in verse, though I feel I am now getting the hang of it! My novel THE GIANTS AND THE JONESES is going to be made into a film by the same team who made the Harry Potter movies, and I have written three books of stories about the anarchic PRINCESS MIRROR-BELLE who appears from the mirror and disrupts the life of an otherwise ordinary eight-year-old. I have just finished writing a novel for teenagers.
When I’m not writing I am often performing, at book festivals and in theatres. I really enjoy getting the children in the audience to help me act out the stories and sing the songs. When Malcolm can take time off from the hospital he and his guitar come too. and it feels as if we’ve come full circle - back to busking.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 66 reviews
January 27, 2018
This rhyming mystery takes place on a farm, where a ladybird (for us North Americans, ladybug) witnesses a conversation between two thieves. She is keen to spread the word to the other animals on the farm, especially when the hen is in danger. Crafting a way to protect the hen and catch the thieves, all of the animals, headed by the ladybird, begin their ruse and try to bring the criminals to their knees. After we discussed ladybird vs. ladybug, Neo laughed throughout this story. He could predict the rhymes and loved how the story progressed, particularly how those thieves were caught in the end. He wants me to find more in the series, so I will do my best!
September 1, 2021
Was disappointed when I first read this. My expectations were too high after loving the first one and my son had outgrown the story. A few years later after forgetting the plot and my expectations were low, I read it to my 4 year old and she loved the story and so did I
July 29, 2022
4,5 stars - English hardcover
Review follows later.
Review follows later.
September 6, 2022
Толкова често споменаваме Джулия Доналдсън заедно с Алекс Шефлър, че понякога ни е лесно да забравим, че и писателката работи с други художници, и художникът работи с други писатели. „Кучето детектив“ и „Болничното куче“ ни демонстрираха колко си подхождат римите на Доналдсън със стила на илюстраторката Сара Огилви. Но изд. „Жанет 45“ внесе още разнообразие, когато представи на българските деца и една изключително духовита колаборация между Джулия Доналдсън и Лидия Монкс, озаглавена „Какво каза калинката“. В нея едно сърцато насекомо спасява цяла ферма от пъкления плана на двама алчни бандити. Уви, злосторниците са отново на свобода и кроят поредното похищение. За щастие, смелата и изобретателна калинка също е на своя пост! Искате ли да разберете „Какво още каза калинката“? Прочетете ревюто на „Книжни Криле“: https://knijnikrile.wordpress.com/202...
January 22, 2019
A rhyming story of a ladybird who lives on a farm. The hen's eggs are being stolen by some crooks who then decide to steal the hen to make more money for themselves. The animals then come up with a plan to stop the animals taking the hen.
A good book to share in the class, children could guess following words using the rhyme to help them.
A good book to share in the class, children could guess following words using the rhyme to help them.
September 30, 2020
The ladybird and her farm animal friends have a clever crime-busting plan in this fantastic farmyard story, the second in the What the Ladybird Heard series, with a redesigned cover and glitter on every page.
When I was really small, 2 or 3 years old, the first book in this series was my favourite book. We read it nearly everyday and I knew most of the words off by heart. I loved the illustrations and enjoyed making all the animal noises and would clap when the naughty robbers were caught by the police.
Now I have a baby brother and Mum was really pleased to discover another book in this series, What the Ladybird Heard Next. We bought a copy for little brother to enjoy. He likes to point out the different animals and seems very interested in the piles of poo in the farmyard! Hopefully, as he gets older it will become one of his favourite books too!
When I was really small, 2 or 3 years old, the first book in this series was my favourite book. We read it nearly everyday and I knew most of the words off by heart. I loved the illustrations and enjoyed making all the animal noises and would clap when the naughty robbers were caught by the police.
Now I have a baby brother and Mum was really pleased to discover another book in this series, What the Ladybird Heard Next. We bought a copy for little brother to enjoy. He likes to point out the different animals and seems very interested in the piles of poo in the farmyard! Hopefully, as he gets older it will become one of his favourite books too!
July 4, 2020
Once upon a farm lived a ladybird, And these are the things that she saw and heard Those crafty robbers Hefty Hugh and Lanky Len are out of jail, and they're heading back to the farm with another cunning plan to cause trouble. They've been stealing eggs from the fat red hen, but now they're setting their sights higher and are planning to steal the fat red hen herself! Fortunately the quiet, clever ladybird is on their trail, and she and her farm animal friends have a plan of their own. Join the cow, the goose, the horse, the sheep, the cat, and everyone's favourite ladybird in this fantastically funny farmyard caper - a much anticipated sequel to the hugely successful What the Ladybird Heard, which has sold over a million copies worldwide.
July 9, 2018
Oh, that Ladybird! When two criminals with whom she's tangled before have their eye on the little red hen on the farm, Ladybird decides to trick them and appeal to their greed. With a little help from some of the other farm animals, she convinces them that they can do better than that hen. Youngsters will get a kick out of how far the would-be thieves, Hefty Hugh and Lanky Len, will go to get what they think they deserve. And as the text and colorful illustrations, they really do end up getting exactly what they deserve. This one would be fun to perform as reader's theatre, but it's also great just as a read aloud for sharing with someone who needs a good laugh.
September 11, 2018
What the Ladybug Heard Next by Julia Donaldson, illustrated by Lydia Monks. PICTURE BOOK. Henry Holt (Macmillan), 2018. $18. 9781250156525
BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - ADVISABLE
AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE
Len and Hugh are out of jail and back at the farm. This time they want to steal the red hen, but luckily the ladybug overhears their plot and the whole barnyard helps to foil their plot.
A suitable sequel to the first book. The illustrations really brighten up the pages and the animals’ antics are funny.
Cindy, Middle School Librarian
https://kissthebook.blogspot.com/2018...
BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - ADVISABLE
AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE
Len and Hugh are out of jail and back at the farm. This time they want to steal the red hen, but luckily the ladybug overhears their plot and the whole barnyard helps to foil their plot.
A suitable sequel to the first book. The illustrations really brighten up the pages and the animals’ antics are funny.
Cindy, Middle School Librarian
https://kissthebook.blogspot.com/2018...
November 9, 2018
*I received a free review copy of this book from the publisher through my district library services*
I have not read the first book in this series, but I will have to get my hands on a copy. This is a really cute rhyming picture book. Julia Donaldson is very good at rhyming and keeping the story going without straining the rhymes. A ladybug helps farmyard animals defeat two robbers (who were apparently in the first book, as well). I look forward to reading this with my primary students. I think the rhymes and animal sounds will go over well, and if you have a document camera there are many illustrations that provide great opportunities for seek-and-find.
I have not read the first book in this series, but I will have to get my hands on a copy. This is a really cute rhyming picture book. Julia Donaldson is very good at rhyming and keeping the story going without straining the rhymes. A ladybug helps farmyard animals defeat two robbers (who were apparently in the first book, as well). I look forward to reading this with my primary students. I think the rhymes and animal sounds will go over well, and if you have a document camera there are many illustrations that provide great opportunities for seek-and-find.
February 25, 2026
My mom and I LOVED 'What The Ladybird Heard' so imagine my DELIGHT when we saw its sequel on the display shelf at the libary!!! We didn't even know a sequel existed!!! When I looked up from my stroller and saw it up there it was as if a halo of light was emitting from it and I swear I heard angels singing. In a way it really was shining because there was glitter on the cover and on EVERY PAGE. Wow. We also liked that this version wasn't Americanised. "Ladybird" worked better for the rhymes than "ladybug" and we liked when the characters said cute British things like "good idea, that". What a book, what an experience. 10/10 recommend.
September 25, 2019
The author uses the two thieves again in a story to create mayhem. This time the setting is in a farm.
The robbers are stealing eggs but then decide they want to make more money by stealing the hen.
The animals play on the greed of the robbers and get the robbers to believe in a large imaginary bird
buried deep in the ground. The cave collapses on them the animal make noise and the farmer finally investigates where he gets the bees to chase the robbers away. Nothing like teamwork to get the job done. Pictures are bright and simple. The ladybug is a hero in her own right.
The robbers are stealing eggs but then decide they want to make more money by stealing the hen.
The animals play on the greed of the robbers and get the robbers to believe in a large imaginary bird
buried deep in the ground. The cave collapses on them the animal make noise and the farmer finally investigates where he gets the bees to chase the robbers away. Nothing like teamwork to get the job done. Pictures are bright and simple. The ladybug is a hero in her own right.
March 25, 2020
Fun book about the two thieves again in a story to create mayhem. This time the setting is in a farm.
The robbers are stealing eggs but then decide they want to make more money by stealing the hen.
The animals play on the greed of the robbers and get the robbers to believe in a large imaginary bird
buried deep in the ground. The cave collapses on them the animal make noise and the farmer finally investigates where he gets the bees to chase the robbers away. Nothing like teamwork to get the job done!
The robbers are stealing eggs but then decide they want to make more money by stealing the hen.
The animals play on the greed of the robbers and get the robbers to believe in a large imaginary bird
buried deep in the ground. The cave collapses on them the animal make noise and the farmer finally investigates where he gets the bees to chase the robbers away. Nothing like teamwork to get the job done!
December 26, 2017
Nastavak jedne od nasih omiljenih knjigica Šta je saznala bubamara mala. Ilustracije su divne kao i pre, ali prica je malo bila konfuzna Nikoli. Steta sto su promenili pa nije vise jasno izdvojeno koja zivotinja sta kaze.
March 29, 2022
This book is really fun for many reasons. The glittery accents on each page are interesting and sensory for kids. The rhyming pattern makes for an easy listen. The bright and colorful pictures with interesting detail work grab your attention. My only complaint is that we don't call them ladybirds in Canada😝
Overall a great book!
Overall a great book!
April 10, 2023
E: I thought it was a normal book. I didn't like it when they were planning to steal the eggs of the chicken. I liked it when
The ladybird tricked the thieves.
Parent: it was okay. I do like the style of rhyming and the cleverness of the ladybird but otherwise not one of the books that spring to my mind when I think of Julia Donaldson's books.
The ladybird tricked the thieves.
Parent: it was okay. I do like the style of rhyming and the cleverness of the ladybird but otherwise not one of the books that spring to my mind when I think of Julia Donaldson's books.
September 16, 2019
Donaldson is still not one of my own personal favorites, but I loved the slapstick potty humor of this one. And the idea of the tiniest of all saving the day is a nice variation on the runt being the hero. (I have not read the first book of the ladybug's adventures.)
January 19, 2020
You'd think by now that Hefty Hugh and Lanky Len would know not to mess with the Ladybug. And yet....they try once again to foil the ladybug and the animals on the farm....only to discover that that's a terrible idea. Brute strength doesn't win...but a little ladybug smarts go a long way.
April 29, 2021
Ladybug overhears a couple of robbers saying they'rd going to steal from the farm. So the animal organize a complex series of tricks which ends with the animals making a bunch of noise to wake the farmer. Why not just start with that?
August 27, 2021
Children learn about all farm animals, their sounds and their homes. It is an entertaining read where the cunning plan of the duo is understood by the children. They mock them when they fall in the heap of muck. Overall, we enjoyed reading this book as a sequence to the What the Ladybird Heard.
May 15, 2025
This was very cute ... I didn't try reading it aloud, but it seems like it would be a good fit for storytime. A few lines of rhyming text per page, bright illustrations, a cute storyline, some animal onomatopoeia for extra emphasis and silly sounds.
February 26, 2026
Thought What the Ladybird Heard on Holiday was the first one. As a result, my son and I are missing crucial context about the core relationships in these books. Would not recommend reading out of order, there's some deep lore in this series which is punishing for new readers.
May 10, 2017
We read this book quite often and every time we do we have lots of smiles and giggles. It's the first book he's paid attention to.
June 12, 2018
Outsmarting bandits again.
July 11, 2018
Ironically, this reminded me of The Gruffalo... and then I realized the same author wrote that book... very odd...
July 16, 2018
This is a silly, lightly rhyming story, of a ladybug who saves a fat red hen on the farm. Fun illustrations.
July 31, 2018
Like reading aloud a hoe-down, this hilarious story about a farm heist gone wrong makes for a fun read aloud! Sequel to What the Ladybug Heard.
August 26, 2018
okay, but seems weirdly outdated with the cat burglar concept
October 8, 2018
Love this book equally as the first one. The glittery ladybird on every page definitely keeps children coming back to it.
October 27, 2018
Rhyming picture book about how a ladybug thwarts the thieves' plan to steal the hen.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 66 reviews