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A Squash and a Squeeze
Language Teaching and Researching Pub 40 Chinese. English Foreign Language Teaching and Research Publishing House Small A little old lady lives alone in a house. She always felt that her house was too small. I was complained about the sm...
33 pages, Paperback
First published March 11, 1993
28 people are currently reading
1586 people want to read
About the author
Julia Donaldson
1,221 books1,868 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 285 reviews
June 7, 2020
We're thoroughly enjoying all the Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler picture books, that we're attempting to collect them all.
This was another fun one featuring an old lady who felt her home was too small.
Various suggestions by a wise old man see an array of farm yard animals being invited into the house, it's pretty obvious that the lady has more room than the though.
These books are such a winning combination of wonderful rhyming words alongside some great illustrations.
This was another fun one featuring an old lady who felt her home was too small.
Various suggestions by a wise old man see an array of farm yard animals being invited into the house, it's pretty obvious that the lady has more room than the though.
These books are such a winning combination of wonderful rhyming words alongside some great illustrations.
January 2, 2019
You should always be thankful for everything you have got.
It can always get worse than it is already.
(Well...not me... I always dream big LOL)
Children laugh every time we read this book.
It can always get worse than it is already.
(Well...not me... I always dream big LOL)
Children laugh every time we read this book.
September 9, 2017
Another soon to be favourite I think.
July 21, 2022
It's more like a Zen Story - simple,witty and wise.
April 3, 2020
Standard fare from the ever reliable pairing of Julia Donaldson (author) and Axel Scheffler (illustrator) and none the worse for that. 'Squash and a Squeeze' is not up there with classic Donaldson and Scheffler, but nonetheless it's a very good, well told story and as usual loads of fun.
November 28, 2022
Diese Geschichte muss ich abends oft vorlesen, ich kann sie schon auswendig😅 trotzdem sind die Kinder jedes Mal ganz hin und weg von Oma Agathe und ihren vielen Tieren 😁
January 20, 2014
Have you ever peed on a cat's head? I have.
One crisp Autumn morning, I ambled through the bathroom door, still three-quarters asleep. Splashing some cold water onto a flannel, I sponged ineffectively at my face, and then tossed the wet rag on top of the toilet cistern. I flipped up the lid and began my leisurely morning pee.
My kitten-cat (what do you call a teenage kitten?), Cassie, came trotting into see me, mewing excitedly.
"Hey girl," I started to say.
She jumped up onto the toilet, not knowing the wet flannel was there. She slipped, skidded, bounced off the wall, clawed at the flipped-up lid, and fell into the toilet bowl with the lid slamming shut above her head.
"Hey girl," I finished, peeing on top of the closed toiled lid.
"Meow!" said the toilet. "Meow!"
**whisperwhisperwhisper* (a book review? really?)
A Squash and a Squeeze is another cracking rhyming story from the kiddy-fic superstar, Julia Donaldson. Room on the Broom = homerun! The Gruffalo = phenomenal! The Gruffalo's Child = flawless victory!
This one's about an old woman who thinks her house is too small. So she follows the advice of a old man and moves her farm animals into the house with her, then kicks them out again and - et voila - the house feels much bigger!
My son loves it because he loves animals. I mean, this kid REALLY loves animals. I'm not sure there are many eighteen month olds who know what a tapir is. The hen, goat, pig and cow in this book... too easy! For about two weeks this was his favourite book in the world. I probably read it aloud about a hundred times in that two weeks. I still have fond memories...
This book reminded me of the above anecdote because in that flat we had my wife and I, three cats and a bay. It really was a squash and a squeeze. I preferred to say it was 'full of life'.
After this I read: Meg and Mog
One crisp Autumn morning, I ambled through the bathroom door, still three-quarters asleep. Splashing some cold water onto a flannel, I sponged ineffectively at my face, and then tossed the wet rag on top of the toilet cistern. I flipped up the lid and began my leisurely morning pee.
My kitten-cat (what do you call a teenage kitten?), Cassie, came trotting into see me, mewing excitedly.
"Hey girl," I started to say.
She jumped up onto the toilet, not knowing the wet flannel was there. She slipped, skidded, bounced off the wall, clawed at the flipped-up lid, and fell into the toilet bowl with the lid slamming shut above her head.
"Hey girl," I finished, peeing on top of the closed toiled lid.
"Meow!" said the toilet. "Meow!"
**whisperwhisperwhisper* (a book review? really?)
A Squash and a Squeeze is another cracking rhyming story from the kiddy-fic superstar, Julia Donaldson. Room on the Broom = homerun! The Gruffalo = phenomenal! The Gruffalo's Child = flawless victory!
This one's about an old woman who thinks her house is too small. So she follows the advice of a old man and moves her farm animals into the house with her, then kicks them out again and - et voila - the house feels much bigger!
My son loves it because he loves animals. I mean, this kid REALLY loves animals. I'm not sure there are many eighteen month olds who know what a tapir is. The hen, goat, pig and cow in this book... too easy! For about two weeks this was his favourite book in the world. I probably read it aloud about a hundred times in that two weeks. I still have fond memories...
This book reminded me of the above anecdote because in that flat we had my wife and I, three cats and a bay. It really was a squash and a squeeze. I preferred to say it was 'full of life'.
After this I read: Meg and Mog
July 26, 2012
I thoroughly enjoyed this book by Julia Donaldson. The book tells a story of a women who does not feel satisfied with her home and feels that it is too small for her. She decides to ask a wise old man for advice on how she can make her house feel bigger. However ironically instead of advising her to remove things from the house he tells her to put all of her animals inside the house with her.
This is an enjoyable book which can help develop literacy skills such as rhyming and reading poetry. The book also uses repitition by always refering to the house as being a 'squash and a squeeze'. It helps the reader understand the flow of the book which makes it enjoyable. I feel that this book would have many learning benifits ie. rhyming skills. Repitition familiarises the reader with words and phonological awareness.
I also feel that this book can be enjoyable for younger children (under 7 years) to enjoy fully. Reason being is the fun reference to animals for example. Read to the whole class can be enjoyed rather than reading alone. Students can join in with the squash and a squeeze rhyme. This can be an early introduction to poetry and rhymes other than nursery rhymes can be extended into a learning task. Students can write their own rhyme using alliteration.
This is an enjoyable book which can help develop literacy skills such as rhyming and reading poetry. The book also uses repitition by always refering to the house as being a 'squash and a squeeze'. It helps the reader understand the flow of the book which makes it enjoyable. I feel that this book would have many learning benifits ie. rhyming skills. Repitition familiarises the reader with words and phonological awareness.
I also feel that this book can be enjoyable for younger children (under 7 years) to enjoy fully. Reason being is the fun reference to animals for example. Read to the whole class can be enjoyed rather than reading alone. Students can join in with the squash and a squeeze rhyme. This can be an early introduction to poetry and rhymes other than nursery rhymes can be extended into a learning task. Students can write their own rhyme using alliteration.
August 24, 2023
A good one to make the little ones aware of the concept of space. And very funny!
May 8, 2020
I think this book has a lesson for all of us.
Things can always be worse , and we often don't appreciate what we have untill we lose it.
A lovely fun book with a nice repetition to it that my children like to join in with.
Things can always be worse , and we often don't appreciate what we have untill we lose it.
A lovely fun book with a nice repetition to it that my children like to join in with.
February 26, 2022
This story felt a bit like a fairytale which is unusual. I like how the story ended. It was quiet funny. My daughter liked it when I kept reading aloud “my house is a squash and a squeeze”.
August 17, 2020
Nice book for our family read with the moral to be happy and satisfied with what we have.
February 28, 2019
I generally hate the contrived rhymes of children's books when executed badly, which is most of the time. Here, the cadence is very off, which was therefore very irritating.
The vocabulary was varied enough that I find it educationally worthwhile for my kids.
As for the story, I like it very much. What I DISLIKE is that it is a classic Jewish folktake (The "wise old man" is actually a Rabbi) and yet no reference to that fact is made anywhere in the book. It's presented as an original story, which is a malicious type of cultural approbation (aka theft.) For that, I bump it down from 3 stars to 2.
The vocabulary was varied enough that I find it educationally worthwhile for my kids.
As for the story, I like it very much. What I DISLIKE is that it is a classic Jewish folktake (The "wise old man" is actually a Rabbi) and yet no reference to that fact is made anywhere in the book. It's presented as an original story, which is a malicious type of cultural approbation (aka theft.) For that, I bump it down from 3 stars to 2.
January 1, 2018
A favorite when my kids were little, this variation on a traditional Jewish folktale is one I often think of when I feel like complaining myself, as well as one that comes to mind often in my work with kids and families. Think your life is hard? Why not try making it a lot harder?! You'll feel so much better once you get back to square one. The rhyming verse makes it a fun read aloud, too. Just bought a new copy for a young couple in a small house expecting baby number two :)
January 26, 2021
Fun rhyming kids' book. Cute illustrations.
April 20, 2019
Fun rhyming!
September 11, 2015
One day a little old lady grumbles and grouses that her house is a squash and a squeeze, A wise old man hears the little old lady grumble and grouse. The wise old man has an idea, which includes: a hen, cow, pig and a goat.
A squash and a squeeze is another humorous story by Julia Donaldson that keeps both children and adult amuse till the end. The story is repetitive and is told in a rhyme format, which gives it its dynamism. The illustrations by Axel Scheffler is of an animated one and it captures the eye of the audience brilliantly. I have read this story to a group of reception children and they enjoyed the illustrations and the constant repetition meant that they knew some of the words in the book and could join in with reading the story along with me.
This is a good book to read to reception children and year 1, especially if they are learning about rhyme. The book also has a moral within the story. The old lady felt that her house was too small for herself, then the old wise man said to take in few animals, then she realised that her house with the animals inside of it was too small but for her it was perfect. This is a good book to convey a message to children about being thankful for what they have and that others may not have the privilege of things that they have.
This book is suitable for ages 4 and above and would make an ideal book to read at the end of the school day by the teacher to her/his class.
A squash and a squeeze is another humorous story by Julia Donaldson that keeps both children and adult amuse till the end. The story is repetitive and is told in a rhyme format, which gives it its dynamism. The illustrations by Axel Scheffler is of an animated one and it captures the eye of the audience brilliantly. I have read this story to a group of reception children and they enjoyed the illustrations and the constant repetition meant that they knew some of the words in the book and could join in with reading the story along with me.
This is a good book to read to reception children and year 1, especially if they are learning about rhyme. The book also has a moral within the story. The old lady felt that her house was too small for herself, then the old wise man said to take in few animals, then she realised that her house with the animals inside of it was too small but for her it was perfect. This is a good book to convey a message to children about being thankful for what they have and that others may not have the privilege of things that they have.
This book is suitable for ages 4 and above and would make an ideal book to read at the end of the school day by the teacher to her/his class.
September 29, 2013
A wise old man heard a little old lady grumbling about her house being too small. After insisting that he helps her, the wise old man told the little old lady to take in her animals. However, the house became too much of a squash and a squeeze. It was not until she took all of the animals out again that she realised just how big her house was for one little old lady.
This is an enjoyable story to read to children. With the story being repetitive, it allows the children to join in with the parts that they are familiar with. This is a good book to use if the children are learning about rhyming as every sentence ends with a rhyme. It is also a good book to have in the book box for the end of the day stories on the carpet at school. I would say that this book is suitable for children aged five and onward.
This is an enjoyable story to read to children. With the story being repetitive, it allows the children to join in with the parts that they are familiar with. This is a good book to use if the children are learning about rhyming as every sentence ends with a rhyme. It is also a good book to have in the book box for the end of the day stories on the carpet at school. I would say that this book is suitable for children aged five and onward.
March 14, 2017
In this first book from Donaldson and Scheffler, the duo behind treasured stories like The Gruffalo and Room on the Broom, a little old lady bemoans the lack of space in her small house. Instructed by a wise man to invite a hen, a goat, a pig, and a cow inside, she gains a new perspective and learns a valuable lesson. Adapted from a classic folktale and only recently back in print, readers will find humor and wisdom within these pages.
February 12, 2019
I read this book with reception children who had English as an additional language. It worked well as the repetition helped them to be able to make predictions to fill in the blanks - “with a squash and a ______”. They enjoyed this involvement in the book. It also has a moral about being thankful for what you have which you could discuss with children.
I enjoyed the illustrations of this book and in the first couple of pages with the title there is a chicken laying an egg which could be seen as foreshadowing. The animals were also a good talking point with what noises they make and how big the children think they are in real life.
I really enjoyed reading this book and including the voices of the wise old man and woman.
I enjoyed the illustrations of this book and in the first couple of pages with the title there is a chicken laying an egg which could be seen as foreshadowing. The animals were also a good talking point with what noises they make and how big the children think they are in real life.
I really enjoyed reading this book and including the voices of the wise old man and woman.
January 30, 2018
Dit boek is voor mij voor altijd een flashback naar de lieve Ierse mama die het verhaal vol enthousiasme voorlas aan de dochter terwijl we met zijn allen wachten tot we van het vliegtuig mochten afstappen in Brussel. Die spontane vriendelijkheid, die hadden we zo gemist.
En het is dan nog een leuk verhaal ook!
En het is dan nog een leuk verhaal ook!
February 19, 2018
First sentence: A little old lady lived all by herself with a table and chairs and a jug on the shelf. A wise old man heard her grumble and grouse, "There's not enough room in my house. Wise old man, won't you help me please? My house is a squash and a squeeze."
Premise/plot: Will the 'little old lady' learn a valuable lesson when she takes advice from the 'wise old man'?!
My thoughts: I really like this one. I remember hearing a similar story on Between the Lions back in the day. I enjoyed the rhythm and rhyme of it.
Text: 5 out of 5
Illustrations: 3 out of 5
Total: 8 out of 10
Premise/plot: Will the 'little old lady' learn a valuable lesson when she takes advice from the 'wise old man'?!
My thoughts: I really like this one. I remember hearing a similar story on Between the Lions back in the day. I enjoyed the rhythm and rhyme of it.
Text: 5 out of 5
Illustrations: 3 out of 5
Total: 8 out of 10
July 12, 2018
I conducted reading assessments with some of the children in my Year 2 class and they absolutely loved the book! They found some of the vocabulary quite tricky but really enjoyed the fun nature of this story. It was really interesting to talk with them behind the moral and justifications of the story as well- a very good read.
April 14, 2017
Another amazing children's book from the wonderful team that is Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler!
This one tells the story of a little old lady who thinks her house is too small so she calls on the help of a wise old man. His answer? Stuff your house full of barnyard animals, including a hen, a goat, a pig and a cow. When they leave, your house will feel huge!
I love this story. It's funny, it's lyrical and is a pleasure to read aloud. Another favourite of ours.
This one tells the story of a little old lady who thinks her house is too small so she calls on the help of a wise old man. His answer? Stuff your house full of barnyard animals, including a hen, a goat, a pig and a cow. When they leave, your house will feel huge!
I love this story. It's funny, it's lyrical and is a pleasure to read aloud. Another favourite of ours.
September 6, 2018
We had a desk move at work which meant we were quite cramped but then we moved back and even though we had the same amount of space it felt like a palace 😂 I was recommended this book by my manager and it sums it up perfectly! Oh I love a children’s book!
May 10, 2019
It was fun to re-read a book I'd enjoyed as a child in Britain. I was surprised to realize that the author is the same as The Gruffalo, which I have not yet read but have at least heard of. This is a story about perspective -- it's fun and rhymes and my kids both like it too.
February 16, 2020
I love reading Julia Donaldson books to my son! This is a really good book about being grateful for what you have
February 25, 2021
This one of my favourite Julia Donaldson books.
I've seen Julia and her husband preform this and it's brilliant
I've seen Julia and her husband preform this and it's brilliant
November 27, 2021
Full laugh
May 4, 2025
Classic book from Julia & Axel a great book for the children.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 285 reviews