I recently watched an interesting BBC documentary about the children’s author, Julia Donaldson. She’s written a whole host of books that have become best-sellers. 'The Gruffalo’, the nation’s favourite, has sold a staggering 17 million copies and has been translated into 100 languages. My son absolutely loves them so I can see why they are adored by so many.

So what’s behind her success? Rhyming is key in her books and she says that a rhythm comes to mind when she’s writing. She has an instinctive skill for scansion and it’s no wonder her picture books are so rhythmic as she previously worked as a lyricist. She began busking with her husband in Paris and then later wrote music for a kid’s TV series. Her stories centre around a refrain, which gives the stories structure and make them very readable.

Donaldson’s books are never ‘twee’ and the characters in her stories are ‘vivid, funny and a bit scary’. Julia believes that a good story is created when a character is outside it’s comfort zone and Michael Rosen* adds that a children's book has to see the world from the child’s point of view. The Gruffalo does this perfectly as the mouse is the smallest creature and so children identify themselves with it. There is often real danger but the tiniest of creatures come up trumps and defeat the baddies.

Julia Donaldson has been described by many as a genius and Prince William awarded her a CBE in 2019. Her books will be handed down for generations and might even inspire her young readers to become writers too.

• Another well known children’s author and poet