Alphonse, There's Mud on the Ceiling!: questions to ask and activities to try
Natalie and Alphonse love playing in their flat, until a game of wriggly worms goes wrong. Alphonse, There's Mud on the Ceiling! is a funny story about siblings, wild games, and finding the right place to play them.
What age is it for? Alphonse, There's Mud on the Ceiling! is best for ages 3–6. Good for: Playing together as siblings, and indoor versus outdoor games.
Alphonse, There's Mud on the Ceiling! (Daisy Hirst)
- Age
- 3-6
- Best for
- Playing together as siblings, and indoor versus outdoor games
Read it with lots of sound effects. Afterwards, talk about which games are good indoors and which are better outside. It's a handy one for rainy days when energy is high.
What it helps with
- Brothers and sisters playing together
- Knowing which games suit indoors and outdoors
- Making up when play goes wrong
- Burning off energy in a good way
Comprehension and discussion questions
Pick two or three, not all of them. “I don’t know” is a fine answer, and you can always come back to it another day.
- “Where do Natalie and Alphonse live?”
- “What games do they like playing?”
- “What went wrong with wriggly worms?”
- “Where could they play it instead?”
- “What games do you like playing indoors? Outdoors?”
- “How do you make up after play goes wrong?”
5-minute activities to try together
Indoor or outdoor?
Make two lists together: games for inside and games for outside. Pin them up for the next rainy day.
Camp at home
Make a den with blankets and pretend it's a campsite, like Natalie and Alphonse. Bring a torch and a snack.
Free printables: Alphonse, There's Mud on the Ceiling! worksheet and activity pack
This book’s one-page worksheet with the questions and activities above, plus our activity pack: printable scenario cards, three 5-minute activities and a “What could I try?” page for practising everyday skills together. Enter your email and download them straight away.
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If your child liked this, try
Pumpkin Soup (Helen Cooper)
- Best for
- Sharing jobs, falling out and making up with friends
- Age
- 3-7
Fair Shares (Pippa Goodhart and Anna Doherty)
- Best for
- What's fair, and why fair isn't always the same
- Age
- 3-6
The Highway Rat (Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler)
- Best for
- Taking what isn't yours, greed and learning to share
- Age
- 3-6
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By the Growing Wise team · Last reviewed: 10 October 2026
Growing Wise offers educational ideas for parents and carers. It is not a substitute for professional medical, developmental or mental-health advice. As an Amazon Associate, Growing Wise earns from qualifying purchases.