The Wonky Donkey: questions to ask and activities to try
A donkey with three legs is a wonky donkey. With one eye, he's a winky wonky donkey. A cumulative song-story that gets sillier on every page.
What age is The Wonky Donkey for?
The Wonky Donkey is best for ages 3–7.
The Wonky Donkey (Craig Smith and Katz Cowley)
- Age
- 3-7
- Best for
- Giggles, rhyme and repeated words
Only 50pThe Wonky Donkey activity sheet3 printable pages: questions to talk about, a drawing and writing page, and notes for the grown-up. Instant PDF.
Just want the questions? Get the free question card ↓
Read it (or sing it) faster and faster as the list grows. Let your child fill in the words they remember.
Is this book right for your child?
- Age
- 3–7 (nursery to Year 2)
- What they'll enjoy
- A donkey with three legs is a wonky donkey. With one eye, he's a winky wonky donkey. A cumulative song-story that gets sillier on every page.
- Helps with
- Giggles, rhyme and repeated words
- Buy or borrow?
- Borrow it from the library first if you can. If your child asks for it again and again, it’s one worth owning, and the questions and activities on this page work best with the book open next to you.
What it helps with
- Rhyme and word play
- Memory
- Laughing together
- Reading aloud with confidence
Comprehension and discussion questions for The Wonky Donkey
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.
- “Why was the donkey called wonky?”
- “What other names did he get?”
- “Which word made you laugh the most?”
- “Can you remember the whole name?”
- “What silly name would you give a dog or a cat?”
- “How did the donkey feel, do you think?”
For the full list of questions and more, download the PDF below.
Print these questions: free question card for The Wonky Donkey
All 6 questions for The Wonky Donkey on one printable page, each marked with the reading skill it practises. Enter your email and download it straight away.
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5-minute activities to try together
Name chain
Make up a long rhyming name for a toy, adding one word at a time, and see who can remember it all.
Rhyming pairs
Find pairs like wonky donkey: hairy bear, silly filly, fat cat.
The Wonky Donkey activity sheet: printable worksheet and questions
All the questions and activities above on a ready-to-print activity sheet: questions tagged by reading skill with space to answer, a drawing and writing page with a self-check, and notes for the adult with curriculum links and a 20-minute session plan. Pay by card, PayPal or Payhip and download straight away.
- Page 1, talk about it: questions about the story, each tagged with the reading skill it practises, with space to answer or tick
- Page 2, my favourite part: a drawing box, a sentence starter and a “how did I do?” self-check
- Page 3, notes for the adult: curriculum links, a 20-minute session plan, extension activities, and support and challenge ideas
- Read it togetherEnjoy the story first.
- Ask 2 or 3 questionsFrom the list above, while everyone is calm.
- Print the activity sheetAn activity sheet with questions, a drawing page and notes for you.
Communication bundle15 activity sheets for books on the same themeThe 15 books:I Talk Like a RiverAll Join InThe Animal BoogieBilly's BucketBrown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See?Counting with Tiny CatDear ZooDig Dig DiggingDinosaur Dig!Dinosaur Roar!DogsDown by the StationDown the Back of the ChairDriving My TractorEach Peach Pear Plum£4.99 3 sheets for £1.25The Wonky Donkey + I Talk Like a River + All Join InThe 3 books:The Wonky DonkeyI Talk Like a RiverAll Join In£1.25 Pick your own books: build a bundle with this one, up to 15% off →
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Use it as a lesson plan
Children can listen to The Wonky Donkey, answer questions about it and give a reason for their ideas, and talk about rhyme and word play.
A 20-minute session for ages 3–7 (nursery to Year 2), for a class, a small group or one child at home.
- Warm up (2 minutes). Show the cover and read the title. Ask: “What do you think this story will be about?”
- Read aloud (6 minutes). Read it all the way through. Tip: Read it (or sing it) faster and faster as the list grows. Let your child fill in the words they remember.
- Talk about it (4 minutes). Pick two or three of the comprehension and discussion questions above. “Why was the donkey called wonky?” works well to start.
- Activity (6 minutes). Do Name chain. Make up a long rhyming name for a toy, adding one word at a time, and see who can remember it all. Children who finish early can try Rhyming pairs.
- Wrap up (2 minutes). Ask each child for one thing they will remember from the story, and why.
Want to go further? The The Wonky Donkey activity sheet has these questions with space to answer, a drawing and writing page, and notes for the adult.
If your child liked this, try
Green Eggs and Ham (Dr. Seuss)
- Best for
- Trying new foods and new things before deciding you don't like them
- Age
- 3-7
Aliens Love Underpants (Claire Freedman and Ben Cort)
- Best for
- Pure silliness, rhyme and laughing together
- Age
- 2-6
Oi Frog! (Kes Gray and Jim Field)
- Best for
- Rhyming fun, and talking about rules and speaking up
- Age
- 3-6
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By the Growing Wise team · Last reviewed: 29 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.