The Wonky Donkey

The Wonky Donkey is a 2009 children's book by New Zealander Craig Smith.[1] It is illustrated by British-born Katz Cowley, who has a degree in Illustration from the University of Northumbria.[2]

This article is about the 2009 book. For Ant & Dec's children's television programme phone-in game, see SMTV Live.

The Wonky Donkey
AuthorCraig Smith
IllustratorKatz Cowley
Cover artistCowley
LanguageEnglish
Genrechildren's books
picture books
Published2009, Scholastic New Zealand Ltd
Media typeprint
Pages24
AwardsChildren's Choice
ISBN9781869439262

The book is based upon a song that Smith wrote in 2005 after hearing the joke: "What do you call a donkey with three legs? – A wonky donkey".[3][4] In 2018 the book was featured in a viral video of a Scottish grandmother laughing hysterically as she attempted to read it to her grandchild, leading to a surge in purchases of the book worldwide.[5]

Awards

Controversy

In 2010 a schoolteacher alleged that Smith had heavily based the book on several internet jokes and had not referenced this in his work.[8] Smith and his publisher responded by stating that the song predated the specific versions that the educator had seen on the internet and that it was possible that these versions had emerged because of his success with the song and resulting book.[9]

References
  1. "Wonky Donkey goes Braille". Stuff.co.nz. 13 June 2011. Retrieved 10 June 2015.
  2. Cowley, Katz. "Katz Cowley ~ Award Winning Illustrator & Workshop Facilitator". Katz Cowley. Retrieved 29 March 2023.
  3. "Children lap up Wonky Donkey show". Stuff.co.nz. 2 October 2013. Retrieved 10 June 2015.
  4. Ewing, Isobel (13 November 2014). "Wonky Donkey author launches new book". Stuff.co.nz. Retrieved 10 June 2015.
  5. "The Wonky Donkey: viral video of grandmother makes picture book a bestseller". Alison Flood. The Guardian. 10 September 2018.
  6. "New Zealand Book Awards for Children & Young Adults Winners 2010". www.booksellers.co.nz. Booksellers New Zealand. 20 May 2010. Retrieved 13 June 2015.
  7. "Children's Music Awards". Australasian Performing Right Association. 2018. Retrieved 7 January 2019.
  8. "No hanky-panky: 'Wonky, Donkey' man". Otago Daily Times. 29 May 2010. Retrieved 10 June 2015.
  9. "Copyright Is Not for Jokes, Says Top Author". New Zealand Herald. 29 May 2010. Retrieved 10 June 2015.
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