The Gruffalo (Picture Books)

Product Information

An ancient twist on the award-winning story of The Gruffalo , in which a clever little mouse outwits the creatures of the deep dark wood, is the perfect picture book, loved b... Read more A deliciously funny cooking adventure from the stellar picture-book partnership of Julia Donaldson and David Roberts. From Julia Donaldson, the bestselling author of The Gruffalo, comes Princess Mirror-Belle and the Magic Shoes, the exciting adventures of a mischievous princess. The Gruffalo Jigsaw Book is in a special novelty board book format, including six twelve-piece jigsaw puzzles which every Gruffalo fan will enjoy! Read by Imelda Staunton, The Gruffalo's Child is the number one bestselling, much-loved sequel to the worldwide phenomenon that is The Gruffalo. This audiobook edition also include... Read more

Walk into the deep dark wood with Mouse in this t his amazing pop-up carousel book , and discover what happens when he comes face to face with a fox, an owl, a snake . . . and a hung... Read more Zunshine, Lisa (2019). "What Mary Poppins Knew: Theory of Mind, Children's Literature, History". Narrative. The Ohio State University Press. 27 (1): 1–29. doi: 10.1353/nar.2019.0000. S2CID 150140160– via Project MUSE. A stunning counting book full of gorgeous baby animals, with amazing flaps to lift and holes to peep through. From Julia Donaldson, bestselling author of The Gruffalo, and Sharon King-Chai, who ... Read moreThe Snail and the Whale is a delightful tale of adventure and friendship by the unparalleled partnership of Julia Donaldson and Ax... Read more

But one wild and windy night the Gruffalo's child disobeys her father's warnings and ventures ... Read more The Gruffalo’s origin story has been told so often that it has almost a touch of fable: how the story was inspired by a Chinese folk tale, how the original draft sat on the desk of an editor at Reid Books for months before a frustrated Donaldson eventually sent the text to Scheffler (“a very unconventional thing to do,” Donaldson said) who showed it to Macmillan, which bought it immediately. In the picture book trade, Donaldson is revered for her lyrical, rhyming verse and her ceaseless productivity. In 2020 alone, her publishers Scholastic and Macmillan have published What the Ladybird Heard at the Seaside (illustrated by Lydia Monks), The Teeny Weeny Genie (illustrated by Anna Currey), The Hospital Dog (Sara Ogilvie) and Counting Creatures (Sharon King-Chai). That’s before you count reissues and the countless activity books, cookery books and other spin-offs not written by Donaldson but based on her creations. In 1974, she sent a tape of children’s songs to the BBC, and was commissioned to write music for the children’s TV series Play Away. “I really wanted to be a presenter,” Donaldson told me. “I did have an audition and didn’t get it. They said: ‘Why don’t you just keep on with the writing?’” Songwriting was irregular work, so Donaldson took a series of jobs in publishing and radio, eventually landing as a teacher in a private girl’s school in Brighton. “The girls thought I was the bee’s knees, because all the other teachers were very ancient and traditional,” she said. Even after she quit teaching following the birth of her first child, Hamish, she continued to volunteer at schools, running drama clubs and writing musicals for children. Axel Scheffler is the best-selling, award-winning illustrator of many of the world’s favourite picture books. Born in Hamburg, Axel moved to England over thirty years ago to study illustration. Perhaps best-known for his collaborations with Julia Donaldson, including the modern classic The Gruffalo, which has sold over 13.5 million copies worldwide and been translated into over 60 languages, Axel has also illustrated novelty titles for younger readers such as Noisy Farm and The Bedtime Bear, as well as the Pip and Posy series. Axel lives in London with his partner and daughter.Donaldson, Julia (2005). The Gruffalo Song and Other Songs (CD). Macmillan Audio Books. OCLC 63210687. Created by Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler, the most successful author/illustrator partnership in picture book publishing, The Gruffalo is a modern classic, and both mouse and monster have become stars of stage and screen as well as story-time favourites. The books flatter you into thinking that you’re absolutely brilliant at reading,” Martin Pope, the co-founder of Magic Light Pictures, which produces the animated films of Donaldson’s work, told me. “Not only is each line beautifully written so that you can feel the rhythm of it, it’s very clear how to read it, and where the jokes are.”

Once asked to summarise her life in six words, Donaldson said: “Despite sadness, I feel very fulfilled.” I asked if, to her, happiness and fulfilment are different things. “I don’t know,” Donaldson said. “I suppose everyone has, you know, some cross to bear. You just have to carry on, I suppose. The books meant a huge amount. It was brilliant for me that I had this other side to my life that I was getting pleasure and recognition from.” Push, pull and slide the moving mechanisms to bring the story to life in this brilliant board book based on the classic picture book The Smartest Giant in Town by the creators of The G... Read more From Julia Donaldson, the bestselling author of The Gruffalo, comes Princess Mirror-Belle and the Party Hoppers, the exciting adventures of a princess with a difference. Full o... Read more A prehistoric adventure, perfect for listening to at home, in the car, at bedtime – or any time at all! Investigate the rhyming in the books. Which words rhyme? Can you think of other words that rhyme with those?Push, pull and slide the moving mechanisms to meet all your favourite characters from the deep dark wood in this brilliant board book based on the bestselling classic picture book, The Gruffa... Read more Radhi, Ghassan Fadhil (2022). "Criteria for Children's Literature: Julia Donaldson's The Gruffalo and The Gruffalo's Child as a Study Case". Eurasian Journal of English Language and Literature. Karabuk University. 4 (1): 55–71. eISSN 2717-9435. She is unafraid to touch upon seemingly adult themes, such as bereavement. “There are an awful lot of books about ‘I love you mummy’. ‘Yes, I love you, too, darling little bear!’ I’m not saying there’s not a place for those, but there’s so many books on that which I think are probably quite reassuring for the parents,” Donaldson said. “Most children I would hope take for granted that their parents or carers love them. They want a story where you’re not with them, and you’re having some sort of adventure.” The perfect present for unicorn lovers everywhere! Sugarlump and the Unicorn Book and Toy Gift Set includes a cute soft toy – great to cuddle whilst reading Julia Donaldson's magical adve... Read more Lift the flaps and join in the fun with this bestselling preschool classic, Rabbit's Nap by Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler, creators of The Gruffalo.

Julia Donaldson at home with a character from The Smeds & the Smoos. Photograph: David Levene/The Guardian

More Gruffalo books for children aged 3-7

A special book and CD edition of the bestselling The Snail and the Whale, a delightful tale of adventure and friendship by the unp... Read more The word ‘terrible’ is used to describe the Gruffalo. Can you think of synonyms for ‘terrible’? Can you think of other words to describe the Gruffalo?