Mixed feelings about The Gruffalo's dominance
Donaldson admits she used to sneer at A. A. Milne for growing tired of Winnie-the-Pooh, but now feels similarly frustrated when people refer to The Gruffalo as if it were her only book.
The Gruffalo
Sequel/Series Release
Best for
Parents, caregivers, and nursery educators seeking a rhythmically rich, read-aloud picture book for children aged two to five who are ready to engage with a satisfying trickster story built on repetition, pattern, and comic suspense.
Our full verdict ↓At a glance
Pages26
First published2005
ISBN0142403873
Readers who finished it
Be one of the first readers to answer.
Read it? Was it right for you?
The Gruffalo
LuvemBooks Verdict
Best for: Parents, caregivers, and nursery educators seeking a rhythmically rich, read-aloud picture book for children aged two to five who are ready to engage with a satisfying trickster story built on repetition, pattern, and comic suspense.
Worth it? Skip it? Read the full verdict →Ask LuvemBooks
What would you like to know about The Gruffalo?
Answers come from our editorial notes on this book. If we haven't covered something, we'll say so.
Readers often ask
Editorial Review
Julia Donaldson and illustrator Axel Scheffler's The Gruffalo is one of the most beloved and best-selling children's picture books of the modern era, combining a clever trickster narrative, rhythmic rhyming couplets, and a memorably invented monster into a read-aloud experience that has sold over 13.5 million copies worldwide and won the Nestlé Smarties Book Prize — a record that speaks for itself.
Read the Full ReviewJulia Donaldson on The Gruffalo
Author Julia Donaldson reflects on the success of The Gruffalo, sings songs written for the character, and explains her creative partnership with illustrator Axel Scheffler.
Uploaded by The Guardian, 2009 · Watch on YouTube
A 10th birthday song for the Gruffalo
To mark ten years since the book was published, Donaldson composed a second, jazzier Gruffalo song celebrating his birthday.
From our readers
Reader reviews
No reader reviews yet
Read it? Be the first to say what you thought.
Books like The Gruffalo
Curated picks for readers who enjoyed The Gruffalo, with our reasoning for each match.
If you liked The Gruffalo
Why It’s Trending
New Gruffalo Sequel 'Gruffalo Granny' Arrives in 2026 — Plus Fall Animated Film Buzz
Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler are back with a brand-new Gruffalo sequel, Gruffalo Granny, releasing in 2026 — the first new entry in the series since The Gruffalo's Child in 2004. On top of that, the beloved animated film is being highlighted as a go-to cozy fall family watch.
After more than two decades, the Gruffalo universe is getting a proper expansion. Gruffalo Granny, a new sequel by Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler, is arriving in 2026 — and for fans of the original who have been reading it to their kids for years, that's a genuine event. It's the first new book in the series since The Gruffalo's Child came out in 2004, so there's real excitement around it.
At the same time, the animated short film adaptation of The Gruffalo is getting fresh attention as a fall family movie pick. Parents and caregivers are rediscovering it as a cozy evening watch, and the film's mix of clever storytelling and warm animation makes it an easy recommendation for little ones. The Gruffalo's Child animated special has also been highlighted recently, with many families treating it as a seasonal tradition.
If you haven't read the original picture book yet — or haven't picked it up in a while — now is a great time to revisit it before Gruffalo Granny lands. And if you've got younger kids who haven't met the mouse, the fox, the owl, and the snake just yet, you're in for a treat.