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The Gruffalo

by Julia Donaldson, Axel Scheffler (Illustrator)

4.41 of 5 stars 4.41 · rating details · 6,155 ratings · 452 reviews

Walk further into the deep dark wood, and discover what happens when the quick-thinking mouse comes face to face with an owl, a snake "and "a hungry gruffalo . . . This sturdy board book edition of the bestselling modern classic is perfect for even the youngest child.

Paperback, 32 pages

Published August 1st 1999 by MacMillan Children's Books (first published January 1st 1999)

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Jan 11, 2013 Ahmet Barut rated it 5 of 5 stars

The Gruffalo, by Julia Donaldson

The Gruffalo is about a cheeky and confident little mouse who defends himself from an array of predators, whilst walking through ‘a deep dark wood’. He defends himself through words rather than violence. He does this by outsmarting the naïve predators by claiming that he is about to meet a ‘Gruffalo’, a mythical beast. The mouse frightens the predators by giving them vivid descriptions of the beast - ironically, the mouse does meet the 'Gruffalo', and outwits him...more The Gruffalo, by Julia Donaldson

The Gruffalo is about a cheeky and confident little mouse who defends himself from an array of predators, whilst walking through ‘a deep dark wood’. He defends himself through words rather than violence. He does this by outsmarting the naïve predators by claiming that he is about to meet a ‘Gruffalo’, a mythical beast. The mouse frightens the predators by giving them vivid descriptions of the beast - ironically, the mouse does meet the 'Gruffalo', and outwits him too.

Overall, this is a very enjoyable children’s tale with an exciting setting and great introductions to various characters. The various animal characters help children identify with different types of animals that could be in a forest. The use of ‘deep dark wood’ to describe the forest works very well, as it sets the scene and makes the reader excited about what there is to come. The dialogue between characters is very clever and the rhyming is well done. It creates a rhythm for the story and makes you want to read on. The descriptions of the 'Gruffalo' stimulates one’s imagination and the concept of meeting the 'Gruffalo' becomes very exciting. The illustrations are fantastic and capture the essence of the story. The consistent story works very well, especially with an anti-climatic ending where the mouse remains superior. Every part of the story is great, but the witty and clever character of the mouse is definitely the main highlight.

I would say that this book is aimed at 3 to 6 year olds and can also be enjoyed by older children. The story could be used in the classroom by interacting with the visuals of the book. The teacher can ask questions about what the animals are called or if the children can spot the ‘Gruffalo’ anywhere in the detailed illustrations of the ‘deep dark wood’. The repetition and rhyming theme of the book would make it very enjoyable for children and would help them understand what could happen next in the story. This story could support a lesson in literacy and a topic of rhyming poems and using rhyme in creative writing and story telling.
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Sep 09, 2012 Elma Branigan rated it 4 of 5 stars

“The Gruffalo” by Julia Donaldson is a bright, colourful cheerful book that captures the presence of wild animals both big and small in the middle of a woodland area.

The story involves a fox, an owl, a snake and its two main characters a mouse and “the gruffalo”. In turn, the mouse bumps into each of these characters and one by one he is ironically scares each of them away, who all have come for a taste of him. He quickly comes up with what he believes is an imaginary, make believe animal, “a gr...more

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Jan 10, 2012 Mehzabein rated it 4 of 5 stars

Julia Donaldson does an excellent job on writing this creative story book. The first time I read the story, I initially felt it was a very long read for children as I thought it was long myself and repetitive but upon reading it a second, third time, I realised I had not fully appreciated how good the storybook was. Complete with rhyme and repitition it captured my attention and the children to whom I was reading to. The use of animals was a good idea as children were able to point out different...more

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Sep 24, 2011 Anjumanara rated it 5 of 5 stars

This such a clever story about a witty little mouse who needs to go through the wood but is faced with the prospect of being eaten by the fox, owl and the snake so he invents this fearsome creature to frighten them off!! The language is simple, repetative and rhymes which grips the attention of all those who read and listen to it. The illustrations are equally brillient; colourful, detailed and very imaginative for all those young readers of EYFS and Key Stage 1...one they will return to time an...more

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Apr 28, 2013 Mark Jayatilake rated it 5 of 5 stars

This lovely picture book tells the tale of a mouse strolling through the woods. During his trip, he meets a fox, owl and snake who are all keen to eat him. He outwits them by telling them, he is visiting the Grufallo who likes nothing more than eating them. "But don't they know, there is no such thing as a gruffalo." Find out what happens when the mouse encounters a real gruffalo.

This book is perfect for reading to Reception or Year 1 children. However, you can also ask children PSHE themed ques...more

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Apr 28, 2013 Kimberley rated it 5 of 5 stars

This is a classic story about a confident and clever mouse who outsmarts a predator much bigger than him. Along his journey he encounters a: fox, owl and gruffalo and each time he is able to talk his way through each of these encounters by informing them that he is going to meet a 'Gruffalo', a mythical creature. This book is cleverly written with a repetitive pattern so that the children can join in and it also rhymes which help with this. The illustrations are exceptional and aid the audience...more

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Apr 26, 2013 Tahmina Alam rated it 2 of 5 stars

The Gruffalo is a story about a Gruffalo! In the story a mouse travels through the woods where he meets three different animals. To save himself from being eaten by the predators he tells them about a scary creature called the Gruffalo but little do they know that this is simply an invented character by the mouse. The mouse also tells them they are amongst the favourite food the Gruffalo loves to eat. This saves the mouse from being eaten but then the mouse is taken by surprise when he comes acr...more

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Jan 30, 2013 Oluwatobi Majekodunmi rated it 5 of 5 stars

This was a fantastic book cover, this generated a wide range of discussion with the children i taught last week. great illustrations are important in any children's book, but this book's ilustration was very vivid and clear. which also helped and is fantastic during guided reading.

The Gruffalo by Julia Donaldson and illustrated by Axel Scheffler quickly became a rhyming success at quiet time and nap time with the children with lots of illustrations, a snappy rhythm; written in Iambic Pentameter...more

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Jan 26, 2013 Sapna rated it 5 of 5 stars

The protagonist of ‘The Gruffalo’ is a mouse. This story is of the mouse’s journey through the woods and how he evades danger. On his way the mouse encounters several dangerous animals (a fox, an owl, and a snake). Each of these animals, clearly intending to eat the mouse, invites him back to their home for a meal. The cunning mouse declines each offer telling each animal that he has plans to dine with his friend, a Gruffalo (a monster-like hybrid that's a half grizzly bear and half buffalo). He...more

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Jan 22, 2013 Stuart Willy rated it 4 of 5 stars

The Gruffalo – Julia Donaldson (Illustrated by Axel Scheffer)
Take a walk with a mouse through the forest and see what excitement awaits. On his travels he meets a fox, owl, snake and the beastly gruffalo who all think he “looks good” for filling their hungry stomachs. With some bold, “quick thinking” the mouse tries to face them all down with an outrageous web of lies coming to an unlikely conclusion.
Written in droll rhyme, immediately The Gruffalo grabs you and makes you want to read more. It i...more The Gruffalo – Julia Donaldson (Illustrated by Axel Scheffer)
Take a walk with a mouse through the forest and see what excitement awaits. On his travels he meets a fox, owl, snake and the beastly gruffalo who all think he “looks good” for filling their hungry stomachs. With some bold, “quick thinking” the mouse tries to face them all down with an outrageous web of lies coming to an unlikely conclusion.
Written in droll rhyme, immediately The Gruffalo grabs you and makes you want to read more. It is a book best suited for younger children; I would suggest those in key stage 1, particularly as it can be accompanied by cuddly toys from the story. The cute artwork lends to the feeling of this being a book most appropriate for young children as older children may feel it is a little young for them.
Using repetition at key moments there is plenty for children to feel familiar with as the tale unfolds. This provides the opportunity for review and discussion in a memorable manner at key moments and at the end of the book. I would recommend this book as one for whole class and then it could be used to introduce a number of activities as suggested below:
• The story could be used as a basis a drama activity looking at the use of characters. Groups could be given characters from other familiar stories and asked to create a short play showing how they may react in the same situation as the mouse.
• The artwork in this book would be used as a catalyst for discussion around differing forms of art through comparison and juxtaposition.
• Pairs or groups could formulate arguments for and against why the mouse is a nice or good character.
• The Gruffalo could be used as the catalyst for an investigation of poetry and the use of rhyme, particularly the advantages of poetry and rhyme being best when spoken and listened to.
• Using pictures and speech bubbles, this book could be used as an introduction to writing simple sentences or for higher level or older students, alternative sentences to the story.
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Jan 21, 2013 Maeve Harrison rated it 4 of 5 stars

The Gruffalo by Julia Donaldson, is an entertaining story of a cunning, imaginative mouse. While taking a walk through the woods our protagonist, the clever mouse, devises a plan in an attempt to protect himself from the various predators (fox, owl, snake ) that want to eat him . He tells each of these animals that he is going to meet a Gruffalo and each time he gives a detailed description of this creature the he has seemingly made up in his mind. He succeeds in frightening away the animals, bu...more

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Jan 14, 2013 Grace Duryee rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: children-s-lit

While trouncing about the deep dark woods, Little Mouse comes across a big, scary fox. This fox is a hungry one, and it is obvious that he thinks Little Mouse is on the menu for dinner tonight! But Little Mouse is much too smart for this scary fox. Little Mouse is meeting a Gruffalo right in that very location in just a few moments, whose favorite food happens to be roasted fox! The scary fox understandably runs away with his tail in between his legs. Little Mouse has a good laugh, because doesn...more

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Dec 26, 2012 Charlotte Needham rated it 4 of 5 stars

The Gruffalo is about a mouse that firstly meets different animals in the woods that are prepared to eat him, such as: The fox, the owl and the snake. Each of these animals then ask the mouse to come inside and eat with them, although the mouse realises that this is an invitation for them to eat him he then decides to tell each animal that he has to decline the invitation as he plans to eat with his friend the gruffalo. The mouse then adds to the description of the gruffalo by stating that he is...more

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Dec 24, 2012 Anna Scott rated it 5 of 5 stars

This book, by Julia Donaldson, is a wonderful book with a very intriguing storyline. The book tells the story of a little mouse as he takes a journey through a forest, alone. Along the way he is met with danger in the form of a snake, an owl and a fox. To avoid being eaten by these animals, the mouse invents the idea of a fierce animal that he calls a 'gruffalo'. Upon telling these predators that he is a friend of this 'gruffalo', the mouse is able to travel safely through the woods, only to be...more

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Dec 08, 2012 Sonia rated it 5 of 5 stars

I read this book to my Year 1 class (Key stage 1) and they absolutely loved it! A clever little mouse goes strolling in the deep dark woods and is approached by three animals who intend to eat him; a fox, owl and snake, the mouse bravely scares them off by describing the invented creature “Gruffalo” with frightening and creepy features i.e. poisonous wart, knobbly knees. Eventually escapes being eaten by them.
The illustrations are colourful, detailed and displays the imaginative creature, which...more

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Nov 11, 2012 Tarana rated it 5 of 5 stars

A great children’s book of all time, The Gruffalo is a story about a very intelligent mouse and how he adventures through a dangerous forest escaping the ferocious animals that lurk around by claiming to meet The Gruffalo, known to be the most scariest and ferocious monster alive. By doing so he passes through all the animals without a scratch, and by meeting the Gruffalo himself, he manages to stay alive and well.

I really enjoyed reading this book because the first thing I thought about was the...more

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Nov 08, 2012 Nwakaego Dee rated it 5 of 5 stars

This book is about a mouse who took a stroll into the woods, along his way he scares a fox, an owl and a snake by telling them the story of the gruffalo who eats them for dinner. The mouse then runs into the gruffalo and he is hungry for mice. The mouse advised the gruffalo that everyone is afraid of him and that the gruffalo should be scared. To prove himself he advised the gruffalo to follow him behind, as they walk through the woods they come across the fox, the owl and the snake who run away...more

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Nov 02, 2012 Grace Abwooli rated it 5 of 5 stars

The Gruffalo by Julia Donaldson is a fantastic award-winning children’s book. After reading this book to a year 1 class, I recommend it to all early years teachers and parents. The school library or the bookshelf at home isn’t quite complete without this book. It has recently become one of my personal favorites.

The book tells the story of a brave mouse who decides to take a stroll through the deep dark woods. On the course of his walk, he comes across different animals such as a Fox, an Owl and...more

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Oct 19, 2012 Neelam rated it 5 of 5 stars

The ‘Gruffalo’ is story about a very clever mouse who is walking through the woods. He comes across various predators such as an owl, a fox and a snake who all wish to eat him. To escape being eaten he invents a frightening friend says he is waiting for 'Gruffalo' who is a large and scary creature, whose favourite food is whichever creature he is talking too. The animals are all scared off and the mouse is let on his way. To his surprise the mouse meets the imaginary 'Gruffalo'. To avoid being e...more The ‘Gruffalo’ is story about a very clever mouse who is walking through the woods. He comes across various predators such as an owl, a fox and a snake who all wish to eat him. To escape being eaten he invents a frightening friend says he is waiting for 'Gruffalo' who is a large and scary creature, whose favourite food is whichever creature he is talking too. The animals are all scared off and the mouse is let on his way. To his surprise the mouse meets the imaginary 'Gruffalo'. To avoid being eaten the mouse tells the 'Gruffalo' he is the most feared creature in the woods and he should follow him to see. The mouse comes across the other animals once again and they are all very scared of the 'Gruffalo' so run away. The 'Gruffalo' thinks they are scared of the mouse so he too flees the mouse, and once again the mouse is left alone in the wood.

I very much enjoyed this book as the story is very clever and all the animals keep it interesting for the children. The introduction of the made up creature of the 'Gruffalo' really appeals to the imagination as well. The book is fun to read as it has short rhymes and great illustrations and can really help children who don’t know how to read. A child’s imagination and enthusiasm are heightened throughout this book as they are gripped by rhyme, repetition and vivid imagery. There is also an aspect of suspense throughout the story. The children learn the names of different animals which may be found in a forest and also the names of their different habitats. It uses of synonyms such as 'Big and little' help children to begin to understand opposites of words, a good literacy aspect of children's learning. Ideally, the book is for 3-7 year olds, but is enjoyed by many others. The story can be used effectively as part circle time and then discussed amongst children in EYFS and KS1.

The only downside I feel to this book is the fact a young child may not fully understand the cleverness of the mouse and what he does. However, the animals and other imaginative parts definitely compensate and keep it interesting for the children. During Art the children can make Gruffalo, fox, snake and owl masks. Then they could role-play and try to re-tell the story. Within the classroom I would use this as a tool for independent reading. I think it is a great book for children to begin reading with and this would also end in group activities of creating their own version of the 'Gruffalo'.
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Oct 16, 2012 Sloane Murray rated it 5 of 5 stars

As a little mouse wanders alone through the woods he comes across a variety of animals who intend to eat him. The mouse manages to dissuade the predators by describing an imaginary character to scare them off. After escaping a fox, an owl, and a snake, the mouse then comes face to face with the creature he had imagined, the Gruffalo.

With wonderful illustrations throughout the book and repetitive language used, children can engage with this story from a young age. The illustrations really tell th...more

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Sep 09, 2012 Chris1988 rated it 5 of 5 stars

‘The Gruffalo’ by Julia Donaldson is about a clever little mouse and his dangerous journey through a wood where he meets three predators, a fox, an owl and a snake. To escape being eaten he invents a gruesome friend, The Gruffalo, that would happily eat them all. To his surprise the mouse meets the imaginary Gruffalo and has to use further cunning to escape being dinner for all four animals.
This Story is cleverly written with simple repetitive language and a very clever and cheeky protagonist....more ‘The Gruffalo’ by Julia Donaldson is about a clever little mouse and his dangerous journey through a wood where he meets three predators, a fox, an owl and a snake. To escape being eaten he invents a gruesome friend, The Gruffalo, that would happily eat them all. To his surprise the mouse meets the imaginary Gruffalo and has to use further cunning to escape being dinner for all four animals.
This Story is cleverly written with simple repetitive language and a very clever and cheeky protagonist. By informing the reader of the intent of the mouse and the trick he plays on the animals, the audience is immediately hooked and included in the story. This story allows the audience to relate to the cheeky mouse and enjoy the trick he plays on the animals and even his surprise when he finds that the Gruffalo exists.
This story is an excellent choice for key stage one children and has many applications in the classroom. The Gruffalo as a character can be drawn on in art class for children to develop retrieval skills. The story has given a brilliant and detailed description of the Gruffalo and this creates a great opportunity for children to bring these ideas together to create their own version of this fearsome creature.
As a class dialogue there are many topics to focus on. As a group a class can discuss; Why the mouse had to trick the animals? How the animals felt when they heard of the hungry Gruffalo and its favorite food? Why the Mouse was shocked to find the Gruffalo? This could lead into smaller group discussions and even creative writing with their own retelling of the story to enhance retrieval skills. They could also create their own versions of the gruffalo constructing a creature that could help on a person journey such as shopping, going on a trip to the park or even to school.
Overall this is a great short story that can be used to inspire a classroom on many different levels. Through its success the Gruffalo has now become a brand and has developed many different types of merchandise and media, all which can be useful in the classroom to further children’s understanding of the story.
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Sep 09, 2012 Rebecca Olley rated it 3 of 5 stars

The Gruffalo is about a smart mouse who is taking a walk through the woods. He comes across various animals such as an owl, a fox and a snake who all think he is very appetising and wish to eat him. He outsmarts them and says he is waiting for his friend the 'Gruffalo' who is a large and scary creature whos favourite food is whichever creature he is talking too. The animals are all scared off and the mouse is let on his way. He knows he has made up the 'Gruffalo' but then comes across the real t...more

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Sep 01, 2012 Noreen Butt rated it 5 of 5 stars

This is classic children’s book. A very clever mouse takes a stroll through the deep dark woods and encounters a series of animals, from a fox, to an owl to a snake, who all want to eat him. He frightens them by telling them that he’s on his way to meet a Gruffalo that has terrible tusks, terrible claws, terrible claws and terrible jaws. They all get scared and run away. Then all of a sudden, when the mouse is strolling in the woods, he comes face to face with the Gruffalo and he also wants to e...more

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Aug 29, 2012 Claire Hart rated it 5 of 5 stars

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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Aug 28, 2012 Mary rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: eyfs

The Gruffalo is a very enjoyable and cleverly written book by Julia Donaldson. A child’s imagination and enthusiasm are heightened throughout this book as they are gripped by rhyme, repetition and vivid imagery. There is also an aspect of suspense throughout the story. The children learn the names of different animals which may be found in a forest and also the names of their different habitats.

We follow a very clever and witty mouse walk through a forest. The mouse is greeted by different preda...more The Gruffalo is a very enjoyable and cleverly written book by Julia Donaldson. A child’s imagination and enthusiasm are heightened throughout this book as they are gripped by rhyme, repetition and vivid imagery. There is also an aspect of suspense throughout the story. The children learn the names of different animals which may be found in a forest and also the names of their different habitats.

We follow a very clever and witty mouse walk through a forest. The mouse is greeted by different predators, including a fox, an owl and a snake, which are all eager to invite the mouse to their habitat. The mouse, however, knows that each of these animals are only interested in having him for dinner. The mouse, consequently, invents a creature called a Gruffalo. The Gruffalo is described vividly and resembles a monster-like animal. Each of the Mouse’s predators are scared off by his interpretation of the Gruffalo. To the surprise of the mouse he bumps into a real Gruffalo. The Gruffalo explains how he would also like to have the mouse for dinner. “‘My favourite food’ the Gruffalo said. ‘You’ll taste good on a slice of bread!’” The witty mouse however reacts quickly and thus, tricks the Gruffalo. He tells the Gruffalo that he is the most feared creature in the forest, even though he may be small. He walks back through the forest with the Gruffalo to prove his point. Each of the mouse’s previous predators, however, sees the Gruffalo walk alongside him and immediately flee away. The Gruffalo believes they are afraid of the mouse when in reality they are afraid of the Gruffalo. The mouse exclaims that his favourite food is ‘gruffalo crumble’, this scares the Gruffalo and he too, flees from the mouse. The mouse is left alone in the forest to enjoy his dinner, ‘The mouse found a nut, and the nut was good’.

There is a very important lesson in this story, it doesn’t matter how big or small you are once you are clever you can fool anyone. The mouse was the smallest creature in the forest that day and he fooled all his predators. The rhyming throughout the story keeps the child enthralled and engaged until the very last page. The can read along with the teacher in a classroom setting as the rhyming and repetition throughout the story is very easy to remember and very catchy. They also learn to use their imagination and develop an image of the scary Gruffalo in their heads. A lesson plan could encourage children to use their imagination by drawing and describing their own scary monster, like the Gruffalo. I would choose this book for an EYFS classroom to be read aloud with each voice changing appropriately for each animal.
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Aug 23, 2012 Stephanie added it

This is a rhyming story about a large monster, known to the reader as the Gruffalo. This creature is invented by a very clever little mouse who is walking through the forest. He invented the Gruffalo because on his journey, through the forest, he comes across many predators who want to eat him. By creating this creature and telling his predators he is meeting the Gruffalo for lunch, he frightens them away.
But then the mouse himself sees a real Gruffalo. Using all of his quick thinking, has to tr...more This is a rhyming story about a large monster, known to the reader as the Gruffalo. This creature is invented by a very clever little mouse who is walking through the forest. He invented the Gruffalo because on his journey, through the forest, he comes across many predators who want to eat him. By creating this creature and telling his predators he is meeting the Gruffalo for lunch, he frightens them away.
But then the mouse himself sees a real Gruffalo. Using all of his quick thinking, has to try to trick the Gruffalo, as the Gruffalo too wants to eat the little mouse.
The cunning mouse encourages the Gruffalo to walk through the forest with him, to have him believe that he himself, although small, is the scariest creature in the forest.
As they set off back through the forest, they pass each of the predators. One by one, they take one look at the Gruffalo and run away. However the Gruffalo, to his amazement, believes it is because of the mouse that they scarper.
The mouse indicates at the end of the story that his favourite meal is "Gruffalo crumble" which causes the Gruffalo to run away from him. So like the other predators he too was tricked by the clever little mouse.
This is a great book for both children and adults. Through the mouse's description of the creature, it enables both children and adults to create an image of the Gruffalo in their minds, and anticipating what will happen next.
This book can definitely be appreciated by all ages. Children can enjoy the beautiful illustrations, whereas older children and adults can be left in suspense by the clever descriptions given to them by the mouse.
Using rhyme helps to make the story fun to read. Also used in a classroom environment, when read to the children the repetition with the line "Doesn't he know, there's no such thing as a Gruffalo", enables the children to join in with the story.
Overall this is an excellent book, highlighting the use of rhyme and repetition and also encouraging the children to use their imagination.(less)

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Aug 20, 2012 Ebony rated it 5 of 5 stars

The Gruffalo is a favourite book of mine that I read to my children all the time. The little brown mouse walks through the forest and uses an imaginary monster (the gruffalo) to discourage many animals in the forest from eating him. Towards the end the mouse finds that the Gruffalo is actually real and has to use his wit again to trick the Gruffalo into thinking he is the scariest creature in the woods, so funny.

I love the way the story rhymes and flows so well, when reading it to my daughters,...more

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Aug 12, 2012 Sam rated it 4 of 5 stars

The Gruffalo is an early learners book written by Julia Donaldson. The book is about a mouse that walks through the forest. On its walk, the mouse bumps into different types of animals that eat mice. The mouse scares them away by telling them he will meet a gruffalo. Towards the end of its journey, the mouse is shocked when it actually meets a gruffalo. The gruffalo wants to eat the mouse, but the mouse convinces the gruffalo that it is the scariest animal in the woods. As a result, the gruffalo...more

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Aug 05, 2012 Sharon rated it 5 of 5 stars

'The Gruffalo' tells the story of a clever and cunning mouse who uses quick thinking to protect himself from the threatening animals he encounters on his strolls through the deep dark wood. As the mouse encounters each predator he scares them away with the promise that he is meeting a Gruffalo for lunch. The mouse describes the imaginary Gruffalo to each predator, informing each predator that the Gruffalo's favourite snack is the predator themself. At the end of the mouse's travels he meets a Gr...more 'The Gruffalo' tells the story of a clever and cunning mouse who uses quick thinking to protect himself from the threatening animals he encounters on his strolls through the deep dark wood. As the mouse encounters each predator he scares them away with the promise that he is meeting a Gruffalo for lunch. The mouse describes the imaginary Gruffalo to each predator, informing each predator that the Gruffalo's favourite snack is the predator themself. At the end of the mouse's travels he meets a Gruffalo who wants to eat him. The mouse convinces the Gruffalo to take a walk with him to realise how feared the mouse is and to scare the Gruffalo away. As the Gruffalo traces the mouse's steps he meets all of the mouse's predators, each in turn flees at the sight of the Gruffalo. The Gruffalo becomes fearful of the mouse, believing he is a threat. The Gruffalo then leaves the clever mouse, allowing him to escape all the dangers of the deep dark wood. I first read this book to a pre-school class at nursery and they thrived with excitement. This book comes to life when read aloud and young children feel the tension of the creatures in the wood as the mouse describes the Gruffalo. Slowly the reader is able to conjure up a vision of the mythological beast which leaves both adults and children on tender hooks, nervous and fascinated about what will happen next. I really loved this book; it made me feel like a big child lost in a world of fantasy and imagination. This book can be enjoyed by children from pre-toddler to adult. Younger children will love the beautiful illustrations whereas the older children can appreciate the storyline and the suspense that builds with every page. This book is a great story time read for the classroom, Julia Donaldson employs rhyme throughout making this picture book a fun read. Not only does this book entertain but it can also be used to help children develop the basic concept of rhyme and poetry. The detailed descriptions allow children to use their creativity and let their imaginations run wild. (less)

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Aug 02, 2012 Katherine Dyson rated it 4 of 5 stars

The Gruffalo is a particular favourite book of mine as it is beautifully designed and easy to read. The story outlines a mouse’s journey through a “deep dark wood” who meets different woodland creatures along the way. This story has a clever twist as all the woodland creature who meet the mouse try and invite him in for tea, however every time the mouse replies “I’m going to have lunch with a Gruffalo”. The mouse terrifies each of the animals by describing the Gruffalo and at the end of the stor...more

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About Julia Donaldson

Growing up
I grew up in a tall Victorian London house with my parents, grandmother, aunt, uncle, younger sister Mary and cat Geoffrey (who was really a prince in disguise. Mary and I would argue about which of us would marry him).

Mary and I were always creating imaginary characters and mimicking real ones, and I used to write shows and choreograph ballets for us. A wind-up gramophone wafted out Cho...more Growing up
I grew up in a tall Victorian London house with my parents, grandmother, aunt, uncle, younger sister Mary and cat Geoffrey (who was really a prince in disguise. Mary and I would argue about which of us would marry him).

Mary and I were always creating imaginary characters and mimicking real ones, and I used to write shows and choreograph ballets for us. A wind-up gramophone wafted out Chopin waltzes.

I studied Drama and French at Bristol University, where I met Malcolm, a guitar-playing medic to whom I’m now married.

Busking and books
Before Malcolm and I had our three sons we used to go busking together and I would write special songs for each country; the best one was in Italian about pasta.

The busking led to a career in singing and songwriting, mainly for children’s television. I became an expert at writing to order on such subjects as guinea pigs, window-cleaning and horrible smells. “We want a song about throwing crumpled-up wrapping paper into the bin” was a typical request from the BBC.

I also continued to write “grown-up” songs and perform them in folk clubs and on the radio, and have recently released two CDs of these songs.

One of my television songs, A SQUASH AND A SQUEEZE, was made into a book in 1993, with illustrations by the wonderful Axel Scheffler. It was great to hold the book in my hand without it vanishing in the air the way the songs did. This prompted me to unearth some plays I’d written for a school reading group, and since then I’ve had 20 plays published. Most children love acting and it’s a tremendous way to improve their reading.

My real breakthrough was THE GRUFFALO, again illustrated by Axel. We work separately - he’s in London and I’m in Glasgow - but he sends me letters with lovely funny pictures on the envelopes.

I really enjoy writing verse, even though it can be fiendishly difficult. I used to memorise poems as a child and it means a lot to me when parents tell me their child can recite one of my books.

Funnily enough, I find it harder to write not in verse, though I feel I am now getting the hang of it! My novel THE GIANTS AND THE JONESES is going to be made into a film by the same team who made the Harry Potter movies, and I have written three books of stories about the anarchic PRINCESS MIRROR-BELLE who appears from the mirror and disrupts the life of an otherwise ordinary eight-year-old. I have just finished writing a novel for teenagers.

When I’m not writing I am often performing, at book festivals and in theatres. I really enjoy getting the children in the audience to help me act out the stories and sing the songs. When Malcolm can take time off from the hospital he and his guitar come too. and it feels as if we’ve come full circle - back to busking.(less)

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