The Gruffalo

The Gruffalo is a beloved rhyming picture book about a quick-thinking little mouse walking through the deep, dark wood. When Fox, Owl, and Snake each hope to make a meal of the mouse, he invents a terrifying creature called the Gruffalo to frighten them away. But the mouse soon discovers that the Gruffalo is real—and must rely on courage, cleverness, and a little bluffing to stay safe. Written in memorable rhyme by Julia Donaldson and illustrated with Axel Scheffler’s warm, expressive artwork, the story is ideal for reading aloud. First published in 1999, it has become a modern children’s classic, celebrated for its repetition, humour, suspense, imaginative language, and empowering small-but-smart hero. It is particularly suitable for children aged 3–5.