- Picture Books
- Ages 3–7
- Fantasy
Gruffalo Granny
Book 3 in The GruffaloView the full series
The first new Gruffalo story in over two decades. When the Gruffalo announces that his mother is coming to visit, the whole deep dark wood braces for the arrival of the one and only Gruffalo Granny, in Donaldson and Scheffler's bouncing rhyme.
- Best for3–7
- FormatPicture
- Length32 pp
- Read aloud~6 min
Affiliate links — buy through these retailers and we earn a small commission, at no extra cost to you.
The vibe
What it’s like.
Style
- Rhyming
- Repetitive
Tone
- Funny
- Warm
- Whimsical
- Heartwarming
Themes
Experience meters
What’s it about?
The story.
'The Gruffalo said to his daughter one day, "Your Gruffalo Granny is coming to stay."' And so begins the first brand-new Gruffalo story in more than twenty years, a sequel to the much-loved The Gruffalo and The Gruffalo's Child. In the famous deep dark wood, excitement and a little nervousness ripple through the trees as word spreads that the Gruffalo's own mother is on her way. Who is this mysterious Gruffalo Granny, and what will happen when she finally arrives to see her grandchild? Julia Donaldson's irresistible, read-it-again rhyme is matched once more by Axel Scheffler's warm, characterful illustrations, bringing a brand-new member of the Gruffalo family to life while returning to the wood that generations of children know by heart. Funny, cosy and full of the rhythm and charm that made the original a modern classic, this is a joyous read-aloud and a guaranteed gift-shelf favourite, a treat for devoted Gruffalo fans and a lovely welcome for the very newest ones.
“The Gruffalo said to his daughter one day, 'Your Gruffalo Granny is coming to stay.'”
Fit check
Right for your child?
Where it lands by age
A rhyming Gruffalo picture book that reads aloud beautifully to 2-6s and carries early readers to around 7. It is warm, funny and entirely gentle, so it suits every listener, and prior knowledge of the Gruffalo is a bonus but not needed to enjoy it.
- 1
- 3
- 5
- 7
- 9
- 11
- 13
- Best fit · 3–7
- Read aloud · 2–6
- Independent · 5–7
Prose load
Light
Visual support
Very high
Reluctant-reader friendly
Workable
Read-aloud quality
Excellent
Works well for
- Reading aloud
- Bedtime
- Reading together
- Gift-buying
Nothing in the book is likely to concern most parents. Safe to recommend without preview.
Bedtime suitability
4 / 5 · Bedtime-friendly
Sensitive-child
5 / 5 · Good fit
Graphic intensity
1 / 5 · None
Best for
- Read aloud
- Gruffalo fans
- Bedtime
- Grandparents
Avoid if
No common reasons to avoid this one — a rare clean sweep on the sensitivity flags.
Why it lands
Why they love it.
Why kids love it
Everyone already knows and loves the Gruffalo, so meeting a brand-new Gruffalo Granny feels like a treat. The bouncing rhyme is made for joining in and saying along, Axel Scheffler's monsters are funny not scary, and there is real excitement in wondering what Granny will be like.
- Cosy safety
- Family belonging
Why parents love it
Donaldson and Scheffler back in the deep dark wood is an event, and the metrically tight rhyme is a joy to read aloud again and again. It carries all the nostalgia of the original with a warm, family-visit heart, and makes an easy, delightful gift.
- Nostalgia
- Shared humour
- Beloved classic
- Bedtime appropriate
In the series
The Gruffalo.
3 books · open the series →
About the creators
About the creators.
If you liked this
Three ways out of this book.
More like this…
Books that share themes and topics with this one.
