We have a special announcement from Julia Donaldson, the award-winning author, best known for revolutionizing children’s literature. Her next book, a new title in the classic Gruffalo series, is due out in 2026. This is a truly exciting comeback for the famous little character that has won the hearts of young readers for decades. The new book picks up on the delightful relationship developed in the earlier books. THE Gruffalo, 1999 first published and sequel The Gruffalo’s Child, 2004 first published illustrated by Axel Scheffler.
Donaldson has written more than 200 books during her long career. She understands why “The Gruffalo” in particular taken root so much. Though it was one of her most popular, she confesses that the character “hogs too much of the spotlight.” This feeling touches on her wish to break into a new story, while honoring the impact of her initial work, which still holds power.
The Gruffalo’s adventure begins in the deep, dark wood. There, an enterprising mouse outsmarts three deadly foes, a fox, snake and owl. Through quick thinking, the mouse convinces the titular Gruffalo that it is a terrifying animal. “The Gruffalo” adds a smart, new wrinkle to the old story. From the moment it landed on the scene, it’s dazzled kids and grown-ups just as much.
Sales on the first two Gruffalo books are now over 18 million copies worldwide. These titles have been key to the National Literacy Trust’s (NLT) Early Words Matter campaign. Read for Success is a hands-on approach to fostering early literacy and ensuring children are prepared to succeed. Donaldson credits the NLT’s nature literacy program with inspiring her upcoming Gruffalo title.
It was only when I saw the NLT — whose work I continue to be hugely impressed by — using those first two books as part of their Early Words Matter programme that I was inspired to get my idea out of the cupboard and see once and for all if I could turn it into a properly satisfying story. To my surprise, I succeeded beyond what I could have ever imagined! – Julia Donaldson
In her reflection on crafting sequels, Donaldson admits, “It’s always a challenge to write a sequel.” It was five years between publication of the first and second Gruffalo book. Today, we can now look forward to another long-awaited third book, 20-plus years in the making! She reveals that she had the original concept for the tale decades earlier. It was a long process for her to turn it into a complete story.
It’s hard to describe the level of excitement that has accompanied the arrival of this new Gruffalo adventure. The publisher, Macmillan Children’s Books, describes it as “a fresh and exciting adventure that has all the hallmarks of a Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler classic.” Readers will find the same humor and appeal that has garnered the previous six installments such a loyal following.
The importance of “The Gruffalo” doesn’t just come from its best-selling nature, though it has been praised by academia and critics as well. Sir Jonathan Bate, the dispatch professor of English Literature at Arizona State University, calls it “really one of the great children’s classics.” He makes the larger point that it resonates with dreamtime archetypal narratives, incarnating the shape of trickster cleverness and persistence.
“Reading and sharing stories is critical for shaping a child’s early speech and language development,” states Jonathan Douglas from the National Literacy Trust. The nonprofit literature champion keeps the creative process flowing for young minds. It draws heavily on Donaldson’s works to teach literacy in powerful, engaging ways.
Eight-year-old Lupin is in a frenzy of literary ecstasy. He imagines the Gruffalo is all sorts of cool places, planet traveling and seeing wonderful things while it’s been gone. That childlike sense of wonder is just a small taste of the neverending destinations to which storytelling can carry young readers.
As fans eagerly await this new chapter in the Gruffalo’s journey, Donaldson expresses her hopes for both children and adults alike: “I really hope that children – and adults too – will enjoy the new story, as I know what a wonderful experience shared reading can be.”
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