The Gruffalo

The nation's favourite bedtime story! Walk into the deep dark wood, and discover what happens when a quick-witted mouse comes face to face with an owl, a snake . . . and a hungry Gruffalo. The perfect rhyming picture book for the family bookshelf.
A mouse took a stroll through the deep dark wood.
A fox saw the mouse and the mouse looked good.
Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler's The Gruffalo is an undisputed modern classic and has become a bestselling phenomenon across the world with over 18 million copies sold. This award-winning story of a mouse and a monster has found its way into the hearts and bedtimes of an entire generation of children. Perfect to read aloud, the playful verse and beloved characters will enchant little ones for years to come. No home should be without The Gruffalo!
'One of the best picture books ever written' - The Sun
Look out for Gruffalo Granny, the brand new Gruffalo picture book adventure - coming on 10th September 2026!
Discover more picture books from Julia and Axel: The Gruffalo's Child, Room on the Broom, and A Squash and a Squeeze.

Julia Donaldson is the outrageously talented, prize-winning author of the world's best-loved picture books, and was the 2011-2013 UK Children's Laureate. Her books include Room on the Broom, What the Ladybird Heard and the modern classic The Gruffalo, which has sold over 13.5 million copies worldwide and has been translated into over sixty languages. Julia also writes fiction as well as poems, plays and songs and her brilliant live children's shows are always in demand. Julia and her husband Malcolm divide their time between Sussex and Edinburgh. Axel Scheffler is a star illustrator whose instantly recognisable, warm and witty illustrations have achieved worldwide acclaim and numerous awards. In addition to his picture books, Axel is the illustrator of wonderful novelty and gift books for Macmillan, such as the bestselling The Bedtime Bear, The Tickle Book and Mother Goose's Nursery Rhymes. He also illustrates the popular Pip and Posy series. Born in Hamburg, Axel now lives with his family in London.