The Gruffalo coming back after 20 years in new book

After more than 20 years roaming the deep dark wood, the Gruffalo is coming back in a new book, which author Julia Donaldson says she was spurred to write by a campaign to reverse a decline in children’s reading.

The book will be published in 2026, and will be the third about the beloved animal – after 1999’s best-selling original and 2004’s sequel The Gruffalo’s Child.

Donaldson said she had the idea “a long time ago”, but was inspired to finally put pen to paper after the National Literacy Trust (NLT) started using the previous two books in its Early Words Matter scheme.

According to the NLT, just 35% of children aged between eight and 18 said they enjoyed reading in their free time in 2024.

That is the lowest level since the charity started gathering data in 2005.

Some of those who had the original books read to them as young children will now be able to read the new story to their own kids.

The first picture book saw a humble mouse encounter a fox, a snake and an owl in the deep, dark wood – before meeting the Gruffalo itself, and tricking the furry monster into being scared of it.

Then in The Gruffalo’s Child, the character’s offspring went in search of the “big, bad mouse”.

“It’s always a challenge to write a sequel,” Donaldson said in a statement. “Five years elapsed between publication of The Gruffalo and The Gruffalo’s Child, and now it will be more than 20 between The Gruffalo’s Child and the third book.

“I actually had the basic idea for the story a long time ago, but couldn’t think how to develop it.

“It was only when the NLT, whose work I’m very impressed by, used the first two books as part of their Early Words Matter programme that I was spurred on to get my idea out of the cupboard and see once and for all if I could turn it into a really satisfying story. To my surprise, I managed to do just that!”

She said she was “delighted” when illustrator Axel Scheffler came back on board. “I really hope that children – and adults too – will enjoy the new story, as I know what a wonderful experience shared reading can be,” she added.

Publisher Macmillan Children’s Books billed the new book as “a fresh and exciting adventure that has all the hallmarks of a Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler classic”.

The first two books have sold 18 million copies, Macmillan said.

NLT chief executive Jonathan Douglas said “reading and sharing stories is critical for shaping a child’s early speech and language development”.

Since the two main Gruffalo books were published, there have been spin-offs and animated versions of both, the first of which was nominated for an Oscar.

Donaldson has written more than 200 books in total, and told the BBC last year it was “amazing” that The Gruffalo had such an impact, but that she thought it “hogs too much of the attention”.

Sir Jonathan Bate, professor of English Literature at Arizona State University told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme on Thursday that the Gruffalo “really is one of the children’s classics.”

He added: “It plugs into an ancient archetypal story, the story of the trickster, the small creature who, through cleverness, defeats all sorts of danger.”

But where has the character been for all these years?

Speaking on the same programme, eight-year-old Lupin said he imagined the Gruffalo had “been traveling and exploring” in his time away.

“The Gruffalo’s child is now grown up and has kids, so the Gruffalo is a granddad,” he speculated.

“He has been traveling on a cruise ship. He stole away in a suitcase, by the way, and he’s now in Australia.

“He has had to shave off all of his fur as it is so hot and wear a disguise as he is so famous.”

Another young listener, Jessica, said she thought the Gruffalo might have “gone to school or “gone on holiday to Center Parcs and gone in the swimming pool”.

Alternatively, she added, he “might have learned history” or “made some crafty things at school.”

A third, Ottilie, said she was “so excited” about the Gruffalo’s return.

“Maybe while he’s been away he has been hunting for other creatures to eat, or maybe him and the mouse have become best friends and they went to the park and played on the swings,” she considered.

“Or the Gruffalo might have took a long, relaxing holiday in Mauritius,” she added.