The Gruffalo Award-winning by Julia Donaldson (author) and Axel Scheffler (illustrator)

Author/Illustrator

Julia Donaldson

Julia Donaldson is author of many of today’s best-loved picture books including The Gruffalo and Stick Man. Best known for her collaborations with Axel Scheffler, each of these vivid rhyming stories is a triumph of imagination. She was also the Children’s Laureate 2011-2013.

More about Julia: “I grew up in a tall Victorian London house with my parents, grandmother, aunt, uncle, younger sister Mary and cat Geoffrey (who was really a prince in disguise. Mary and I would argue about which of us would marry him).

Mary and I were always creating imaginary characters and mimicking real ones, and I used to write shows and choreograph ballets for us.

I studied Drama and French at Bristol University, where I met Malcolm, a guitar-playing medic to whom I’m now married.

Before Malcolm and I had our three sons we used to go busking together and I would write special songs for each country; the best one was in Italian about pasta.

The busking led to a career in singing and songwriting, mainly for children’s television.

One of my television songs, A Squash and a Squeeze, was made into a book in 1993, with illustrations by the wonderful Axel Scheffler. It was great to hold the book in my hand without it vanishing in the air the way the songs did. This prompted me to unearth some plays I’d written for a school reading group, and since then I’ve had 20 plays published.

My real breakthrough was The Gruffalo, again illustrated by Axel. We work separately – he’s in London and I’m in Glasgow – but he sends me letters with lovely funny pictures on the envelopes.

My novel The Giants and the Joneses is going to be made into a film by the same team who made the Harry Potter movies, and I have written three books of stories about the anarchic Princess Mirror-Belle who appears from the mirror and disrupts the life of an otherwise ordinary eight-year-old.

When I’m not writing I am often performing, at book festivals and in theatres. I really enjoy getting the children in the audience to help me act out the stories and sing the songs.”

Axel Scheffler

Axel Scheffler was born in 1957 in Hamburg, Germany. At school, although always good at art, he never really considered a career in illustration. But long before he began his professional life, he had won his first drawing prize for an international chocolate company – his prize was a cuddly lilac cow.

Axel went on from school to study History of Art at the University of Hamburg – but he didn’t like the course and decided to leave. Knowing that he wanted to live in another country and learn a second language, he moved to England to study illustration at the Bath Academy of Art.

After graduating with a first class degree, Axel moved to London where he began illustrating for a variety of English and German advertising companies, magazines and newspapers. He took his portfolio to a number of publishers and Faber commissioned him to illustrate The Piemakers by Helen Cresswell and The Bottle Rabbit by Bernard McCabe. In 1989, Walker asked Axel to illustrate a text by Jon Blake, You’re a Hero, Daley B.

A writer called Julia Donaldson was also writing songs for Playdays at this time and her song A Squash and a Squeeze was commissioned to be a picture book. Axel Scheffler was recommended as an illustrator for the text and an award-winning team was created.

Their next book, The Gruffalo, was published in March 1999 and has already become a modern classic, selling more than 2 million copies worldwide and translated into over 20 languages. Axel also continues to illustrate for other authors as well, including Ian Whybrow and David Henry Wilson.

Axel has achieved worldwide acclaim for his humorous illustrations, and his books have been translated into over 29 languages. He has enjoyed particular success in his award-winning picture book collaborations with Julia Donaldson, but is also the best-selling illustrator of novelty books such as The Bedtime Bear. In 2006 he was been called upon to design Gordon Brown’s annual Christmas card!

Still living in London, Axel makes frequent visits to continental Europe. His hobbies include walking, cooking and reading and beadwork.

Reviews

1. Dave, Scholastic Staff
   on 1 March 2011

   A modern classic

   It’s hard to tire of The Gruffalo – which, given it’s the kind of story kids will want to read again and again, is helpful. The text is structured so everybody can join in on their favourite bits, and is wonderfully descriptive and so easy to read aloud. The pictures throughout are rich in detail, adding another layer of things for children to find as they read along. A modern classic, and rightly so.

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What kids think

1. prettybookworm007
   on 17 August 2015

   The gruffalo This book is about a mouse who meets a gruffalo in the woods.If I had to give something out of 10.I would surely give it 10 out of 10.This book has funny pictures.The illustraurs name is Alex Scheffler.This book is good for 7 years old kids.

   5 out of 5

2. lilyruby
   on 4 March 2015

   i loved this book it is brilliant

   5 out of 5

3. ruudy
   on 1 June 2014

   my favourite book ever!! love it!

   5 out of 5

4. Cheerforevers
   on 9 March 2014

   This is about a little mouse and a gruffalo meeting.

5. crazykitty
   on 8 March 2014

   Ive loved this book since I was little and still do I never get bored of this book this is a really good book

6. harper01
   on 7 March 2014

   I love the gruffalo this book is easy to read and the rhyming makes it super fun to read and its good for your imagination as you can easily see mouse walking along and meeting everyone. I think ill love this even when im a grown up

   5 out of 5

7. lilliepad1502
   on 6 March 2014

   NICE!

8. cheem021
   on 26 April 2013

   loved it

9. natashakrywald
   on 6 March 2013

   i loved that it was all in rhyme so you could read it like a poem!

10. ninjastickman
    on 6 March 2013

    This is an unforgetable tale of a mouse that avoids predators by telling them about the gruffalo. I recommend this book for young readers aged 2-6

    5 out of 5

11. Too-Amazayn
    on 5 March 2013

    No matter how old I get, I’ll always enjoy this book

    5 out of 5

12. Paradise56
    on 5 March 2013

    I like this book because a mouse takes a stroll through a dark wood and he meets a fox. The fox invites him in but the fox really wants to eat him and the mouse knows that so he says I am having tea with a Gruffalo. If you want to know more, go and buy it

13. jesjen
    on 4 March 2013

    This book is a classic and everyone loves it.

14. lmdrld
    on 4 March 2013

    This book is about a mouse who avoids having dinner with the other forest animals because he says he is going to a see a creature called the Gruffalo. I loved it.

15. DSherwin924
    on 23 February 2013

    This story is a brillent one its my second favourite book and it is about a mouse who meets a gruffalo.

16. A41422
    on 18 January 2013

    i love this book i have read it myself and with my brothers 100s of times so funny lllllllloooooovvvvvveeeeeeeee it

17. barney2
    on 6 January 2013

    This is a masterpiece by Julia Donaldson. My brother is still scared of the Gruffalo though!!!!

18. silverdolphin
    on 7 May 2012

    my brother lovedit

    5 out of 5

19. cowcow
    on 4 May 2012

    I loved it! quite funny.

    5 out of 5

20. constantine
    on 1 May 2012

    This afternoon I am having my very first Gruffalo party with the first graders at my inner city school. On a trip to London in October I found lots of stuff for the party. I can hardly wait. All of her books are great though the ones where she teams up with Axel Scheffler, her illustrator are the best.

21. Barbie4553784
    on 19 April 2012

    I love it

22. horridhenry2122
    on 11 April 2012

    The Gruffalo is about a mice

23. sparklebooks
    on 8 April 2012

    i love it its enchanting and magical. this is a book forevery one makes a great bedtime story

    5 out of 5

24. la1397
    on 4 March 2012

    The gruffallo is a wonderful book for any child, and I thought it was the ebst book in the world when i first read it. It’s so lovely, and a really enticing story.

25. hamy1710
    on 4 March 2012

    really good

26. Princessforever58
    on 3 March 2012

    Great for little kids, i enjoyed readingit when i was small

27. cowmoo1170
    on 2 March 2012

    This is one of the best young kids books written. Perfect drawings and a easy plot for young ones!

    5 out of 5

28. Partyfairy123
    on 2 March 2012

    I like it when he says he will eat him up! The mouse is a good mouse and he doesn’t get eaten.

29. Flissy22
    on 1 March 2012

    great for younger children they love this book also it is easy to remember and join in with because it rhymes.

30. angelslater
    on 1 March 2012

    i read this book for my brothers they love it .

    4 out of 5

31. bugzy72
    on 3 November 2011

    amazing

32. gracieJ
    on 3 November 2011

    I think that this is the best child’s book that you will ever read as it tells a tale about a small mouse that fools a Gruffalo that he is the most feared creature in the whole of the wood. This rhyming story will make you laugh and think whilst yoyu make friends and get to know the Gruffalo. I can still remember this tale and will until I am grown up.

    Grace,aged 10.

    5 out of 5

33. starface20
    on 28 August 2011

    it was ok but i think it is aimed for children 1 to 9 but that dosent stop you reading it if you are older because it is good i recomend all of her other books aspesualy room on the broom it is good i will give it a 8/10 if i was yonger i would give it more also read monkey puzzle

    3 out of 5

34. rihannasmall
    on 17 July 2011

    Good book for little kids but not that good for us big kids. I think everything in the story is perfect so I give it 5/5 if I was a little kid but because I am a big kid I give it 3/5

35. Bob82
    on 17 July 2011

    I really like it because it has a good intro.

36. bookgirl180
    on 16 May 2011

    This is an excellent book for little and big children!

    4 out of 5

37. lulu087
    on 13 May 2011

    aww i remember that book from when i was 5

38. baby12377
    on 13 March 2011

    the Gruffalo tries to eat people and he tells people that he is off to see his friends but he has not got any friends . but why does he tell people that he is meeting his friends ?

39. simone78
    on 8 March 2011

    i think it’s a funy story so i love it

40. Jennyhoney
    on 7 March 2011

    I LOVE THIS BOOK SNICE I WAS A CHILD

    5 out of 5

41. fish12
    on 6 March 2011

    It was good

    3 out of 5

42. SillyylliS
    on 3 March 2011

    A great and amusing book to read

    5 out of 5

43. Princess-Aysha
    on 3 March 2011

    I read it to my little sister and she really enjoyed it. Its a great book for small children.

    3 out of 5

44. Missymessy
    on 3 March 2011

    I read it as a child, this was definitely my favourite book then (don’t tell anyone, but it’s still my favourite. Sshhhhh…) And now my little sister has it, so all the more reason to read it! Highly recommended.

    5 out of 5

45. fizzpop01
    on 3 March 2011

    love this book so does my sister i’ve even seen this film

46. boxer39
    on 3 March 2011

    a mouse made up a story to all his freinds about a gruffalo but is there really such a animal? this book it really exciting to read i loved it

47. Lolo95
    on 3 March 2011

    The Gruffalo rocks Im 10 and I love this book so much and I watched it on telly at xmas and it wasnt as good as the book. I have some much fun reading this to my brother and he has a real life Gruffalo toy!

    5 out of 5

48. wimpy01
    on 2 March 2011

    Itwas really funny because the mouse pretended to be a big scary mouse so he won’t be ate.

    5 out of 5

49. Jasminemoshi1
    on 1 March 2011

    This book is AMAZING!!!!!!!!

    5 out of 5

50. cherry17
    on 28 February 2011

    I have read this book over and over again. No matter how many times I read it it is fantastic!!!!

    4 out of 5

51. monkey00
    on 27 February 2011

    I loved this book when i was little and still love it now.

52. sofa55
    on 23 February 2011

    This is a really old book but i love it it never makes me board i red this book in scholl and i dont have it at home really good book Thank You

    5 out of 5

53. cazz235
    on 13 February 2011

    This book is a hit i love it everyone does!:)

    5 out of 5

54. lol123
    on 10 February 2011

    This book I still love at the age of 10 it is brill I have on my own book shelf not my little sisters!

    5 out of 5

55. jackman2k11
    on 28 January 2011

    This is a great family book for children aged 2 – 6.

    The story is about a little brown mouse who goes wondering in the wood. He gets stopped by a fox, owl and a snake and they are all offering to have him for lunch. But the mouse is extremely clever and he makes up a ferocious creature called ‘The Gruffalo’ ....

    My little sister, Poppy who is 3 absolutely loves it and she has it read to her every night. Julia Doanldson has other books, e.g: A Squash and Squeeze.

    5 out of 5

56. Saamiya
    on 11 January 2011

    i love this book

    5 out of 5

57. Anne6
    on 11 January 2011

    Great story i have read it so much that i now know it off by heart LOL!!!!!!!XX

    5 out of 5

58. wenti
    on 5 January 2011

    Great book!

    5 out of 5

59. mayhem
    on 7 December 2010

    it is amazing me uncle helped make this book and i love the authors they are so cool so remember love it love them amazing book

    5 out of 5

60. brandon65
    on 21 November 2010

    i loved it great

61. betsco
    on 16 November 2010

    I Loved it! My brother(age 4),my sister(age 7) and me(age 9) loved it.

    5 out of 5

62. roxfox
    on 2 October 2010

    its a brilliant book

    5 out of 5

63. jenny31
    on 23 September 2010

    I love this book

64. axle
    on 6 August 2010

    this is the fabulous book i would recomend it to anyone i love all julia’s books and axel’s illustrarions

    5 out of 5

65. Freyah
    on 30 July 2010

    i would reccomend this to myy little brothers and my little sister because it is an amazing book

    5 out of 5

66. reader4
    on 15 July 2010

    The Gruffalo is a very good book for littel pepole but it is a good whatever age you are.

    5 out of 5

67. cameron5
    on 8 July 2010

    this was a verry good book

    4 out of 5

68. PuddleTheNaughtiestPuppy
    on 20 June 2010

    I have Read Loads of Julia donaldson Book

    . Gruffalo

    .Gruffalo’s Child

    .Squash and a squeeze( duno how to spell)

    .room on the broom

    .Monkey puzzle

    .mctabby is that what it called ?

    . Snail and the whale And MORE

    i recomend any julia donaldon books to YOU

    5 out of 5

69. booklover112
    on 29 May 2010

    Really Good For Beginners

70. goldviolet
    on 2 May 2010

    I lovedit when i was little!!!!

    4 out of 5

71. emily6
    on 3 April 2010

    i sort of liked it cos i like Julia

    3 out of 5

72. floppy
    on 18 March 2010

    i love it as much as the gruffalo’s child!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

73. shazza92
    on 14 March 2010

    lllllllllllllllllloooooooovveee tttttthhhhis!

74. rifboi
    on 10 March 2010

    its sik

    5 out of 5

75. Senny
    on 8 March 2010

    Heyy i read these books and loooooooooooove them <3 (im 12!!!) x :)

76. Snowflowery
    on 21 February 2010

    The Gruffalo is a very nice book! Because the little mouse is very very clever, the others are a bit too silly!

77. salsal
    on 18 February 2010

    I like this book because it is so funny and I like the part when the mouse said about the gruffalo! salma ahmed aged,10

    5 out of 5

78. magicial
    on 3 January 2010

    I like this book but i think its quite babyish

    3 out of 5

79. beefy2008
    on 22 December 2009

    I read this to my nephews and neices and they love it! It has brilliant illistrations and a great story line. I also enjoyed this book when i was young I looved it so much i knew it off by heart. I reccomend you read this book and pass it down the family! It has to be 5/5 stars!

    5 out of 5

80. 04haywag64
    on 26 September 2009

    This is the first book i had ever read. i remember putting down, running downstairs and telling my mum that i had finished it. it is an easy book to read for young children. it also has some great pictures.

    5 out of 5

81. dudleyboy
    on 25 September 2009

    its a great little children will love it its probley for 4 to 7 year olds but im 9 and i love it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    4 out of 5

82. shopperkate
    on 23 September 2009

    I’ve read this picture book and thought it was really sweet. Little children will love the tail about a family of big gruffalo’s afraid of mice! Parents it is worth buying!

    4 out of 5

83. timmim
    on 22 September 2009

    I used to love this book as a small child, it is a great book with easy words and lots of repetion. Great for youngsters.

    5 out of 5

84. conorb
    on 18 September 2009

    I read this book when I was younger and really enjoyed it.

    5 out of 5

85. hickory11
    on 16 September 2009

    It was my favourite book when i was a child.

    5 out of 5

86. flowerlife
    on 28 August 2009

    the gruffalo is my favorite school book that my teacher reads to my class and i don’t know if my friends like it too well i think it’s the best book in the whole tristate area you should read it you realy should i meen i realy do

    5 out of 5

87. B3th4nycool
    on 22 July 2009

    I have this book at home me and my mum read The Gruffalo to my brother all the time!

    My little brother loves this book and so do i!

    Any one can read this book that is what i love about it !!

    Why dont you read some more of the The Gruffalo books !!

    I know i love them , DO YOU!!!

    5 out of 5

88. gebba
    on 1 May 2009

    a gruffalo? theres no such thing as a gruffalo!

    lol

89. kitten33
    on 28 April 2009

    This book is fantastic. I have it on disc and listen to it nearly every night at bedtime with my little sisters!

    5 out of 5

90. littlec
    on 12 April 2009

    I love this book

    5 out of 5

91. cheeky7
    on 24 March 2009

    good book really very good just a bit

    3 out of 5

92. alberteinstein
    on 17 March 2009

    This was a bit like Chinese whispers but with no mistakes. I like the bit where the mouse finally met the Gruffalo. The mouse was quite clever. I might read this to my baby brother because he will like it. The pictures were good; they weren’t too babyish.

    3 out of 5

93. Prettyprincess1
    on 7 March 2009

    this book is so cool i loved it i still love it

94. maffie
    on 1 February 2009

    this book is great

    5 out of 5

95. uggy
    on 22 January 2009

    this book is awesome!!!!

    5 out of 5

96. Mad4ponies
    on 22 December 2008

    This book is sooooo cool. I had it when I was 3.(i still do) I luv da cute wee mouse. He’s (or she’s) very, very,(x 10000)wise. lol xxx

    5 out of 5

97. rockangel
    on 16 December 2008

    I had it when I was 5 years old and I loved it!!!

    5 out of 5

98. sophiesweetestpal7
    on 6 November 2008

    I read this book when I was 5 and it was great!

    4 out of 5

99. To2tls
    on 13 July 2008

    I love this book, thought it was funny.

    5 out of 5

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