Julia Donaldson initially had doubts about her famous children’s book The Gruffalo over two decades ago and never anticipated its success.Â
“I didn’t expect it to be published, let alone become a hit,” Donaldson shared with As It Happens host Nil KÓ§ksal.Â
During that period, the storyline, featuring a cunning mouse outsmarting predators by fabricating tales of a fearsome monster in “the deep, dark woods,” seemed somewhat gloomy for children’s literature.
Moreover, in 1999, rhyming tales were not in vogue, according to Donaldson.Â
“It defied conventions, I believe,” mentioned Donaldson.
Now, after 26 years of unexpected success following the release of The Gruffalo, Donaldson and her co-illustrator, Axel Scheffler, introduce Gruffalo Granny, the third installment in the cherished series, following 2004’s The Gruffalo’s Child.Â
“I doubt I will pen another Gruffalo book,” she remarked.
Grandma’s Voracious AppetiteÂ
The latest book depicts the original Gruffalo and its offspring preparing a lavish meal to greet Gruffalo Granny, known for her “enormous appetite.” The storytelling mouse from the initial book once again faces the threat of being on the menu.
Donaldson noted that the process of crafting Gruffalo Granny mirrored her experience writing The Gruffalo 26 years ago.Â
“I don’t focus much on the readers. My attention is solely on perfecting the story,” she stated. “While writing the book, my sole aim is to make it as captivating as possible.”
However, launching and promoting this latest addition presented new challenges, she highlighted.Â
“It has been an entirely different experience,” she remarked. “It has been truly remarkable.”
Pan Macmillan unveiled the character of Gruffalo Granny by illuminating an illustration on the British Library in London in early September.Â
Mere 10 days post-release, it emerged as the top-selling book of 2026 in the U.K., across all genres and age groups, as per NielsenIQ BookScanâs Official Top 50.
“We are out
