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Gruffalo Granny is here! Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler return to the deep dark wood after 20 years

The Gruffalo is back with a brand-new family member, as Gruffalo Granny arrives in the deep dark wood.

Pan Macmillan / Axel Scheffler

Published: September 10, 2026 at 10:28 AM

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The wait is over for Gruffalo-loving families. More than 20 years after The Gruffalo’s Child arrived on bookshelves, Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler are taking readers back to the deep dark wood with a brand-new story, Gruffalo Granny.

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Published today, 10 September 2026, in hardback and audiobook, the new picture book introduces another member of the famous monster family, with Gruffalo Granny coming to stay.

And if The Gruffalo has been part of your family's bedtime routine for years, this is a pretty big moment. The original picture book was published in 1999, followed by The Gruffalo’s Child in 2004, making this the first new Gruffalo story in more than two decades.

What is Gruffalo Granny about?

The story begins:

“The Gruffalo said to his daughter one day,
‘Your Gruffalo Granny is coming to stay.’”

Gruffalo Granny sees readers return to the deep dark wood and reunites them with much-loved characters from the earlier books, while introducing the Gruffalo family's newest member.

The publisher describes it as a “fresh and exciting new Gruffalo adventure”, and its arrival follows years of speculation about whether Donaldson and Scheffler would ever create a third story.

Why has it taken more than 20 years for another Gruffalo book?

Author Julia Donaldson revealed that the basic idea behind the story had actually been with her for a long time, but she wasn't initially sure how to make it work.

Donaldson said she was eventually inspired to revisit the idea by the National Literacy Trust, which used the first two Gruffalo books as part of its Early Words Matter programme.

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

Julia Donaldson

Donaldson explained that the project eventually clicked and she was delighted when illustrator Axel Scheffler agreed to return too.

“I really hope that children – and adults too – will enjoy the new story, as I know what a wonderful experience shared reading can be.”

Axel Scheffler thought another Gruffalo story wouldn't happen

Scheffler, whose illustrations have helped make the Gruffalo instantly recognisable to generations of children, admitted he had previously ruled out another trip to the deep dark wood.

But Donaldson's new story changed his mind.

Never say never - a lesson learnt for me who, whenever asked, denied the possibility of another visit to the deep dark wood.

Axel Scheffler

He added: “Till one day out of the blue there came a wonderfully clever and inspired new text by Julia. How does she do this? Could I decline? Of course not!”

Scheffler joked that he wasn't exactly rusty when it came to drawing the characters either, having had to “draw the odd Gruffalo and his daughter over the last 20 years”.

Just how popular is The Gruffalo?

For parents who can recite whole sections of The Gruffalo without opening the book, its enduring popularity probably won't come as much of a surprise.

The Gruffalo was first published on 23 March 1999, with The Gruffalo’s Child following on 3 September 2004.

According to the publisher, the two books have achieved combined sales of 18.2 million copies and have been sold in 115 languages and dialects.

The new book was first announced in April 2025, before its title, Gruffalo Granny, was revealed in February 2026.

Alison Ruane, managing director at Macmillan Children’s Books, said the response to news of another Gruffalo adventure showed the impact the stories continue to have on families.

Get ready for this September, Granny is coming to stay.

Alison Ruane, M.D. at Macmillan Children’s Books

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Authors

Ruairidh PritchardDigital Growth Lead

Ruairidh is the Digital Lead on MadeForMums. He works with a team of fantastically talented content creators and subject-matter experts on MadeForMums.

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