ADVERTISEMENTHe’s hairy.
He has sharp teeth.
One mouse has ahead of it.
He is back.
Yes, the Family Favorite Gruffalo returns to the shelves next year in a brand new adventure – the first of the monster in more than twenty years.
Editor Macmillan Children’s Books confirmed the news today, promising a new tale from the British writer Julia Donaldson, after “Le Gruffalo” in 1999 and “Le Petit Gruffalo” in 2004.
The first two books, which are among the most popular works for children in the world, are available in 113 languages and dialects and have sold 18.2 million copies worldwide. The original book of Gruffalo was adapted in plays and an animated film named to the Oscars, which is worth seeing.
The release date of the new story, the title of which has not yet been unveiled, is scheduled for September 2026.
-Donaldson said she was inspired to write the third story of the Gruffalo after seeing how the National Chariting Organization Literacy Trust (NLT) had used previous tales as part of her work to encourage young children to read.
“In fact, I had the basic idea of history a long time ago, but I did not know how to develop it,” said Donaldson, announcing the book to come. “It was only when the NLT used the first two books as part of its Early Words Matter program that I was encouraged to get my idea out of the closet and see once and for all if I could transform it into a really satisfactory story. To my surprise, that’s what I managed to do.”
“I was, of course, delighted with the arrival of Axel, and I am even more now that I saw the brilliant sketches he has already made for the new book,” added Mr. Donaldson.
Indeed, the German illustrator Axel Scheffler is also back, which is an even more joyful news for fans of the Gruffalo.
Scheffler said: “You should never say never-a lesson learned by me who, each time being asked, refused the possibility of another visit to dark and deep wood. Until one day, without screaming, Julia offers us a new text wonderfully intelligent and inspired. How can she refuse? Of course not!”
Macmillan will associate with NLT and other charitable organizations around the world for the publication of the new book, and plans to launch an international reading and narration campaign for children.
Jonathan Douglas, Director General of NLT, said: “Reading and sharing stories are essential to the early development of speech and language in children, and we cannot imagine better way to help families awaken the love of stories and reading in their children than the magic and the influence of the book Le Gruffalo de Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler”.
ADVERTISEMENTThe third book of Gruffalo will be released in September 2026.
