For the first time ever, readers will meet the Gruffalo’s granny in a brand-new picture book by Julia Donaldson, coming out on 10 September 2026. The story adds a new twist to the famous deep, dark wood, where the clever Mouse and a cast of wild creatures roam.
Granny Gruffalo joins the beloved characters from the original books — Fox, Snake, Owl, Mouse, and of course, the Gruffalo himself. This marks the third story in the world-famous series, following The Gruffalo (1999) and The Gruffalo’s Child (2004).
Illustrator Axel Scheffler, who brought the Gruffalo to life with his colourful drawings, is back once again to help imagine Granny’s look. The new character will bring even more mystery and fun to the forest.
Author Julia Donaldson shared that she had the idea for Granny over 20 years ago, but only now found the right time to write it. “Now I’m a granny myself,” she said, “maybe that’s what inspired me.”
Axel Scheffler added that he was surprised but excited when Julia came to him with the idea for a new story. Together, the pair has created books that have sold over 18 million copies and been translated into 115 languages.
