The Gruffalo!

Welcome to a SPECIAL EDITION of the Piece of Advice Newsletter!

Good morning! Today we are looking into an amazing fictional character who stars in a series of extremely successful books, The Gruffalo! I was also lucky enough to ask it’s author; Julia Donaldson, a couple of questions!

“The Gruffalo” is a children’s picture book written by Julia Donaldson and illustrated by Axel Scheffler, first published in 1999 by Macmillan Children’s Books. The story follows a mouse walking through a forest who invents a creature called the Gruffalo to scare off predators, only to discover that the creature actually exists. Written in rhyming verse and illustrated in Scheffler’s distinctive, expressive style, the book became one of the most successful modern works in children’s literature, selling over 13 million copies and being translated into more than 100 languages.

The story’s concept was influenced by traditional trickster tales. Donaldson, inspired by folk stories in which small animals outwit stronger ones, originally considered using a tiger but could not find rhymes to fit. Instead, she invented the Gruffalo, drawing on sounds and rhythms that appealed to young readers. Scheffler’s illustrations defined the look of the character, combining distinct animal features into a single memorable design. Their collaboration set the foundation for several other bestselling picture books, including “Room on the Broom” and “The Snail and the Whale”.

Following its success, “The Gruffalo” was adapted into various forms of media. A sequel, “The Gruffalo’s Child”, was published in 2004. The story was adapted into a half-hour animated film in 2009 by Magic Light Pictures, which premiered on the BBC and received nominations for an Academy Award and BAFTA. Stage productions have been performed internationally since 2001, produced by Tall Stories Theatre Company, and the character has appeared in public literacy campaigns, toys, and theme park trails in the United Kingdom and abroad.

More than two decades after publication, “The Gruffalo” remains a major influence in children’s publishing. It helped establish Julia Donaldson as one of the UK’s most successful authors, later named Children’s Laureate from 2011 to 2013, and solidified Axel Scheffler’s reputation as a leading illustrator. The book’s enduring popularity has made the Gruffalo a recognized cultural figure, linking literature, animation, and education in one of the most sustained legacies in British children’s storytelling.

Bonus Question:

Giancarlo: How does it feel to know that your work is so beloved by different generations of people from all over the world?

Julia Donaldson: Well, I have to pinch myself to believe it’s really true, but it’s a great feeling as I know what happiness sharing a story can bring.

Piece Of Advice:

Giancarlo: What is this best piece of advice you’ve ever been given?

Julia Donaldson: Take both criticism and praise with a pinch of salt.

Thank you for reading! Have an amazing day and we will catch you again soon!

-Giancarlo