All was quiet in the deep dark wood, until . . .
15th September 2026
The brand new Gruffalo picture book from Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler
Return to the deep dark wood with the first new Gruffalo story in over 20 years. This fresh and exciting new Gruffalo adventure features the return of much-loved characters and is destined to become a classic.
Get your claws on this brand new Gruffalo story first - pre-order now!
Julia Donaldson said "I really hope that children - and adults too - will enjoy the new story, as I know what a wonderful experience shared reading can be. I was delighted when Axel came on board, and am even more so now that I've seen the brilliant sketches he's already done for the new book."
Axel Scheffler said ". . . 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! As I have had to draw the odd Gruffalo and his daughter over the last 20 years, I'm not completely out of practice."
Author Information
Julia Donaldson has written some of the world's best-loved children's books of the last 30 years, including bestselling modern classic The Gruffalo, which has been translated into over 100 languages and dialects, and its sequel The Gruffalo's Child. Her other books include Room on the Broom, The Snail and the Whale and The Highway Rat, all illustrated by Axel Scheffler, The Hospital Dog and Gozzle, illustrated by Sara Ogilvie, and the hugely successful What the Ladybird Heard adventures, illustrated by Lydia Monks. Julia also writes fiction, including the Princess Mirror-Belle series, as well as poems, plays and songs - and her brilliant live shows are always in demand. She was the UK Children's Laureate 2011-13 and has been honoured with a CBE for Services to Literature. Julia lives in West Sussex.
Axel Scheffler was born in Hamburg, Germany in 1957. He studied history of art in Hamburg, before moving to the United Kingdom to study illustration at Bath Academy of Art in 1982. Since then he has worked as a freelance illustrator in London. He is best known for the children's books he has illustrated through his partnership with author, Julia Donaldson. Their first book together A Squash and a Squeeze was published in 1993 and has sold 2.2 million copies worldwide. The duo then went on to create The Gruffalo, which has sold over 18 million copies, in 113 countries throughout the world. He lives in London.
