Arabic version: جوليا دونالدسون تقدّم القصة الأخيرة لعائلة الغروفالو

According to The Guardian, Julia Donaldson has introduced Gruffalo Granny, which she says will be the Gruffalo’s final outing. The new book extends the character’s family back a generation, as the Gruffalo and his daughter await a visit from Granny Gruffalo.

Donaldson said the mouse remains central to the story, alongside owl, fox and snake. She described the book as a celebration of storytelling, with the mouse telling stories, the Gruffalo’s child retelling them to Granny, and Granny preparing to read them again. The idea was inspired by Shahrazad in The Arabian Nights, and the new story refers to earlier Donaldson works including Room on the Broom, Monkey Puzzle and The Snail and the Whale.

The Gruffalo was published in 1999, followed by The Gruffalo’s Child in 2004. More than 18.2m copies of the two books have sold worldwide, while Donaldson has sold more than 50m books in the UK. In 2025, she was named the country’s bestselling author across children’s and adult genres since records began.

Donaldson, who was made a dame in June, said she does not see herself as the Gruffalo Granny despite having nine grandchildren aged from five to 16. “Not really,” she said. “I’m the mouse.” She also said she is preparing a National Year of Reading project to compile recommendations for picture books by other writers, with an announcement expected by the end of the year.

Her forthcoming work includes Winifred Duck, due early next year with Scholastic. The book is based on the true story of bath toys that fell from a ship and travelled around the world, helping oceanographers understand currents and tides. Donaldson also has several other books in development, including Baby Grandpa.