The Gruffalo's Child

In "The Gruffalo’s Child," Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler invite us back into the enchanting world of the deep dark wood, where familiar characters and new adventures await. While it may seem like a continuation of the original tale, this sequel offers fresh rhymes, fantasy, and cleverness.Just as we fell in love with the charming cast of characters in "The Gruffalo," we find ourselves delighted to revisit them in this sequel. However, this time, the spotlight shines on the curious and brave Gruffalo’s child, a miniature version of her fearsome father.The playful nod to the original story, with references to the Big Bad Mouse and encounters with familiar characters like the snake, owl, fox, and mouse, adds an extra layer of enjoyment for both children and adults. It sparks curiosity and prompts questions about the continuity between the two books, keeping readers engaged and eager to unravel the mysteries of the deep dark wood.As the Gruffalo’s child encounters the clever mouse once again, we are treated to a showcase of imagination and wit, as the mouse outsmarts the young Gruffalo with ease. It's a testament to the enduring charm of these beloved characters and the timeless appeal of Donaldson's storytelling.As a parent, I appreciate how the book serves as an excellent example to teach my daughter the importance of listening to her parents—a lesson that can sometimes be challenging for children to grasp. Children, being naturally curious and independent, often find themselves tempted to defy instructions and explore the world on their own terms. Through the adventures of the Gruffalo's child, we can gently remind our own children of the wisdom and experience that parents possess, guiding them toward making safe and responsible choices. Despite the Gruffalo's child's disobedience, the story ultimately underscores the unconditional love and protection that parents have for their children.

We absolutely adore this book! The story is beautifully written and keeps my little one engaged from start to finish. The rhymes flow so naturally, and the illustrations are full of charm and detail—my daughter loves pointing out all the characters on the snowy pages. It’s become one of our favorite reads, and no matter how many times we pick it up, it always feels magical. A must-have for any family bookshelf!

Her books have a little secret hidden in them. Unlike many story writers, she seems to understand the value of stanza and verse. The first time you read it, it may seem slightly awkward, just slightly. Then the magic starts to work. On the second read, it flows really well. By the third or fourth read, you are playing with the verse! it is a joy to read and to hear. Our 2.5 year old son can finish all the sentences in this and other Donaldson books. He can practically read it out-loud, since it flows to plainly and purely, not staccato here, stutter there. I wish all children's book writers had her talent. Of year, the story is simple and captures your child's imagination. If you are inters ted in this book and have Amazon Prime, you can go watch the video, it should speak for itself (we don't let our son watch videos, except were they are narrated books like this).

This is a super nice and thick board book!! We love the Gruffalo and this one is just as good. My toddler is almost two and is obsessed with reading along while his toniebox reads the story to him. Would make a great gift as a pair!

The movie short appeared in my Netflix recommendation and I watched it and fell in love with this clever and engaging story and bought the original book and the sequel the next day. I started reading it to my then 13 month old and several months later we are still loving the story of the clever little mouse, the Gruffalo and thier antics in the deep dark wood. We read this book several times a day. I love that this story doesn't get stale and that it engages me as the adult while I read to my child. It's a story with a meaty plot that is still quite simple, poetic and child friendly without being predictable and condasending. I see us treasuring this book as a family classic for years to come and I look forward to the day when it is read back to me.

My students loved thus book! Great illustrations and the rhyming was fun.

A great follow-up to a fun book for kids.

Last week I read this book to my two-year-old grandson nine times in five days. He never tires of it. He anticipates which hiding animal comes next and remembers that it isn't the big, bad mouse. He doesn't understand the concept of shadows yet. We always have to stop at the climatic page where the small mouse sits on the hazel twig and casts a big, bad mouse shadow. My grandson touches both shadows and laughs and laughs. This is truly a delightful book.