A mouse took a stroll through the deep dark wood… and this time saw Gruffalo Granny.
The new character will appear in the long-awaited third book about the beloved monster.
Julia Donaldson’s latest instalment, due out in September, comes more than 20 years after the author’s last foray into the deep dark wood, 2004’s The Gruffalo’s Child – a sequel to 1999’s best-selling original The Gruffalo.
Her new release will feature a visit from Gruffalo Granny, with an excerpt reading: ‘The Gruffalo said to his daughter one day, your Gruffalo Granny is coming to stay.’
The story, which will as ever feature illustrations by Ms Donaldson’s long-time German collaborator Axel Scheffler, will see the return of characters from the previous books, including Fox, Snake, Owl and Mouse.
The British author, 77, said: ‘It’s always a challenge to write a sequel. Five years elapsed between publication of The Gruffalo and The Gruffalo’s Child, and now it will be more than 20 between The Gruffalo’s Child and the third book.
‘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 of course delighted when Axel came on board, and am even more so now that I’ve seen the brilliant illustrations he’s done for the new book.’
Author Julia Donaldson read her beloved book series during an event at the British Library in London before the reveal of the new Gruffalo Granny by artist Axel Scheffler
Julia Donaldson outside the British Library, which had her new book series projected onto the exterior walls
Pictured: the long-awaited ‘Gruffalo Granny’
Mr Scheffler, 68, said: ‘Never say never – a lesson learnt for me who, whenever asked, denied the possibility of another visit to the deep dark wood.
‘Till 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!’
The news that Ms Donaldson would be revisiting the character was first announced in April last year, when she said that she had been spurred on to write by a National Literacy Trust campaign to reverse a decline in children’s reading.
The Gruffalo and The Gruffalo’s Child have together sold more than 18million copies and have been translated into 115 languages and dialects.
Fans were set to get a glimpse of the Gruffalo Granny on Friday night, with plans for the character to be projected into the sky in central London and Glasgow.
Alison Ruane, managing director at Macmillan Children’s Books, said: ‘We are so proud to publish Julia and Axel here at Macmillan’s Children’s Books, and we can’t wait for children and families to experience this new story together –especially in the National Year of Reading.’
Ms Donaldson and Mr Scheffler’s many collaborations include The Snail And The Whale, Room On The Broom, Stick Man, Tiddler, The Scarecrows’ Wedding and The Highway Rat.
Televised animations of their best-loved stories have become a staple of the festive calendar and many have also been adapted for the stage.
