Julia Donaldson has announced the title of her first new Gruffalo book in 22 years, Gruffalo Granny, which will be published on 10 September. The bestselling author revealed the news during an interview on BBC Radio 4's Today programme on Friday, calling it a 'big moment'.
The new story will see the return of characters from the previous two books, including Fox, Snake, Owl and Mouse, and will be illustrated by Donaldson's long-time collaborator Axel Scheffler. An excerpt shared by publisher Macmillan reads: 'The Gruffalo said to his daughter one day, “Your Gruffalo Granny is coming to stay.”'
Donaldson said she had been planning to write a follow-up since the second book, The Gruffalo's Child, was published in 2004, but had been 'too busy writing other things'. She credited her son with helping bring the idea to the fore, saying he advised her to spend a fortnight trying to write the story that was 'semi in your head'.
The author also said she was spurred on by the National Literacy Trust's Early Words Matter programme, which used the first two books. 'It was only when the National Literacy Trust... used the first two books as part of their Early Words Matter programme that I was spurred on to get my idea out of the cupboard,' she said.
Scheffler, who initially denied the possibility of another Gruffalo book, said he could not decline when he saw Donaldson's 'wonderfully clever and inspired new text'. The first book, The Gruffalo, was published in 1999, and the two books have sold more than 18 million copies combined, translated into 115 languages.
Fans will get a first look at Gruffalo Granny when a never-before-seen illustration by Scheffler is projected in central London and Glasgow on Friday evening. Macmillan Children's Books managing director Alison Ruane said the company is 'so proud' to publish the duo, especially in the National Year of Reading.
