The Gruffalo
A tiny mouse lies his way through a forest, and the verse is so tight you could set a clock by it.
Why they ask for it again
Kids get to know something the monster does not. Being the one who is in on the joke is rocket fuel for a three-year-old.
Our review
A mouse invents a terrifying monster to scare off a fox, an owl and a snake, and then the monster turns up. That second act is the masterstroke: the lie has to keep working on the real thing, and the child watches the tiny mouse pull it off in full view of the predators.
The rhyme does the rest. Terrible tusks, terrible claws, knobbly knees, a poisonous wart: a list of body parts becomes a chant that three-year-olds recite back at you in the supermarket. It is a book about being small and clever, which is the only power a small child has.
How to read it aloud
Give the mouse a calm, slightly bored voice. The less impressed he sounds, the funnier he gets. Slow right down on "Gruffalo crumble" and let them finish the line.
The catch
Its success spawned a large merchandise universe, and the sequel is good but not this good.
Is it scary?
A monster, but one who is outsmarted. Very sensitive under-threes may want a run-through in daylight.
Books like The Gruffalo, and what to read next
Room on the BroomSame author, same illustrator, same bouncing rhyme, with a bigger cast.
Where the Wild Things AreMonsters again, but stranger and quieter. A step up in mood.
I Want My Hat BackIf what they loved was knowing more than the characters do.
The Girl, The Lights & The PrinceIf what they loved was the rhyme: a longer adventure in verse.
Also good for
Quick answers
What age is The Gruffalo for?
Ages 2–6. The sweet spot, in our opinion, is age 3 to 4.
How long does The Gruffalo take to read aloud?
About 6 minutes at a calm bedtime pace, by our estimate. Allow longer if you do the voices.
Is The Gruffalo scary?
A monster, but one who is outsmarted. Very sensitive under-threes may want a run-through in daylight.
What should we read after The Gruffalo?
We would suggest Room on the Broom, Where the Wild Things Are, I Want My Hat Back, The Girl, The Lights & The Prince (we have a personal connection to this one).