My first Gruffalo: Gruffalo Growl by Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler

The first in the Gruffalo range of books being produced by MacMillan under the series name, My First Gruffalo, is sure to win hearts in the younger age group targeted. A strongly bound board book with a securely robust button to press to make the growl, will engage all children eager to turn the pages to find which animal makes the growl they can hear. A group of animals is represented, the question being asked on each double page whether it is that animal that makes the growl. Each is dismissed until the last page reveals the Gruffalo.

Children will love repeating the lines with the reader as it is read out loud, take turns pressing the button and join together in making the real noise which the animal on each page makes: a snake, an owl, a fox and a mouse. Each animal begs for its noise to be heard as they ask what is making the growl they can all hear. What fun when they find it is the Gruffly, with the last page asking them to growl like a Gruffalo, and leading them to Julia Donaldson’s other books about this famous creature.

The illustrator, Alex Scheffler, adds a humorous note to the images of the clutch of animals he presents and more information about this illustrator can be found here. 

Information about Julia Donaldson and her work can be found here. 

Themes: Gruffalo, Animal sounds, Read aloud, Humour, Board book.

Fran Knight