After months of eager anticipation and speculation, the title of Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler’s new picture book has been announced, delighting children and families around the world. The new story, publishing on September 10th 2026 by Macmillan Children’s Books, will be titled Gruffalo Granny.
This eagerly awaited third book, which has been twenty years in the making, will see the introduction of Granny, a brand-new character, who will join the Gruffalo family in this exciting new adventure that has all the hallmarks of a Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler classic.
Inspired by our reading for pleasure research, which shows a significant decline in reading for enjoyment levels, Macmillan Children’s Books chose the National Literacy Trust to be the lead charity partner in the UK.
I actually had the basic idea for the story a long time ago, but couldn’t think how to develop it. It was only when the National Literacy Trust, whose work I’m very impressed by, 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 and see once and for all if I could turn it into a really satisfying story.
Julia Donaldson
I’m also very happy that the Gruffalos will get involved in some charitable activities to reach even more young readers with support from the National Literacy Trust.
Axel Scheffler
In addition to the title reveal, members of the public were treated to an exclusive first look at Granny, when they projected Axel Scheffler’s never-seen-before illustration in two central locations in London and Glasgow.
Following on from recent joint initiatives with The Gruffalo and The Gruffalo’s Child, we are continuing to work with Macmillan Children's Books as their lead charity partner in the UK, collaborating with our Early Words Matter campaign to empower children, families and their wider communities through substantial book donations, learning resources, community events and volunteer training.
Sharing a story with young children not only supports vital early literacy skills, but also strengthens the emotional connection between parent or caregiver and sparks conversations, helping children understand the world and boost their communication skills.