Monday, 9 February 2026

Oh Don't They Know? There's No Such Thing...

I know I am not the only one excited by last week's announcement by Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler. There's a new book coming in the Autumn, featuring the Gruffalo Granny! 

JD says the idea has been bouncing around in her head for over twenty years, and now she's a granny herself, it has all come together. AS says that down the decades since the first book came out, he has occasionally drawn a few Gruffalo pictures, to keep his hand in, Personally, now I am a granny too, let me add my two-penn'orth to the comments 

  • I approve of the fact the Granny has let the rich chestnut fur grow naturally into an attractive silver grey
  • As I suspect, the Deep Dark Wood may be in Norfolk. Evidenced by the lack of adequate dentistry.
  • Her tail and ears are a little droopy  -  body sagginess a definite sign of age catching up with this busy woman. 
  • A stick is always useful, for walking, poking, or hoicking things down from high places.
  • Her eyes remain alert and bright
  • Her expression is amiable, she looks secretly amused
  • She carries a pencil and notebook ready record important things
  • She has a sensible crossbody bag, capacious enough for knitting, drink, snacks, tissues whatever
The plot has yet to be revealed. Thus far we have just one line
the Gruffalo said to his daughter one day
    "your Gruffalo granny is coming to stay"
My daughter has suggested that maybe granny visits so that G and his missus can go out to the Pub [that would be the one on the far side of the Deep Dark Wood? ]
However I suspect she may be going to teach her granddaughter important life skills
  • calculating the the Fibonacci sequence [you maybe female, but STEM subjects matter]
  • learning to bake [see here for a good cookbook] 
  • telling those stories that parents sometimes 'forget' ["when your Dad was small, he ..."]
  • practising how to be a proper activist and go on demos. [let's role play, child - I will be Emmeline Pankhusrt, and you can be Greta Thunberg]
What do YOU think that Gruffalo Granny should be doing when she visits



12 comments:

  1. OK, Ang. Yes I did google to find out what the Fibonacci sequence is. You broaden my outlook every week!

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    1. This granny teaches the luttl'uns lots of maths tricks ➕➖➗🧮

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  2. Even though I have no small children to read the book to, I will be buying myself a copy! I hope Granny will be just like my friend Fee who is Granny to six lovely children all under 7, with five boys and a very feisty wee girl who rules the roost. They have wonderful adventure especially on Monday when all 7 come to Granny’s while their parents work. I wonder which of your grandchildren will like the book when it comes? Catriona

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    1. What a wonderful lady, your Granny McFee!!

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  3. Phillis in Middle Tennessee. I am so glad there will be a Gruffalo Granny. What should she do---whatever she wants! Maybe she could tell stories about the Gruffalo when he was young, the embarrassing kind.The Gruffalo books are some of my most favorite children's books. My gift of choice for youngers.

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    Replies
    1. Hi Phillis - so glad JDs books are popular in the USA too .

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  4. I hope you'll do a review of the book when it comes out and you've had a chance to read it. :)

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  5. Definitely cooking, necessary sewing (buttons, seams etc). OH suggested how to check oil and water and tyre pressures in the car. Being a Granny is the best thing. Xx

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