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The Gruffalo adaptations: books & films
Every version of The Gruffalo — the books & films, compared across media.
A small mouse walks through the woods, bluffing his way past hungry predators by inventing a terrifying imaginary creature — the Gruffalo. But the monster turns out to be real. Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler's The Gruffalo began as a picture book and was later brought to life as an animated film, giving audiences two ways to follow the same mouse through the same clever woodland adventure.
The Gruffalo films
The Gruffalo books
Frequently asked
Is The Gruffalo based on a book?
Yes. The Gruffalo began as a British children's picture book written by Julia Donaldson and illustrated by Axel Scheffler. The 2009 animated film is a screen adaptation of that same story.
How many versions of The Gruffalo are there?
Two versions are covered here: the original 2000 picture book The Gruffalo and the 2009 animated film also titled The Gruffalo.
Which version of The Gruffalo should I start with?
The 2000 picture book The Gruffalo is where the story began. The 2009 animated film tells the same tale in a different medium and is a natural companion to the book.