The Gruffalo

Author: Donaldson, Julia
Illustrator: Scheffer, Alex
Publisher: Macmillian 1999
Genre: Picture Book, Junior
Tone: Fable
Description: A mouse strolling through the woods fends off a variety of hungry predators by suggesting a terrifying creature called "The Gruffalo" is close behind and ready to snack on the hungry predators. The mouse snickers at its cleverness, as it firmly believes there is no such thing as a Gruffalo. Or is there.......?

If you haven't heard of or read this book, you are really missing out. There is a reason "The Gruffalo" has won so many awards and garnered so much acclaim since its original publishing. Julia Donaldson, also a playwright, is a master of the written word and the book showcases her gift as a writer. The way she uses language and rhyme to tell a surprisingly complex story riddled with subtle subtext is remarkable. In fact, adults would probably make a better readership for this book as it takes exposure to a lot of writing to appreciate how good her skills are. However, as fantastic as this book is, it is not always the best pick for a public storytime. Whilst not particularly long, it may still be a little beyond the attention span and comprehension of the younger audience members. This is offset somewhat by its fame which means many  of the younger  audience will already know the story and thus be able to follow along regardless.