The Gruffalo 25th Anniversary Edition
#1 in Gruffalo Universe Series
What’s inside...
This special 25th Anniversary Edition of 'The Gruffalo' celebrates the enduring popularity of a beloved children's classic. With a shiny gold foil cover, this edition includes fun activities related to the story. The tale follows a clever mouse who uses his wits to outsmart a series of predators, including the mythical Gruffalo, in a deep, dark wood. A mouse is taking a stroll through the deep, dark wood when along comes a hungry fox, then an owl, and then a snake. The mouse is good enough to eat but smart enough to know this, so he invents the gruffalo! As Mouse explains, the gruffalo is a creature with terrible claws, and terrible tusks in its terrible jaws, and knobbly knees and turned-out toes, and a poisonous wart at the end of its nose. But Mouse has no worry to show. After all, there’s no such thing as a gruffalo.
Character compass
Mouse
Gruffalo
Discussion points
Why do you think the Gruffalo was afraid of the mouse?
How did Mouse use his cleverness to trick the other animals? Can you think of other situations where cleverness might be helpful?
What part of the forest adventure did you like best and why?
If you could create a creature like the Gruffalo, what would it look like and what special abilities would it have?
What did you learn about bravery and ingenuity from this story?
Tip: Role play these questions
Encourage your child to imagine themselves in the story, asking how they would react in similar situations.
Discuss the character traits of the Mouse and Gruffalo, helping your child understand the story’s moral.
Ask your child to draw their favorite scene or a new creature, fostering creativity and deeper connection to the story.
Relate the story's themes to your child’s own experiences, promoting empathy and understanding.
Take turns reading pages aloud, fostering a deeper bond and enhancing reading skills.
Key lessons
Example Lesson: Courage and cleverness can overcome obstacles
Explanation: In 'The Gruffalo', the mouse uses wit and bravery to navigate dangerous situations, tricking the Gruffalo and other predators into thinking he is the scariest creature in the woods.
Real-World Application: Children learn the importance of using their intellect and courage to face challenges in school or social situations, showing that sometimes brains triumph over brawn.
Example Lesson: The power of imagination
Explanation: The mouse invents the Gruffalo, a creature of his imagination, to protect himself. This clever tactic highlights how imagination can create solutions.
Real-World Application: This encourages children to use their creativity as a tool in problem-solving and demonstrates how thinking differently can help navigate difficult situations.
Example Lesson: The importance of resourcefulness
Explanation: Throughout the story, the mouse encounters several predators, and each time he must quickly devise a new plan to escape harm. This shows resourcefulness and adaptability.
Real-World Application: Children learn to think on their feet and adapt to new challenges, whether it's figuring out a difficult homework problem or adapting to a new school environment.
Example Lesson: Never underestimate others
Explanation: The predators in the book underestimate the mouse due to his size but are proven wrong when his clever plans unveil.
Real-World Application: This teaches children not to judge others by their appearance or size and to appreciate everyone's unique abilities and potential.