"A gruffalo? What`s a gruffalo?" "A gruffalo! Why, didn`t you know? He has terrible tusks, and terrible claws, and terrible teeth in his terrible jaws." And so begins the story of a quick-witted mouse as he encounters a host of predators who seem to think he might make a tasty treat. As he ventures deeper into the deep dark wood, stumbling across a hungry fox, a not-so-wise owl, and a slimy snake, spinning ever-extraordinary yarns about the scary, scaly gruffalo, he quickly realises that the hungry beast he has been talking of isn`t imaginary after all. A witty, sly little story that wrings giggles from the belly of the reader, The Gruffalo is both stylish and hilarious, simple in its execution, as it plays skilfully on a child`s fears and then shows that even the most threatening of monsters are not always as scary as they seem. A combination of read-along-rhyme by Julia Donaldson and illustrations by Alex Sheffler which perfectly capture the atmosphere of the story, The Gruffalo is an excellent picture book for 3-5-year-olds to read along with their parents, and is certain to become something of a classic. --Susan Harrison Synopsis A rhyming story of a mouse and a monster. Little mouse goes for a walk in a dangerous forest. To scare off his enemies, he invents tales of a fantastical creature called the Gruffalo. Imagine his surprise when he meets the real Gruffalo!
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From Publishers Weekly
The eponymous character introduced by this British team owes a large debt to Maurice Sendak's Where the Wild Things Are. When Mouse meets Fox in the "deep dark wood," he invents a story about the gruffalo, described very much like Sendak's fearsome quartet of wild thingsA"He has terrible tusks, and terrible claws, and terrible teeth in his terrible jaws." The gullible fox runs away when Mouse tells him that the gruffalo's favorite food is roasted fox. "Silly old Fox!" says Mouse, "Doesn't he know?/ There's no such thing as a gruffalo!" Owl and Snake follow suit until, with a turn of the page, Mouse runs into the creature he has imagined. Quick-thinking Mouse then tells the monster, "I'm the scariest creature in this deep dark wood./ Just walk behind me and soon you'll see,/ Everyone for miles is afraid of me." Fox, Owl and Snake appear to be terrified of the tiny mouse, but readers can plainly see the real object of their fears. By story's end, the gruffalo flees, and Mouse enjoys his nut lunch in peace. Despite the derivative plot line, debut author Donaldson manipulates the repetitive language and rhymes to good advantage, supplying her story with plenty of scary-but-not-too-scary moments. Scheffler's gruffalo may seem a goofy hybrid of Max's wild things, but his cartoonlike illustrations build suspense via spot-art previews of the monster's orange eyes, black tongue and purple prickles until the monster's appearance in full. Ages 4-8.
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.
From School Library Journal
PreSchool-Grade 3-To save himself from being eaten by a fox, an owl, and a snake, an enterprising mouse declares that he is having lunch with a monster whose favorite food just happens to be the animal who is at that moment threatening him. With each telling, the gruffalo becomes more menacing until all of the rodent's tormentors leave him unharmed. The mouse scoffs at them, for everyone knows "There's no such thing as a gruffal...." But a turn of the page reveals-you guessed it-a gruffalo, that thinks the mouse will "...taste good on a slice of bread." Undaunted, the rodent devises a plan to frighten the monster off. Young readers will love the humor in this preposterous story of a trick that backfires and the way the protagonist talks himself out of his difficulties. Best of all, they will relish being in on the joke as they join in the reading of the delightfully repetitious rhyming text. Scheffler's cartoonlike illustrations, rendered in watercolor, colored pencils, and ink, are large and well paced. Facial expressions contrast the animals' alarm with the jaunty nonchalance of the mouse. The double-page spread that reveals the gruffalo-terrible claws, black tongue, poisonous wart, purple prickles, and all-is just scary enough to tickle but not frighten youngsters. Serve this one for a rollicking good time.
Marianne Saccardi, Norwalk Community-Technical College, CT
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.
Marianne Saccardi, Norwalk Community-Technical College, CT
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.
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A mouse took a stroll through the deep dark wood. Read the first page
Front Cover | Copyright | Excerpt | Back Cover
A mouse took a stroll through the deep dark wood. Read the first page
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Customer Reviews
Most helpful customer reviews
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
By Brenda Howes
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
This is a FABULOUS book - no doubt about it - when it is in the language that I know!! BUT I would have to scroll down the page and read the fine print to see that this particular book is in FRENCH. Since it still is the book 'that I ordered', I cannot return it. What a waste. Amazon, please clearly indicate in the book title such as "The Gruffalo (French version)" so that customers don't order the wrong book and become upset.
5 of 6 people found the following review helpful
By Theresa
Format:Paperback
It was not obvious in the short title that this book was a French edition. Too bad, now it is sitting on my shelf, was supposed to be a birthday gift. Bummer. Will be more careful ordering from Amazon.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
3.0 out of 5 stars
I'm sure this book is great, but I wanted it in English! Bad surprise.
Dec 10 2012
By Amanda
Format:Board book|Amazon Verified Purchase
I somehow ordered this in French. It was not clear at all based on the title of the book, the photo and the description (all in English)....only after I received my French copy in the box (surprise), did I double-check the product number, scrolling down to see way down at the bottom that this paperback version was indeed in French. Very easy mistake which I'm sure others have made as well. Amazon should have labeled this more clearly. This is my first time ordering from Amazon and I'm disappointed that half my order wasn't what I expected.
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4.9 out of 5 stars
Most recent customer reviews
4.0 out of 5 stars
Recommended
One of our faves, this book is fun o read over Andover again and all 4 kids love it.
Arrived in great shape
Arrived in great shape
Published 3 days ago by Jennifer
5.0 out of 5 stars
Awesome!
I bought this book for my because he kept talking about the Gruffalo monster, drawing/painting him and telling me how they have this book at his preschool and that it is his... Read more
Published 9 days ago by SLTM
5.0 out of 5 stars
My 3 year old grand-daughter loves it
Excellent addition to "granny TV" (Skype). Clever and fun story with life lessons on using your wits to survive the world of dog eat dog. Read more
Published 2 months ago by robert rooney
5.0 out of 5 stars
Gift for our Grandson
I purchased this for our 2 year old grandson and he loves reading it with his daddy and also listening tot he different sounds. Read more
Published 3 months ago by Jo
5.0 out of 5 stars
Love, love, love this book!
This is a great book! There is a lot of rhyming and it tells a great story. The gruffalo can be a bit scary....but only as scary as the reader makes it. Read more
Published 5 months ago by Jill
1.0 out of 5 stars
We do not speak French- Poorly labelled!
The indication this product is French is at the bottom of the description. This was a present for Christmas and just arrived today. Totally useless. Read more
Published 5 months ago by MamaGish
1.0 out of 5 stars
I too accidentally ordered it in french
This is a great book - a favourite which I'd rate a 5. However I'm rating it a 1 since it is no use to me when in french. Read more
Published 5 months ago by nb
5.0 out of 5 stars
We love this book
This book is wonderful. It's a fun story with lots of repetition that our daughter loves. We give this book as gifts to other children we know all the time.
Published 5 months ago by cbg
1.0 out of 5 stars
BE AWARE - EN FRANCAIS
Great book, however, this particular version is written in French. Amazon should label this product more clearly, as most of the description leads the consumer to believe it is the... Read more
Published 6 months ago by AML
5.0 out of 5 stars
Story Time Again...
To label The Gruffalo as delightful, charming and ingenious doesn't begin to do it justice. In melodic rhyme, Julia Donaldson tells of a clever mouse who outsmarts his predators... Read more
Published 24 months ago by Reader Writer Runner
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