New Gruffalo Book Set for 2026 Release

Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler are reuniting to release the first new Gruffalo picture book in over 20 years, set for publication by Macmillan Children’s Books in September 2026. The new, as-yet-untitled story will revisit beloved characters from the bestselling series, which includes The Gruffalo (1999) and The Gruffalo’s Child (2004), both acclaimed worldwide and translated into over 100 languages. Inspired in part by the National Literacy Trust’s Early Words Matter campaign and recent concerns over declining childhood reading enjoyment, the book’s launch will be accompanied by an international campaign to promote reading, with the Trust as the lead UK charity partner. Donaldson expressed the challenges and excitement of writing a sequel after so many years, while Scheffler shared his enthusiasm upon reading Donaldson’s new manuscript and seeing her creative vision realized. Macmillan plans a major marketing push, aiming to make the release one of the biggest in its history and to use the Gruffalo’s popularity to foster a love of reading globally. This initiative responds to research showing only one in three children now enjoy reading for pleasure, the lowest level since 2005.