AIBU to ask why The Gruffalo is so very popular?

[octaviarose]

I don't really understand why the Gruffalo is so very popular as a children's book, please someone explain the enormous appeal.

It's brilliant! Though I love jd in general and I'd rate a number of her other books higher than grufflo.
And you can sing along to gruffalo soldier. Which always amuses me.

Have you read any others? Snail and the whale is brilliant. Squash and a squeeze is good.

I do not know, ask my DS who is Gruffalo obsessed!! It is harmless though, so all good.

it's frigging fantastic the cartoon is too. Sadly ds does not want me to read it to him anymore :(

The Gruffalo is brilliant. It is a wonderful story :) Julia Donaldson is very talented, all of her books are a huge hit here.

DS adores Gruffalo though :)

The charming illustrations, sweet storyline, the rhyming helps young children who have just started learning to read, the comical aspect of a main character being small and vulnerable outwitting everyone around him... Stuff like that I expect.

The Gruffalo in Scots is fantastic!

I dread to think how much she has made from us ever since they were bought The Gruffalo by my oldest friend!

as well as book, we used to have the audio tape with imelda staunton - really brilliant stuff - DD loved it - worth looking out for.

The DVD version is fab, way better than the book, the music is so enchanting.

I would agree that the plot is a little weak though. My DC are totally disinterested in the book.

Beautiful writing! Jd understands language development, rhyme and rhythm for children, but also creates books that parents enjoy reading too. We've got all of her books. Tabby mctat is a big favourite

The stage show is fab, however it was totally trumped by the Hungry Caterpillar puppet show. Fantastic!

It's because the nut was good.

It's cos you can do fantastic voices and the mouse triumphs the Gruffalo. And you can spot the squirrel, frogs, woodpecker etc.

I have always thought it is vastly overrated too. It's not bad but not a proper classic like The Very Hungry Caterpillar, Green Eggs and Ham or The Tiger who came to Tea. I think Toddle Waddle is JD's finest work, personally.

It's a fantastic book! I read it with kids with very basic English skills and they just love the sound of the words and the pictures.

I always preffered 'Room on a broom'

preferred

Ds likes to shout "Woof" (I don't know what noise foxes make sorry ), "Twit Twohoo" "Hisssssss" "Squeak" and "Grrrrr" at the appropriate moment throughout the book so he can't actually hear the rest of the story.

And with the Gruffalo's Child he also gets to shout "Stick" and "Moon" a lot too. It makes him happy.

DS loves the Gruffalo, although his favourite by Julia Donaldson is The Smartest Giant In Town. I think it's the repetition and the illustrations that appeal to him.

It's fab tis why :) I know it off by heart now as ds has a thing for grabbing the book or turning all the pages so it's best just to recite it :)

Because DD is so cute when she tries to kiss the Gruffalo's mouth. I love the rythym, and the illustrations, and the sheer ingeniousness of the Mouse.

A trip to Room on the Broom at the theatre is their Christmas present this year :)

YANBU. I do not get why JD is quite so dominant in picture books, there are others who are better. Not fussed about Axel Scheffler's illustration, I don't hate them but I don't adore them like some others.

I struggle with some of her other books, like the Smartest Giant in town because when I talk, giraffe doesn't rhyme with scarf so it makes it sound odd and puts the rhythm out.