← The Children's Library  /  Guides  /  Books Like The Gruffalo

Books Like The Gruffalo

A personal project — every book hand-picked by a London dad 🇬🇧

For readers who loved the rhyme, repeated encounters, and quick-thinking underdog in The Gruffalo, these choices keep the read-aloud energy while changing the creature, setting, or kind of problem.

As an Amazon Associate, we earn a small commission from qualifying purchases made through links below — at no extra cost to you.
12 hand-picked books

How to use this shelf

Compare the books by what your child joined in with most: patterned language, comic peril, woodland creatures, or the mouse winning through words. Start with another rhythmic picture book for familiarity, then widen the shelf through the shared theme.

Quick comparison

6 varied places to start. Compare the age, format, and themes, then read the notes or check current UK editions.

The Gruffalo's Child
Julia Donaldson · Picture Book · ages 3–6 · courage and adventure
Check priceRead notes
Alfie Gets in First
Shirley Hughes · Picture Book · ages 3–5 · family and humour
Check priceRead notes
Funnybones
Janet Ahlberg · Picture Book · ages 3–7 · humour and adventure
Check priceRead notes
Rosie's Walk
Pat Hutchins · Picture Book · ages 2–5 · humour and adventure
Check priceRead notes
Supertato
Sue Hendra · Picture Book · ages 3–6 · humour and courage
Check priceRead notes
The Enormous Crocodile
Roald Dahl · Picture Book · ages 4–7 · courage and justice
Check priceRead notes
The Gruffalo's Child book cover
The Gruffalo's Child
Julia Donaldson
Ages 3–6
The Gruffalo's Child
Julia Donaldson · Axel Scheffler
On the shelf for children aged 3 to 6: The Gruffalo's Child, a picture book by Julia Donaldson. It is illustrated by Axel Scheffler. It connects with courage and adventure.
Picture Book2004
Check priceRead notes
Alfie Gets in First book cover
Alfie Gets in First
Shirley Hughes
Ages 3–5
Alfie Gets in First
Shirley Hughes
Alfie Gets in First by Shirley Hughes is a picture book for children aged 3 to 5. A useful choice for reading about family, humour and courage.
Picture Book1981
Check priceRead notes
Funnybones book cover
Funnybones
Janet Ahlberg
Ages 3–7
Funnybones
Janet Ahlberg · Allan Ahlberg
First published in 1980, Funnybones is a picture book by Janet Ahlberg for children aged 3 to 7. It is illustrated by Allan Ahlberg. Its themes include humour and adventure.
Picture Book1980
Check priceRead notes
Rosie's Walk book cover
Rosie's Walk
Pat Hutchins
Ages 2–5
Rosie's Walk
Pat Hutchins
First published in 1968, Rosie's Walk is a picture book by Pat Hutchins for children aged 2 to 5. Its themes include humour and adventure.
Picture Book1968
Check priceRead notes
Supertato book cover
Supertato
Sue Hendra
Ages 3–6
Supertato
Sue Hendra · Paul Linnet
First published in 2014, Supertato is a picture book by Sue Hendra for children aged 3 to 6. It is illustrated by Paul Linnet. Its themes include humour and courage.
Picture Book2014
Check priceRead notes
The Enormous Crocodile book cover
The Enormous Crocodile
Roald Dahl
Ages 4–7
The Enormous Crocodile
Roald Dahl · Quentin Blake
On the shelf for children aged 4 to 7: The Enormous Crocodile, a picture book by Roald Dahl. It is illustrated by Quentin Blake. It connects with courage, justice and humour.
Picture Book1978
Check priceRead notes
The Pirates Next Door book cover
The Pirates Next Door
Jonny Duddle
Ages 4–7
The Pirates Next Door
Jonny Duddle
The Pirates Next Door, a picture book by Jonny Duddle, is selected for children aged 4 to 7. Compare it with other books exploring friendship, adventure and humour.
Picture Book2012
Check priceRead notes
The Tale of Squirrel Nutkin book cover
The Tale of Squirrel Nutkin
Beatrix Potter
Ages 2–6
The Tale of Squirrel Nutkin
Beatrix Potter
The Tale of Squirrel Nutkin by Beatrix Potter is a picture book for children aged 2 to 6. A useful choice for reading about nature, humour and adventure.
Picture Book1903
Check priceRead notes
We're Going on a Bear Hunt book cover
We're Going on a Bear Hunt
Michael Rosen
Ages 2–5
We're Going on a Bear Hunt
Michael Rosen · Helen Oxenbury
A family travels through grass, water, mud, woodland, snow, and a cave in search of a bear.
Picture Book1989
Check priceRead notes
Aliens Love Underpants book cover
Aliens Love Underpants
Claire Freedman
Ages 3–6
Aliens Love Underpants
Claire Freedman · Ben Cort
On the shelf for children aged 3 to 6: Aliens Love Underpants, a picture book by Claire Freedman. It is illustrated by Ben Cort. It connects with humour.
Picture Book2007
Check priceRead notes
Avocado Baby book cover
Avocado Baby
John Burningham
Ages 2–5
Avocado Baby
John Burningham
Choose Avocado Baby by John Burningham for children aged 2 to 5. This picture book is shelved with books about humour and family.
Picture Book1982
Check priceRead notes
The Highway Rat book cover
The Highway Rat
Julia Donaldson
Ages 3–6
The Highway Rat
Julia Donaldson · Axel Scheffler
First published in 2011, The Highway Rat is a picture book by Julia Donaldson for children aged 3 to 6. It is illustrated by Axel Scheffler. Its themes include courage, humour and justice.
Picture Book2011
Check priceRead notes