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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.

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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
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Alfie Gets in First
Shirley Hughes · Picture Book · ages 3–5 · family and humour
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Funnybones
Janet Ahlberg · Picture Book · ages 3–7 · humour and adventure
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Rosie's Walk
Pat Hutchins · Picture Book · ages 2–5 · humour and adventure
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Supertato
Sue Hendra · Picture Book · ages 3–6 · humour and courage
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The Enormous Crocodile
Roald Dahl · Picture Book · ages 4–7 · courage and justice
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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.
Why it fits: another title by Julia Donaldson, the same picture book format and shared themes of courage and adventure.
Picture Book2004
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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.
Why it fits: the same picture book format, shared themes of humour and courage and overlapping age guidance for 3–5.
Picture Book1981
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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.
Why it fits: the same picture book format, shared themes of humour and adventure and overlapping age guidance for 3–7.
Picture Book1980
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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.
Why it fits: the same picture book format, shared themes of humour and adventure and overlapping age guidance for 2–5.
Picture Book1968
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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.
Why it fits: the same picture book format, shared themes of humour and courage and overlapping age guidance for 3–6.
Picture Book2014
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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.
Why it fits: the same picture book format, shared themes of courage and humour and overlapping age guidance for 4–7.
Picture Book1978
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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.
Why it fits: the same picture book format, shared themes of adventure and humour and overlapping age guidance for 4–7.
Picture Book2012
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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.
Why it fits: the same picture book format, shared themes of humour and adventure and overlapping age guidance for 2–6.
Picture Book1903
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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.
Why it fits: the same picture book format, shared themes of adventure and courage and overlapping age guidance for 2–5.
Picture Book1989
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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.
Why it fits: the same picture book format, shared themes of humour and overlapping age guidance for 3–6.
Picture Book2007
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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.
Why it fits: the same picture book format, shared themes of humour and overlapping age guidance for 2–5.
Picture Book1982
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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.
Why it fits: another title by Julia Donaldson, the same picture book format and shared themes of courage and humour.
Picture Book2011
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