The Gruffalo's Child
A sequel that lets children hold the "secret" of the first book. Using repetitive refrains and a familiar rhyming style, it’s a great choice for any child who loved the original Gruffalo.
The Gruffalo's Child by Julia Donaldson is estimated to take about 7.5 minutes to read aloud (603 words, about 2 sentences a page), and it lands best with children aged 3-6.
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- Estimated read-aloud time
- about 7.5 minutesEstimated read-aloud time
- Word count
- 603Counted words
- Sentences per page
- 2Sentences per page
- Re-read tolerance
- 5/5still good at forty
- Vocabulary level
- 3/5a few new words
- Best for
- Ages 3-6Our editorial fit
Our review
This story follows the Gruffalo's daughter as she ventures into the woods. For kids who have already met the Gruffalo, there is a sense of empowerment in knowing something the character doesn't.
The refrain "no gruffalo should ever set foot in the deep dark wood" is highly repetitive, allowing children to join in before the sentence is even finished.
Before you buy it
This works best after reading the first book; without the original, the shadow trick doesn't quite have the same impact or payoff.
Themes
- rhyme
- courage
- snow
- monsters
- fathers and daughters
Books like The Gruffalo's Child
Matched by refrain, density, length, and listener—not just the subject.
Questions parents ask
How long does it take to read The Gruffalo's Child aloud?
About 7.5 minutes at an unhurried pace, including a standard allowance for page turns, pictures and participation, from a word count of 603. Stopping for a longer conversation on every page will add more time.
What age is The Gruffalo's Child actually for?
Ages 3-6 in our testing, which is narrower than the publisher's range. With 2 sentences a page and vocabulary at 3 out of 5, it asks for that much attention span and no more.
Does The Gruffalo's Child survive being read on repeat?
Yes - this is one of the few that is still fine on the fortieth reading, which is why it scores 5 out of 5 with us.
Is The Gruffalo's Child a good book for a child who will not sit still?
It helps that it rhymes, and it has a refrain a child can join in with, and it asks the child questions to answer out loud. Those three features are what keep a wriggling toddler listening, far more than the subject matter does.
Will my child memorise The Gruffalo's Child?
Probably, and fast. The book leans on a repeated refrain, and at 5 out of 5 for re-read tolerance it survives the nightly repeats that get a book memorised. Expect your child to chant the pattern back before they can actually read.
Can a beginning reader read The Gruffalo's Child on their own?
Not yet. At vocabulary level 3 out of 5 and 2 sentences a page, it is a read-aloud book rather than a first solo read. Read it to them now, and hand it over in a year or two.
What themes does The Gruffalo's Child cover?
We tag it with rhyme, courage, snow, monsters and fathers and daughters. Those are the threads that actually run through the book, not just the ones on the cover, which is how it earns its place on our themed lists rather than a keyword match.
