Character guide
What is a Gruffalo?
A Gruffalo is the made-up monster in Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler's picture book The Gruffalo. Mouse invents him to frighten off Fox, Owl and Snake, then meets him for real: tusks, claws, orange eyes, a poisonous wart and purple prickles.
Voxblock is a screen-free audiobook player for children, and The Gruffalo is one of the stories that slots into it.
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Hear the Gruffalo
One minute of the story, read by Imelda Staunton. Free, no sign-up.
Sample from The Gruffalo · Published by Macmillan
What does the Gruffalo look like?
The Gruffalo is described as a large monster with terrible tusks, terrible claws, orange eyes, a poisonous wart, a black tongue and purple prickles all over his back. That's him on the cover, with Mouse looking up from the path.
Is the Gruffalo real?
No. The Gruffalo is a fictional storybook creature, not a real animal. Inside the world of the book, though, Mouse meets the real Gruffalo after describing him to the other animals, which is the whole joke of the story.
What does Gruffalo mean?
In the story, "Gruffalo" is the name Mouse gives to his invented monster. The word sounds rough, growly and memorable, which helps make the creature feel funny and frightening at the same time. It isn't a word from anywhere else.
Who else is in the story?
Mouse, Fox, Owl and Snake. Mouse meets each of the three animals in turn and scares them off with his description of the Gruffalo, before the real thing appears. All five have their own page in the Gruffalo character guide.
What happens in the story?
Mouse walks through the deep dark wood, talks his way past three hungry animals, then has to think even faster when the monster he invented turns out to be real. The full plot, age guide and creators are in the Gruffalo story overview.
Character guide
More about the Gruffalo
Role in the story
Why The Gruffalo matters
The Gruffalo is part of the chain of encounters that makes The Gruffalo easy to follow. Each character helps children understand the pattern of danger, imagination and quick thinking at the heart of the story.
If you are looking for the whole plot, start with the Gruffalo story overview. If you want the complete cast, visit the Gruffalo character guide.
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Using The Gruffalo in class?
Play the sample to the whole class from the board, then see the Voxblock school packs: players and audiobooks built for reading corners and group listening.
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The Gruffalo and Friends Starter Pack: the Voxblock player, The Gruffalo, Room on the Broom and The Smartest Giant in Town, with a bumper and charging cable. £69.99, down from £89.96.
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Questions about the Gruffalo character
Answers for searches about what a Gruffalo is, what he looks like, what the name means and how the character works in the story.
What is a Gruffalo?
A Gruffalo is a fictional monster from The Gruffalo by Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler. Mouse first invents him to scare away Fox, Owl and Snake, then discovers that the creature is real inside the story.
What does the Gruffalo look like?
The Gruffalo is described as a large monster with terrible tusks, terrible claws, orange eyes, a poisonous wart, a black tongue and purple prickles all over his back.
What does Gruffalo mean?
In the story, "Gruffalo" is the name Mouse gives to his invented monster. The word sounds rough, growly and memorable, which helps make the creature feel funny and frightening at the same time.
What role does the Gruffalo play in the story?
The Gruffalo is first Mouse's imaginary defence against danger, then becomes the final challenge Mouse must outwit. His role is to turn the story's joke around and prove that Mouse's cleverness matters more than size or strength.
Is the Gruffalo real?
The Gruffalo is not a real animal; he is a fictional storybook creature. Within the world of the book, though, Mouse meets the real Gruffalo after describing him to the other animals.
More from the deep dark wood
Explore the rest of The Gruffalo
Read the story overview, meet the full cast, see the audiobook, or carry on with the sequel, The Gruffalo's Child.
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Hear The Gruffalo in the story
Voxblock is a screen-free audiobook player for children. Place the physical Gruffalo audiobook on the player and the story starts, so children can revisit favourite characters on their own. No wifi, no downloads, no subscription.
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