The Gruffalo
Discover the iconic character of the Gruffalo: a fearsome yet lovable creature from Julia Donaldson's beloved children's book. Delve into his mythical world!
The Gruffalo cast guide
The Gruffalo characters: who is in the story?
The Gruffalo has a small, memorable cast: Mouse, Fox, Owl, Snake and the Gruffalo. Follow the woodland encounters and see how each character moves Mouse closer to the story's final twist.
One minute of the story, read by Imelda Staunton. Free, no sign-up.
At home
Gruffalo and Friends Starter PackVoxblock player + The Gruffalo and 2 more Julia Donaldson stories
£69.99Regular price£89.96
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Gruffalo and Friends Starter PackVoxblock player + The Gruffalo and 2 more Julia Donaldson stories
£69.99
In the classroom
Bring audiobooks into your classroomWhole-class listening and screen-free reading corners. Get ideas and school offers by email.
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Already have a Voxblock? Just the audiobook, £9.99Read the story overview
Meet the full cast
Each character helps show why Mouse has to be quick, confident and imaginative. Open an individual guide to learn more about their role in the story.
Mouse
Mouse is a clever, brave and resourceful character in The Gruffalo who survives through quick thinking rather than strength.
Snake
Snake is a patient and quietly menacing predator in The Gruffalo who relies on subtle persuasion and a gentle manner to entice Mouse into danger.
Fox
Fox is a clever and opportunistic predator in The Gruffalo who attempts to win Mouse over through smooth talk and an apparently friendly invitation.
Owl
Owl is a vigilant, intelligent predator in The Gruffalo who masks his threat behind courtesy, inviting Mouse in under the pretence of hospitality.
How the cast works
In what order do the characters appear?
Mouse meets Fox, Owl and Snake one by one. Each animal thinks Mouse might make a meal, and each one is scared away by Mouse’s invented Gruffalo. When the real Gruffalo appears, the pattern flips: Mouse uses the other animals’ fear to outwit the monster too.
This repeated structure is one reason the book is so easy for children to remember and retell.
- Mouse meets FoxFox invites him home; Mouse says he is off to meet a Gruffalo.
- Mouse meets OwlOwl invites him to tea; the Gruffalo scares him off too.
- Mouse meets SnakeSnake suggests a feast; Mouse's monster sends him away.
- The Gruffalo appearsThe creature Mouse made up turns out to be real.
- Mouse walks him back past them allFox, Owl and Snake flee, and the Gruffalo decides Mouse is the scariest one.
For teachers
Audiobooks work in the classroom
Listening to a story read well builds vocabulary and comprehension, and lets every child follow the whole book, including those still learning to read.
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Whole-class listening. Connect a Voxblock to your classroom speaker and the whole class hears The Gruffalo together.
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A reading corner children run themselves. They pick a story block and press play: no screens, no logins, no adult needed.
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School packages include players, bumpers, a charging hub and your choice of audiobooks, plus 10% off our range for schools.
Ideas for using audiobooks in class
Classroom ideas and occasional school offers. Unsubscribe any time.
Questions about The Gruffalo characters
Clear answers for searches about who appears in the story and how the characters fit together.
Who are the main characters in The Gruffalo?
The main characters are Mouse, Fox, Owl, Snake and the Gruffalo.
How many animals are in The Gruffalo?
There are five main animal or creature characters if you count Mouse, Fox, Owl, Snake and the Gruffalo. Mouse meets three animals before the Gruffalo appears: Fox, Owl and Snake.
Who is the cleverest character in The Gruffalo?
Mouse is usually seen as the cleverest character because he survives by thinking quickly and using the other characters’ assumptions against them.
Where can I learn about the Gruffalo himself?
Read the dedicated Gruffalo character guide for his description, meaning and role in the story.
At home
Listen to The Gruffalo audiobook, screen-free
Your child puts the Gruffalo story block on the Voxblock player and presses play. No screen, no downloads, no subscription.