🌿 Gruffalo Granny is coming soon....

The Gruffalo has to be one of my all-time favourite children’s stories. I’ve read it so many times over the years that I think I could probably recite most of it without even opening the book!

So I was VERY excited to discover that Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler are bringing us a brand-new story – Gruffalo Granny.

I can’t wait to find out what happens when Gruffalo Granny comes to visit the family!

Of course, I've already been peering carefully at the few pictures of her that have appeared online, trying to spot the similarities and differences.

She has grey fur, rather than the Gruffalo’s brown fur, and red spikes instead of purple prickles. Her eyes are green rather than orange, and her wart is blue instead of green – although I have absolutely no idea whether her wart is poisonous! 😂

And what else might be different about her?

Will she be fierce? Friendly? Fabulous? A little bit fearsome?

And, most importantly, what is Gruffalo Granny going to get up to?

I can't wait to find out!

📖 So, of course, we need a Gruffalo Granny crafting day!

To celebrate the release of the new book, I'm holding some special Family Story & Art sessions on Sunday 13th September at the Rainbow Jane Art Shed.

We'll start by reading the new story together – and then it will be time to get creative.

There won't be one Gruffalo Granny that everybody has to make. As always at Rainbow Jane, there will be different materials and different ways to create her, so children can choose what appeals to them.

You might decide to make your own Gruffalo Granny from air-dry clay, adding all those important details that make her her.

The clay models will need time to dry before they can be painted, but there's a plan for that! I'll be at the Meanwood Art Show on Saturday 19th September and the Meanwood Urban Valley Farm Family Event on Sunday 20th September, and you'll be able to bring your Gruffalo Granny along and paint her at either event.

Or perhaps you'd rather make a wonderfully woolly Gruffalo Granny using pom-poms, felt and pipe cleaners.

I've been hunting for suitably Granny-ish grey wool and thinking about green eyes, red spikes, blue warts, horns, teeth and all the other little details we might need.

And for anyone who simply fancies sitting down with some paints, pencils and colours, there will also be the option to paint or colour a picture of Gruffalo Granny.

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🌈 Grown-ups get to join in too

These are family sessions, so children will be creating alongside their accompanying adult or adults. Some of the activities – particularly making pom-poms and modelling with clay – may need a little grown-up help, and that's part of the fun.

It's a chance to listen to a lovely new story, rummage through the craft materials, make something together and enjoy some creative time.

And, of course, Grannies will be especially welcome! ❤️

🎨 Come and get creative, inspired by Gruffalo Granny

Spaces for the sessions are limited, so if you think your children would enjoy joining me, please book your places in advance.

You'll need to book a space for every adult and every child attending.

As usual, the sessions are Pay As You Feel. Contributions help towards the cost of the materials, with any additional donations going to Zarach, the wonderful local charity helping to provide beds for children who don't have one.

I'm ridiculously excited about this one!

A brand-new Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler story, a shed full of wool, felt, clay, paint and crafty treasures, and lots of completely individual Gruffalo Grannies appearing during the day.

I wonder what they'll all look like?

And I really want to know whether that blue wart is poisonous...! 💙😂