The Snail and the Whale

A rhyming story about adventure and friendship, The Snail and the Whale is a bestselling classic by the unparalleled picture book partnership of Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler, creators of The Gruffalo.

One little snail longs to see the world and hitches a lift on the tail of an enormous whale. Together they go on an amazing journey – and when disaster strikes and the whale is beached in a bay, it's the tiny snail's big plan that saves the day.

This classic story has sold over 8 million copies worldwide and is a must-have addition to the bookshelves of all Donaldson and Scheffler fans – big and small!

'Bold and brilliant, wise and wacky' - The Times

This hardback edition features the classic story plus extra content from Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler, making this the perfect gift.

Look out for Gruffalo Granny, the brand new Gruffalo picture book adventure - coming on 10th September 2026!

Discover more picture books by Julia and Axel: The Gruffalo, The Gruffalo's Child and Room on the Broom.