Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler’s Gruffalo Granny is officially the biggest book of 2026
Gruffalo Granny, the first new Gruffalo picture book in 20 years, has become the biggest-selling book of 2026 — of any genre, for any age group — after just 10 days on sale.
The title has sold 345,883 copies through Nielsen's Total Consumer Market, putting it ahead of every other book published this year.
It also set a new industry record along the way: 227,169 copies sold in its first three days alone gave Dame Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler their first-ever number one on the overall bestseller chart, making Gruffalo Granny the fastest-selling picture book ever recorded — and the biggest first-week sale for any book since Prince Harry's memoir Spare in 2023.
Publication week turned into a nationwide celebration. A flagship event at the British Library was broadcast live into 6,000 schools across the UK, while a sold-out public signing drew crowds to Waterstones Piccadilly's new dedicated pop-up space.
The festivities also reached the ancient woodland of the National Trust's Speke Hall in Liverpool, where Her Majesty The Queen joined Dame Julia Donaldson, Axel Scheffler and local families for a royal storytelling session in support of the National Year of Reading 2026. Developed with the National Literacy Trust, the event featured interactive activities exploring how everyday storytelling sparks childhood play and conversation — with a surprise appearance from the Gruffalo himself.
Alison Ruane, Managing Director – Macmillan Children’s Books said:
'To be the single biggest-selling book of the year after only 10 days is extraordinary! It's a testament to the enduring magic Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler create together, and to how loved this family of characters is. Adults who grew up with the original Gruffalo are now reading Gruffalo Granny to their own children, and there are many stories of grandparents buying it for their grandchildren too. We're so proud to be part of it - of all the shared moments happening in living rooms, classrooms and libraries around the country, as families and children discover this remarkable new book together- and it’s particularly special that it’s happening in the National Year of Reading'
Macmillan Children's Books wants Gruffalo Granny to reach as many young readers as possible, whatever their circumstances. The publisher has partnered with 10 major charities across the UK and Ireland, including an industry-first collaboration with three leading disability organisations to create three accessible formats alongside the standard print edition. For children with vision impairment, that means a custom braille edition with the Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB), an accessible PDF via RNIB Bookshare, and a bespoke audio-tactile edition with Living Paintings, sponsored by MCB. A British Sign Language (BSL) translation was also produced with the National Deaf Children's Society, available to watch online.
As part of the campaign, 140,000 Gruffalo titles — including 75,000 copies of Gruffalo Granny — are being gifted to children and families across the country: to children in residential care, women's and children's shelters and children's hospitals, and through a foundation that helps children growing up in poverty celebrate their birthdays with a book.
The Gruffalo is sold in 119 languages and dialects and the world of the Gruffalo remains a global phenomenon, with The Gruffalo and The Gruffalo's Child having sold a combined 45 million copies worldwide.
