For 25 years children around the world have enjoyed the story of a frightening woodland creature with terrible claws, and terrible teeth in his terrible jaws.
Since 1999 The Gruffalo, which also has knobbly knees, turned-out toes and a poisonous wart at the end of his nose, has become a firm family favourite.
Together with its sequel, The Gruffalo’s Child, it has sold more than 18 million copies worldwide and been turned into an animation for the BBC.
But Julia Donaldson, who wrote the story while she lived in Glasgow, told BBC Scotland News she thought The Gruffalo “hogs too much attention”.
The author of 210 books, including Room on the Broom and Tabby McTat, said it was “amazing” that the book had had such an impact.
“I think The Gruffalo’s the one everyone has heard of, even people who haven’t read the book,” she told BBC Radio Scotland’s Lunchtime Live.
“To be honest, what I like is when people single out one of my other books as their favourite as I think The Gruffalo’s a bit spoilt.
“He hogs too much of the attention really.”
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