Julia Donaldson interview

In The Daily Telegraph, Judith Woods talks to author Julia Donaldson, creator of The Gruffalo.

Picture books are where her heart really lies.

"The Gruffalo was written at a time when a lot of picture books were about unconditional love; 'I love you, little so-and-so', that sort of thing," she says. "Then along came The Gruffalo with this exciting, dramatic story and was very different.

"Picture books are such a wonderful thing, I love them. They're much more grown up and imaginative than other fiction. A picture book can be a fable or poetry or convey a deep truth; they capture children at that point before they get into the predictable territory of pony books or football books. A picture book really can break the mould."