As ever, there are some big names at this year’s Edinburgh International Book Festival – but the biggest star of them all kicked off the annual event in Charlotte Square Gardens yesterday. The Gruffalo came to town to get the party started – which is quite appropriate as the children’s favourite is celebrating his twentieth birthday!
Gruffalo author Julia Donaldson was joined by illustrator Catherine Rayner for her Performing Picture Books event at the Edinburgh Book Festival.
A packed audience of 700 was treated to a performance of Julia and Catherine’s lastest story, The Go-Away Bird, as well as a selection of favourite stories and songs including What The Ladybird Heard, but the biggest cheer of the morning was reserved for that beloved character with ‘terrible tusks and terrible claws’!
Hard to believe, but The Gruffalo is twenty years old this year and there was a special birthday for him – fans will be able to guess the ingredients!