The Snail and the Whale

The thrilling tale of a tiny snail and a great big grey-blue humpback 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!

Also available: The Gruffalo, The Gruffalo's Child, The Snail and the Whale, Charlie Cook’s Favourite Book, Room on the Broom, A Squash and a Squeeze and Monkey Puzzle.

Look out for the brand new Gruffalo picture book coming on 10th September 2026.