What to say

What you will need

What to do

A mouse took a stroll through the deep dark wood.

Turn off the light

Or

Cover yourselves with a blanket

Spend some time in the dark

A fox saw the mouse and the mouse looked good, “Where are you going to, little brown mouse?”

“Come and have lunch in my underground house”

Feather duster (fox tail)

Feel the feather duster

“It’s terribly kind of you, Fox, but no- I’m going to have lunch with a Gruffalo.”

A food with a strong scent

Smell the scent

“A Gruffalo? What’s a Gruffalo?”

“A Gruffalo! Why didn’t you know? He has terrible tusks, and terrible claws and terrible teeth in his terrible jaws.”

Anything spiky you can find around the house (a spiky sensory ball or a hair brush)

Feel the spikes

“Where are you meeting him?”

“Here, by these rocks, and his favourite food is roasted fox.”

“Roasted fox! I’m off!” Fox said.

“Goodbye, little mouse,” and away he sped.

Feather duster

Move it quickly as he speeds away

“Silly old Fox! Doesn’t he know, there’s no such thing as a Gruffalo?”

On went the mouse through the deep dark wood. An owl saw the mouse and the mouse looked good.

Feathers

Feel the feathers

Where are you going to, little brown mouse? Come and have tea in my treetop house.”

“It’s frightfully nice of you, Owl, but no- I’m going to have tea with a Gruffalo.”

Tea bags (you may need to wet them to release the smell)

Smell the teabags

 “A Gruffalo? What’s a Gruffalo?”

“A Gruffalo! Why, didn’t you know? He has knobbly knees, and turned-out toes, and a poisonous wart at the end of his nose.”

Your hands

And

A ball of playdough

Tickle your childs knees and toes

And

Squash the playdough (wart) you could press it on your child’s nose

“Where are you meeting him?”

“Here, by this stream, and his favourite food is owl ice cream.”

“Owl ice cream? Toowhit toowhoo! Goodbye, little mouse,” and away Owl flew.

“Silly old Owl! Doesn’t he know, there’s no such thing as a Gruffalo?”

Ice cream

Or

Ice

Or

Cold water on kitchen roll

Feel the coldness

On went the mouse through the deep dark wood. A snake saw the mouse and the mouse looked good. “Where are you going to, little brown mouse? Come for a feast in my logpile house.”

Toy snake

Or

Rope

Or

Towel

Feel the snake pulling through your child’s hands

“It’s wonderfully good of you, Snake, but no- I’m having a feast with a Gruffalo.”

“A Gruffalo? What’s a Gruffalo?”

“A Gruffalo! Why, didn’t you know? His eyes are orange, his tongue is black, he has purple prickles all over his back.”

Coloured paper or fabric

And

Your hands

Show the different colours

And

Tickle down your child’s back

“Where are you meeting him?”

“Here, by this lake, and his favourite food is scrambled snake.”

“Scrambled snake! It’s time I hid! Goodbye, little mouse,” and away Snake slid.

Bowl

And

Whisk or spoon

Pretend to make scrambled snake by moving the whisk or spoon around the bowl.

“Silly old Snake! Doesn’t he know, there’s no such thing as a Gruffal….OH!!!”

But who is this creature with terrible claws and terrible teeth in his terrible jaws? He has knobbly knees and turned-out toes and a poisonous wart at the end of his nose. His eyes are orange, his tongue is black; he as purple prickles all over his back.

“Oh help! Oh no! It’s a Gruffalo!”

Your hands

And

Picture of the Gruffalo

Tickle or touch the body parts as you say them

And

Show the picture of the Gruffalo

“My favourite food!” the Gruffalo said. “You’ll taste good on a slice of bread.”

Flour (loose)

Or

bread

Feel the flour

Or

Squish the bread

“Good?” said the mouse. “don’t call me good! I’m the scariest creature in this wood. Just walk behind me and soon you’ll see, everyone is afraid of me.”

“all right,” said the Gruffalo, bursting with laughter. “You go ahead and I’ll follow after.” They walked and walked

Your hands

Move your child’s feet to make footsteps on a surface

Till the Gruffalo said, ‘I hear a hiss in the leaves ahead

Leaves

Feel and rustle the leaves

“It’s Snake,” said the mouse. “Why, Snake, hello!” Snake took one look at the Gruffalo. “Oh crumbs!” he said, “Goodbye, little mouse,” and off he slid to his log pile house.

Toy snake

Or

Rope

Or

Towel

Feel the snake pulling through your child’s hands

“You see?” said the mouse. “I told you so.” “Amazing!” said the Gruffalo.

They walked some more till the Gruffalo said. “I hear a hoot in the trees ahead”.

Your voice

Hoot like an owl

“It’s Owl,” said the mouse. “Why, Owl, hello!” Owl took one look at the Gruffalo. “Oh dear!” he said, “Goodbye, little mouse,” And off he flew to his treetop house.

Feathers

Feel the feathers

“You see?” said the mouse. “I told you so.” “Astounding!” said the Gruffalo.

They walked some more till the Gruffalo said. “I hear feet on the path ahead”.

Your hands

Tap on a surface to make the sound of footsteps

It’s Fox,” said the mouse. “Why, Fox, hello!” Fox took one look at the Gruffalo. “oh help!” he said, “goodbye, little mouse,” and off he ran to his underground house

Feather duster

Feel the duster

“Well, Gruffalo,” said the mouse. “you see? Everyone is afraid of me!” But now my tummy’s beginning to rumble. My favourite food is- Gruffalo crumble!” “Gruffalo crumble!” the Gruffalo said, and quick as the wind he turned and fled.

Porridge oats

Feel the oats sprinkle

All was quiet in the deep dark wood. The mouse found a nut and the nut was good.

Lights off

Or

Blanket

Spend a moment in the dark