Gruffalo creators Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler unveil special social distancing scenes

‘You go ahead and I will follow two metres after’

Julia Donaldson and the Gruffalo in 2008. (David Cheskin/PA Archive/PA Images)

The creators of The Gruffalo have created new scenes to help children adjust to living through the coronavirus pandemic.

The new content, crafted by author Julia Donaldson and illustrator Axel Scheffler, features characters such as the titular Gruffalo, Stickman, and The Smeds and The Smoos – all included in a series of images published by the BBC.

With the images, Donaldson and Scheffler share tips for social distancing, such as keeping two metres (6.5 feet) from people.

“Usually with the books it is me who starts things off, but Axel had this idea of doing some witty sketches, each one based on our books and each one incorporating a sort of tip about coronavirus,” Donaldson said.

One line features the Gruffalo, “bursting with laughter,” telling another character: “You go ahead and I’ll follow two metres after.”

There is a “couplet for each book”, Donaldson added.

Scheffler said that he had been thinking what he could do as an illustrator to help people through the coronavirus crisis when he had the idea.

He added that he “wanted to do something light-hearted and cheer people up and I thought, ‘What if I imagine our characters in corona situations?”’

“It is really more about entertainment than information,” he added.

PA contributed to this report