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Grug #1
Grug
Grug loves looking at the pictures in books, but one day he decides to teach himself how to read the words. Soon he can enjoy his favourite book of all - Grug!
32 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 1, 1979
14 people are currently reading
180 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 40 reviews
February 28, 2022
Once in a lifetime you'll come across a tome that truly captures the history and cultural distinctions of the modern world the way a person can subjectively perceive it through our guided field of perspective. I have to admit, I had my doubts when I first learned of the book. After all, Grug? Will this book even be good? How ignorant was I to even have these thoughts. Little did I know I was about to indulge in what may have been the best two minutes of my life.
The story started out strong. The opening scenes entice the reader with a captivating enigma. I was so taken aback from the next-generation illustration that I almost didn't even realize the underlying symbolism in the ongoing scenes. It wasn't until my twenty-sixth reading of Grug that I finally got my bearings together and was able to focus on the gripping and labyrinthine stratagem. The underlying analogy for 19th century dystopianism and the evangelical deviation of typical orthodoxy was enlightening to say the least.
Just when I thought the book could not get any better, the increasing conflict before the climax began. I could not believe the complexity of the story as the main burrawong protagonist, Grug, struggled with the everyday endeavors for a quintessential burrawong such as the consistent up-hill altercation of the fight against misogyny and the fiscal synergy of opposing interplanetary dynamisms. There I was, gripping to my chair as the conflict of the book began. I was so enticed by the book that I felt as if I was both practically and relatively apart of it. This is a special kind of high that not even the strongest of drugs can give you. Was I part of the book? Am I inside the book right now? This book will leave you questioning existential nihilism and the objective skepticism of our perceived valuation of anthropological existence.
At this point in the book, I was fully intoxicated by the avant-garde watercolour art style. That's when the plot finally aggrandized and I was completely stupefied. You could have lived a thousand years of isolation trying to predict the plot twist and you would never even scratch the surface of what actually transpires in the book. I was so bewildered that I actually had to put the book down so that my existential crisis didn't dive too deep inside of myself. Even putting it down was surreal. It's almost as if life paused with it. I felt as though I had actually become a literary tangent quantum. The effects are still wearing off and I haven't been able to read the book in several years. I spent the following seven years afraid of what outside of my house actually looks like. Every single day and night I live in misery because I became fully aware that happiness is never achievable. I realized that human life has absolutely no meaning and that no matter what I ever do, it is of complete unimportance and in years from now, no recollection of my existence will prevail, meaning that if I died years ago, died now, or die sometime in the future it will not matter whatsoever to anyone. But, then again, the fact that I'm living doesn't matter either so I might as well stick around for awhile, living in complete isolation, condemned to a life of traumatic memories and a completely corrupted sub-conscience.
Grug literally ruined my life. 10/10
The story started out strong. The opening scenes entice the reader with a captivating enigma. I was so taken aback from the next-generation illustration that I almost didn't even realize the underlying symbolism in the ongoing scenes. It wasn't until my twenty-sixth reading of Grug that I finally got my bearings together and was able to focus on the gripping and labyrinthine stratagem. The underlying analogy for 19th century dystopianism and the evangelical deviation of typical orthodoxy was enlightening to say the least.
Just when I thought the book could not get any better, the increasing conflict before the climax began. I could not believe the complexity of the story as the main burrawong protagonist, Grug, struggled with the everyday endeavors for a quintessential burrawong such as the consistent up-hill altercation of the fight against misogyny and the fiscal synergy of opposing interplanetary dynamisms. There I was, gripping to my chair as the conflict of the book began. I was so enticed by the book that I felt as if I was both practically and relatively apart of it. This is a special kind of high that not even the strongest of drugs can give you. Was I part of the book? Am I inside the book right now? This book will leave you questioning existential nihilism and the objective skepticism of our perceived valuation of anthropological existence.
At this point in the book, I was fully intoxicated by the avant-garde watercolour art style. That's when the plot finally aggrandized and I was completely stupefied. You could have lived a thousand years of isolation trying to predict the plot twist and you would never even scratch the surface of what actually transpires in the book. I was so bewildered that I actually had to put the book down so that my existential crisis didn't dive too deep inside of myself. Even putting it down was surreal. It's almost as if life paused with it. I felt as though I had actually become a literary tangent quantum. The effects are still wearing off and I haven't been able to read the book in several years. I spent the following seven years afraid of what outside of my house actually looks like. Every single day and night I live in misery because I became fully aware that happiness is never achievable. I realized that human life has absolutely no meaning and that no matter what I ever do, it is of complete unimportance and in years from now, no recollection of my existence will prevail, meaning that if I died years ago, died now, or die sometime in the future it will not matter whatsoever to anyone. But, then again, the fact that I'm living doesn't matter either so I might as well stick around for awhile, living in complete isolation, condemned to a life of traumatic memories and a completely corrupted sub-conscience.
Grug literally ruined my life. 10/10
December 18, 2024
I’m genuinely not trying to be funny with this one star review of grug which was gifted to me personally by Chris minns (aka the nsw health baby bag) but what the actual grug is up with this book it is just about grug renovating his house and then getting a letterbox and then the end ???? It’s like it ends on page 5 of a novel?? There is no 3 act plot here
confucious
& also not sure what it is meant to be teaching my son beyond grug exists and he now has a letterbox
What mail does grug receive, do other grugs exist in the grugaverse because the lore implies he just randomly came to be from a tree one day, are other trees spontaneously spawning into grugs out there?? Is there grugettes???
Idk, I don’t get the grug hype
confucious
& also not sure what it is meant to be teaching my son beyond grug exists and he now has a letterbox
What mail does grug receive, do other grugs exist in the grugaverse because the lore implies he just randomly came to be from a tree one day, are other trees spontaneously spawning into grugs out there?? Is there grugettes???
Idk, I don’t get the grug hype
June 19, 2025
Grug is made from the dried top of a Burrawang tree, yet heats home with fire and a candle for light, very irresponsible.
Also, rushed the letterbox ending.
Also, rushed the letterbox ending.
Read
July 21, 2022It didn’t give me the closure I had hoped for. What happened to the letterbox?
November 8, 2023
He came a long way from being the top of a grass tree. Little house, little letterbox. I'm excited to see what the future holds for Grug!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 18, 2025
Clever, funny, great illustrations
September 3, 2025
Rating: 2/5
Grug follows the simple tale of a strange little character who comes into being after the top of a tree falls. From there, he explores the world around him, eventually settling down, building a home, and - in perhaps the most anticlimactic of finales - adding a letterbox. It’s a very brief story that seems intended as a whimsical introduction to the character, but it doesn’t offer much in the way of narrative depth or a clear moral.
What stood out most to me was the visual design of Grug himself. He’s odd, charming in his way, and certainly memorable to look at. Unfortunately, the rest of the book doesn’t live up to that design. The anatomy and physiology of Grug make little sense (gaining sentience from a fallen treetop is baffling), and the plot felt directionless. By the time the story concluded, I was left scratching my head as to what the point was meant to be.
The pacing and writing style were also disappointing. I expected rhymes or a playful rhythm that would make reading aloud fun, but there was none - which made the experience feel stilted when sharing it with my son. The absence of this musicality left the book feeling flat compared to other picture books that thrive on repetition, rhyme, or a clear hook for young listeners.
As for themes and emotional impact, the book seemed unfinished. There’s no real arc, no lesson, and no emotional payoff. It’s whimsical at best, nonsensical at worst.
In the end, the only real highlight here was the visuals. Everything else - story, character development, pacing, and impact - fell short. Luckily this was a free inclusion in the NSW baby bag; otherwise, I’d have been frustrated to have spent money on it.
Final thoughts
Some quirky visuals, but the story itself was confusing, directionless, and lacking the charm or rhythm needed to make it engaging for children or satisfying for parents.
Grug follows the simple tale of a strange little character who comes into being after the top of a tree falls. From there, he explores the world around him, eventually settling down, building a home, and - in perhaps the most anticlimactic of finales - adding a letterbox. It’s a very brief story that seems intended as a whimsical introduction to the character, but it doesn’t offer much in the way of narrative depth or a clear moral.
What stood out most to me was the visual design of Grug himself. He’s odd, charming in his way, and certainly memorable to look at. Unfortunately, the rest of the book doesn’t live up to that design. The anatomy and physiology of Grug make little sense (gaining sentience from a fallen treetop is baffling), and the plot felt directionless. By the time the story concluded, I was left scratching my head as to what the point was meant to be.
The pacing and writing style were also disappointing. I expected rhymes or a playful rhythm that would make reading aloud fun, but there was none - which made the experience feel stilted when sharing it with my son. The absence of this musicality left the book feeling flat compared to other picture books that thrive on repetition, rhyme, or a clear hook for young listeners.
As for themes and emotional impact, the book seemed unfinished. There’s no real arc, no lesson, and no emotional payoff. It’s whimsical at best, nonsensical at worst.
In the end, the only real highlight here was the visuals. Everything else - story, character development, pacing, and impact - fell short. Luckily this was a free inclusion in the NSW baby bag; otherwise, I’d have been frustrated to have spent money on it.
Final thoughts
Some quirky visuals, but the story itself was confusing, directionless, and lacking the charm or rhythm needed to make it engaging for children or satisfying for parents.
October 24, 2025
my 7 day old son threw up 3 minutes after I finished reading this for him. I also don't understand what even happened in the book and he also had a confused look once we finished... might try again when he turns 1
October 14, 2022
Parents Rating: 5 Stars
Olivias Rating: 3 Stars
Olivias Rating: 3 Stars
April 1, 2024
MS Readathon 📚 Book 4
I received this beautiful book also in my hospital bag.
Grug
By Ted Prior
Such a cute little Grug, my baby girl laughed every time she saw Grug so I take that she liked this book ☺️
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐/5
@reenes_library
#msreadathon2023
#bookreader #bookreadying #booklover #bookworm🐛📖 #childrensbooks. @msreadathon
I received this beautiful book also in my hospital bag.
Grug
By Ted Prior
Such a cute little Grug, my baby girl laughed every time she saw Grug so I take that she liked this book ☺️
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐/5
@reenes_library
#msreadathon2023
#bookreader #bookreadying #booklover #bookworm🐛📖 #childrensbooks. @msreadathon
November 19, 2022
Athena's book of choice to be read on repeat today.
August 13, 2017
The entire Grug series is wonderful. An excellent read for young children. The size of the book also lends itself to small hands.
October 18, 2018
Why are there so many books? Miss (almost) Three appears to have an entire collection that must be read one after another. Luckily some fell under the couch so I only had to read most of them.
On the plus side they are short adventure filled books with an Australian setting and are easy to hide under the couch ;)
On the plus side they are short adventure filled books with an Australian setting and are easy to hide under the couch ;)
March 18, 2019
I read a bunch of the Grug books as a child and I look forward to sharing these wonderful books with my own child. They are wonderful books, with beautiful illustrations and excellent writing.
January 8, 2019
The highest form of literature. Bless this book and the two hundred other sequels.
February 3, 2019
Rory is completely obsessed with Grug and all his adventures. We have 7 of these books.
Read
December 26, 2020My brother got me this as a joke for Christmas but I'm counting it! Long live Grug!
February 18, 2022
Who knew Grug was the top of a Burrawang tree?!
September 28, 2022
I had to google what a burrawang tree is! Haha!
Another reading find from my 6-month old niece’s collection. It’s cute and simple. A perfect buddy read with babies.
Another reading find from my 6-month old niece’s collection. It’s cute and simple. A perfect buddy read with babies.
December 31, 2022
Deep, meaningful and spirituality enlightening.
August 28, 2023
Grug’s origin story. Now I understand why he looks that way but Cara? Maybe the artist didn’t know how to draw noses which I mean I get it.
December 17, 2023
SUCH A GOOD BOOK REALLY HAD ME HOOKED TOOOK DAYYYYSSS TO READ REALLY BIG AND WORTH THE LENGTHY PAGES
August 10, 2024
An existentialist masterpiece...
February 24, 2025
I wanna know what’s gunna happen when Grug gets his letterbox!
March 29, 2025
My kids love these books, just like I did when I was a kid! And maybe I still do…
October 9, 2025
Love the concept. But so quick, and no rhyming :(
March 10, 2012
Grug unfortunately wasn't a part of my childhood. It was a part of my son's though. Grug had become very hard to find as it was out of print, with only some very well used copies in public libraries. How lovely to see a big selection of Grug titles back on sale in the bookstores now. Ready to delight a new generation of Grug fans. Wonderful, simple books. Great to read the first one to find out how Grug came to be.
December 5, 2010
Passing on what you enjoyed as a child is one of the best aspects of parenting...
But your adult eye now picks up on how flimsy much of what you loved is...
The original Grug is really an introduction to the character, as a building block for the many books to follow. None of the Grug books are particularly deep - but this one is particularly superficial.
But your adult eye now picks up on how flimsy much of what you loved is...
The original Grug is really an introduction to the character, as a building block for the many books to follow. None of the Grug books are particularly deep - but this one is particularly superficial.
August 26, 2019
5
The part where Grug bilt
The fiver place
I didn't like the part were he fell of the tree
Grug
2
The part where Grug bilt
The fiver place
I didn't like the part were he fell of the tree
Grug
2
December 28, 2009
All Aussies love Grug.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 40 reviews