{{short description|Fictional character in a series of children's books}} {{morefootnotes|date=August 2022}} {{Use dmy dates|date=August 2022}} {{for|the animated character|The Croods#Cast}} '''Grug''' is an Australian fictional character appearing in a series of children's books by the author Ted Prior. They were published between 1979 and 1992 by Hodder & Stoughton, Australia, and have now been republished by Simon & Schuster, Australia, from 1 June 2009. Three new books have also been published since 1992.
Grug was originally modelled after the fallen top of a Burrawang tree (Macrozamia communis),<ref>{{Cite web |title=Windmill Theatre Company Grug Study Guide {{!}} Windmill Theatre Co |url=https://www.windmill.org.au/study-guide/grug/ |access-date=2023-08-24 |language=en}}</ref> but he more closely resembles a grass tree (Xanthorrhoea), or a small, striped haystack. He is fascinated by the world around him, solving problems that many children experience—such as learning to swim, going to school, and riding a bike—in fun, creative ways.
==Theatre productions== Grug has spawned two plays: ''Grug'', which "centres on the fun of visual surprise,"<ref>{{cite news|last=Graeber|first=Laurel|title=Apare Times for Children For March 8–15 (Arts)|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2013/03/08/arts/spare-times-for-children-for-march-8-14.html?_r=0|accessdate=25 June 2015|work=The New York Times|date=7 March 2013}}</ref> and ''Grug and the Rainbow'', based on several of the books and labelled by theatre critic Nicole Russo "amongst the best children's theatre you will find".<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.thebarefootreview.com.au/menu/theatre/119-2014-adelaide-reviews/1038-grug-and-the-rainbow.html|website=www.thebarefootreview.com.au |title=Grug and the Rainbow |publisher= |accessdate=24 June 2015|author= Nicole Russo }}</ref>
==Published works (partial list)== *''Grug'' (1979) {{ISBN|0-340-24636-7}} + (2009) {{ISBN|978-0-7318-1387-2}} *''Grug and the Big Red Apple'' (1979) {{ISBN|0-340-24616-2}} + (2009) {{ISBN|978-0-7318-1389-6}} *''Grug and the Green Paint'' (1979) {{ISBN|0-340-24617-0}} + (2009) {{ISBN|978-0-7318-1392-6}} *''Grug and his Garden'' (1979) {{ISBN|0-340-24618-9}} + (2009) {{ISBN|978-0-7318-1388-9}} *''Grug in the Playground'' (1982) {{ISBN|0-340-26623-6}} + (2009) {{ISBN|978-0-7318-1391-9}} *''Grug Meets Snoot'' (1982) {{ISBN|0-340-26622-8}} + (2009) {{ISBN|978-0-7318-1395-7}} *''Grug and the Rainbow'' (1982) {{ISBN|0-340-26621-X}} + (2009) {{ISBN|978-0-7318-1390-2}} *''Grug Learns to Swim'' (1982) {{ISBN|0-340-26620-1}} + (2009) {{ISBN|978-0-7318-1399-5}} *''Grug has a Birthday'' (1983) {{ISBN|0-340-33338-3}} + (2009) {{ISBN|978-0-7318-1408-4}} *''Grug Goes Fishing'' (1983) {{ISBN|0-340-33340-5}} + (2009) {{ISBN|978-0-7318-1407-7}} *''Grug at the Beach'' (1983) {{ISBN|0-340-33344-8}} + (2009) {{ISBN|978-0-7318-1409-1}} *''Grug Goes to School'' (1983) {{ISBN|0-340-33341-3}} + (2009) {{ISBN|978-0-7318-1393-3}} *''Grug's Word Book'' (1984) {{ISBN|0-340-35769-X}} *''Grug at the Zoo'' (1985) {{ISBN|0-340-37609-0}} + (2009) {{ISBN|978-0-7318-1394-0}} *''Grug and his Bicycle'' (1985) {{ISBN|0-340-37606-6}} + (2009) {{ISBN|978-0-7318-1398-8}} *''Grug at the Snow'' (1985) {{ISBN|0-340-37608-2}} + (2009) {{ISBN|978-0-7318-1397-1}} *''Grug Plays Soccer'' (1985) {{ISBN|0-340-37607-4}} + (2009) {{ISBN|978-0-7318-1406-0}} *''Grug Plays Cricket'' (1989) {{ISBN|0-340-49608-8}} + (2009) {{ISBN|978-0-7318-1403-9}} *''Grug Learns to Cook'' (1989) {{ISBN|0-340-49609-6}} + (2009) {{ISBN|978-0-7318-1402-2}} *''Grug and his Music'' (1989) {{ISBN|0-340-49610-X}} + (2009) {{ISBN|978-0-7318-1404-6}} *''Grug Builds a Car'' (1989) {{ISBN|0-340-49607-X}} + (2009) {{ISBN|978-0-7318-1405-3}} *''Grug Builds a Boat'' (1992){{ISBN|0-340-56664-7}} + (2009) {{ISBN|978-0-7318-1401-5}} *''Grug and his Kite'' (1992) {{ISBN|0-340-56665-5}} + (2009) {{ISBN|978-0-7318-1396-4}} *''Grug Learns to Dance'' (1992) {{ISBN|0-340-56663-9}} + (2009) {{ISBN|978-0-7318-1410-7}} *''Grug Goes Shopping'' (1992) {{ISBN|0-340-56666-3}} + (2009) {{ISBN|978-0-7318-1400-8}} *''Grug meets a Dinosaur'' (2015) {{ISBN|978-1-925030-52-5}} *''Grug and His First Easter'' (2016) {{ISBN|9781925368246}} *''Grug and the Bushfire'' (2020) {{ISBN|978-1760858483}}
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== *[http://www.grug.com.au/ www.Grug.com.au]: Grug animation {{Portal |Children's literature}}
Category:Children's book series Category:Characters in children's literature
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