You need go no further than Facebook to discover the cult following of this vintage Australian classic. Believe it or not, at last count Grug had 25,659 friends!

It would have been a rare Australian primary school in the 1980s that didn’t have a copy of some of the Grug books on their shelves. The first four books in the series by Ted Prior were first published in 1979, and the colours and design give it that unmissable 70s style.

Grug is a small creature who began life as the top of a Burrawong tree, which one day fell off, and gradually morphed into Grug. He has a unique view on the world; he’s a bit of a loner, but occasionally sets out to interact with the world in his own special way.

I remember taking some of these books home as readers, and have a very nostalgic feelings towards little Grug - he’s so industrious, but also so sensitive and considerate …

There were about 25 books in total published in the Grug series,

issued right up to the late 80s and early 90s. One of Grug’s many fans includes Australian author, Marcus Zusak, most famous for writing The Book Thief.