Book Review: Grumpy Monkey

Have you ever woken up on the wrong side of the bed? This is where Jim Panzee found himself one wonderful day, feeling grumpy. And what’s worse than feeling grumpy? Having everyone tell you that you’re grumpy before you even know it yourself. Each of Jim’s friends seem to have a solution to make him happy. Some say smile, others dance, and others even say to eat old meat! At the end of the day Jim realizes that he is in fact grumpy, and that it’s ok.

The flow of the writing and its conversational nature makes a simple story feel like so much more. Suzanne Lang is able to cleverly add a host of animal friends and their favorite ways to enjoy such a wonderful day, all while Jim is trying to figure out what’s wrong with him. She also creates a neighbor Norman, who I wish was real. And my best friend.

The artwork of Max Lang helps you feel the emotions of Jim as he pretends to be happy, but ultimately realizes it’s ok to be grumpy. The creative style and contrast of color with the white pages draws even our littlest one’s attention. It was that contrast on the cover that initially sparked our interest in the book.

As parents of little ones, the scenario of unexplained feelings and grumpiness is nothing new. We’ve all been there. The important part is how we handle those moments. Grumpy Monkeyis everything you want in a children’s book! Loveable characters, illustrations that keep their attention, and a message that we all can relate to. We recommend adding this to any bedtime collection!