Grumpy Bird

by Jeremy Tankard

book data

134 ratings, 4.20 average rating, 49 reviews (more data...)

rating	frequency	%
5		43%
4		35%
3		20%
2		1%
1		0%

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published

April 1st 2007 by Scholastic Press

binding

Hardcover, 32 pages

isbn

0439851475 (isbn13: 9780439851473)

description

Bird wakes up feeling grumpy. Too grumpy to eat or play -- too grumpy even to fly. "Looks like I'm walking today," says Bird. He walks past ...more

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10/14/07

Elizabeth rated it:

Read in October, 2007

It happens. One day you wake up on the wrong side of the bed or, in this particular case, nest. When Bird woke up one day he was, not to put too fine a point on it, grumpy. With grumpiness comes a kind of ennui so, without eating, playing, or flying, Bird goes for a walk. If he was hoping for solitude, though, this probably wasn't the best plan. As Bird meets up with various friends they all join him for his stroll. First Sheep. Then Rabbit. Then Raccoon. By the time Beaver and Fox join the fun ...more It happens. One day you wake up on the wrong side of the bed or, in this particular case, nest. When Bird woke up one day he was, not to put too fine a point on it, grumpy. With grumpiness comes a kind of ennui so, without eating, playing, or flying, Bird goes for a walk. If he was hoping for solitude, though, this probably wasn't the best plan. As Bird meets up with various friends they all join him for his stroll. First Sheep. Then Rabbit. Then Raccoon. By the time Beaver and Fox join the fun the whole group has taken on the appearance of a rather low-key parade. Slowly Bird realizes that what he does (like lifting a leg or jumping) the others do too. Cheered by this and no longer grumpy, Bird encourages everyone to join him at his home for a snack. The final shot in the book is of a remarkably peppy Bird offering an enormous worm to his somewhat dumbstruck following.

This book is a two-parter charmer. Part one is the choice of wording and part two the illustrations. In terms of readaloud possibilities, Tankard knows how to use the rule of basic repetition and make it familiar but increasingly funny as the story continues. When Bird does his walking he is asked over and over what he's up to by the other animals. The first time is a terse, "Walking". The second is a pointed, "I'm walking . . . It's no fun." With each additional animal Bird gets more and more frustrated until he's finally saying, "WHY DOES EVERYONE WANT TO KNOW WHAT I'M DOING?! . . . I'm just walking, okay?" As any person who has ever read to a large group of kids knows, many books work well one-on-one, but only a few books work with large groups. Because Tankard's book sets up all kinds of possibilities in terms of voice and increasing volume, I can't wait until I get another group of kids in my library so that I can break out Bird's snarky bon mot, "Let me give you a hint . . . You do it by placing one foot in front of the other."

And of course there's the art. If Jeremy Tankard has taught us anything today it's that bags under eyes are comedic gold. There's not a man, woman, or child alive today that can't relate to the glower firmly affixed to Bird's face as he grumbles through his day. His white tennis shoes with the red sides are just the frosting on the cake in terms of personal appearance. Consider the finer details of Tankard's art too, while you're at it. The mix of computer graphics and good old-fashioned pen and inks is heady. The very first spread after the title page shows full stars of a variety of shapes and sizes hanging in a sky where an orange sun has recently popped up in the lower right-hand corner. Bird has a single eye open and there's a lovely play of soft dewy dawn light flickering across his sorely aggrieved mug. As the book continues, clearly cartoonish elements mix with smudges, photographs, and eye-popping primary colors. Characters come onto the scene in both the foreground and background, and the result is that even as the story continues at a smart consistent pace, the eye gets to hop to and fro, back and forth, around a landscape of new animals and images. And though every animal in this book is "cute" in a basic sense, it wouldn't surprise me one jot if I learned that Mr. Tankard was a whiz on the alternative comics scene. His bunny is adorable but tweak it a little and consider how terrifying it could be with a twist of the pen here and there.

As any librarian or bookseller will tell you, grumpiness sells. Funny grumpiness, anyway. "Grumpy Bird" has the potential to be a great companion to Mrs. Biddlebox by Linda Smith or even Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day by Judith Viorst. It's a standout title that I'm hoping has a slow burn. A low-key buzz is already surrounding it. As more and more children are introduced to its charm, I hope we begin to see a real grassroots effort to place "Grumpy Bird" in the picture book canon where it so clearly deserves to rest. A do-not-miss title.(less)

Like this review? yes (2 people liked it)

3 comments

10/11/08

Tattered Cover Book Store added it

bookshelves: chris-c-recommends, for-kids, staff-recommends

recommends it for: All parents of toddlers

My current favorite picture book, and the perfect remedy for the grumpy bird in your house. (Got a 3-year-old? Then you know what I'm talking about.) I have a great time reading it, but watching my son act it out is absolutely priceless.

- Chris C.

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02/14/09

Debm rated it:

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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08/12/08

Miriam rated it:

This book cracks me up! The little kids I've shared it with in the library also seem to like it, so that's good too.

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04/22/09

Robin rated it:

bookshelves: kid-lit

Read in January, 2009

If I had to choose one book to take on a long car trip to keep my two-year old amused, it would be this one. Unlike most "happy-happy-joy-joy" kid's books, this one has honest-to-goodness BAD moods. It makes for fun reading, especially the voices you can make for grumpy moods. We've got it memorized, but it's still fun.

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03/02/09

Cassie rated it:

bookshelves: picturebooks

Bird wakes up one morning feeling rather grumpy. He decides to walk instead fly. In doing so, he walks by his friends, all of whom want to join in, and pretty soon they discover they are all having fun.

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07/03/09

Kelly rated it:

I like that Grumpy Bird, I do. And I love the art.
I thought the ending was a wee weakish, but maybe I'm just being
grumpy.

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05/04/09

Tanya rated it:

bookshelves: childrens-lit

Precious illustrations that leap from the page and cheer anyone up - no matter your age! Fun picture book.

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03/14/09

Rebecca rated it:

bookshelves: children-s-books

Read in March, 2009

Thomas seems to like this one pretty well. The pictures are vivid and appeals to children.

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04/11/09

Arielle rated it:

bookshelves: children-s, picture-books

Read in April, 2009

The story is not completely original but the illustrations are great. Good for preschool storytime.

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03/18/09

Elaina rated it:

bookshelves: purchased-or-gift

Read in March, 2009

Honestly, this story wasn't that impressive or fun to read aloud, but by gosh, the gorgeous and yet quirky illustrations made up for it.

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1 comment

01/05/09

Katie rated it:

recommends it for: EVERYONE!!!

my favorite book in the history of reading!!!!!

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06/09/09

Jillybean rated it:

Read in June, 2009

Really cute read-aloud . . . I'd like to own it!

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05/21/09

Kathyred rated it:

bookshelves: picturebook

Good for storytime on feelings

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01/07/09

Monika rated it:

Very cute book!

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06/05/09

Dana rated it:

Read in June, 2009

very cute children's book!

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04/09/09

Jo-Ann added it

bookshelves: 2008

Book Buddy: What are you so grumpy about?

Activity: Play follow the leader (Song from Jen W.)

Craft Ideas:

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06/22/08

Joan rated it:

bookshelves: writing-connections

Read in June, 2008

Great read-aloud to show the power of friends over bad moods! Silly-looking Bird wakes up in a grumpy state. Other animals, one by one, follow Grumpy Bird as he mopes along. This book's message is shared in a gentle, entertaining way.

Writing connection: How do you help your friends feel better when they are like Grumpy Bird? What do you do to get over a grumpy mood?

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07/29/08

Kati rated it:

bookshelves: picture-books, read-aloud

Read in July, 2008

Very cute book about a bird who wakes up grumpy. He's so grumpy in fact that he won't even fly, so he starts out walking and as he walks along he meets up with his friends who all end up joining his walk and after walking for a while they end up in a "simon says" type game and Grumpy Bird realizes he's having fun ... Would make a cute read aloud for younger kids.

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03/17/08

Emily rated it:

bookshelves: good-for-a-gift, good-for-storytime, picture-books

Read in March, 2008

Damn, this is a great-looking book. Fantastic colors and lines. A perfect gift for your graphic designer friend's little kid (it'll be just as much a gift for your graphic designer friend). A good story, too, about being determined to be grumpy, then suddenly forgetting you are...I read the bird with a voice like Dustin Hoffman's in Midnight Cowboy.

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