Gory Rory Fangface Needs a Kiss

by Ziggy Hanaor, Ollie Silvester (Illustrator)

From acclaimed author Ziggy Hanaor (Alte Zachen, Alex and Alex and The Pocket Chaotic) comes this heartwarming story about the power of affection to lighten up even the darkest of days. Gory Rory Fangface is having a terrible day and everything is going wrong. First, he ran out of cereal and then his favourite jumper was in the wash and then it rained on the way to school. Does Gory Rory need a kiss? No, he most certainly DOESN’T. The day gets progressively worse; he’s forgotten his homework, it’s egg salad for lunch, and then mum is late for pick-up. A kiss perhaps? NO WAY. On the way home it rains again, there’s homework to finish and the internet is down. Gory Rory has reached the end of his tether – it really has been the WORST DAY EVER. But sometimes… just sometimes… when you really really need them… kisses can make it all better.

Genres: Picture Books, Emotion, Childrens

32 pages, Hardcover

Published November 14, 2023

Reviews

[Varshini · Rating 5 out of 5]

gory rory fangface has had an absolute howler of a day. does he want a kiss to make it better? ABSOLUTELY NOT. unless...?

this is a really sweet story about a little wolf boy who's extremely grumpy and needs some love and comfort from a loved one to make him feel better. the book never actually specifies the gender of the adult wolf, or the relationship between them and gory rory which means different children and families can find their own relationships reflected in the work! the illustrations are extremely charming, tender and really bring the story to life. definitely a great read for young children learning to deal with their emotions and accept help from the ones they love. also shout out to the hijabi tiger receptionist at the school, i would gladly lay down my life for her

[Claire · Rating 2 out of 5]

I like the illustrations but I don't like that mum thinks a kiss will solve all his problems and is really persistent about the kiss. A nap probably would have been better.

[Our Weekend Is Booked · Rating 4 out of 5]

All of us have been there when everything that could go wrong does. Gorry Rory Fangface is having one of those days. The day started with Gory Rory Fangface not getting a good night's sleep, and then things got worse as he didn't have cereal for breakfast, and it rained on the way to school. Things began to snowball until Gory Rory Fangface declared it the worst day ever! Despite all the tantrums and anger, Gory Rory's mama patiently asks if he needs a kiss. Eventually, Gory Rory Fangface discovers that sometimes you just need a kiss to make your day better.

What I Liked: Author Ziggy Hanaor does a fantastic job of encapsulating what a terrible day would be for a young child as well as showing that a little bit of love can make a big difference. The illustrations also do a wonderful job of capturing the emotions of the story.

Gory Rory Fangface Needs a Kiss is a heartwarming story with a message to remind young readers that love can make your bad days a little better.

This review first appeared on YA Book Central and can be found here: https://www.yabookscentral.com/gory-r...

[Barbara · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not only has Gory Rory Fangface had a restless night, leaving him in a very bad mood, but the rest of his day just gets worse. It starts with breakfast when there's none of his favorite cereal left, and everything goes downhill from there. On the way to school, he's certainly not interested in a kiss from his mother. After the worst possible day a kid could have, he returns home to more bad news. But this time, he realizes--rather reluctantly--that maybe, just maybe, a kiss could ease his woes. Cleverly written and illustrated, this picture book captures Rory and the many other youngsters just like him perfectly. I love the little cloud above his head in several of the illustrations. Reminiscent of other picture books such as Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day by Judith Viorst covering similar territory, this one still retains charm.

[Theediscerning · Rating 4 out of 5]

An advert for bodily contact of the parental kind, as a werewolfy type of kid has a nightmare day, forever kvetching and suffering until he is determined that not even a motherly kiss could start to put things right. I think we all know whether it can or not, but perhaps some readers will need to see this to be reassured that brighter times are always ahead, especially with a bit of a cuddle from a parent. Not without its charm, it's certainly not a narrative to outstay its welcome, making sure its message is evident to all.

[Jessica · Rating 3 out of 5]

The little wolf's attitude toward affection with his parent reminded me of our daughter. There were a couple of off things to me, though. I'm not a fan of teachers taking away play time from students as a punishment, because that tends to make behaviors even worse. Kids have to have time to blow off steam and be kids. And I didn't like how the parent was referred to as "they." "Then they found his homework journal." Say he or she so we know if it's Mom or Dad. Also, he should have had two parents, a mom and a dad.

[Kat · Rating 3 out of 5]

I quite enjoyed the start of this book when Gory Rory was sure he didn't want a kiss; then it was a bit of a disappointment when it turned out after much persistence from a parent, some kissing did make his crappy day better. This sort of undermined him knowing his own mind. The illustrations were excellent, but I found poor Gory Rory Fangface to be a bit hampered by his name. He was certainly not gory.

[Ryan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was just fun. Gory Rory Fangface is having a bad day, and nothing will make it better. Except maybe a kiss from a parent. The artwork is reminiscent of Mercer Mayer, and I like that. I just overall enjoyed this book and think kids will too.

[Rod Brown · Rating 3 out of 5]

A bad night's sleep leads to a bad day for Gory Rory Fangface, a day when everything goes wrong and his coping skills are totally absent. His mother thinks she has the cure, but Gory Rory Fangface is too far gone to accept it.

A cute little book about a grumpy little wolf.

[Adele · Rating 2 out of 5]

Don't get me wrong, this is ADORABLE, but the little wolf's day was so unrelentingly bad it just made me really sad. And then forcing physical affection on a child who is saying no is kind of ick for me, even if for the purposes of the story he really wants it underneath.

[Rebecca · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is perfectly relatable for adults and kids alike. This would be a great book to start conversations with your children on bad days, feelings, and what they can do for a better outlook.

[Robin · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not a fan of the unpolished look of the illustrations, and the story of a bad day fixed by a kiss was meh.

[Jessica · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sometimes, we just have bad days.

[Tracy Mabry · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think it's hilarious!

[Emily Dean · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a WINNER. A very good storytime book! Fun to read aloud, excellent room for voices and exaggeration. The kids ate it UP!

[Apoorva Saini · Rating 5 out of 5]

Confirms my belief that the antidote of “why do bad things happen to me” is a kiss. Beautiful book on the power of affection.

[Jacaranda21 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved the story. Fantastic illustrations. Just not sure about the title/ name. Puts me off reading to classes.

[Kitchen Sink Books · Rating 5 out of 5]

Do you ever wake up and feel grumpy? Maybe you just wake up and know that today is not your day, today you know nothing you think, feel or even do is going to be quite right. I am sure we all have those days, those days where absolutely nothing goes the way it should, the days when we get grumpier minute by minute because of it so that we refuse even the most simple of comforts. Ziggy Hanaor’s story captures so completely the way that many of us, not just children, act when we are having a bad day that not only did we have a lot of laughs reading this book but we could all relate to it too.

Gory Rory Fangface Needs A Kiss is a book that everyone is simply going to fall in love with. Maybe it will be Gory Rory Fangface himself they fall in love with, after all Ollie Silverster has captured him so perfectly in the gentle illustrations, his expressions so subtly there for all to see. Maybe it will be because you too have had a day like this. A bad night’s sleep, no cereal for breakfast, a favourite jumper in the wash, a rain shower and no umbrella. Then, once at school there is the forgotten homework, missing the big goal in the playground, no one to pick you up as they are late, more rain on the way home, no internet, AND more homework. After all this surely Rory does need that kiss he is so adamantly ignoring?