Grumpy Pants

by Claire Messer

This penguin in a pout is doing his very best to shake off a bad mood in a funny, relatable story about letting go of the grumpies!

Genres: Picture Books, Storytime, Emotion, Childrens, Animals, Birds, Fiction

32 pages, Paperback

First published May 1, 2016

Reviews

[Britt]

This was a standing-at-the-circ-desk, I-can't-resist, sorry-not-sorry read. It was delightful and adorable, and it immediately became part of my list of books to buy for when I have a baby someday.

[Garrett]

I know quite a few grumpy people who could benefit, apparently, from stripping down naked and taking a bath. If I'd known that's all it takes to become non-grumpy, I'd have been telling these folk to take all their clothes off and climb in the bathtub.

[Lexis]

Very relatable content

[Melki]

This deceptively simple book about emotions is quite clever. Through an adorable little penguin's actions, children learn that it's okay to be in a bad mood for no particular reason, AND are offered suggestions for things they can do to make themselves feel better.

Messer's illustrations are almost unbearably cute.

[Samantha]

Everyone has grumpy days, including penguins. Great for storytime, especially when learning about emotions and how to handle them. Could work for preschoolers or toddlers depending on what you ask, but def skews toward the younger. Cute illustrations.

[Ailish O’Sullivan]

A cute and relatable story about working through the grumpies!

[June]

Simple story on how to beat a grumpy mood; or at least how a penguin does. I might try some of them the next time I'm in a bad mood. 8/16/16

Worked really well in my Baby/Toddler Story Time today! Big Hit! 8/16/16

Might be a bit much for the babies. Baby/Toddler replaced the Little Tots which was mostly a Lap Time program. However, I still think this book is brilliant.

[Suzie Bookgirl]

I love the idea that I could wash away a grumpy mood! This is adorable.

[Mary]

Great for a zones lesson. it's okay to be grumpy but how do we deal with it. Cute story.

[Sarah]

I have never felt so seen in a book.

[Urbandale Library]

This adorable picture book with completely charming illustrations is a great account of our grumpy emotions with which we all struggle. The words on each page are minimal which allow the reader to focus on the illustrated frustration and grumpy attitude of the penguin. Messer's first book is a delight! I'm looking forward to more by this talented author and illustrator.

[Caroline]

Grump Grump Grump. Penguin is grumpy. Nothing seems to make his grumping go away except... a good old grumpy wash.

This is a very cute little book! The linoleum printing style is delightful for little ones and adults alike.

[Julie]

A story for those kids who are feeling out of sorts

[Jeniece Goellner]

My daughter loves this book about a grumpy penguin.

[Rolf]

I liked that it didn’t pathologize grumpiness-though it would have been nice to see an ending that recognizes that sometimes, no matter what you try, the grumpiness doesn’t go away, and that’s okay.

[The Library Lady]

This is another animal-stands-in-for-child book, and it edges on the didactic. Penguin is grumpy, penguin takes a nice bath and gets into his pjs, and feels better. The art is attractive.

[Alyssa Miller]

This was great. A sweet, simple, "it all comes out in the wash" tale with great illustrations. This was particularly enjoyed by my 6 and 3-year-old sons (and their mama of course)!

[Rachel]

3.5 stars

[Cathy]

Such a sweet book!

[Rummanah (Books in the Spotlight)]

We all have bad days where we are moody, sad, and grumpy. We can easily sympathize with Penguin who is in a very bad mood. He simply can't shake his grumpiness. He stomps inside and begins shedding layers. Off come the "grumpy boots," "grumpy overalls," even his "grumpy underpants." Unfortunately taking off his grumpy clothes doesn't put him in a better mood. He tries several things to help him feel better. After a nice cold shower, putting on some cozy pajamas, having a warm cup of cocoa to drink, reading his favorite book, and having a teddy bear by his side soon melts Penguin's grumpiness away. frown But not even stripping down to his birthday suit can brighten his disposition.
The simple text and illustrations captures Penguin's emotions. Younger readers will have a great time laughing at Penguin as he tries to brighten up his mood. The images and texts brighten as Penguin gets better and things start to look up. It's nice reminder that bad moods and bad days thankfully don't last forever.

[Juliana Lee]

Who doesn't love penguins? And this little guy will steal your heart. He starts off in a bad mood. He takes off his clothing one piece at a time, but he's still grumpy (acknowledgment to Eric Carle's caterpillar who was still hungry after every snack). But then he hops into a nice cold bath and begins to relax. By the time he's read his favorite book and had a cup of hot cocoa, he's falling asleep thinking that tomorrow will be a better day. Not giving everything away, but take a close look at the washing machine. :)

[Heidi]

Everyone has bad moods once in a while that can be hard to shake off. Penguin experiences this and works hard to change his mood. The story is one that all children will be able to relate too. The illustrations are adorable and appealing.

[pati]

This book reflects perfectly how I feel some days.

[Angie]

This book is so cute.

[Marcia]

A charming tale accompanied with bright, original illustrations created in a printmaking style. Nice choice for toddlers learning about feelings and how it’s okay to be grumpy once in a while.

[Shannon Nicole Dunn]

This book just became one of my favorite things. <3

[Jessica]

So cute and the awesome illustrations are created by the author using linoleum printing!

[Emily]

Some days you're just in a bad mood. This little penguin comes home grumpy, but a little alone time helps him shrug it off.

[Juli Anna]

This is just a great book about self-care. I don't know a single person of any age who couldn't learn a lesson from Penguin here!

[Afifa Ainunnisa]

I love how children’s books can have characters of any kind, especially animals like penguins.

This book tells the story of a penguin who feels grumpy but doesn’t know why. He takes off his coat, shoes, socks, and pants, but the grumpiness is still there. Then he jumps into a bath, splashes around, and plays with a little duck. He changes into fresh clothes and starts to feel much better. At the end of the day, he tucks himself into bed, believing that tomorrow will be a better day.

It’s such a lovely little story. We all get grumpy sometimes, and I like how it shows that changing our activities or environment, while being patient with our emotions and giving them time to pass, can help. A simple but valuable lesson to carry with us.