Grumpycorn

Grumpycorn

by Sarah McIntyre

Oh, what a Grumpycorn!
Unicorn wants to write the most fabulous story in the world. But he has no idea what to write!

When his friends try to join in, will Unicorn turn into a... Grumpycorn?

A funny and feisty picture book celebrating friendship, teamwork, and the joys of storytelling.

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Unicorns, Friendship, Fantasy, Animals, Writing

32 pages, Paperback

Published July 21, 2020

Reviews

[Mehsi · Rating 5 out of 5]

A delightful picture book about a unicorn without any ideas and a big grumpy mood!

I was so happy when I learned that Sarah McIntyre would be having a brand-new picture book, this time about a unicorn, no, a grumpycorn!

Meet our unicorn he is trying his hardest to write a book, or well, maybe just a story. But he can't get any ideas in his head, no matter what his friends try, no matter how shiny and fluffy and wonderful his pen is. I could definitely relate to that poor unicorn, I know the feeling of wanting to write but no words come out. And yes, just like our unicorn I got grumpy. However, if someone would bring me cookies (like our mermaid cook did) I would be all over my grumpy mood and shove all the cookies in my mouth.

Instead we see our grumpycorn continue his grumpy ways towards all his friends. They all try to help him and all he does is act angry with them. Which saddened me. I was hoping he would see that they were just trying to help.

The ending? I loved that despite every grumble and complaint his friends tried to help out the grumpycorn. That they still tried to make him happy. I had tears in my eyes. And then our unicorn made its appearance and I was even happier with the events.

I loved that while this book is about a unicorn gone grumpy it is also about his friends and that each friend got a bit of the spotlight. My favourite would be the mermaid! She looked cute, and I can't resist characters who can cook some delicious things (like cookies).

The art was just amazingly fun, but then again, I had high hopes given that this is Sarah McIntyre and she makes some amazing gorgeous illustrations. I spend quite some time finding all the little details in the illustrations and soak up all the gorgeous colours.

All in all, a fun book I would recommend to all. About writing, about inspiration, about friendship.

Review first posted at https://twirlingbookprincess.com/

[Jo Cameron-Symes · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read this to my niece on the train and she enjoyed it.

[A Severs · Rating 4 out of 5]

Semi-autobiographical? Very funny and a great opportunity to put on some funny voices!

[Izabelle · Rating 2 out of 5]

På svenska heter boken Surhörningen. Den här boken har inte mycket till sin födel förutom att den handlar om en enhörning och att det finns en sjöjungfru med i boken. Det är saker som barn frågar efter men det inte finns så värst mycket av. Färgerna är otroligt glada men annars tycker jag att det här var ganska platt.

[Pam · Rating 3 out of 5]

Unicorn sets out to write the best story in the world. Problem - he doesn't have an idea. He is rude to friends and chases them off. He gives up but they save the day by writing the story together. Unicorn realizes what happened and apologizes.
Use to talk about being sensitive to friends.

[Michelle]

It's not you, it's me. I'm tired of cranky know-it-all characters. The pictures are cute but the story... isn't really a story. Or funny. Or inspiring. You might like it! It didn't do anything for me.

[Debbie Ohi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hilarious and uplifting! Perfect gift for a young writer ... and not-so-young writers who might identify with Grumpycorn, who TALKS more about writing a fabulous book than actually doing the writing. Creativity, friendship, delightful illustrations -- so much here for both kids and adults.

[E · Rating 3 out of 5]

The name and the cover are better than the story. Grumpycorn is not grumpy, he is just a d**k to his friends.

[Ryen Giddings · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Grumpycorn" is a really well written book about a unicorn who is struggling to write the most amazing and fabulous story in the world! After his friends try to help him write his story, Grumpycorn ends up disrespecting his friends and making them feel bad. This book is a great book when it comes to teaching respect to your students with their parents, peers, and teachers. Another way this book can be used in the classroom when teaching teamwork and collaboration with peers as well. Doing this will help establish stronger relationships in the classroom among students, their peers, and the teacher.

[Mary-Alice Shavers · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Grumpycorn" is about a grumpy unicorn who wants to write the most fabulous story in the whole world but can't seem to find any inspiration to start writing. His beloved friends, Narwhal, Mermaid, and Jellyfish, to try to help inspire him but still nothing seems to work. After Unicorn quits, his friends find inspiration themselves. The stories ends with all of the silly friends writing the most fabulous story in the world all together.

I enjoyed reading this playful picture book.

This book would be goos to teach students about finding inspiration and friendship. I would have this book in a second grade book shelf.

[Elizabeth · Rating 3 out of 5]

Grumpycorn is going to write the most FABULOUS book in the world! Only... no story ideas are coming to mind. Not even with his fluffy pen or his special cup of moonberry tea! Meanwhile, Narwhal, Mermaid, and Jellyfish all want to be in the story. But Grumpycorn CAN'T have them in the most fabulous story, and he NEEDS to be inspired!! NOT annoyed by his persistent friends! What Grumpycorn doesn't realize is that it's not inspiration he needs to write a fabulous story-- he just needs his friends. And maybe a pizza. :)

[Annamarie Carlson (she, her)]

Unicorn is all ready to write the best story in the world. After all, he has his most special fluffy pen and a cup of his special moonberry tea. But...unicorn doesn't have any inspiration. His friends try to help, but unicorn just gets more and more grumpy.

This cover and title! This book didn't quite live up to what I was hoping, but it is a sweet story about friendship and writer's block where everything works out in the end. Bright illustrations will appeal to young unicorn and mermaid fans.

[Melki · Rating 4 out of 5]

Unicorn's trying to write the "most fabulous story in the world," but he hasn't written a word. Too bad his friends keep bothering him with ideas for things to write about. Why can't they just leave him alone so he can NOT write?

A cute story about moodiness, and true friendship. I loved the author's illustrations, and the fact that the mermaid wore glasses.

[Mallory Otts · Rating 3 out of 5]

Grumpycorn is about a unicorn who is trying to write the most fabulous story in the world. All of his friends want to be in his story, but he tells them all no. He gets mad and throws all of his things in the ocean. His friends find them and write his story for him. He realizes that he was a bad friend and should have accepted his friends help.

I think that this is a good book for young student who are struggling to write and they would understand what is going on.

I would use this book in a classroom to show students that it's ok if you struggle to do something and you can always ask for help.

[Hailey Munoz · Rating 5 out of 5]

The story highlights creativity, frustration, and learning that things don’t have to be perfect. Children can relate to feeling stuck or wanting things to come out perfect. Also knowing that your friends can help you and might have good advice too. The book is intended for young readers who enjoy colorful artwork and silly characters. I think it’s humor, colorful and characters help keep kids engaged while still sharing an important message. I enjoyed really this book because of its fun and colorful illustrations and the characters.

[Molly Cluff (Library!) · Rating 4 out of 5]

More a book about creativity and writing than it is about unicorns. A unicorn who is struggling to write gets upset with the other creatures (who are all sea creatures I guess? Since he's at a writing retreat in an ocean cabana?). In the end, he apologizes for being mean to them and they all work on a story together. Didn't really have much to do with unicorns, but I'm sure it will check out a bunch with my library patrons nonetheless.

[Villain E · Rating 3 out of 5]

Unicorn wants to write the best book ever. He gets out his favorite pen, but has no idea what to write. That doesn't stop him from telling everybody that he's going to write the best book ever. His animal friends are impressed and ask if they can be in it, but unicorn snobbishly refuses. But he can't come up with anything better.

Is this really for kids? It's not inappropriate, but is it approachable? Will kids get it?

[Lauri Meyers · Rating 4 out of 5]

a unicorn struggles with writers block. Narwhal wants to be included, but unicorn says no. Mermaid & narwhal bake cookies, but when they don't inspire him he still won't include them in the story. He rejects jellyfish too, who calls him Grumpycorn. When they see his empty notebook, they fill it with ideas. After cooking off, he brings an apology pizza and gets to finish the story with friends.
The illustrations are very bold and graphic with lots to take in.

[Kindra · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book started out great. Grumpycorn and his friends are adorable and most kids can relate to how tough it can be to generate ideas for their writing in school! The ending was disappointing for me but I can still see this book being popular for lower elementary teachers to use as a teaching tool during writing class.

[Jj · Rating 3 out of 5]

The story is okay, but the illustrations are positively smashing. I have a great appreciation of Sarah McIntyre and her work, and the images found here are no exception. I re-read it just to look at them more closely... delightful and fun, and now I'm dying to know what moonberry tea and mermaid-baked cookies are like.

[Megan Zebell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fiction
1st Grade Reading Level
I love that this book is a whimsical and relatable story that will charm both children and adults with its humorous take on creative struggles. With colorful illustrations and a lovable unicorn protagonist, this book offers a delightful reminder to embrace imperfections and find joy in the creative process.

[AMY · Rating 2 out of 5]

Nothing will suit Grumpycorn. He does not like anything offered to him by friends, etc. The illustrations are very colorful and whimsical, but I could not get into this one. I would skip it. The reading level is Grades K-2.

[Francis S. Poesy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'll be honest, I was hoping for a much grumpier unicorn (probably because I identify as grumpy), but overall this was a fun story with colorful illustrations and characters that are sure to entertain the intended audience.

[Alyssa Gudenburr · Rating 3 out of 5]

Unicorn has writers block and is very mean to his friends. At the end of the book unicorn apologizes to his friends and they help him write a story. Not my favorite unicorn book but a good lesson on treating friends.

[Johnea · Rating 2 out of 5]

I thought this book was not that great. It felt very flat and not very climactic. As someone who loves picture books, very much, and always gives them a 4-5 star rating, I am disappointed that this book didn't reach the level of expectation I had.

Maybe the second book will be better?

[Meredith · Rating 2 out of 5]

Unicorn tries to write "the most fabulous story in the world" and hurts his friends’ feelings while waiting for inspiration to strike.

The title is rather misleading. Unicorn is flat out rude rather than grumpy.

[Jessica · Rating 2 out of 5]

A unicorn attempts to write a fantastic story, but when his friends try to help him by offering suggestions, he gets grumpy and chucks his notebook in the sea, so his friends write the story again. I have found that it is not interesting to read a story about someone writing a story.

[Nicole · Rating 4 out of 5]

adorable and colorful

[Andrea · Rating 3 out of 5]

Plot fell a little flat but good for showing the process and struggles that writers go through.

[Trish Banda · Rating 4 out of 5]

The illustrations are amazing, if you like cute a round cartoons. Bright and colorful and magical 😉
Storyline is ok.

Would be great to open as a book for writer’s workshop.