Field Guide to the Grumpasaurus
Edward Hemingway. Clarion, $16.99 (32p) ISBN 978-0-544-54665-3
Mimicking the look and tone of a researcher’s notebook,
Hemingway (Bad Apple’s Perfect Day) keeps a wary eye on “the
world’s most fearsome creature,” the grumpsaurus, “most
often seen sulking around the room after a great tragedy or
mishap.” In this case, the young stegosaurus-
like creature is upset about a broken toy—a
storm cloud manifests over his head, and his
loud “grumps” can be heard throughout the
neighborhood (“What, exactly, is it trying to
say? No one knows for sure”). Hemingway
overplays the ending, unnecessarily transforming the dino
into a human boy when the parallels to readers’ everyday lives
are already clear. But the book’s knowing sense of humor,
entertaining oil paintings, and pseudoscientific conceit give
the term grumpasaurus a good chance of making its way into
many families’ lexicons. Ages 4–7. Agent: Paul Rodeen, Rodeen
Literary Management. (June)
★ Grumpy Pants
Claire Messer. Albert Whitman, $16.99 (32p) ISBN 978-0-8075-3075-7
When gray storm clouds and a “very bad mood” descend
on Penguin, he tackles the situation head-on in this polished
study in self-soothing. Arriving home, Penguin takes off his
“grumpy coat” and “grumpy boots,” and he doesn’t stop
there: “grumpy overalls” and “grumpy underpants” soon
follow, and Penguin proceeds to take a
bath, put on his favorite pajamas, and
read a book, all of which go a long way to
improving his state of mind. Set against
crisp white backgrounds, British author-
illustrator Messer’s handsome hand-
printed illustrations are cheeky while still respecting
Penguin’s emotions (his angry poses and frowny eyebrows
speak volumes about his mood). Penguin’s ability to bring
himself to a more content and optimistic place without any
outside or parental help offers concrete, empowering ideas for
readers who might be wearing their own grumpy outfits.
Ages 4–8. (May)
Jack’s Worry
Sam Zuppardi. Candlewick, $16.99 (32p) ISBN 978-0-7636-7845-6
Zuppardi (The Nowhere Box) gives physical presence to a
boy’s nervousness and fear, imagining his “Worry” as a gray-
blue blob that he just can’t shake. Jack’s anxiety is centered
around his first music concert at school, and his Worry grows
larger and more ominous until he confesses his fear to his
mother in an anguished burst of emotion: “I’m worried I’ll
make a mistake and you won’t love me anymore!” After an
encouraging reminder that the “concert isn’t
about playing perfectly. It’s about having
fun,” Jack is able to shrink his worry, share
his mother’s advice with his nervous class-
mates, and play the trumpet with abandon.
Zuppardi’s scribbly pencils and expressive
bursts of paint readily capture the big, intense emotions Jack
is feeling. Ages 4–8. Agent: Kelly Sonnack, Andrea Brown
Literary Agency. (Apr.)
Move Your Mood!
Brenda S. Miles and Colleen A. Patterson, illus. by Holly Clifton-Brown. APA/Magination, $14.95 (32p) ISBN 978-1-4338-2112-7
The authors behind How I Learn: A Kid’s Guide to Learning
Disability suggest activity as a way to keep the blues at bay,
introducing a parade of animals that show off a variety of
movements. “Twist out tired!/ Twist. Twist. Twist./ Wiggle
out worried!/ Wiggle like this!” they write as
a giraffe wearing boots and a top hat bends
its neck into a loop, and a pig in a knit cap
and scarf sends mud spraying as it shakes
itself to the left and right. Clifton-Brown
never lets her anthropomorphically acces-
sorized animals look too dour (except perhaps for a cowboy
cow in the opening scene, shown sitting beside some very
droopy cacti), providing a secondary boost of positive
thinking. Parental advice and activity suggestions are
included. Ages 4–8. Illustrator’s agent: Nicole Tugeau, T2
Children’s Illustrators. (Apr.)
Full of Empty
Tim J. Myers and M.P. Myers, illus. by Rebecca Sorge. Familius,
$16.95 (32p) ISBN 978-1-942934-35-6
The husband-and-wife Myers team transports readers to a
kingdom whose onion-dome towers, ornately patterned
arches and walls, and bustling markets evoke an Arabian
Nights–type setting. There, the seemingly
oxymoronic idea of being “full of empty”
represents the sadness affecting young
Princess Claire. The king and queen pull out
all the stops to try to help their daughter feel
better, and Sorge makes the kingdom feel
like a vibrant cultural crossroads, as fan dancers, Chinese
dragons, storytellers, and musicians are paraded in, in an
attempt to entertain Princess Claire, all to no avail. A quiet
game of jacks with her parents, however, brings Claire’s smile
“flying back like a bird.” Lush illustrations, a culturally
diverse setting, a devoted set of parents, and the suggestion
that time and togetherness can help heal emotional wounds
give the story a strong impact. Ages 4–8. (Mar.)
The Moody Blues ▲
Five picture books take aim at kids who are feeling down in the dumps.
