Grumpy Monkey is not only the title of a wonderful book, but a vibe. Written by Susanne Lang and illustrated by Max Lang, the cover instantly grabs your attention. One day as I scoured through my local Barnes and Noble bookstore, I couldn’t help notice the expressive face of the monkey looking back at me. It so happened I was in a particularly foul mood at the time and felt an instant connection. I mused out loud “this monkey gets me.” A few weeks later, my daughter gifted me both the book and a plush doll based on the Grumpy Monkey himself, Jim Panzee. Naturally, I opted to give the book a proper review.
How’s the story?
The story captures the plight of being in a bad mood for no particular reason. Nothing seems right in the world. Even typically pleasing activities become irksome. The protagonist of the story, Jim Panzee, is a monkey who awakens in a state of terrible grumpiness. He goes about his day in the jungle in normal fashion yet his foul mood is quite evident to his friends. When they make any helpful inquiries, Jim Panzee responds with ferocious denial. Yet his friends are determined to figure out what’s wrong. Indeed, in attempting to prove he’s DEFINITELY NOT grumpy, Jim only makes matters worse. And so the tale unfolds.
How’s the illustration?
The expressiveness of each of the characters truly resonates throughout the narrative. Beautifully nuanced levels of curiosity, frustration and more grace the pages as Jim navigates his way through the story. I appreciated the comically exaggerated facial gestures given to Jim as he desperately tries to convince his friends that he is perfectly fine. A sense of flow and movement accentuate both the vibrant life of the jungle as well as the feelings of the characters. We are welcomed into this world and its playful environment.
Final Thoughts
Grumpy Monkey, a kid’s picture book, offers unexpectedly deep insight into the randomness of feelings and how we approach them. I highly recommend it.
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