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Summary
Summary
Billy's not like the other kids. He's a bit moody, a bit cranky, a bit . . . grumpy. In hopes of cheering him up, his mom takes him and his sister to the animal rescue one Saturday morning. All the animals are cute and playful, but they're a little too happy for Billy's taste. When Billy wanders into another section of the store, however, he stumbles across a different group of animals awaiting adoption. These pets are grouchy and scruffy. In fact, they seem downright grumpy - just like Billy! He catches the eye of a particularly grumpy pup - could this be the friend Billy has been looking for?
Grumpy Pets shows that there's a perfect match for everyone, if you stay true to yourself.
Author Notes
Kristine A. Lombardi worked in advertising for many years but is now a freelance illustrator and graphic designer. She is the author and illustrator of Lovey Bunny . She lives in Montclair, New Jersey. www.kristinelombardi.com.
Reviews (4)
School Library Journal Review
PreS-Gr 1-When Billy's mother takes him and his sister to the Perfect Pets animal rescue, she hopes Billy will find a pet to make him smile. But Billy, a grumpy boy, is not amused by the pets, which range from happy to happier to way too happy. But soon he discovers the area in the back where they keep the grumpy pets-they are crabby, cranky, and moody-just like Billy. There he encounters a dog that matches him, grumpy look for grumpy look, and then gives him a big doggy kiss. With the dog in his arms, Billy smiles for a long time before reverting to his standard grumpy look. Using soft colors, great expressions, and just enough detail, Lombardi's illustrations perfectly capture the emotions among the animals and humans alike. The slew of grumpy animals-hedgehog, turtle, lizard, hamster-featured on the endpapers are a fun touch. VERDICT This book will resonate with those animal lovers of all stripes and is a good way to start a discussion on what makes pets grumpy and how to act around them.-Catherine Callegari, formerly at Gay-Kimball Library, Troy, NH c Copyright 2016. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Horn Book Review
Annoyed by all the happy pets, grumpy pet-seeker Billy wanders to the back of the animal rescue center, where he discovers the grumpy pets. Delightedly, he adopts a dog as grumpy as he is. Mixed-media illustrations use expressive lines, colors, and textures to illustrate the important concept that happiness is different for different people--and that there's a pet for everyone. (c) Copyright 2016. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Booklist Review
Poor Billy is always grumpy. Mom takes him to an animal rescue, hoping to cheer him up, but all Billy finds is cute animals playing with happy children, which does nothing to improve his mood. Billy wanders away from all the joy and stumbles upon the grumpy section. There he finds cranky, scroungy critters who seem to match his disposition, including one special puppy. It's love at first slurp, and Billy has found his perfect pet. Lombardi's pencil-and-chalk illustrations are wonderfully expressive and empathetic. The cover features a charming array of frowning faces that will be a magnet for young readers. Some drawings portray scenes of cute kids, kittens, and puppies, but the glaring and narrow-eyed staring from the grumpy group will really tickle audiences. This lovely story begs to be read aloud, and it will resonate with animal lovers as well as with readers who have ever had a few (or more) grumpy moments of their own.--McBroom, Kathleen Copyright 2016 Booklist
New York Review of Books Review
Dyckman and OHora (the team behind "Wolfie the Bunny") specialize in full-spectrum emotion and offbeat charm, making a kid's temper tantrum as fun as a theme park ride. Bear doesn't mean to break the girl's kite, but she is furious, clomping home proclaiming his horribleness. Bear's enraged too. (The injustice!) Heading to her house for a fight, he's met with contrition, and they patch it up. The art is a blast - even at her surliest, the girl will win smiles with her gigantic red curls. THE GRUMPY PETS Written and illustrated by Kristine A. Lombardi. 32 pp. Abrams. $14.95. (Picture book; ages 3 to 6) Billy's permafrown worries his mother. She takes him to an animal rescue to find a pet, but the cuteness leaves him cold. Feeling left out, he follows the growls and hisses to the back. An array of ornery pets awaits, including the dog of his dreams, a glum wiry-haired fellow with downward-tilting eyebrows like Billy's. With pastel illustrations as winningly shaggy as her heroes, Lombardi ("Lovey Bunny") strikes a blow for the littlest grouches - and the overlooked rescue pets who need them. STOP FOLLOWING ME, MOON! Written and illustrated by Darren Farrell. 32 pp. Dial. $17.99. (Picture book; ages 4 to 8) When the moon seems to follow you, it can be a perfect introduction to the wonders of the universe. Or it can be, as in this larky book from Farrell ("Thank You, Octopus"), a great opportunity to goof on someone's naïveté. After a midnight thieving spree, a bear sees the moon trailing him. Is it on to his crimes? He rants crankily. He issues threats, to no avail. Then the moon ducks behind a cloud, and he's terrified. He welcomes it back with a wittily drawn moonlit feast for everyone he's ripped off. EVERYONE... Written and illustrated by Christopher Silas Neal. 32 pp. Candlewick. $15.99. (Picture book; ages 3 to 6) The prolific illustrator Neal makes his authorial debut in this direct and simple ode to our ever-changing moods. With a palette of mostly black, white, tan and a soft royal blue, Neal shows a boy protagonist who's having the kind of day that "never seems to end," with extremes of emotion and lots of tears. We all, he reminds us, share the same feelings. Neal's words don't always land as solidly as his lovely art, but the message of self-acceptance and community is heartfelt and reassuring. GRUMPY PANTS Written and illustrated by Claire Messer. 32 pp. Albert Whitman. $16.99. (Picture book; ages 4 to 8) Messer's debut is both a useful lesson in beating a cantankerous mood and an elegant example of traditional printmaking, made appealingly up-to-date against stretches of white. Feeling crotchety for no particular reason, Penguin stomps home. Even taking off "his grumpy coat" and "his grumpy boots," all the way to "his grumpy underpants," is no help. So he dives into a bath, plays with his duck, puts on pajamas, has some hot chocolate and settles down with his favorite book. Works every time. ONLINE An expanded visual presentation of this week's column at nytimes.com/books.