Happy Perfect Picture Book Friday, dear friends!
Has another week truly passed by? I can hardly believe it. I’ve been up to my ears in boxes and taking stuff to the dump and giving away books to the library and to friends…just how many books can a person accumulate over the years? And yet, with all of the hundreds of books I gave away, I still have more than a dozen boxes of books in the storage unit, waiting for October 1 when we move into our new house.
One of the books I will definitely be keeping is today’s Perfect Picture Book selection – I connected with the author, Corinne Demas, at my local NESCBWI conference last year…and I absolutely love her newest book that launched in June.
THE GRUMPY PIRATE
Written by Corinne Demas and Artemis Roehrig
Illustrated by Ashlyn Anstee
Published by Orchard Books/Scholastic (June 2020)
Ages: 4-7
Theme: Emotions, getting along with others, friendship
And getting along and friendship were definitely important factors in the creation of this story – here’s a picture of co-authors, Corinne Demas and Artemis Roehrig.
Synopsis: From Amazon
Gus the Pirate is always grumpy, but can the wise Pirate Queen convince him to change his ways?
There is one grumpy pirate.
They call him Grumpy Gus.
He grunts and gripes and grouses,
and always makes a fuss.
Gus the Pirate complains about everything — ARRRRRGH! Gus grumbles about his lumpy bed and his itchy clothes. He complains about the yucky food and doing his chores on the pirate ship. Even sailing toward buried treasure can’t make Gus happy! Finally, the other pirates have had enough! They ask the Pirate Queen to help.
So the Pirate Queen gives Grumpy Gus a pet parrot — but the parrot is grumpy, too! After Gus spends the day with a parrot who’s just as grumbly and grouchy as he is, Gus realizes his bad attitude might be a little hard to deal with. Can Gus turn his frown upside down before the other pirates make him walk the plank?
All kids can relate to feeling grumpy like Gus, and this swashbuckling pirate adventure teaches kids the importance of trying to have a positive attitude!
Why I love this book:
- Starred review from Kirkus: The art is cartoony and appealing. It won’t take much searching for kids to recognize themselves (or their siblings) in Gus’ general poutiness… A paean to grouchy Guses everywhere presented with pouty piratical aplomb.”
- Great rhythm and rhyme…a rollicking tale well-told about getting in touch with our emotions.
- Wonderful illustrations full of fun that keep the reader engaged from first page to last.
RELATED ACTIVITIES
Photo courtesy:
Photo courtesy: https://kidsactivitiesblog.com/66927/25-pirate-crafts-kids-can-make/
Avast, me hearties! Here are 25 super cool pirate crafts to make with the kiddos. For detailed instructions: https://kidsactivitiesblog.com/66927/25-pirate-crafts-kids-can-make/
Please don’t forget to leave a comment to be entered in the generous giveaway from Corinne and her publisher of a copy of THE GRUMPY PIRATE. Maybe you can share what makes you grumpy.
I hope you all have a beautiful Labor Day weekend. And please come back next week when we have THREE blog posts…a book birthday for Liz Bedia’s BESS THE BARN STANDS STRONG, a Perfect Picture Book Friday for Dawn Young’s COUNTING ELEPHANTS, and a Will Write for Cookies with Kirsty Call who co-authored MOOTILLA’S BAD MOOD with Corey Rosen Schwartz.
What fun! Who doesn’t love a good pirate story? Congrats, Corinne & Artemis, and thanks and happy packing, Vivian!
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Thank you! We love writing pirate stories!
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This is a great eye-catching book and kids will really love this. Yep the year is certainly slipping away. Good luck on your shifting and sorting dear friend.
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This book sounds great, Corinne. I can’t wait to read it. Thanks for sharing, Vivian, and happy new home!
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Thanks! Hope you enjoy it!
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Love it! I can hardly wait to read it.
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It’s never too early to learn to be in touch with one’s emotions!
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I love it. Kids always need support when it comes to dealing with their emotions. This book definitely does that. And in rhyme too! 🙂
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Ahoy! Such fun with a dastardly grumpy pirate! Too cute! Thanks for sharing. 🙂
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Thank you! Grumpy Gus is delighted you think he’s cute!
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This would be a great pairing with Mootilda! 😍 and I would love to see your book collection! (take some pics when you pull them out) When I left the classroom, I gave most all my books there to the kids so now am curating my author collection. And I admit, I have re-purchased a few favorites.
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The book would be great for my Pirate loving twins!
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Thanks! They might also like our previous pirate book, Are Pirates Polite?
Or my first pirate book, Pirates Go to School..
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Who doesn’t like a great pirate book…not me! ConGRRRRRatulations Maties! Looking forward to hooking this one 🙂
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Sounds like such a fun book! Congrats! I get grumpy when I’ve been too busy or haven’t taken the time to actually create something new.
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This book sounds delightful! I just ordered it from my local library. Congrats to the authors and illustrator! Thanks for the post, Vivian!
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I’m such a fan of pirates, even grumpy ones. Love your activities, Vivian! This sounds like a perfect book to pair with the one I reviewed this week, Mootilda’s Bad Mood! Yay for turning a frown upside down!!
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This book sounds PERFECT for current conditions….Grumpiness was evident today and I will work to change it! This post helps. Thanks, Vivian, your posts brighten my days.
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Pirates are always fun and national pirate day is coming soon! What makes me grumpy these days is when I see someone not wearing a mask/wearing improperly.
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This is a great concept for a children’s book. My oldest experienced something similar to this and it opened up his eyes like the Grumpy Pirate. I can’t wait to read this one.
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This sounds like a lot of fun for readers. Such a great cover.
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This sounds like a perfect book for a little grump that I know! I know the pirate character will catch his attention. I’ll have to check and see if our library has a copy. Thanks for sharing.
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Many thanks to all of you for your comments, and a huge thanks to Vivian for her truly wonderful blog post about our book. Hope you all enjoy The Grumpy Pirate!
Stay well!
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It was a pleasure to read and review THE GRUMPY PIRATE, Corinne! It’s a book we all need!
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Love the premise of the book, and I’m always a fan of rhyme! I will be looking for this one, for sure. Thanks for the introduction to this book and these authors, Vivian!
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