Grump

by Janet S. Wong
Illustrated by John Wallace

Published by Margaret K. McElderry , 2001
24 pages
ISBN: 0–689–83485–3

Ages 18 months - 3 years

A tired, grumpy mommy and a playful, energetic baby who won’t take a nap are the subjects of this warm, lively story that is a sheer delight to hear and read aloud. The rhythm, weight, and sound of the carefully chosen words (“A Grumpy heavy stump-thump thumping” up the stairs) and judicious use of repetition and rhyme (“Baby’s going to take a nap now. / Baby’s going to take a nap now. / Baby’s going to take a nap now. Take a nap now / little lump”) achieve masterful pacing shifts, reflecting the mood, tone, and action on each page. The watercolor illustrations showing a blond mother and little boy were done in watercolor. Highly Commended, 2002 Charlotte Zolotow Award. CCBC categories: Books for Babies and Toddlers; Picture Books for Younger Children.  © Cooperative Children's Book Center