One Sentence Summary
Grumpy Monkey is a hilarious and heart-warming picture book about friendship and finding joy in life, written by Suzanne Lang and illustrated by Max Lang.
Book Genre
Grumpy Monkey is a children’s picture book belonging to fiction and humor genres.
Main Topic of the Book
Grumpy Monkey tells a story of a monkey who can’t stand having fun and how he learns from his friends to embrace life and find joy in it.
Key Ideas
- Friendship: Through the adventures and misadventures of Grumpy Monkey, the book champions the value of true friendship.
- Finding Joy: Grumpy Monkey’s journey teaches us to find joy and make the best of life.
- Letting Go: Grumpy Monkey’s story also explores how its important to let go of sadness and embrace happiness.
Main Parts of the Book and Short Summary
- How the Story Begins: The book opens with Grumpy Monkey living in a tree-house high up in the sky with his friends, but refusing to have any fun. The friends come up with various ways to liven up Grumpy Monkey, but nothing seems to stick.
- Journey of Change: Grumpy Monkey eventually decides to explore the world and in the process, he visits all kinds of places and meets all sorts of wonderful creatures. Through these adventures, Grumpy Monkey starts to experience joy and discovers himself.
- Happy Ending: In the end, Grumpy Monkey returns to his old home, but he is no longer grumpy and instead full of wonderful insights and joyful experiences. At last, he comes to terms with himself and his friends.
Key Takeaways
- The Power of Friendship: Grumpy Monkey teaches us the value of friendship, how it gives us strength and comfort in our lives.
- Letting Go of Sadness: Grumpy Monkey’s story also speaks of the importance of letting go of our sadness and embracing happiness.
- The Joy of Exploration: Undeniably, Grumpy Monkey’s journey also serves as a reminder of the joy we can find in exploring the world and discovering our true selves.
Author’s Background and Qualifications
Suzanne Lang is a well-known children’s writer and the author of over 30 books for both adults and children. She is a winner of multiple awards for her works including the Humanitas Prize.
Target Audience
Grumpy Monkey is primarily aimed at children aged 4-8, though everyone of all ages can equally enjoy its simple and heart-warming story.
Publisher and First Publication Date
Grumpy Monkey was first published by Balzer+Bray in 2018.