Maya Was Grumpy

PreS-Gr 3—Maya woke up on the wrong side of the bed. She doesn't want to read or go outside and play, and she tries to spread her "crispy, cranky, grumpy, grouchy" mood as she "glumps, clumps and thumps" around the house. She scowls at her grandmother, who hopes to improve her disposition by suggesting outrageous activities such as hunting for hippos, tickling tarantulas, and bathing baby elephants, which eventually make it hard for Maya to keep a smile off her face. Children will identify with the youngster, and parents may wish to try Gramma's clever technique when faced with an out-of-sorts child. The text could be used for a lesson on alliteration, rhyming, sequencing, and more. It's also perfect for enriching vocabulary as the descriptive words are in bold on each page. The busy and colorful pencil, ink, and watercolor illustrations add to the charm of this story as Maya's out-of-control hair is transformed into neat ponytails as her mood improves.—Sarah Polace, Cuyahoga Public Library System, OH