Kids Bookshelf Must Read: Grumpy Monkey

Grumpy Monkey by Suzanne Lang

I'm not sure if I love this book more for myself of for my children! My husband likes to joke that it's a book about me. But I tell you, it was a good wake up call for me. As a woman with irrational, fluctuating hormones I can have a tendency to be grumpy, to put it nicely. And in our house we have all come to terms with the fact that when mamas says, "I'm just grumpy and I need a minute," that it's time for everyone to enter a quite zone and give me some space to breathe it out.

However, my 'aha' moment when reading this book was that it is not often we allow our children to have real grumpy moments, almost as if those are only deserved by stressed out adults. But children too, when overwhelmed, tired or hangry can have little moments of grumpiness. These moments don't necessarily need a big teaching lesson by any means, but they are times when our kids just need a moment and the space and freedom to just feel and be whatever their grumpiness. So now I ask my kids, "Do you feel grumpy?" And when they freely, shamelessly answer, "Yes!" I ask them if they need a hug or some space. But this book delivers this message in the most fun possible way. And with the adorable, huge 'Norman' on your side, who can stay grumpy for long.

A great book in the lessons of our emotions.

Check it out on Amazon...

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