Maya Was Grumpy

by Courtney Pippin-Mathur

Overview

Maya was in a crispy, cranky, grumpy, grouchy mood. She didn’t want to read or color or go outside and play. So she GRUMPED, GLUMPED, CLUMPED, and THUMPED around the house. Can Grandma’s patience and humor coax Maya out of her bad mood?

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781962269247
Publisher:	Flashlight Press
Publication date:	06/03/2025
Pages:	32
Product dimensions:	8.00(w) x 8.00(h) x 0.10(d)
Age Range:	5 - 7 Years

About the Author

Courtney Pippin-Mathur is has written and illustrated 5 children's picture books. She lives in Alexandria, Virginia.

Editorial Reviews

"This book is full of bold, colorful illustrations that suit the narrative perfectly…. it is nice to see that this dreadful feeling does not have to be long-lasting, that humour is a fun and powerful tool, and that grandmas are heroes…" —Christa McGrath, Edwards Book Club Reviews

"With bold illustrations and whimsical suggestions by grandma—like tickling tarantulas—the story reminds readers that a bad mood can’t last forever. It’s a fun, imaginative read with a touch of humour." —Aruna Shekar, award-winning author and educator

From the Publisher

Although the title character is Maya, this story is actually about her clever grandmother, who tames both the grumpy child and her chaotic hair. When Maya wakes up on the wrong side of the bed, she does not know why she is grumpy. "She was just in a crispy, cranky, grumpy, grouchy mood." Not only that, her hair grows ever more unruly and invasive as Maya spreads her gloom throughout the house. With a smirk and a knowing eye, Gramma begins to untangle the moody mess. "Well then," says Gramma, "I guess that means no hunting for hippos after breakfast." Pippin-Mathur's watercolor-and-ink illustrations capture all of the whimsical and wacky things grumpy people would never do, like bathing baby elephants and tickling tarantulas. With patience and imagination, Gramma's humorous ideas slowly push away the blues, and Maya's sweet disposition returns. Delightfully, Gramma keeps her promise, and readers find Maya and her twin brothers playing with hippos, crocodiles, elephants and even tarantulas. Lighter than Alexander's bad day and less emotional than Sophie's, this is still a visual delight from a new author with a charismatic cast of characters. (Picture book. 4-8)

Kirkus Reviews