Grumpy Monkey

What the Story is About

Jim Panzee is having a grumpy day. But when his friends ask what's wrong, he insists, "I'm not grumpy!"

They try to cheer him up—offering bananas, swinging on vines, telling him to smile—but nothing works. In fact, all their efforts only make Jim more frustrated.

Finally, a quiet friend sits with him, letting him feel his feelings. And that's when something begins to shift.

Why This Book Matters

Young children often feel pressure to be happy all the time. Grumpy Monkey gently reminds us that it's okay to have a bad day.

Not every emotion needs fixing. Sometimes, the most helpful thing is to be allowed to feel.

For classrooms, this story opens up safe and honest conversations about naming emotions, owning them without shame, and supporting each other without always needing a solution.

The story's humour and expressive illustrations help children simultaneously relate, reflect, and laugh.

Let's Talk About It

For younger children (4–6 years)

• Can you make a grumpy face? (Or: Can you show me your 'grumpy' face?)

• What kind of face is Jim making? Have you ever felt like that?

• Why do you think Jim said he's "not grumpy" even when he was?

• What did the animals do to help? Did it work?

• What would you do if your friend was feeling grumpy?

For older children (7–9 years)

• Why do you think people sometimes say "I'm fine" even when they're not?

• Can you remember a time when you were in a bad mood but didn't know why?

• Do you think it's okay to feel grumpy sometimes? Why?

• What can we do in our classroom to help each other on "grumpy" days?

Try This in Your Classroom

1. Mood Chart Wall

Create a class mood chart with faces showing different emotions—happy, sad, angry, tired, excited, grumpy, etc.

Each morning, children can move their name tags or stick a Post-it on how they feel. It helps normalize different emotions without making them "good" or "bad."

2. Feelings Dumb Charades

In small groups, children can take turns acting out different feelings without using words, and others can guess the emotion.

You can write emotions on chits like grumpy, excited, nervous, proud, etc.

This playful activity helps children understand how emotions appear in the body and builds empathy through observation.

3. "It's Okay to Feel…" Poster

Invite children to finish the sentence: "It's okay to feel ____ when ____."

Collect their responses and make a classroom poster that validates emotions.

4. Companion Drawing

Have children draw themselves as animals on a grumpy day and what kind of friend they'd want beside them.

Prompt: What would that friend do or say?

What Science Says About "Unexplainable" Anger

A note for the teacher

Sometimes, children (and adults) feel angry or irritated for no apparent reason. They say, "I don't know why I'm upset"—and they genuinely mean it.

Here's why that happens:

The brain's emotion center, called the amygdala, reacts faster than the thinking part of the brain (the prefrontal cortex).

This means children often feel something before they can understand why they feel it.

Other common reasons for unexplained anger include:

• Basic needs: Hunger, tiredness, or overstimulation can easily tip children into irritability.

• Unprocessed feelings: A minor disappointment earlier in the day might quietly pile up and show up later as anger.

• Lack of emotional vocabulary: A child might feel confused, anxious, or sad, but without the right words, it comes out as "grumpy."

Understanding this helps us shift from reacting to the behaviour to supporting the child underneath it.

Like Jim in the story, sometimes what people need most is time, space, and someone willing to sit with them.

Deeper Reflections (For Teachers)

This book gently challenges our adult urge to "fix" a child's emotions.

But emotional well-being is not about replacing sadness with joy—it's about learning to accept uncomfortable feelings, knowing they'll pass.

The quiet ending—where Jim is allowed to be—reminds us that sometimes, presence is more healing than advice.

Teacher Tip:

You might consider sharing a story from your own life—a day you felt "off" or irritated for no apparent reason.

When children hear that even adults have grumpy days, it helps them feel less alone and more understood.