Barnes & NobleGrumpy Monkey Oh, No! Christmas by Suzanne Lang

3.5 stars

GRUMPY MONKEY: OH, NO! CHRISTMAS takes the beloved Grumpy Monkey format and turns it to holiday woes. Jim Panzee is not at all excited about Christmas - he doesn't get why everyone is so thrilled to celebrate. The bananas are underripe and the weather is rainy. As he complains about the holiday, he also falls in the mud, making him feel even less like celebrating. As the other animals try to cheer him up, it makes him even more sure he does not want to celebrate. With some help from his neighbor and friend, Norman, Jim realizes that when your complaints are so big, you miss all the good stuff. What I loved: This follows the familiar Grumpy Monkey format with a few nods to the Christmas holiday celebration and a great message about focusing on the good stuff. The favorite friends and animals from the earlier books make repeat appearances here, and the continuity of characters is really great for young readers. The book follows the usual format and illustration style that make it a clear part of the franchise. What left me wanting more: The holiday felt like a really small part of the story, and it almost could have taken place at any time of year. I would have loved a bit more with reference to Christmas and celebrations to really make it feel like a holiday read. The images are all a little dark and dreary, due to the rain, but some extra color could have made this visually more holiday-esque, particularly towards the end. I am also not sure about Jim eating an underripe banana when he knows it isn't good at a bit of peer pressure - he does get a stomachache (which is then cured with tea), but I am not sure about the messaging there. Final verdict: With a great message about focusing on the good stuff, GRUMPY MONKEY OH, NO! CHRISTMAS is an intriguing new read for Jim Panzee fans. Please note that I received an ARC from the publisher. All opinions are my own.