Valentine Gross-Out
(Grumpy Monkey)

K-Gr 2--Happy Valentine's Day, Jim Panzee! There are couples everywhere, and, according to Jim, they are gross. After Oxpecker flits by showing off the flower that they received from their boyfriend, Jim can't help but see couples showing love all over the place. They're gazing into each other's eyes, slow dancing...and even kissing. Gross! Wanting someone to agree with him, Jim wanders over to his friend Norman's branch. But, as expected, Norman disagrees. He shares his view that Valentine's Day is for everyone, including parents, children, and friends. Grumpy Monkey is soon showered with small tokens of love and appreciation by his loved ones. "Maybe Valentine's Day isn't so gross after all, he thought." Except kissing...still gross! Continuing along with other "Grumpy Monkey" titles, this fun read with a holiday twist will make a superb read-aloud. The childish disdain of kissing is delightful and funny to both young and old readers. As with other titles in this series, the art is done with bright colors in a watercolor style. VERDICT This title is a fun Valentine's Day read for children and adults. A great purchase for holiday collections.--Sarah West