The Unbudgeable Curmudgeon
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- $6.99
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- $6.99
Publisher Description
A BANK STREET BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR
"For any kid or parent that's having a bit of a terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day, this book is an instant pick me up. Great for siblings, too!" --Red Tricycle
"After reading aloud, listeners might discover their own ways to unbudge curmudgeons."--Publishers Weekly
"Playful language and a subtly rhyming text create an enjoyable read-aloud about frustrations and bad moods." --Booklist
What do you do with a curmudgeon that just won't budge? Why, shake off the grumpy 'tude and embrace the fun!
Have you ever seen a curmudgeon that looks like your brother, but is in such a bad mood you hardly recognize him? You can try all the peanut butter sandwiches and brownies you have, but he is not moving.
Nothing works, especially nudging, and he just makes you so grumpy that eventually you have no choice but to fight back--and then...
Have you ever become a curmudgeon that just won't budge?
Matthew Burgess's playful depiction of bad moods and sibling rivalry is matched perfectly by Fiona Woodcock's unique childlike art style.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
In this picture book by Burgess (Enormous Smallness: A Story of E.E. Cummings), what looks at first like a shock-headed monster proves to be an angry sibling. The glowering creature has a head full of flaming red fur that matches his furry feet, and he's trapped his sister's knapsack under his chair. "How do you budge/ an unbudgeable curmudgeon,/ who really refuses to budge?" the text asks. She attempts bribery, considers violence: "It wouldn't be right/ to bludgeon the curmudgeon/ but maybe he deserves one humongous nudge." After a push-and-pull between them knocks her to the floor, the bad mood passes from brother to sister. Her red hair fluffs up in into a raging orange orb. Will she go full curmudgeon? "It can be tricky/ to get the gunk off/ the funkiest funks," the narrator says as the brother considers his options. Playing a favorite song helps; for now, there's peace. Burgess's clever wordplay stays loose, reveling in the funny sounds of language without hewing to a rigid structure. Woodcock (Look) uses rubber stamps, stencils, and blow pens to add motion and energy to sweet spreads. After reading aloud, listeners might discover their own ways to unbudge curmudgeons. Ages 4 8. Author's)
