Emma is spending the afternoon with her grandmother, but she’s very grumbly. She didn’t get to go to the pirate party with her brother and she feels left out.
Grandma takes Emma to the beach, but her grumbles won’t go away.
Luckily, Grandma has a really great idea to make Emma feel better.
Grandma sits in the sand and draws a picture of her own grumbles. She shows Emma how to take a grumbly picture and fold it into a boat. They take their boats out to the water, and on the count of three.
One, two, three…
They release them into the waves and say goodbye to their grumbles forever.
Grumble Boats is a beautiful picture book about learning to let go of those cranky feelings that sometimes consume us. At the back of the book, you’ll find instructions on how to fold your own grumble boat, so you can have a go at making your own when you’re feeling a little grumbly yourself.
With stunning illustrations by Tasmin Ainslie, filled with beautiful soft colours and lines, you’ll fall into the pages and Emma’s world. The details are delicious in this picture book. It’s a book to explore as you turn the pages. You’ll miss such beautiful things if you move too fast.
Susannah McFarlane brings us family and friendship in this lovely story. I love how it explores the big feelings we sometimes feel and can’t squash, and I love how it explores the special relationship between a grandparent and child. Grandmas are so wise, and this book really celebrates how much of a best friend our grandmas can be.
Title: Grumble Boats
Author: Susannah McFarlane
Illustrator: Tamsin Ainslie
Publisher: Affirm Press, $24.99
Publication Date: 25 May 2021
Format: Hardcover
ISBN: 9781925712919
For ages: 4 – 6
Type: Picture Book
June 19, 2021 at 12:33AM Shaye Wardrop
