Pavlo Gets the Grumps

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Author(s)

Natalia Shaloshvili

Publisher

Candlewick

Genre(s)

Age Range

Release Date

September 24, 2024

ISBN

1536235547

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Pavlo does not feel like going to the park. Not today. He does not want to go swimming. He even says no to the movies. What’s going on, Pavlo?
Pavlo has the grumps. Though Mama suggests one fun activity after another, Pavlo doesn’t want to do any of them. Can anything cheer him up on this down day? Capturing a range of emotions through nuanced expressions and a simple text, Natalia Shaloshvili’s comforting picture book looks at familiar childhood feelings, suggesting that grumpy days, sadness, and even anger happen to everyone. But that’s OK—good friends and family will love you anyway. And who knows what might happen if you decide to give that big slide a try after all?

Editor review

1 review

When the mood is "the grumps"

November 11, 2024

Overall rating

4.0

Plot

4.0

Characters

4.0

Writing Style

4.0

Illustrations/Photos (if applicable)

4.0

Pavlo's mother has some great ideas for their day together, but Pavlo is in a bad mood, and nothing sounds good. Everything at the park sounds like too much. Swimming is too wet. Going to the movies isn't appealing because Pavlo would have to sit still, and he's feeling too wiggly. His mother is very understanding, and tells him that he has the Grumps (which he of course denies), and says that the best cure is to try to go out anyway. The two take a gentle walk, and run into Pavlo's friend Mila, who gives him a hug and helps him to feel better. The two play in the park, and soon feel better. Maybe swimming isn't a bad idea after all.

Good Points

The illustrations have a soft, chalk pastel feel to them, and Pavlo's body language and facial expressions clearly show that he is not having a good day! In the background, there is a goose and a mouse on a bicycle who follow Pavlo around, and they are oddly charming, as are Pavlo's two tiny teeth that occasionally peek out.

Both Pavlo's mother and Mila allow Pavlo to voice his displeasure with the day, but also gently guide him to a better mood. I was a little surprised that there wasn't more language about how all feelings are valid, but the text is very short, and this sort of philosophy is implied. It is good to see that by the end of the book, Pavlo's mood is improved thanks to the love and care of family and friends.

When I was young the only picture book about emotions was Viorst's still relevant Alexander and the Horrible, Terrible, No Good, Very Bad Day, but now there are a lot of picture books being published that help children deal with a variety of emotions. Pavlo's bad day will be right at home with other books like The Boy With Big, Big Feelings by Britney Winn Lee, Today I Feel Silly & Other Moods That Make My Day by Jamie Lee Curtis, The Great Big Book of Feelings by Mary Hoffman, and The Way I Feel by Janan Cain.