Meet the Grumblies

The Grumblies … life for them is easy-peasy, with bread bushes full of rolls, squidgy-fruit hanging on every tree, and their pond is full of fizzy juice. So the Grumblies have lots of time to …. argue! We meet all three characters on the first spread, looking particularly caveman-like, and we see their individual huts in the background. One is made of mud, one from sticks and the third from rope. Their big argument hangs on which of these three materials is best in life. Grumble-Stick says, “OGG! Stick best!” Grumble-Rope says, “AGG! Rope best!” and “IGG! Mud best!” grunts Grumble-Mud. Whilst arguing, out of the jungle stomps a huge, hungry creature. It is purple, has long flowing hair, a trunk and enormous legs. Heading straight for their bread bushes, it chomps away, whilst Grumble-Stick cries, OGG! STOP!” and throws sticks at the Gobblestomp. These just bounce off his thick coat, and then he spots the squidgy-fruit trees. As he demolishes these, Grumble-Rope attempts to stop him by lassoeing a leg. Ignoring the rope, Grumblestomp begins to slurrrrrpp up all the fizzy juice in the pond. And the final attempt to stop the Grumblestomp, by Grumble-Mud, is foiled. At long last, the three agree. Not stick, not rope, not mud best! For the first time ever they stop arguing and make a plan. How they capture Grumblestomp is ingenious, and eventually all four do become friends. This is a great story about teamwork, and learning to live with each other’s differences. It is cleverly illustrated throughout. The three Grumblies have hugely expressive faces, and numerous imaginary birds and beasts are scattered around the scenery. This would be a wonderful book for a class drama (or a family one!). Young readers will love the primitive language!