The following unabridged reviews are made available under license from their respective rights holders and publishers. Reviews may be used for educational purposes consistent with the fair use doctrine in your jurisdiction, and may not be reproduced or repurposed without permission from the rights holders.

Note: This section may include reviews for related titles (e.g., same author, series, or related edition).

From School Library Journal

May 1, 2024

PreS-Gr 1-Step right up and into reading success with this delightful early reader, starring the one and only Grumpy Monkey. Jim Panzee wants so much to play with his gorilla friend, Norman. But Norman is too busy collecting bugs to play with him, and Jim feels left out. Relationships are tested as Jim's frustrations mount, and Norman begins to doubt his soft-hearted actions towards the bugs, quietly admitting, "They are quite a handful." Colorful animated illustrations, easy-to-read words, and simple science bug facts about butterflies ("Its name is Butterfly-Butterfly. It drinks nectar from flowers"), beetles, and grasshoppers will lead young readers right along in this entertaining story of friendship, curiosity, and caring for others that's gone a wee bit awry. This book is perfect for young ones learning to read, as it uses basic vocabulary and short sentences while telling an engaging story. VERDICT An energetic early reader with humorous illustrations that young readers will return to again and again.-Lyn Smith

Copyright 2024 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

From School Library Journal

February 1, 2024

PreS-Gr 1-Jim Panzee the chimpanzee wakes one morning bursting with energy. "Why do I feel so silly?" he asks a friend, Norman. The answer might be "spring fever." Horrified, Jim sets off through the jungle, asking all of his neighbors for help to cure his illness. The animals suggest a variety of mindfulness tactics: smell some lavender, take deep breaths, have a cup of tea, but these only make Jim more energetic. Finally, Norman makes a wise suggestion: Jim should enjoy himself rather than seek a cure! As with previous books, Lang's story encourages readers to embrace their emotions. Jim's friends highlight many useful tools that children can use when they are feeling rowdy. However, when these tools fail to make an impact on Jim, he chooses to embrace his feelings and find constructive ways to let his energy out. VERDICT A good book to have on hand for more raucous story hours; many children will find comfort in the familiar characters and story structure, but this will also suit any child needing to get the wiggles out.-Jillian Girardeau

Copyright 2024 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

From School Library Journal

June 1, 2023

PreS-Gr 2-Jim Panzee, the chimpanzee, and his friends hear a distant, eerie knocking sound in the jungle as they set out for treats on Halloween night. The moonlit prowl is less inviting than their daytime jaunts, offering more tricks than treats as creeping, crawling creatures spy from the shadowy undergrowth. Jim denies his obvious fear of the unfamiliar sights and sounds with his repeated phrase, "I'm not scared." As they walk, the gang discovers that most of the unsettling noises they hear are actually their nocturnal friends scurrying around in the dark. However, as they press on, the distant knocking sound grows louder and more imminent. Suddenly, the knocking becomes screaming, "Aye! Aye! Aye! Aye!," and the friends are face-to-face with scraggly hair, bulging red eyes, and sharp fangs. Too frightening for Jim, he admits his fear and cries out, "I'm really, really scared!" This dialogue-driven romp through the nighttime jungle works in unison with expressive, cartoon-style pen and watercolor sketches to produce a spookier tone than the rest of the "Grumpy Monkey" series. This jungle escapade could momentarily remind readers of Jonathan Allen's I'm Not Scared!, but the memory will swiftly fade as the goosebumps creep in. The initial illustration of the red-eyed, screaming creature is particularly frightening, and coupled with some light fart humor between the friends, this book will likely be most entertaining for early elementary readers. VERDICT Libraries that purchase this Halloween edition in the "Grumpy Monkey" series will see it quickly flee the shelves.-Emily Brush

Copyright 2023 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

From School Library Journal

January 27, 2023

Gr 1-2-Jim Panzee is planning a full day of fun when Oxpecker asks him to watch her egg. Jim sits on the egg for a long time and becomes bored. Some friends come and offer to sit on the egg in turns while Jim plays. He's finally happy, playing tag with Leslie while Norman sits on the egg. Then, he and Norman splash in the water while Leslie sits on the egg. The three friends are having lunch when they realize that no one is sitting on the egg. Jim and his friends look everywhere, including inside an alligator's jaws and under a slow-moving tortoise. Jim is anxious, but all ends well with a humorous twist. "Grumpy Monkey" is a bestselling picture book series, and this easy reader story set in Jim Panzee's world will engage new readers in preschool and first grade. Through the character of Jim, Lang and Lang explore situations and emotions in children's lives. Here, Jim's body movements clearly identify his emotions for young readers, and the size 20 font complements the large illustrations and vibrant jungle backgrounds drawn in primary colors. VERDICT Pair with similarly funny beginning readers, including Kimberley and James Dean's "Pete the Cat" series and Chris Van Dusen's "Mr. Magee" series.-Monica Fleche

Copyright 2023 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

From School Library Journal

September 2, 2022

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

Copyright 2022 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

From Kirkus

April 15, 2021
Grumpy Monkey moves from picture books to a graphic-novel chapter book, in which he tolerates his friends' goofy antics during a group journey to an orange grove. Divided into three chapters of cartoon-style comics, with bonus interludes in between, the book features Jim Panzee, the protagonist of the Grumpy Monkey picture-book series. He is on his relaxing Wednesday Walk, stress orange in hand, but little is quiet about his journey once his jungle friends appear. After the accumulation of unwanted companions causes Jim to squeeze his stress orange so hard that he destroys it, the group seeks a replacement, stopping for a papaya fight, a splash party in the water, and some swinging from vines. They eventually escape angry parrots with the only orange the parrots didn't devour. There's a good dose of potty humor: Leslie the giraffe responds to Norman the gorilla's invitation to come along with "you bet your butt I do," and two spreads are devoted to poop humor (with Jim as the butt of the joke). There's also wordplay (a chapter called "Orange Ya Glad We Made It?"; Jim's repeated mantra, "Squeeze, squeeze, mind at ease"; and a guide to speaking Jim's nonsense language, in which the syllable ob is inserted before vowels in every word). That the book pauses for a "Primate Primer" with talking simians will be like pouring lemon juice on a cut for those readers who see in anthropomorphized monkeys a perpetuation of pernicious anti-Black stereotypes. Disappointing. (Graphic fiction. 6-10)

COPYRIGHT(2021) Kirkus Reviews, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

From Booklist

September 1, 2019
Grades K-2 Simian scowler Jim Panzee, introduced in Grumpy Monkey (2018), again falls afoul of a horde of too-helpful animal friends when, upon receiving a party invitation, confesses that he doesn't know how to dance. Observant readers will notice that throughout the wild rumpus, which culminates in a double gatefold conga line, Jim looks increasingly unhappy. Finally he bursts out to general astonishment that he really doesn't like dancing?and as it turns out, neither do Water Buffalo, Maribou, or Bat. Fortunately, there's more to a good party than dancing; once Jim discovers the food (including worried-looking rabbit labeled Fresh Meat ), the games (including tag, led by that rabbit), and the pleasure of simply hanging out with friends, the miserable experience becomes a great time. Though somewhat a remake of the previous episode, the emphasis changes from recognizing one's own feelings to having the courage to express them, providing a decent thematic foundation. Carping critics will note that Jim is no more a monkey than Curious George . . . but, hey, that banana was peeled long ago.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2019, American Library Association.)

From Kirkus

August 15, 2019
Jim Panzee--the primate protagonist of Grumpy Monkey (2019) fame--is having a fine day until he receives an invitation to a party; the comic anxiety commences. The source of Jim's nerves is the idea of dancing. Jim Panzee, as it turns out, doesn't know how to dance. This information shocks his jungle friends, who each give him pointers on how to bust a move on the dance floor. Jim tries to go along with his friends but discovers he's not having a good time, not because he can't dance, but because he actually doesn't like dancing. Speaking out about his preferences inspires other animals to voice that they aren't fans of the pastime either. They discover there are many other fun things to do at a party, like enjoy refreshments and play games, and still have a great time. Like its precursor, this title emphasizes self-acceptance and authenticity. It effectively communicates through the fanciful illustrations the feelings of facing pressure to conform to others' expectations and the relief of honesty. Whatever gains this title develops in terms of social-emotional learning concepts, however, are offset by the insensitive use of a monkey protagonist, particularly linked to the racialized skill of dancing. It's a shame that a series so imbued with emotional intelligence does not demonstrate more awareness of historical use of simian imagery as a derogatory referent to black people. Likely to find mass appeal but should be considered with scrutiny. (Picture book. 4-8)

COPYRIGHT(2019) Kirkus Reviews, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

From Publisher's Weekly

June 4, 2018
A monkey learns to ride out a wave of emotion in this reassuring picture book about feelings from the creators of Families, Families, Families! After Jim Panzee wakes up on the wrong side of the tree, nothing seems right: “The sun was too bright, the sky was too blue, and the bananas were too sweet.” His neighbor Norman suggests that he may just be grumpy, though Jim insists that’s not the problem. On a walk through the jungle, everyone he meets offers advice for changing his mood: “‘You should sing with us!’/... ‘You should lie in the grass!’/... ‘You should take a bath!’” When he’s had his fill of cheery recommendations, he storms off. It’s not until he re-encounters Norman, who’s now nursing an injury, that Jim realizes they will both “probably feel better soon enough,” and that he just needs to be grumpy for a while. Lang nimbly creates an animal cast with expressive cartoonish eyes and exaggerated facial expressions, which make their antics in the playful text all the more humorous. Ages 4–8.

From School Library Journal

May 1, 2018

PreS-K-Monkey Jim Panzee (the different-species name isn't explained) is feeling a bit off, and the other animals can tell. He says he's not grumpy, but they insist that he is, and everyone has an opinion on how to feel better, advice that will teach readers about animal characteristics along the way. "You should sing with us!," say the birds. "You should roll with us!," say the zebras. The peacocks suggest a stroll. It's not until Jim's friend Norman the gorilla empathizes and the buddies settle into the doldrums together that Jim can finally relax. They concur that "It's a wonderful day to be grumpy." Max Lang's bright watercolors of animals doing their thing are winning accompaniments to the narrative's welcome message that it's OK to be down sometimes. VERDICT A welcome companion to Judith Viorst's Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day. A solid choice for picture book and SEL collections.-Henrietta Verma, Credo Reference, Jackson Heights, NY

Copyright 2018 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

From Kirkus

March 1, 2018
It's a wonderful day in the jungle, so why's Jim Panzee so grumpy?When Jim woke up, nothing was right: "The sun was too bright, the sky was too blue, and bananas were too sweet." Norman the gorilla asks Jim why he's so grumpy, and Jim insists he's not. They meet Marabou, to whom Norman confides that Jim's grumpy. When Jim denies it again, Marabou points out that Jim's shoulders are hunched; Jim stands up. When they meet Lemur, Lemur points out Jim's bunchy eyebrows; Jim unbunches them. When he trips over Snake, Snake points out Jim's frown...so Jim puts on a grimacelike smile. Everyone has suggestions to brighten his mood: dancing, singing, swinging, swimming...but Jim doesn't feel like any of that. He gets so fed up, he yells at his animal friends and stomps off...then he feels sad about yelling. He and Norman (who regrets dancing with that porcupine) finally just have a sit and decide it's a wonderful day to be grumpy--which, of course, makes them both feel a little better. Suzanne Lang's encouragement to sit with your emotions (thus allowing them to pass) is nearly Buddhist in its take, and it will be great bibliotherapy for the crabby, cranky, and cross. Oscar-nominated animator Max Lang's cartoony illustrations lighten the mood without making light of Jim's mood; Jim has comically long arms, and his facial expressions are quite funny.Though Jim may have been grumpy because a chimp's an ape and not a monkey, readers will enjoy and maybe learn from his journey. (Picture book. 4-8)

COPYRIGHT(2018) Kirkus Reviews, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.