Emma is not allowed to go to a pirate party with her older brother. Mum and dad drop her off at Grandma's house. Emma is furious. Luckily Grandma is very wise and patient and she has a terrific trick up her sleeve. She grabs her coat (her pockets are bulging with things - you can see this on the cover) and she takes Emma and her dog Bella and they head to the beach. It is a cold day but the sun is shining.
Grandma explains she is grumpy too because her favourite tea cup broke that morning. Grandma has some paper and texta (marker) pens. She shows Emma how to draw grumbles. They both scribble on their paper until ...
"Emma stopped drawing. She looked at her paper and smiled"
But they are not finished. Grandma shows Emma how to fold her paper into a small boat - a grumble boat. They launch their boats into the ocean and watch them float away. Then, as in all good books, they head home for a warm drink and something delicious to eat.
At the back of this book there are instructions for making paper boats. I love the cover of this book and the way the end papers are different at the front and back. Little Emma has wonderful body language and funny mismatched clothes. Grandma is wise. I love her jeans and desert boots. Her home is filled with pretty cushions and floor rugs emphasising her nurturing personality.
Grumble Boats was a 2022 CBCA Early Childhood notable title. I remember my friend who is a Teacher-Librarian in a K-2 campus telling me how much she loved this book. She was sure it would be shortlisted but alas it was not. I agree with her - this is a book that should have "made the cut". The winner and honour books for 2022 were Jetty Jumping, Walk of the Whales and Amira's suitcase.
Other books illustrated by Tamsin Ainslie. In my Garden is her new book due for publication in August:
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