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I Am Not Okay
How the Grinch Stole Christmas meets Ren & Stimpy in this graphic novel about confronting your emotions, perfect for kids who love the fun weirdness of the Catwad and Bird & Squirrel series.
All the woodland creatures of Happy Forest (where even trees and flowers smile) go to Fluff Nugget, a fluffy, round critter of indeterminate species, when they need cheering up--he just sings them the "Goodbye Grumpy Grumps" song and they feel happy again! But when this happens too much...like, WAY too much…it starts to wear on Fluff Nugget, until he feels grumpier than anyone. After he lets loose a cry of "I AM NOT OK!" Fluff Nugget and his woodland friends must figure out a better way to boost the mood. Will the Happy Forest ever be the same again?
All the woodland creatures of Happy Forest (where even trees and flowers smile) go to Fluff Nugget, a fluffy, round critter of indeterminate species, when they need cheering up--he just sings them the "Goodbye Grumpy Grumps" song and they feel happy again! But when this happens too much...like, WAY too much…it starts to wear on Fluff Nugget, until he feels grumpier than anyone. After he lets loose a cry of "I AM NOT OK!" Fluff Nugget and his woodland friends must figure out a better way to boost the mood. Will the Happy Forest ever be the same again?
112 pages, Hardcover
Published July 8, 2025
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
September 27, 2025
Fluffy Nugget has become responsible for keeping all the creatures in the forest happy, which leads to his unhappiness.
meh
meh
August 17, 2025
I really wrestled with how to rate this book because it's a kids' book and maybe I'm overthinking things, but in the end, I'm not okay with this book's message. It teaches that it's not acceptable to ever be sad or upset and you have to be happy all the time which is completely unrealistic. This is how I was treated as a kid and even now into adulthood that I wasn't allowed to cry about anything or feel down about bad things that happened. I always had to appear happy and it's extremely damaging.
This book sends that message in the few examples it gives where someone in the forest is upset about something and Fluff Nugget comes along and sings a wild song to cheer them up. Well, seriously, what is wrong with them feeling a little down for a bit especially if it's something that's completely warranted? The moose gets a scraped knee and is feeling low. So what? He's in pain and annoyed at getting hurt. It'll pass. Just let him be and he can feel better at his own pace. He doesn't need this song screamed at him because it's so unacceptable for him to feel the slightest emotion other than completely happy.
The other animals who are sung at all have the same issues- just feeling a little sad or grumpy. But it's just so repugnant for anyone to show real emotions that they have to be brainwashed into only being happy. Not a good message for kids from this book.
This book sends that message in the few examples it gives where someone in the forest is upset about something and Fluff Nugget comes along and sings a wild song to cheer them up. Well, seriously, what is wrong with them feeling a little down for a bit especially if it's something that's completely warranted? The moose gets a scraped knee and is feeling low. So what? He's in pain and annoyed at getting hurt. It'll pass. Just let him be and he can feel better at his own pace. He doesn't need this song screamed at him because it's so unacceptable for him to feel the slightest emotion other than completely happy.
The other animals who are sung at all have the same issues- just feeling a little sad or grumpy. But it's just so repugnant for anyone to show real emotions that they have to be brainwashed into only being happy. Not a good message for kids from this book.
November 14, 2025
Plot-wise, it doesn't do a lot more than a picture book would, but it's effective and gets it's point across. The art's bright and the character expressions are funny. A highlight in a sea of contemporary graphic novels aimed at emerging readers.
August 30, 2025
This was pretty cute, ngl. A good reminder that we all need a break and we all have our own struggles and yeah, you can’t be one person’s therapist and expect their entire happiness to be because of you. Poor Fluff needed a break.
August 1, 2025
Most relatable book I've ever read
August 3, 2025
like it
March 29, 2025
E ARC Provided by Edelweiss Plus
Fluff Nugget wakes up in a good mood in the Happty Forest, has a healthy yet yummy breakfast (oats and fruit, but with ice cream on top!), and sets off to make everyone around him happy. He and his friends sing a "Goodbye Grumpy Grumps" song to Merry Moose when he has an owie, he reminisces with the burr in his fur, Spike, about when they first met, and helps Grumpy Skunk share his dirt with his friends. He becomes a little overwhelmed when helping all of his friends dump the grumps means that he doesn't get to the store to get cherries for his ice cream, especially when he has to deal with Doofus Dear getting a joke wrong, and the other deer taking it badly. His singing doesn't go quite as planned, and even though the deer are nice about it, Fluff Nuggest starts descending into a bad mood himself. When his friends keep asking for him to sing the song, he becomes overwhelmed, and when he finally makes it to the store to buy cherries and a friend pleads with him to sing it, he does. The song is a failure, and Fluff Nugget breaks down and admits that he is not okay. The pressure of being the only one to cheer up the entire forest is just too much, and he has a melt down. His friends gather around and try to remember how to sing the song, but when they can't, start making up a new one. At first, this makes Fluff Nugget happy, but he isn't willing to give up control. Eventually, he realizes that it's okay to let other people take over, and he is even able to support Dora, his door knocker, when she has a similar crisis. The moral of the story? It's easier to get cherries delivered than to try to pick them up at the store.
Strengths: I don't think I have seen such an exuberant character since Kochalka's 2015 The Glorkian Warrior Eats Adventure Pie . Fluff Nugget is ridiculously happy, and trying to make sure everyone around him is the same way, although his friends are so insistent that he becomes stressed. Underneath all of the frenetic happiness, there is a message about self care and pacing oneself. Not surprisingly, DeGrand has written for Mad Magazine, and Simpson and Sponge Bob comics. The illustrations looked familiar, since he created designs for "Weird" Al Yankovic's "Polkamania".
Weaknesses: I'm not entirely sure of the demographic for this. Will second graders get the deeper messages beneath the goofy humor? Will middle schoolers put up with the over-the-top happiness? The book description says that Fluff Nugget is of "indeterminate species", but I was sure he was a bear, living in a tree like Winnie the Pooh.
What I really think: I can see this being beloved by school counselors everywhere, but the length doesn't lend itself to read alounds. Fans of Pastis' Squirrel Do Bad or Savage's Laser Moose will find Fluff Nugget's struggles entertaining yet informative.
Fluff Nugget wakes up in a good mood in the Happty Forest, has a healthy yet yummy breakfast (oats and fruit, but with ice cream on top!), and sets off to make everyone around him happy. He and his friends sing a "Goodbye Grumpy Grumps" song to Merry Moose when he has an owie, he reminisces with the burr in his fur, Spike, about when they first met, and helps Grumpy Skunk share his dirt with his friends. He becomes a little overwhelmed when helping all of his friends dump the grumps means that he doesn't get to the store to get cherries for his ice cream, especially when he has to deal with Doofus Dear getting a joke wrong, and the other deer taking it badly. His singing doesn't go quite as planned, and even though the deer are nice about it, Fluff Nuggest starts descending into a bad mood himself. When his friends keep asking for him to sing the song, he becomes overwhelmed, and when he finally makes it to the store to buy cherries and a friend pleads with him to sing it, he does. The song is a failure, and Fluff Nugget breaks down and admits that he is not okay. The pressure of being the only one to cheer up the entire forest is just too much, and he has a melt down. His friends gather around and try to remember how to sing the song, but when they can't, start making up a new one. At first, this makes Fluff Nugget happy, but he isn't willing to give up control. Eventually, he realizes that it's okay to let other people take over, and he is even able to support Dora, his door knocker, when she has a similar crisis. The moral of the story? It's easier to get cherries delivered than to try to pick them up at the store.
Strengths: I don't think I have seen such an exuberant character since Kochalka's 2015 The Glorkian Warrior Eats Adventure Pie . Fluff Nugget is ridiculously happy, and trying to make sure everyone around him is the same way, although his friends are so insistent that he becomes stressed. Underneath all of the frenetic happiness, there is a message about self care and pacing oneself. Not surprisingly, DeGrand has written for Mad Magazine, and Simpson and Sponge Bob comics. The illustrations looked familiar, since he created designs for "Weird" Al Yankovic's "Polkamania".
Weaknesses: I'm not entirely sure of the demographic for this. Will second graders get the deeper messages beneath the goofy humor? Will middle schoolers put up with the over-the-top happiness? The book description says that Fluff Nugget is of "indeterminate species", but I was sure he was a bear, living in a tree like Winnie the Pooh.
What I really think: I can see this being beloved by school counselors everywhere, but the length doesn't lend itself to read alounds. Fans of Pastis' Squirrel Do Bad or Savage's Laser Moose will find Fluff Nugget's struggles entertaining yet informative.
August 28, 2025
Ahhhhhh burnout. How we know thee well...
Now for kids!
I don't know if kids are going to grasp the subtleties of the messaging in the story so much as finding the small, overworked fluffy thing funny. An adult recognizes and empathizes with the critters in setting boundaries and the inevitable burnout that comes from ignoring your own boundaries. The kids I know pride themselves on asking you to do four million things at once and turn on a specific episode of Bluey at the same time. Mixed bag for audience, I think.
Could be saved by an afterword explaining burnout and how to take care of yourself.
Now for kids!
I don't know if kids are going to grasp the subtleties of the messaging in the story so much as finding the small, overworked fluffy thing funny. An adult recognizes and empathizes with the critters in setting boundaries and the inevitable burnout that comes from ignoring your own boundaries. The kids I know pride themselves on asking you to do four million things at once and turn on a specific episode of Bluey at the same time. Mixed bag for audience, I think.
Could be saved by an afterword explaining burnout and how to take care of yourself.
August 29, 2025
On the surface, this is a silly book about a bear always cheering up his forest neighbors with a silly song. If readers look deeper, it's about a bear who burns himself out by always being perky and taking care of everyone else. Fluff Nugget has took this role on by accident when he cheered up a friend in the past. Now, it has become a full production number including dancers, musicians and acrobats whenever someone feels any emotion other than happy. Readers will realize this is not sustainable so will not be surprised when Fluff collapses with his own emotions. I love the little bur that is attached to Fluff and provides realistic advice throughout.
July 30, 2025
My middle grade reader and I had so much fun with this book! Fluff loves cheering up his forest friends with a song that cures grumpiness. From bad jokes to scraped knees, he is there for everyone with delightful and hilarious antics. Until the weight of taking on everyone else’s happiness is too much, and Fluff finally admits he is not okay. Oh my heart! Little people pleasers and perfectionists are going to relate to this laugh-out-loud book so much. The vibes are like the sweeter moments of Ren and Stimpy. Highly recommend!
August 8, 2025
Loved this early GN that is about early chapter book level reading. The message that the bear? had to let go and let others sheer themselves up because he was not taking care of himself first, was great. A book for people pleasers and controllers. But probably kids won't read that much into it, and just think its funny and silly. Which this books definitely is.
September 9, 2025
Meh, a cute quick read on the desk
October 7, 2025
cute read!
October 16, 2025
A bit shouty for me, but I appreciate the underlying premise of self-care and many paths to happiness
January 2, 2026
"The helpful message that it's OK to ask for space is welcome, but it's the raucous art and slapstick comedy that steals the show." [Booklist]
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews