Grumpy Monkey Party Time!

Grumpy Monkey #2

by Suzanne Lang, Max Lang (Illustrator)

Everyone's favorite New York Times bestselling Grumpy Monkey is back in this hilarious sequel about managing social anxiety and listening to your needs!

Have you ever been a little anxious about going to a party? Jim Panzee feels that. Porcupine is having a big party, and according to Jim's best friend Norman, there will be--gulp--dancing. Jim can DEFINITELY not dance. When he tells his friends, they all try to teach him cool moves--surely that's the only reason Jim isn't excited about this party!

Now, their job complete, the other animals sweep Jim along, all the way to the dance floor. Jim is dipped, swayed, and twirled until he can't take it anymore--he just doesn't like to dance! When he lets everyone know, he's met with disbelief...until Water Buffalo reveals that he doesn't much care to dance, either. As more and more animals have the courage speak their truths, does this mean there's no place for them at this party?

In this hilarious sequel to GRUMPY MONKEY, kids will learn that it's okay not to go with the flow if they're uncomfortable, and that speaking up about what they need can help others speak up, too--and maybe they need the same thing!

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Animals, Humor, Fiction, Emotion, Storytime

44 pages, Hardcover

First published October 1, 2019

About the author

Librarian Note: There is more than one author by this name in the Goodreads database.

Reviews

[Villain E · Rating 3 out of 5]

I still say he's grumpy because he's a chimpanzee, not a monkey.

I'm a little iffy on this. Porcupine is throwing a party. Jim Panzee let's slip that he can't dance. So the other animals spend a bunch of time teaching him to dance. Then he dances at the party. But he still doesn't like dancing. So the animals say, that's okay, there are other things to do at a party. So Jim does what he wants and has fun.

Is the message about being yourself? Not giving in to peer pressure? I'm so used to kids' books being about trying something new and so much time was spent on learning to dance that that's what I assumed it was about. I'm all for the be yourself message, but I wish it was more clear.

[Angel Torres · Rating 4 out of 5]

This one is my favorite of the Grumpy Monkey books!

It talks about something very relatable and important which is that you don't have to quit social gatherings just because you don't like certain parts of them, because you might enjoy others!

And also not to pressure other to do things you "think" they should do to be able to enjoy themselves.

Great book!

[Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

My son loves books and nowadays I am reading more Children’s books than my ever growing TBR. Jim Panzee aka Grumpy Monkey doesn’t like to dance but he gives in to please his friends. Jim then stands up for himself and learns how to communicate his feelings, and his friends also learn to respect different points of view.

[Franci · Rating 4 out of 5]

#108 of 2020

[Mairéad · Rating 2 out of 5]

Young fans of Jim Panzee will enjoy revisiting him and his jungle friends but I found this lacked some of the joy of the original picture book/clever humour of the graphic novel. The illustrations are bright and detailed and the book is suitable for children aged 4+ with a nice message about not being afraid to admit when you don't like something everyone else seems to enjoy, but it's not one I'll be revisiting any time soon.

[Theresa · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a delightful fun book! The 2nd written in the Grumpy Monkey series finds Jim going to a party. He can't dance he says, and all his friends teach him before all heading off to Porcupine's Party. Jim dances and dances but suddenly just stops and starts to leave. After telling everyone he doesn't like to dance so is leaving, others confess to not likeing it either and all the other reasons one goes to a party are brought forth. A great lesson for all, not just children, that you don't have to like or join into everything the others want to do at a party!

Once again the illustrations are cute, colorful, beautifully renderd and with humorous detail. Check out the labels on the various food offerings at the party. *snicker*

[Niki (nikilovestoread) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Grumpy Monkey is one of our favorite picture books. Unfortunately, Grumpy Monkey Party Time! just didn't quite live up to its predecessor. It's still a cute one, but there's just something missing that I can't put my finger on. I do like the message about social pressure and how it's okay to be different and how you may just help others who are struggling as well by being your true self.

[Mahlon · Rating 2 out of 5]

Honestly, this was my most anticipated picture book of 2019 and I am disappointed. The art is still beautiful, but the story was unsatisfying? Where is the depth of theme from the original Grumpy Monkey?

[Rachel · Rating 3 out of 5]

The first one was hilarious, this one not as much. Recommended for ages 4-8, 3 stars.

[Chris Hays · Rating 4 out of 5]

The first book is still my favorite. However, I love the plot in this book. Often, monkey's attitude towards expressing oneself in activity such as dance matches mine closely. This is a great book to use with students reluctant to participate and who want an alternative.

[Lara Samuels · Rating 5 out of 5]

Be ready to laugh out loud and have great conversations with kids. Must purchase!

[Tara Engel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Always a fun read when Grumpy Monkey is involved!

[Sheila · Rating 4 out of 5]

Akh! What a delight. I love love love Jim!!

[Sophia Hirst · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great example of what happens when you force someone to do something they aren’t good at and then everyone wonders why they are grumpy. Will be reading again

[Tapani Aulu · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tämähän oli tosi hieno! Simo ei tykkää tanssia ja kertoo sen. Oikein upeat kuvat ja hyvä tarinakin.

[Melanie Hetrick · Rating 5 out of 5]

Grumpy Monkey is back! He's been invited to Porcupine's party. Problem is he doesn't know how to dance. So the other animals take it upon themselves to teach him. Jim the Monkey is a quick learner. When everyone gets to the party there is much dancing. Jim is not enjoying himself. He finds that he doesn't like dancing. When he announces this other animals speak up as well, stating they don't like dancing either. They just went along because everyone else was dancing.

A fantastic book about speaking up for yourself and being ok not going with the crowd.

[Marc Lippuner · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ein Plädoyer für selbstbestimmtes Handeln: Mach nichts, worauf Du keinen Bock hast. Es gibt stets Alternativen.

[Kathryn (Dragon Bite Books) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Review originally published on my blog, Nine Pages .

Jim Panzee is back in the classic story of a character who says that he doesn’t or can’t dance being taught by his friends how to do and realizing that he has to find his own beat—only Jim’s beat, is no beat. Jim learns how to dance from his friends, and his friends are all impressed and want to dance with Jim at Porcupine’s party. But after so long dancing, Jim can’t take it anymore. He decides to leave the party rather than dance anymore. And that’s when he discovers that there is party food—lots of delicious party food that Porcupine needs help eating. So Jim and the other animals that he emboldens to admit their dislike of dancing stay at the party, and they eat, and they even play a few games, but they don’t dance. As another individual who has found that dancing is not one of my favorite activities, I always appreciate parties that make plain that not dancing is socially acceptable. For that alone, I can enjoy this book. I wonder if its message gets to its targets audience as much as it does to the fed-up adult readers who have been conditioned to think that events like weddings or even proms require dancing. More parties with board games is what I’m advocating. I still like the inclusion of some lesser-known creatures though I find it odd that only Norman the gorilla from next-door and Jim Panzee have names separate from their species.

[Toreian · Rating 4 out of 5]

The story started off with a monkey getting a invitation to porcupine’s party but he didn’t want to go because he didn’t know how to dance. That shocked every animal around who heard because they believe everybody could dance. He showed off his moves but he really didn’t know how to dance. So his friends decided to teach him how to dance. When he arrived at the party everyone wanted to dance with him but he wasn’t so happy about dancing. Jim finally stood up and said he didn’t like dancing which started a ripple affect having white rhino say he doesn’t like dancing either, then flamingo, etc. This story showed that sometimes standing up for yourself can be helpful because you might help someone else who was scared to speak up. Jim the monkey was going to leave but he ran into porcupine who was sad about him leaving. Porcupine mentioned food and Jim changed course and decided to stay and eat food. The lesson I got from this was that not everything is for everyone but you can always find a compromise.

[Janique Gray · Rating 4 out of 5]

This story follows a chimpanzee who is labeled as grumpy and how Jim doesn't want to go to a party he was invited to. His friends try to teach him how to dance before the party. At the porcupine's party, everyone wanted to dance with him. He got so overwhelmed by dancing with everyone he yelled out that he doesn't like dancing at all. To his surprise, other animals chimed in saying they didn't enjoy dancing either. Just before Jim was about to leave the party, he was talking to the porcupine and he mentioned food. The food consisted of bananas, honey, and seed dumplings, he couldn't say no to that. The party also had a bunch of games that he enjoyed with his friends. I like how in this book they tried to get him to like dancing but he stayed true to himself in the end and stood his ground. But he found out that there is more to parties than dancing. The only critique I have of this book is that Chimpanzees are not monkeys, they are apes because they don't have tails!

[Brandy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jim is back! And this time he’s going to a party! But he doesn’t know how to dance! His mother hadn’t been telling him that he couldn’t dance & when he did try, “THAT’S not dancing!!” for years until he stopped trying. Only dancing from 1955-1961 was acceptable to her…and it was now 1986! So, his friends teach him how to dance & he’s GOOD at it!! Unlike me, he didn’t have to wait until he was 14 & finally told my mom that times & dancing have changed in 34 years it was 1991 by this time) & learned not to listen to her & her old person self!

Anyway, when the dancing was going on, I wondered where Porcupine was! He WAS the host of the party! He was too busy worrying about the food & games to dance! He also knew that a good party is a well-rounded party with more than dancing!

[Taylor Kundel-Gower · Rating 4 out of 5]

FINALLY! A book with a character who doesn't like dancing and isn't ultimately "saved" by his pushy friends showing him how great dancing is. Jim Panzee doesn't like to dance. His friends try to make him like dancing, but he just doesn't. After making it clear to his friends that he doesn't like to dance, other animals reveal that they also aren't fond of dancing, but felt social pressure to pretend to enjoy it, each of them thinking that they were the only one. So nobody has to dance! Those who like dancing, dance. Those who do not found many other things to do, such as games, and EATING! This speaks to me.

[Carol Krueger · Rating 3 out of 5]

Grumpy Monkey is invited to a birthday party. Everyone convinces Grumpy Monkey that dancing is required...only Grumpy Monkey doesn't know how to dance and feels extra awkward dancing! This is real, folks! Grumpy Monkey has had enough, he stops the conga line to announce his distaste for dancing. Other party-goers also acknowledge that dancing is just not their thing. Before the group can leave, porcupine (who's cake day the party celebrates), invites the group to eat and play games.
Overall lesson - be true to yourself. If you don't like dancing - don't dance! Play games with friends and eat to your hearts delight!

[Kelsey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Age: Older Preschool-2nd grade

In the vast world of children's literature there are plenty of books that celebrate the joys of dancing. This is not one of them. Jim Panzee is nervous about an upcoming party--especially because he doesn't know how to dance. After advice, tutorials, and putting it into action at the party, Jim still doesn't like to dance. When he voices his true opinion, Jim finds out that there are other fun things to do at the party like eating and playing games.

Children will feel empowered to express their true interests, while respecting the interests of others.

[Jo Oehrlein · Rating 3 out of 5]

Grumpy Monkey has been invited to Porcupine's party. All his friends say there will be dancing. Grumpy Monkey doesn't want to go because he doesn't know how to dance. All the animals take turns teaching him how to dance. At the party, everyone is dancing. Grumpy Monkey finally admits he's not having fun. Several others also say they don't enjoy dancing. Porcupine offers them food and games instead and the party continues on to great success.
Trying new things is good. Keeping doing something you don't enjoy, that is supposed to be fun, isn't worth it.

[Diane · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jim Panzee gets invited to Porcupine’s party where there will be dancing. When he tells his friends he can’t dance, they try to teach him. And once that is done, they head to the party. But the dancing is nonstop, and Jim isn’t really enjoying himself. And he’s not the only one. There are others that don’t feel like dancing either. They are about to leave when Porcupine shows them the food. “Wait. There is food at this party?” And games, too. Not that’s a party!

[Melissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am a fan of Grumpy Monkey and his assertion that he has a right to feel his feelings and be out of step with the group. What I particularly like about this iteration is how Grumpy monkey's truth telling gives other animals the freedom to express their opinions. Importantly instead of turning into an anti-party -I don't like dancing - it turns into a party full of diverse options. (Truly, who hasn't wanted to squash a conga line and it's compulsory hilarity)

[Satrina T · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jim Panzee gets invited to Porcupine’s party and everybody is keen on dancing… except him.

I should say I really identified with Jim Panzee because, although I know how to dance, I just don’t like to do it. For me, parties are great places to talk, laugh, eat, listen to music and sing and I sometimes was criticized for that.

I think it’s a great message that not everybody enjoys the same and it’s fine to find fun in different things.

[Leah · Rating 3 out of 5]

I feel like this book is getting away from the original Grumpy Monkey. I like the concept the author wrote about doing something you don’t like and after realizing you don’t like it, having options for something else. The “be yourself” ending is great. Maybe I am just over thinking the books, but there isn’t anything grumpy about it, just the title. My son really enjoys the books and wants to read them every night.

[Anne Lutomia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Grumpy Monkey does not know how to dance and is therefore afraid of going to a party. Other animals offer to teach him but he still does not like to dance. At the party he realizes that there are other animals like him - who do not like dancing. Together they enjoy the food, chat, play games while those who enjoy dancing have their fun. Great book about choices and preferences.