Grumble Boats

What a sweet book about taking your “grumbles” and letting them sail away!

Emma is feeling grumpy that she doesn’t get to go to the pirate party with her brother. Thankfully, her grandma has a plan. They write out their grumbles on paper, fold them into paper boats, and let them sail away.

This book would be a great tool to help children identify and do something about their grumpy feelings.

Thank you to NetGalley and Charlesbridge for sending me a copy of this book to review.

This is a cute book with really pretty pictures. It teaches children how to cope with frustrations (or grumbles!) in a creative way. I like that the book did not invalidate Emma’s feelings or tell her to stop.

Oh this book should be on every parents bookshelf. Its all about the grumbles and getting rid of them. With the most sweetest way ever and with a grandma. Like the most darling book I've ever read! My four kids cherished every page and the conversations to follow were beautiful. Thank you Susannah McFarlane for writing the most perfect children's book.

Sweet story. Special lesson. Beautiful relationship between Emma and Grandma. Grumble Boats is a gem.

Emma is at her grandma’s house and she is feeling crabby. Grandma to the rescue! This sweet book by prolific children’s author Susannah Mcfarlane is beautifully illustrated by Tamsin Ainslie. It provides a creative resolution to a bad mood. It won’t just work for Emma, but for grandma and anyone else who reads or listens to the book. Draw your “grumble“ on a piece of paper. Use the directions in the book to fold the paper into a boat. And then put it in a moving body of water and let it float away. Wonderful idea. The author comments that paper is readily biodegradable, so points are given for environmental awareness as well. Nice presentation, great lesson!

With thanks to NetGalley for a free advance e-copy of this book, I have written this review voluntarily. (Publication date is April 15, 2024.)

Grumble Boats are such a good idea that I - at 29 - might make some myself. The cherry on top? Instructions on how to fold your own!

Big emotions are tough to navigate at any age. Such a tangible visual of letting those go is especially rare for younger kids; I'd dare to say that even toddlers could understand the big picture here.

I couldn't recommend this book more! Definitely one I'll be purchasing for my little guy's home library!

{Thank you bunches to NetGalley, Susannah McFarlane and Charlesbridge for the eARC in exchange for my honest review!}

Emma is very grumpy that she has to stay with Grandma rather than go to a party with her brother. This is such a charming, lovely book about dealing with big feelings. I love the relationship between Emma and Grandma and I'll definitely be making some grumble boats of my own.

Emma’s upset that she has to hang out at Grandma’s house instead of accompanying her big brother to a party. So Grandma goes out to the beach and shows Emma how to use a little paper boat to get rid of frustrations or anger. The good message from Susannah McFarlane and the lovely pictures by Tamsin Ainslie combine for a wonderful picture book for dealing with very big feelings in very little kids. Adults will adore this book just as much.

In the interest of full disclosure, I received this book from NetGalley and Charlesbridge in exchange for an honest review.