Note: I accessed a digital review copy of this book through Edelweiss. ( )

Early Reader
2017

This book is the second in the series. I chose it for the family theme because each book in the series follows Charlie and Mouse - two precocious brothers - through their everyday lives and adventures. In this second installment, we meet the brother's grandfather, Grumpy - who is not Grumpy at all!

I thought this was a good choice for an early reader selection because there are 4 fairly short chapters, there are several sight words and some repeating, and there are still quite a few illustrations throughout the book -on every page. However, the pictures don't fill the page, making it different from the classic picture books - but making it feel more like a book that a young reader can attain on their own.

As stated earlier, there is some repeating. I like it though, because, the repeating is usually stated in a different way. For example, the first page opens like this:
There was a knock.
At the door.
There was a knock at the door!
It was Grumpy!
"Grumpy!"
I like the repeating in this fashion because it starts to teach punctuation, inflection, meaning, and starting to learn, read, and hear that sentences can sound different even if they're saying the same words.
Each chapter is very short. However, we learn a lot about each brother and Grumpy. How they like to swim, read, eat, etc. How they are similar and different despite the difference in all of their ages. They have many adventures throughout the book, but then we realize that eventually Grumpy must go back to his own house. It goes through the emotions of each of the boys and Grumpy, which I think show children that it is okay to enjoy and cherish the times you have with each other. But also that it is okay to miss someone and look forward to seeing each other again. I would definitely recommend this series - the boys are fun, the illustrations are pretty simple - yet they fit the story well. ( )

Medium
Pouncing
Songs
Good-bye

I liked these stories even more than the original Charlie & Mouse stories! Grandpa (Grumpy) comes to visit.

See also: Frog & Toad, Bink & Gollie

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Re-read March 2021 ( )

Brothers Charlie and Mouse are back again, this time being visited by their grandfather affectionately known as "Grumpy." Like with the previous title in this series, this book is both simple and sweet. The love between the grandfather and his grandsons is quite touching, and it is bittersweet when the boys are sad the visit is over. There are many interactions between the family that will touch the reader's heart and hopefully invoke happy memories of time spent with their own beloved grandparents. The one that got me was the grandfather claiming he was just 'resting his eyes' when he napped, as my grandfather would use the exact same phrase. This book is perfect for young readers with simple sentences in short 'chapters,' providing a nice bridge between early readers and longer chapter books. The illustrations are in soft pastels with a sketchy feel that I wouldn't generally like, but they seem to fit this book perfectly. ( )