The Grumpy Bear - by Josephine Mark (Hardcover)

Book Synopsis

There is a new neighbor in the village, and he is... Grumpy!

Everyone in town--including the king penguin, the grey herons, and the rabbits--decides to pay the Grumpy Bear a visit. He might be grumpy but, after all, surely everyone agrees there's nothing better than having friends! The newcomer, however, can think of plenty of things that are better than friends: "Muddy rain puddles. Damp fog. Old fish. Slimy coughs!" And with that, he slams the door in the welcoming committee's faces. Too bad he's determined not to let anyone spoil his bad mood! Can the Grumpy Bear be won over with cheerfulness and kindness? We'll soon find out!

Based on the Baerbeiss stories by Annette Pehnt and Jutta Bauer, talented German artist Josephine Mark returns after the international success of My Trip with Drip. She delivers a delightful, humor-filled graphic novel that is as sharp as it is profound, showing great sympathy for quarrelsome outsiders or, really, anyone struggling to fit in a new group. Ideal for fans of Tove Jansson's 'Moomins'.

About the Author

Andrew Shields teaches at the English Department at the University of Basel, where he and his wife Andrea Delpho raised three now adult children. A poet, translator, songwriter, and musician, he has translated graphic novels from the German by Tobias Aeschbacher, Josephine Mark, and Feuchtenbergerowa. He lives in Basel, Switzerland.