“Messer’s debut is both a useful lesson in beating a cantankerous mood and an elegant example of traditional printmaking, made appealingly up-to-date against stretches of white.”

“Penguin’s ability to bring himself to a more content and optimistic place without any outside or parental help offers concrete, empowering ideas for readers who might be wearing their own grumpy outfits.”

“Spare linoleum-print illustrations with lots of white space keep viewers’ eyes trained on our protagonist as he humorously grumps and stomps (we’re laughing at him, not with him) and then visibly chills out (his eyebrows give us all we need to gauge his moods).”

“Messer has arrived at a fine combination here: few words and images, but not too few, and well-chosen to pave the way out of the grumps. The artwork possesses substance and delicacy. Really well turned, with balance, momentum, and all the right notes.”

“This charming account of handling emotions is a great addition to other children’s books about grumpy behavior.”

“Little ones will likely giggle over the subtly bashful, disrobing penguin and sympathize with his cloudy mood, and the gentle lesson grouchiness is fleeting is a comforting one, for both kids and parents.”