Available:*
Library | Audience | Home Location | Material Type | Shelf Number | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Searching... Central | Kid/Juvenile | Open Stacks Picture Books | Open Stacks Kids Book | E CLEME V.1 | Searching... Unknown |
Bound With These Titles
On Order
Summary
Summary
Grumps is a circus dog who loves to make people laugh--all he has to do is lie down on the ground with his feet in the air and the crowds cheer and roar. But one day a new dog named Sparks joins the circus. Sparks can jump through hoops, balance a ball on his nose, and even ride on the back of a running zebra. How can an old dog with one simple trick compete with the likes of Sparks? Sue Truesdell's exuberant illustrations capture all the excitement of circus life in this heartwarming storyabout friendship, family, and the universal need for acceptance.
Author Notes
Andrew Clements was born in Camden, New Jersey on May 7, 1949. He received a bachelor's degree in literature from Northwestern University and master's degree in teaching from National Louis University. Before becoming a full-time author, he taught in the public schools north of Chicago for seven years, was a singer-songwriter, and worked in publishing.
He is well known for his picture book texts, but it was his middle school novel, Frindle, that was a breakthrough for his writing career. Frindle won numerous awards including the Georgia Children's Book Award, the Sasquatch Children's Book Award, the Massachusetts Children's Book Award, the Rhode Island Children's Book Award, and the Year 2000 Young Hoosier Book Award. His other works include The Landry News, The Janitor's Boy, No Talking, Things Not Seen, Things Hoped For, and Things That Are.
(Bowker Author Biography)
Reviews (3)
School Library Journal Review
PreS-Gr 3-Grumps is a gray and scraggly but well-loved circus dog. He moves slowly, if at all. The children roar with laughter when, instead of jumping through the flaming hoop, the old pooch just yawns, closes his eyes, and lies down until the clowns roll him offstage in a wagon. Then a new pup, Sparks, arrives and dazzles the audience with his tricks. Not to worry though-the aging canine proves he can still steal the show one last time. The combination of Clements's impeccable storyteller pacing and Truesdell's creative and whimsical cartoons create a reading and visual experience second only to actually being at the circus. The illustrator uses a mixture of watercolors with pen and ink to bring the action to life in vibrant colors. The use of muted tones for the animated and gleeful children surrounding the center ring helps to create a realistic mood for this funny and warm story about extended family life behind the scenes of the Big Top. For librarians looking for a great circus book or an example of the importance of a loving family-this is it. Children are sure to demand a repeat performance.-Wanda Meyers-Hines, Huntsville/Madison County Public Library, Huntsville, AL (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Horn Book Review
When Red the Clown gets a new dog, Grumps the old circus family dog worries that he isn't appreciated. He works and works to improve his one and only trick. In the end, Red the Clown makes sure he gets his share of cheers, because he's family, after all. The playful, energetic watercolor and pen-and-ink illustrations successfully characterize this tale of loyalty and determination. From HORN BOOK Fall 2000, (c) Copyright 2010. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Booklist Review
Ages 4^-7. Old Grumps is the circus dog. He has only one trick--pretending he's going to jump through a hoop of fire, but lying down for a nap instead. He loves the applause and his place in the circus family, and when a new dog, Sparks, arrives, Grumps is not prepared to lose his identity as top dog. Sparks loves to jump through hoops of fire, so a miserable Grumps tries to learn the trick, too. He bangs his head, scrapes his belly, and can't get through the hoop, but he keeps trying until, on the last night of the state fair, he makes it through for the first and last time. Grumps is a dog with plenty of heart, and Clements' text captures the sympathetic moments. However, it's Truesdell's watercolor-and-ink art, resembling the work of Tracey Campbell Pearson, that heightens the fun, especially as Grumps doggedly keeps trying to make that hoop. Kids will respond to lovable Grumps; adult readers will be more attuned to the message about teaching old dogs new tricks. --Ilene Cooper
