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Grumpycorn
Last updated Monday, June 1, 2026
Author: Sara McIntyre
Date of Publication: 2019
ISBN: 1407180827
Grade Level: 1st (GLCs: Click here for grade level guidelines.)
Date(s) Used: Jun. 2026
Synopsis:
Unicorn wants to write the most fabulous story in the world. He has a fancy notebook, a special fluffy pen - he has everything just perfect... But Unicorn has NO IDEA what to write!
When his friends try to join in, will Unicorn turn into a... GRUMPYCORN?
| Note to readers: |
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Unicorn and his friends (Narwhal, Mermaid, and Jellyfish) are going on a space adventure, but disagreements about Unicorn’s desire to control the trip causes Unicorn to become a "Grumpycorn." In the end, Unicorn learns a lesson about kindness and friendship when he realizes he'd rather be with his friends than alone (especially in outer space).
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| Discussion topics for before reading: |
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Do a picture walk through the book and identify the different characters.
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What is the difference between unicorns and mermaids?
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Have you ever been grumpy before? What made you grumpy? What did you feel?
Vocabulary
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Grumpy: moody, out of sorts, cross, upset
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Fabulous: amazingly good, wonderful.
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Mermaid: a make-believe creature that is a cross between a woman and a fish.
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Unicorn: a make-believe horse-like creature with a single horn projecting out from its head.
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Astronaut: a person trained to travel and work in a spacecraft beyond Earth's atmosphere.
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Annoying: someone or something that causes mild irritation without rising to the level of a major problem.
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Jellyfish: a fish made out of jelly (just kidding).
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| Discussion topics for during/after reading: |
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What about Unicorn’s friends made Unicorn so grumpy? What did they do?
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What made Unicorn feel a little bit better at the end? Emphasize to the children that sometimes when people are grumpy, they just want someone to understand how they are feeling.
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What do you do when you feel grumpy, sad, scared, happy?
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Discuss when you feel different emotions and why you feel this way.
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Emphasize that our emotions are valid and it is okay to feel those emotions.
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*Note: These craft ideas are just suggestions.
You can use them, but you don't have to use them.
You can expand upon them, or add your own twist.
Remember, though, that the focus of your time should
not be on the development and execution of a craft;
the focus should be on the read-aloud and the
enjoyment of the book!
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