SCHOOLTIME GRUMPS

a GRUMPS picture book
illustrated by Xindi Yan
Little Bee Books, June 30, 2026
ISBN: 9781499817744
available for *pre-order* wherever books are sold!
Daisy and Yeh-Yeh return in this schooltime story about being eager to make new friends and making up with them if things go wrong.

Daisy's grandpa, Yeh-Yeh, is visiting from China, just in time for her new school year. But when she starts school, she realizes that none of her friends are in her class this year! Too eager to make new friends, Daisy doesn't pay attention when she takes her classmates' turns, spills their snacks, and tumbles their towers. Making friends is hard when everyone at school is grumpy! Or are they?

With Yeh-Yeh's encouragement, and a spark of compassion and creativity, Daisy has a new idea to make amends--and maybe even friends--with her new classmates. Readers will love this funny, heartwarming, and all-too-relatable story about understanding other's grumbles and navigating and nurturing relationships at school and in our families. Don't miss Grandpa Grumps and Grumpy New Year in this series as well!

Praise for Schooltime Grumps ...

"The story thoughtfully explores the universal childhood experience of making new friends while also celebrating her heritage through Daisy’s grandfather, who is visiting from China and subtly compares friendship-making to the process of creating sweet buns. VERDICT . . .
It’s a strong addition for diverse collections and social-emotional learning programs"
–School Library Journal, Schooltime Grumps, June 2026


NEWS, APPEARANCES, AND EVENTS:
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August 28: Pajama Storytime at Little Shop of Stories! | Decatur, GA
Friday, 8-28-26 at 6:00pm | More info here
November 19 - 22: SCHOOLTIME GRUMPS at NCTE Conference| Philadelphia, PA
Author Panel & Signing Time TBD | More info to come
July 22. 2025: ​Publishers Weekly Spring 2026 Children's Sneak Preview highlights SCHOOLTIME GRUMPS as highly anticipated Little Bee Books title for the upcoming season!
October 13, 2024: ​Publishers Weekly Rights Reports announces SCHOOLTIME GRUMPS, written by me, illustrated by Xindi Yan, a picture book in the GRUMPS series about Daisy dealing with her schoolmates' grumpiness at her over-eagerness to make new friends, with the help of her grandpa. Publication is scheduled for summer 2026!