THYME BOOKSTORE â—½ TIPS
The idea for Max, The Grumpy Rhino came to life during my son’s kindergarten year. Most mornings started with a few sleepy grumbles about getting ready for school (I’m sure many parents can relate!).
As I watched him navigate those early school mornings, I began thinking about how kids often feel big emotions they don’t quite know how to express. Grumpiness is rarely just about being grumpy; sometimes it’s tiredness, worry, or simply needing a little extra love. I wanted to write a story that showed children it’s okay to feel that way, and that even the grumpiest hearts can find their way back to joy.
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As the story developed, my son joined in on the fun and even created the cover art himself. That made this book extra special to me. It became not just a story about a rhino learning to love school, but a creative project born from real moments between a mom and her son.
Through Max, The Grumpy Rhino, I hope families can talk about school emotions together in a loving, understanding way. I hope kids see that everyone has “grumpy days,” and that kindness, from others and toward ourselves, can turn them around.
This little rhino will always remind me of those kindergarten mornings, when love, grumpiness, and a dash of creativity turned our sleepy struggles into something beautiful.
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Check out this book and others in our BOOKSTORE, and order some for Christmas! See link in the rotating box at top of page.