The Grumpus: And His Dastardly, Dreadful Christmas Plan

Description

From Alex T. Smith, bestselling author of the Claude series and How Winston Delivered Christmas, comes a fantastically festive Christmas adventure about a gorgeous grumpy character. A modern day Grinch, The Grumpus is a heartwarming story that celebrates the true meaning of Christmas and is accompained by irresistible colour artwork, making it the perfect story for all the family to enjoy together. Do you know about The Grumpus? And his Dastardly, Dreadful Christmas Plan? And about the Awful Thing that happened at the North Pole on Christmas Eve? Perhaps I should tell you about it . . . This gorgeous hardback has a festively foiled cover and beautiful artwork from the author, making it the perfect Christmas gift, and a joy to return to year after year.

Alex T. Smith has drawn and written stories since he could hold a pencil. After considering several career options (space traveller, cake maker, professional rabbit), Alex decided to train to do the job he'd wanted to do since he was five - an illustrator specializing in the world of children's publishing. Alex graduated with a first-class degree in Illustration in 2006 and also won second place in the Macmillan Prize for Illustration in his final year. Since then Alex has gone on to work for a wide variety of clients, not just in the publishing industry, as well as writing and illustrating his own picture books, many of which have won prizes and have been read on TV during the Bedtime Hour on the CBeebies channel. Alex is also the creator of the bestselling Claude series for early readers, which appear in their own TV series on Disney Junior. His much-loved How Winston Delivered Christmas, its sequel How Winston Came Home for Christmas, and the witty retelling of The Twelve Days of Christmas, or Grandma is Overly Generous are set to become future Christmas classics.

Gorgeous to read with the children leading up to the big day, this is a future festive classic. -- Zoe West * Woman and Home * Little ones will love this festive tale about a grumpy monster and his dastardly plan to stop Christmas. * Good Housekeeping, The best books to buy for your family and friends this Christmas * A genuinely hilarious, sweet story that has all the makings of a Christmas classic. Our six-year-old was regularly in bits as we worked our way through the chapters, while the amazing illustrations brought the story to life perfectly. This was a book we genuinely couldn't wait to get stuck into each night and we're already looking forward to hearing what the Grumpus gets up to next. -- Sarah Dawson * The Independent * Starring a cuddlier version of the Krampus, and bursting with Smith's characteristic extravagant, full colour illustrations, this handsome hardback is ideal for sharing with children of 4+ in the runup to the big day. * The Guardian * Alex T. Smith delivers another fabulous, illustrated Christmas story. It's great fun and the illustrations sparkle. * Books for Keeps * With a brilliantly funny story featuring an unforgettable grumpy star player, Smith's bold and comical illustrations, a foiled cover and ribbon marker, and all lovingly wrapped in the author's natural warmth and insight into the true meaning of Christmas, this wonderful book is destined to become a family favourite in the run-up to Christmas. -- Pam Norfolk * Lancashire Post * Christmas wouldn't be Christmas without a spectacularly illustrated story by Alex T. Smith. This year's is about a latter-day Grinch intent on sabotaging the season. Things turn out quite Christmas Carol - but funnier. -- Nicolette Jones * The Sunday Times * Looking for a new "Grinch" to read about this Christmas? Look no further - this book is perfect. Funny, charming and heartwarming. * Irish Independent's Best Children's Books this Christmas. *