• Age: 3 to 5
• Grade: p to k

Gus the Pirate is always grumpy, but can the wise Pirate Queen convince him to change his ways?

There is one grumpy pirate.They call him Grumpy Gus.He grunts and gripes and grouses,and always makes a fuss.Gus the Pirate complains about everything -- ARRRRRGH! Gus grumbles about his lumpy bed and his itchy clothes. He complains about the yucky food and doing his chores on the pirate ship. Even sailing toward buried treasure can't make Gus happy! Finally, the other pirates have had enough! They ask the Pirate Queen to help.So the Pirate Queen gives Grumpy Gus a pet parrot -- but the parrot is grumpy, too! After Gus spends the day with a parrot who's just as grumbly and grouchy as he is, Gus realizes his bad attitude might be a little hard to deal with. Can Gus turn his frown upside down before the other pirates make him walk the plank?All kids can relate to feeling grumpy like Gus, and this swashbuckling pirate adventure teaches kids the importance of trying to have a positive attitude!

Corinne Demas is the award-winning author of numerous books for children and adults, including Are Pirates Polite?, illustrated by David Catrow, Pirates Go to School, illustrated by John Manders, and Always in Trouble, illustrated by Noah Z. Jones. Corinne is a professor of English at Mount Holyoke College, and her website is corinnedemas.com. She divides her time between Western Massachusetts and Cape Cod.

Corinne Demas' profile page

Artemis Roehrig lives in Western Massachusetts and loves to share stories with her two children. The Grumpy Pirate is her fifth book. You can learn more about her and her work at artemisroehrig.com.

Artemis Roehrig's profile page

Ashlyn Anstee grew up in Vancouver, studied in Toronto, and then settled in Los Angeles. A graduate of Sheridan College, she works as a story artist and animator in the animation industry. In her spare time, she makes short films and pats cats. She is the author/illustrator of Are We There, Yeti? and No, No, Gnome! To see more of her work, visit AshlynA.com.

Ashlyn Anstee's profile page

Praise for The Grumpy Pirate:"The art is cartoony and appealing. It won't take much searching for kids to recognize themselves (or their siblings) in Gus' general poutiness... A paean to grouchy Guses everywhere presented with pouty piratical aplomb." -- Kirkus ReviewsPraise for Pirates Go to School:"The eager-to-learn pirates learn to clean up after their parrots and not to swear... A humorous read." -- School Library JournalPraise for Saying Goodbye to Lulu:* "Demas uses sensory details to bring the story to life... A sensitive, hopeful portrayal." -- Booklist, starred review