Cranky
About this ebook
It's the last day at the construction site and Cranky the crane truck is feeling, well, cranky. And he doesn't want to talk about it. His friends Zippy, Wheezy, and Dump Chuck try to cheer him up. But you know what doesn't help when you're feeling cranky? A lot of talking.
But what will help?
With Phuc Tran’s hilarious text and Pete Oswald’s bold, expressive illustrations, this social emotional learning tale shows young readers how kind friends and honesty are the perfect tools for navigating strong emotions. Perfect for fans of Grumpy Monkey and construction vehicles.
A Children’s Book Committee Best Book of the Year!
How can Cranky’s friends help him when all he wants is to be left alone?
- Books About Feelings: Follow Cranky the crane truck as he learns that it’s okay to be cranky, and that true friends don’t try to fix your feelings.
- Adorable Construction Vehicles: Meet a whole crew of lovable characters, from Cranky the crane and Zippy the cement mixer to their friend Dump Chuck!
- A Heartwarming Friendship Story: Discover how listening and simply being there is sometimes the best way to help a friend who is having a tough day.
- Laugh-Out-Loud Humor: With a funny, relatable refrain—"You know what doesn’t help when you’re feeling cranky?"—this book will have kids and parents giggling together.
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About the author
Phuc Tran is an award-winning writer, tattooer, and Latin teacher (for which he has won no awards). Lots of things make Phuc cranky: being too cold, being too hot, staying up too late, getting up really early, wearing baggy socks, eating jaggedy cereal for breakfast. Cranky was his first children’s book. His memoir, Sigh, Gone, received the New England Book Award and the Maine Literary Award and was named a Best Book of the Year by Amazon, Audible, and others. Phuc lives in Portland, Maine, with his wife (who is rarely cranky) and his two daughters (who are sometimes cranky). “Phuc” is pronounced like “Luke” but with an F. Learn more at phucskywalker.com.
Pete Oswald is an artist, picture book creator, and production designer. Pete is the illustrator of the New York Times bestselling Food Group series by Jory John and the Cranky series by Phuc Tran as well as many other picture books. When Pete is not working on books, he is helping to uplift many of the most successful animated franchises as a character designer, concept artist, and production designer. Pete lives in Los Angeles, California, with his wife and three sons.
