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If You Like...The Grinch

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"The Grinch hated Christmas! The whole Christmas season! Now, please don't ask why. No one quite knows the reason." So for any of you who, like the Grinch, want to stop Christmas from coming, here are some picture books about Grinches that want to ruin Christmas.

Merry Christmas, Gus
By Chris Chatterton
Macmillan Children's Books, 2020. Picture Book.

"Gus doesn't like Christmas. Gus doesn't like Christmas decorations. He doesn't like Christmas carols. And he definitely doesn't like Christmas cheer." Clearly Gus and the Grinch would be the best of friends if they lived in the same world. Like the Grinch, however, Gus eventually learns to like the Christmas holiday when he learns to turn his focus outside of himself.

Captain Bling's Christmas Plunder
Written by Rebecca Colby
Illustrated by Rob McClurkan
Albert Whitman and Company, 2017. Picture Book.

When these pirates who are planning a plundering expedition are blown off course and end up in the North Pole, they decide to do the same thing that the Grinch would do in this situation and steal Christmas. They peek through the windows to spy on the elves before stealing all of the toys in Santa's workshop. When Santa chases after them, they try to make him walk the plank. Will the pirates learn their lesson or will they continue in their naughty ways? You'll have to read it to find out!

Grumpy Monkey: Oh, No! Christmas
Written by Suzanne Lang
Illustrated by Max Lang
Random House, 2021. Picture Book.

Everyone is excited about the holiday season. Everyone, that is, except Grumpy Monkey. The weather is drizzly, the bananas aren't ripe yet, and he's soaked and covered in mud. He definitely doesn't appreciate his friends' suggestions that he should decorate or sing along with their Christmas carols. With the help of his friends though, he eventually finds a reason to celebrate.

The Best Christmas Pageant Ever
Written by Barbara Robinson
Illustrated by Laura Cornell
Harper, 2011. Picture Book.

In this picture book version of the classic Christmas tale, "The Herdmans were the worst kids in the history of the world. They lied and stole and played with matches. They were so awful, you could hardly believe they were real." The Herdmans could be the villains of the tale, or they could be misunderstood but ultimately loveable characters. I like to think that they and the Grinch would get along well in that regard.

Santa Bruce
By Ryan T. Higgins
Disney-Hyperion, 2018. Picture Book.

Bruce was a bear that hated the holidays almost as much as he hated being cold. Which is why he wore long underwear and a warm red hat. Like the Grinch, in a case of mistaken identity all of the characters in this tale believe he is Santa. So he hitches some fake reindeer to a sleigh and rolls with it.

Cocoa's Cranky Christmas
Written by Jodie Shepherd
Illustrated by Beth Hughes
Tommy Nelson, 2020. Board Book.

Like the Grinch, Cocoa is cranky around Christmas time. In fact, he's "missing his Christmas joy." In order to help him find it, the narrator asks the reader to make a silly face, carry the book around the room, bark Jingle Bells, and other silly tasks to try to get Cocoa to laugh. This board book will bring joy to your kids as they work to spread the Christmas joy to Cocoa.
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