Grumpy Monkey The Best Present

By: Suzanne Lang

Published by Random House, 2026-07-14

A new early reader from the world of the #1 New York Times-bestselling Grumpy Monkey about saving the best for last – and what to do when someone else’s best is your worst.

It’s Jim Panzee’s birthday, and his friends are coming over. We all know what means: Presents! Jim loves presents! Marabou insists that her present is the best and Jim should “save the best for last.” So Jim opens all his other gifts: A pineapple! A papaya!! Figs!!! Bananas!!!! What could possibly be any better than pineapple, papaya, figs, and bananas? Turns out: Not Marabou’s gift. Now Jim has to figure out if he should pretend he loves the gift or tell Marabou the truth. With his friends all giving him conflicting advice, Norman from next door steps in with the best advice of all: “You have to tell the truth. Just find a nice way to say it.”

As always, bestselling creators Suzanne Lang and Max Lang deliver a hilarious and simple story with bold art and a lesson at its core.