Author: John Evan Harris
Designer & Illustrator: Minky Stapleton
Genre: picture book for children 2 – 5
Publisher: Roiall Emerald Publishers, Auckland, Aotearoa, New Zealand
Published: October 2024
Length: 32 pages
ISBN: 978-0-473-70195-6
Distributor: Boy Fell In Pond Ltd, PO Box 147-611, Ponsonby, Auckland 1011, Aotearoa New Zealand
Printed in China through Asia Pacific Offset
The grumpy mole wants nothing to do with the tiny forest creatures who pass by his door each day. But when he falls sick, the cheerful little fairies and mice get busy and spring clean his house. Their kindness sparks a change of heart in the grumpy mole.
You can hear popular broadcaster Suzy Cato reading The Grumpy Mole on her Suzy’s Book Corner.
Or listen to the author John Evan Harris read the book.
Just for fun, listen to The Mole in a hole song (nothing to do with The Grumpy Mole, but fun to listen to!). John Harris acknowledges that many years ago he heard the wacky song ‘The Mole in a hole’, and this subconsciously led him to choose a mole for one of his adlib stories. The song was performed in 1958 by a British group, The Southlanders. It was never a hit but was frequently played on Junior Choice on BBC Radio in the 60s to 80s.
The Grumpy Mole is being read by teachers at a number of early learning centres around New Zealand. For ideas on how to make use of the book, see the following –
John is a former television producer and writer, and founder of one of Aotearoa New Zealand’s most prolific production houses, Greenstone TV.
Before this he was a newspaper journalist, then a reporter and producer with Television New Zealand (including programme editor of Top Half), followed by a long stint at Communicado (producer of iconic shows like That’s Fairly Interesting and Heroes). In 1994 he set up Greenstone which still produces documentaries, factual series and drama series – all of which sell around the world. He sold Greenstone in 2014 and became a fulltime writer.
One of John’s favourite shows created at Greenstone was the award-winning historical re-enactment series Epitaph, and a story which featured in that show (The Maungatapu Murders) formed the background for his first two books, The Physician’s Gun and Henry Appleton Boy Hero and the Burgess Gang.
The Grumpy Mole is one of many stories John made up for his four children on holiday (see picture!). It had existed only in his head until a couple of years ago when he decided to turn it into a book. He set it to rhyme, and Minky Stapleton provided the wonderful illustrations.
John has more ideas for stories featuring the mole. The Grumpy Mole gets a Digger is the next. This was inspired by his great grandson Carter who has been in love with diggers since the first day he saw one! “Maybe later there’ll be a birthday and Christmas books starring the mole,” John says.
The Grumpy Mole’s pictures and design are the work of Auckland-based Minky Stapleton. Minky is a multi-faceted illustrator with a range of styles developed over the years. She has a strong foundation in conceptual thinking from years of working in some of the best advertising agencies as an award-winning Art Director and later Creative Director. “This also means that I illustrate with a designer’s eye,” she says, “always keeping the idea front and centre.
“After many years in agencies, I gave up the bad pitch food, never-ending meetings, late-night shoots and corporate cabs, to follow my first love, illustration.
“Since then, I have lived in three countries, had exhibitions in South Africa and Australia, designed costumes for a rock opera, and created book covers for best-selling authors. I have now also written and illustrated my own picture books for children.
Minky Stapleton’s website: www.minkystapleton.com
Here’s a drawing from the book for young readers to colour in. Print it out for them and see what amazing colour combinations they come up with!
The Grumpy Mole is delightful rhyming book for parents and grandparents to read aloud to their 3 - 6 year olds. Beautifully illustrated by well known artist and designer Minky Stapleton, who adds cute forest characters on every page. A simple story which touches on issues of kindness and forgiveness.
What a grump The Grumpy Mole is! But what a wonderful story! This gorgeous book shares the story of the wonderful friends The Grumpy Mole has in his neighbours. Kindness is such a special thing, in every neighbourhood!
I am not sure whether moles are a grumpy animal but when I read the line “I am a mole and I live in a hole”, bells went off in my head, I had heard that line before in a song. It’s a good line and I researched it and found it was featured in a song by the Southlanders in 1958. Great illustrations. The mole is a beauty. A story of helpfulness and forgiveness.
John loves movies and has directed a couple of his own short films, as well as episodes of Heroes and Epitaph. He has written a few scripts which may one day make it onto the big screen. “My dream in setting up Boy Fell In Pond was to develop movie scripts,” he says. “My mantra was ‘to make small movies with a big heart which sell internationally.’
“But in the meantime I have fallen in love with writing books and there’s no stopping me now!”
Stranger than Fiction, Princess Bride, Chinatown, Loving Vincent, Brother Where Art Thou, Pulp Fiction, Michael, Love Actually, The Green Mile, Big Fish, Ghost Town, Babel, The Hudsucker Proxy, Back to the Future, Mulholland Drive, Unforgiven, The Royal Tenenbaums, The Truman Show, Adaptation, Magnolia, State and Main.
Author: John Evan Harris
A: I know, it’s weird, because there are no moles in Aotearoa New Zealand where I live. The animal just popped into my head. Maybe it’s because the song ‘I am a mole and I live in a hole’ was rattling round in my head somewhere. It’s a wacky song – you should listen to it! (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zs7nTAmMuwY)
A: Well, I’m not sure what animal from Aotearoa New Zealand I could have chosen anyway. We have lots of birds here but very few mammals (apart from the bat) … and most of them are not natives anyway. The rabbit? Stoat (yuk!) Goats, deer, cats, dogs. And of course the Grumpy Mole story is set in a make believe world where there are also fairies and elves.
A: Well, I think the Mole himself is fun, because he is a silly old character who makes lots of mistakes. But I really like the cute beetle. I’ve always liked beetles: there are so many types, so many colours, all amazing. And I love the way Minky Stapleton has drawn the little ladybird beetle, with a back pack and so on. Do you remember Richard Scarry’s books, and his creation Lowly Worm? I think our beetle is similar: you look for her on every page to see what she’s up to.
A: No, they are all the work of Minky Stapleton. I just gave her the words, that’s all. Minky ‘invented’ the look of all the characters – their facial expressions and clothes, and their mannerisms. Isn’t she clever?! I also love the way Minky has made some the letters BIG and some small. (The picture shows Minky Stapleton and John at the launch of the Grumpy Mole book at the Dorothy Butler Children’s Bookshop, Auckland, in October 2024.)
A: Yes indeed. I have already written The Grumpy Mole gets a Digger, and I am thinking of writing stories about the Mole at Christmas, and his birthday, and maybe during a storm. Maybe a little book of things to do when your friend is not well.
