The Sour Grape

By Jory John, illustrated by Pete Oswald
HarperCollins, 2022
Picture book, 40 pages, ages 4-8

I’m a grape.
A sour grape.
Grrrrrrr!
If somebody upsets me, I’ll remember it.
If somebody wrongs me, I won’t forget it.
If somebody insults me, I’ll never ignore it. Nope.

The Sour Grape is really good at holding a grudge. And he has thin skin, so there are a lot of fruits that he has a problem with. But then on a day when nothing goes right and he ends up being three hours late, he gets a taste of what it’s like when a friend doesn’t listen & holds a huge grudge. And he starts to rethink all of this being sour business…

A sweet-sour-sweet tale about letting go of grudges and learning to be grape-ful.

With clever wordplay and humor, this cautionary tale clearly teaches a lesson about not holding grudges. But it does so without being preachy.

The sour grape is lovably grumpy. Pete Oswald’s illustrations are expressive, funny, and relatable. Adults and kids will get a kick out of all the puns – the story is ripe with them! 

While not as good as the other books, it is still a worthy addition to The Food Group series. A recommended read, perhaps especially appropriate for any readers who may be feeling a bit sour.

The Sour Grape by Jory John receives 4 stars from this reviewer.