What's Up Mumu?

What’s Up Mumu? is an incredibly funny and unique picture book from the wonderful David Mackintosh who previously bought us the excellent Standing In For Lincoln Green. I was lucky enough to be sent a proof from HarperCollins and with Mackintosh’s fabulous illustrations this stood out to me immediately.  

 

The story follows two friends, Mumu and Lox. Mumu is in a very bad and grumpy mood and is totally fed up. Best buddy Lox is trying to cheer Mumu up in any way that he can think of. He goes to an enormous amount of effort to try and make Mumu’s day a little better but all of his gestures seem annoy Mumu even further. Lox tries everything, from going to the lake to a trip to the countryside. Mumu has a constant excuse why she can’t enjoy Lox’s efforts. Eventually, Lox thinks he has the best idea and takes Mumu to the fantastic High Skyscraper! It’s eighty stories tall, twenty meters wide and has five thousand windows. It takes two years to paint and by the time you finish you have to start all over again! Lox takes Mumu to the top only to find that Mumu has no interest in the magnificent High Skyscraper. Lox ends up losing his temper with Mumu which then leads Mumu to try and cheer up Lox. Mumu ends up telling Lox to “Cheer up. It can’t be so bad, whatever it is”. The pair make up.

 

Mackintosh’s incredible illustrations make this book all the more a joy to read. In every page there is something to spot which makes the book all the more humorous. My personal favourite has to be all the cinema posters for horse films. Lox’s facial expressions are also hilarious.

 

I think what I like the most about this book is how it relates to adults almost in the exact same way it relates to children. I often feel that I have been in a mood like Mumu and no matter what my friends try and do to cheer me up I am set on being a grump for the whole day. Equally I also find myself trying to improve my friend’s days whenever they are feeling sad only to find myself getting annoyed when they have no interest in cheering up.

 

What’s Up Mumu? is a fantastic picture book for both parents and children as well as people like me that feel they just often have grumpy days and need to brighten up. This is a funny and open look at most friendships that are around us while showing us not to take our own relationships for granted.