Frowns: Nouns, a Few Adjectives

What if you could turn a frown upside down with just one smile-and learn grammar at the same time?

Being the new kid at school is hard. Long hallways. Tall doors. Nineteen frowns. But when one friendly smile breaks through, everything changes.

FROWNS: Nouns, a Few Adjectives is a heartwarming friendship book for kids about a nervous new student's first day-told entirely through nouns and adjectives! Follow along as the new kid navigates the classroom, lunchroom, playground, and discovers that sometimes the simplest gesture-a smile-can make all the difference. This charming children's book about friendship proves that kindness needs no verbs.

PERFECT FOR BEGINNING READERS & EARLY READERS:

Designed as a learn-to-read book with fully decodable text, FROWNS is ideal for kindergarten reading through 1st grade. Every word is carefully chosen so young beginning readers can decode independently and build confidence.

• Simple, decodable text perfect for early readers building fluency
• 114 short, concrete words ideal for phonics-based reading instruction
• Repetitive patterns support kids learning to read at ages 4-8
• Large, engaging illustrations by John Joven provide context clues

SNEAKY GRAMMAR LESSONS - PARTS OF SPEECH FOR KIDS:

Part of the Silly Grammar Story Series, FROWNS is a grammar book for kids that teaches parts of speech in the most delightful way-by using ONLY nouns and adjectives!

• Color-coded text helps children identify nouns, adjectives, and verbs at a glance
• Verbs hilariously try to sneak into the story (and get kicked out with a red card!)
• Makes English grammar tangible and fun-without feeling like a lesson
• Perfect for classroom use, homeschool curriculum, or independent reading

SOCIAL-EMOTIONAL LEARNING & KINDNESS:

Beyond the grammar, FROWNS delivers a powerful social emotional learning message about empathy, inclusion, and the courage it takes to be the new kid in school:

• Shows how small acts of kindness can transform someone's whole day
• Perfect first-day-of-school read-aloud for building classroom community
• Teaches kids that friendship starts with one brave smile

TEACHERS AND PARENTS LOVE IT BECAUSE:

FROWNS uniquely combines literacy skills with social-emotional learning in one beautifully illustrated picture book. It works as a phonics reader, a grammar lesson, a friendship story, and a read-aloud-all at once.

• Use for grammar instruction, phonics practice, or SEL discussions
• Engages reluctant readers with humor and heart
• Works for ages 4-8 across different skill levels (PreK through 2nd grade)

From the moment the new kid takes those smallest steps down that long, long hall, to the final "Friends. Smiles."-readers will be rooting for this sweet story about a new kid at school. And they'll be learning language arts without even realizing it!

COMING IN 2027: BOOK 2, VOTE: Verbing Wildly

Jo and Bo return in a hilarious story about voting for the class pet. This time, only verbs are allowed! Will their friendship survive the battle over which class pet is best?

Author: Darcy Pattison
Publisher: Mims House
Published: 08/11/2026
Pages: 34
Binding Type: Hardcover
Weight: 0.69lbs
Size: 8.50h x 8.50w x 0.25d
ISBN: 9781629443393
Audience: Ages 9-12

About the Author
Joven, John: - John Joven is an illustrator and painter. His work moves between illustration and painting as independent artistic practices. In his editorial projects, he works digitally with an organic and expressive visual language, where humor and sensitivity help communicate ideas. His Mims House title, A Little Bit of Dinosaur received a starred Kirkus Review, and the A Little Bit of Dinosaur series has been read 7.5 million times on the EPIC! reading app. In his oil painting practice, he finds inspiration and beauty in the everyday, the pop culture, and the ordinary. He has illustrated over seventy children's books. Follow his recent work on Instagram: @jjovenart @johnjoven_Pattison, Darcy: - Children's book author and indie publisher DARCY PATTISON has written over seventy-five fiction and nonfiction award-winning books for children. Five books have received starred PW, Kirkus, or BCCB reviews. Awards include the Irma Black Honor award, six NSTA Outstanding Science Trade Books, six Eureka! Nonfiction Honor book (CA Reading Assn.), two Junior Library Guild selections, two CLA Notable Children's Book in Language Arts, a Notable Social Studies Trade Book, three Best STEM Books, an Arkansiana Award, and the Susannah DeBlack Arkansas Children's History Book award. She's the 2007 recipient of the Arkansas Governor's Arts Award for Individual Artist for her work in children's literature. Her books have been translated into eleven languages.

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