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Life Lessons and Tales of Little MisFit-bookcover

By: S.K. Grunin

Life Lessons and Tales of Little MisFit

Pages: 76 Ratings: 4.9
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Ivy Sue Klutz (Little MisFit - LMF) finds one of her first memories confusing. This is when she is three and a half years old and is at her sister Lynn's birthday party. Their cousin, Janet, asks the partygoers to guess what Lynn's birthday present is as the truck delivering the present is backing up to the front porch of their house. Unbeknown to LMF, Janet told the other kids not to really guess that it's a bike. You guessed - LMF guesses that her sister is getting a bike for her 5th birthday present. But instead of everyone being happy that LMF guessed the right thing, everyone is mad at her and none more than her mother. LMF runs off to her soon-to-be baby brother's bedroom and tries to hide behind his dresser, with her mother hot on her heels, yelling at her all the way. From this experience and many others through her 4th grade years in school, LMF learns the Life Lesson that Life Isn't Always What It Seems.

S. K. Grunin is a retired law enforcement officer and a retired college professor. For almost 20 years she taught for the University of Virginia and for a number of other colleges and universities. In addition, Dr. Grunin authored a published textbook that was used for her UVA Graduate School courses. Finally, she is a retired executive, who has also been an executive coach, a CEO, a human capital consultant and retired from the federal government, where she served in various positions for the federal courts, including over 25 plus years spent as a federal law enforcement officer. Dr. Grunin is a member of the executive board of the Gulf Coast Writers Association of SW Florida.


Book 1 of Little MisFit is the first in a series of seven books that Dr. Grunin is in the process of writing. Each of these books focus on an important life lesson. In book 2, the Life Lesson is: “Life Isn’t Always Fair”, in addition to writing books, Dr. Grunin is an artist too and she paints oil paintings. Pictures of her paintings and some of her other book titles can be found online.


She and her husband, Howard, have two sons, Jason and Justin. She resides with her husband and their Shiba Inu, Kona, in Naples, Florida.

Author's webpage: SKGCreations.com

Customer Reviews
4.9
19 reviews
19 reviews
  • Dr. Sue Stein

    Life lessons can be mystifying and strange for anyone. This is especially true if you have a different view of a situation compared to those around you. My words can't describe what an enjoyable read this book was for myself. Bravo on book one. S.K. Grunin's words gently bring little Misfit's lessons for growing up to life and will evoke memories of your own experiences for similar life lessons. It is well worth owning a copy for yourself at any age if you have ever considered yourself out of step with others. It will also be a big help if you are currently engaged in supporting a little Misfit of your own.

    Dr Sue Stein
    ICF PCC Coach- Life, Leadership, and Wellness
    Brandon, FL

  • Great book for family dialogue during these times

    Life lessons life isn’t always what it seems a delightful book is written especially for these times even at my age I could relate to my childhood and laugh when she was so excited to go to kindergarten..and discovered she was excepted to take a nap! when her younger tattle tale brother asked her what she did in school which wasn’t always the thing you should do she told him jokes instead one thing she did learn about life was her love of reading..that stays with you forever a great read for Grandparents to zoom and read to their grandchildren and open up the conversation about life lessons!

  • An adorable little read! Reviewed by Linda SABOE

    I recently shared this adorable, easy read book with my dear neighbours and their kids who are 9 and 4. We live in Florida, and to my surprise, they wanted me to even take it with us to the beach! We had already begun the book at home and they were anxious to keep hearing more. Both of the kids enjoyed hearing the stories and relating similar situations and stories they had faced. What could be better? It is a great way to not only entertain the kids, whether they read it themselves or have it read to them, but it also starts conversations on how sisters protect each other and what it feels like to feel “different” from others, which everybody feels once in a while. I highly recommend this little book and eagerly await the next in the series. So do the kids!

  • Toni

    This is a sweet little book that is quite pertinent to the times. It’s about a precocious, introspective little girl who tells her story about growing up in her earlier years. She puts herself in context about when and why she doesn’t fit in with friends and classmates. In doing so, she keeps peace with herself about who she is and she blossoms rather than becoming self-conscious and withdrawn. I think this book could be useful in helping children discuss their own misfit experiences and help them learn from them.

  • Linda Pines

    Kids of all ages will love this book. The Author combines her wry wit and sense of fun to get the recurrent message, “Life Isn’t Always What It Seems“ across to the reader.

    I can’t wait to read Book 2, and I’m well into my Senior Citizen years!

  • Elaine Waxman

    A delightful little book the first in a series of what it means to not quite fit in. I look forward to reading more of these! The life lessons are good for kids over 7 or 8-year-olds to be read with their parents. Both will learn (or relearn) many of life's lessons together. I highly recommend it!

  • Betsy Knab

    Just finished S. K. Grunin's "Life Lessons and Tales of Little Misfit." Ivy Sue has a flair for the outrageous. Found myself laughing out loud. Reminded me of my childhood. I drank holy water too! Ivy Sue's love of reading is a message to all, and what a lifesaver it is! Truly a must-read for all children. Waiting for the next Little Misfit book.

  • BB

    My husband and I thoroughly enjoyed the adventures and tales of Little MisFit-I heard him chuckling and he was totally amused with the holy water tale. I was so enthralled I didn't want the adventures to end and was delighted to read that in Book 2 the adventures will continue in the 5th grade where Little MisFit learned that Life Isn't Always Fair.' This book is fun for both children and adults and the tales can be shared along with one's own life experiences.

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