Scaredy Squirrel

Watt, M. (2006). Scaredy Squirrel. Tonawand, NY: Kids Can Press.

Genre: Easy to Read
Format: Picture Book
Recommended Age: 4-6

Words can not fully express how much of a delight Scaredy Squirrel is to virtually any reader. Scaredy is an agoraphobic squirrel, too frightened to venture out of his tree in case of an unexpected mishap with the likes of tarantalas, poison ivy, killer bees, green martians, germs, and sharks. Through the use of humor, colorful illustrations, and many lists, Watt reveals Scaredy's daily schedule, the advantages and disadvantages of leaving his nut tree, and his own well-thought out emergency exit plan. Yet things don't go quite according to plan when Scaredy suddenly spots a "killer" bee and in a frenzy drops his emergency kit. Without thinking, Scaredy leaps out of the tree to retrieve it only to accidentally discover that he's not just any squirrel, but a flying squirrel. After hours of playing dead upon his landing, Scaredy finds that nothing horrible happens if he leaves his tree after all, and in the end he incorporates both flying and playing dead into his new daily routine. Joyful, witty, and filled with adorable illustrations, Scaredy Squirrel is a treasure. Children of all ages will enjoy this book, and adults will enjoy reading it to them. Children ages 4-6 will especially enjoy the artwork and the many lists used to tell the story. It is of my opinion that every home, school, and library should own not just this book, but the whole series.

Payne, R.G. (2006, June 1). Reviews: Preschool to Grade 4 [a book review of Scaredy Squirrel]. School Library Journal. Retrieved April 3, 2010 from http://www.schoollibraryjournal.com/article/CA6340931.html.

Having not even read Payne's review before writing my own, I found both our reviews and our opinions to be strangely similar. Payne gives a quick, witty summary of the book, and ends by saying, "with his iconic nervous grin and over-the-top punctiliousness, Scaredy Squirrel is an endearing character. Thick-lined cartoons with bold patches of color, quirky charts and graphs, and clever asides provide humor that will appeal to children...Scaredy Squirrel needn't fret about finding readers to cheer him on." Short, sweet, and to the point, this review is for those who want just the basic overview of the book, yet Payne still delivers a positive review by keeping the fun and witty tone of the book throughout her review.