It’s Springtime, Mr. Squirrel
Picture Book
For ages 5 to 7
North South, 2018, 978-0-7358-4310-3
One morning Mr. Squirrel wakes up to see that the world
outside his home has been transformed. He has no idea what has happened. Where
did all the bright green grass and colorful flowers come from? Bear explains
that spring has arrived that it is time to “lie in the sun, stroll through the
meadows, and fill our tummies with fine food!”
Happily Mr.
Squirrel scampers this way and that. He finds delicious things to eat, gorges
himself, and then naps in the sun. However, Hedgehog has no appetite for food
or frolics. He has been to the pond where he espied a lovely lady hedgehog.
Unfortunately, he was so terrified of the gorgeous creature that he fled.
Luckily Mr.
Squirrel is there to help Hedgehog. He tells Hedgehog that he needs to “gain
fame and glory” to earn the lady hedgehog’s esteem, and the best way to do that
is to show off how brave and strong he is and to win lots of fights. The thing
is that to win fights you have to look suitably dangerous and intimidating.
Mr. Squirrel
quickly gets to work. He measures Hedgehog and then runs off to gather
supplies. He is going to make his friend look tough and masterful. It takes a
while to come up with the right costume but in the end he succeeds. Not only
that, but he too dons a similar costume so that he can help Hedghog win a
“dangerous fight.” Now all they have to do is find an opponent who will make
them look good.
Children are
going to laugh out loud as the follow the adventures of Mr. Squirrel and his
friends. Who knew that winning the heart of a lady hedgehog could be so hard?
Who knew that spring could be so full of surprises?
With its
delightful animal characters and its surprising ending, this is a wonderful
book to share with children. Adults will find it hard not to fall for Mr.
Squirrel, who is such a good friend.
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