Scaredy Squirrel Makes a Friend. Mélanie Watt. Toronto, ON: Kids Can Press, 2007. 32 pp., cloth, $16.95. ISBN 978-1-55453-181-3. Subject Heading: Squirrels-Juvenile fiction. Preschool-grade 3 / Ages 4-8. Review by Robert Groberman. *** /4

excerpt:

Scaredy Squirrel doesn’t have a friend. He’d rather be alone than risk encountering someone dangerous. A squirrel could get bitten. A few individuals Scaredy Squirrel is afraid to be bitten by: walruses, bunnies, beavers, piranhas, Godzilla.

Mélanie Watt’s new Scaredy Squirrel story is a storybook that young children and early readers will find unusual and inviting. Scaredy Squirrel Makes a Friend tells how Scaredy Squirrel, who is terrified to interact with anyone, decides that the only safe friend would be a goldfish.  Children will identify with Scaredy Squirrel’s anxiety about making new friends. They will find his over-the-top fears amusing (he fears being bitten by Godzilla). On his way to meet a goldfish, Scaredy meets a dog who becomes his friend. Scaredy learns that a friend can be made from almost anyone if you share interests and have fun together. 

     The text in this book is set out on the bottom of an illustrated page as in a standard picture book.  But text is also set in within the illustration to carry the reader’s eye throughout the picture, following action. There are also pages which consist of illustrations of diagrams showing an ideal friend, with text pointing to key criteria, such as “bubbly personality” and “NO teeth” and also a diagram of “How to make the Perfect First Impression” including the need to “prepare freshly squeezed lemonade.”

     Interesting full-colour illustrations and imaginative use of text make this a book that young children will enjoy listening to and early readers will enjoy reading for themselves.  They will also enjoy examining the pictures afterwards for text and details.

Recommended.

Robert Groberman is a grade one and grade two teacher at Kirkbride Elementary School, Surrey, BC.

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Published by The Manitoba Library Association ISSN 1201-9364

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