PreS-Gr 3-Scaredy Squirrel has a catalog of creatures and things that frighten him. His life in his nut tree is comfortably predictable, and he has an emergency kit and escape plan to cover every danger. One day one of his fears is realized when he encounters a "killer bee." Panicking, he drops his emergency kit out of the tree and jumps after it without his parachute. To his surprise, he learns that he is actually a flying squirrel, and he adapts his routine to include a daily "jump into the unknown." 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. Like other successful worrywarts before him, such as Kevin Henkes's Wemberly Worried (HarperCollins, 2000) and Rosemary Wells's Felix and the Worrier (Candlewick, 2003), Scaredy Squirrel needn't fret about finding readers to cheer him on.-Rachel G. Payne, Brooklyn Public Library, NY Copyright 2006 Reed Business Information.
Watts conveys a difficult theme ? with an energetic playfulness ? (Scaredy Squirrel is) a masterful balance of charm, comedy and serious realism.
The bold, inviting compositions ... and paint-box colors ? add energy.
The bold, inviting compositions ... and paint-box colors ? add energy.
With his iconic nervous grin and over-the-top punctiliousness, Scaredy Squirrel is an endearing character.
With his iconic nervous grin and over-the-top punctiliousness, Scaredy Squirrel is an endearing character.
Readers of any age will chuckle with recognition at the squirrel’s attempts to control his life.
Readers of any age will chuckle with recognition at the squirrel’s attempts to control his life.
Bound to win over its readers, parent and child, at the outset with its wry wit.
Bound to win over its readers, parent and child, at the outset with its wry wit.
Youngsters will go nuts over this one.
Youngsters will go nuts over this one.
