Squirrel's Family Tree

by Beth Ferry, A. N. Kang (Illustrator)

Overview

New York Times bestselling author Beth Ferry and illustrator A. N. Kang explore the secret lives of squirrels and oak trees in a charming and unforgettable read-aloud story.

Squirrel gathers acorn seeds, sturdy little oak nut seeds. Anticipating future needs, she gathers acorn seeds. What makes an oak tree an oak tree and what makes a squirrel a squirrel? In Squirrel's Family Tree, things aren't always what they seem. As squirrel searches for, finds, and hides her acorn treasures beneath the shadows of the great oak trees in the forest, little does she know the role she plays in creating the very environment she forages in.With masterful illustrations by Papillon illustrator A. N. Kang and delightful, sweet rhymes by New York Times bestseller Beth Ferry, this read-aloud masterpiece about the beauty of nature and the intricate relationships that make it flourish is sure to become an instant classic.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781338187366
Publisher:	Scholastic, Inc.
Publication date:	01/29/2019
Pages:	40
Sales rank:	258,571
Product dimensions:	7.90(w) x 10.00(h) x 0.50(d)
Lexile:	AD610L (what's this?)
Age Range:	3 - 5 Years

About the Author

A. N. Kang was born in a little town in South Korea, with endless rice fields around her house. She grew up entertaining herself with picture books, and drew constantly. After moving to the United States as a teenager, she graduated from art school and began to design jewelry, greeting cards, and holiday installations all over New York City. She now lives and works in New Jersey with her sassy cat, Papillon, which was the inspiration for her Papillon books. Visit her online at annakangdesign.com
Beth Ferry reads and writes by the beach in New Jersey. She is the author of many picture books, including the New York Times bestseller Stick and Stone, illustrated by Tom Lichtenheld and Land Shark, illustrated by Ben Mantle. You can find out more at bethferry.com.

Editorial Reviews

"Simple words and soft illustrations enhance a fact-based story of squirrels and oak trees. In this way, using a single squirrel as a focus for readers, the story delivers a larger theme of the role squirrels play in creating oak trees. Illustrator Kang's broad, soft illustrations, presented in creative perspectives, add to the story's overall feel of elapsed time-squirrel generations, seasons, and the growth of oak trees are subtly presented." — Kirkus Reviews "Offering stimulating information on the valuable connection between squirrels and oaks, this book is a useful introduction to early environmental lessons." — School Library Journal"The attractive illustrations feature soft-edge drawings, varied textures, and muted colors within well-composed scenes. Written in rhythmic, rhyming verse, the verse creates a narrative that will engage children while telling them about the intertwined lives of squirrels and oak trees. A good read-aloud choice for classrooms." — BooklistPraise for Stick and Stone by Beth Ferry:* "This warm and tender story of two BFFs is made even more enjoyable by the charming, textured tan and blue illustrations . . . the text, suitable for beginning readers, sweetly expresses what it is to be and to have a good friend." — School Library Journal, starred review"Ferry adds zip to the best-friends-forever theme with plenty of sly puns . . . and Lichtenheld conveys significant expressiveness through the characters' dot eyes and small smiles . . . The use of instantly recognizable objects as characters gives the story universal appeal, and Ferry makes its moral unmissable." — Publishers WeeklyPraise for Papillon by A. N. Kang:* "[An] irresistible tale of an independent kitty who discovers home is best (especially when shared with a friend) . . . Puffy Papillon's the most charming puss to pop up in years!" — Kirkus Reviews, starred review"[An] effervescent debut . . . Kang's a talent to watch." — Publishers Weekly"The mixed-media illustrations are whimsical, colorful, and expressive . . . The large, clear font makes this title accessible to newer readers . . . A fun choice for storytime." — School Library Journal

From the Publisher

12/01/2018
PreS-Gr 1—Squirrels are the unsung heroes of the forest; by burying piles of acorns that they often never find again, squirrels ensure the germination of oak seedlings. In turn, the oaks provide nourishment and shelter to future generations of squirrels. Simple rhyme explores this process with muted full-page illustrations, done in browns and greens, neatly complementing the text. Emphasizing the long-term interconnection of flora and fauna, the illustrations first depict a squirrel watching a small child finding acorns amid young oak trees and ends with a later generation squirrel watching an old man walking under the now mature trees. Young children familiar with squirrels will benefit from understanding the connection between these common creatures and the habitats in which they frolic. Further parallels between other mutually beneficial relationships found in nature can be introduced by educators after reading with little ones. VERDICT Offering stimulating information on the valuable connection between squirrels and oaks, this book is a useful introduction to early environmental lessons.—Eva Elisabeth VonAncken, formerly at Trinity-Pawling School, NY

School Library Journal

2018-10-15

This rhyming picture book tells the story of a squirrel's activities and how they relate to the creation of oak trees.

A female squirrel gathers acorns in the fall, burying them beneath the ground in caches. When winter arrives, she holes up in her nest in a tree, but since squirrels do not hibernate—as author Ferry informs readers in her easy style—the squirrel emerges regularly to dig up cached acorns. In spring, baby squirrels are born into the nest, and a new generation takes over. Meanwhile, the acorns the squirrel has not dug up have the chance to germinate (the book's backmatter, "Nutty Facts," relates, among other tidbits, that 74 percent of cached acorns aren't retrieved) and grow into oak trees, thereby continuing the cycle. In this way, using a single squirrel as a focus for readers, the story delivers a larger theme of the role squirrels play in creating oak trees. Illustrator Kang's broad, soft illustrations, presented in creative perspectives, add to the story's overall feel of elapsed time—squirrel generations, seasons, and the growth of oak trees are subtly presented. This is especially emphasized by the beginning and concluding double-page spreads; the beginning shows a young white boy with a dog, the ending shows the same landscape but with an elderly white man, a different dog, and more and larger oak trees.

Simple words and soft illustrations enhance a fact-based story of squirrels and oak trees. (Informational picture book. 3-7)

Kirkus Reviews