Friday, May 15, 2015

PPBF: Scaredy Squirrel

Today's Perfect Picture Book Friday pick

Scaredy Squirrel book #1 by Melanie Watt

Scaredy Squirrel
Written and Illustrated by Melanie Watt
Kids Can Press, 2006
Age 4-8, Reading level 3.6, 516 words


Themes:
fear, humor, adventure






Opening:

WARNING!
Scaredy Squirrel insists that everyone wash their hands 
with antibacterial soap before reading this book.

Scaredy Squirrel never leaves his nut tree.
He'd rather stay in his safe and familiar tree than risk venturing out into the unknown. The unknown can be a scary place for a squirrel.
Interior art by Melanie Watts, courtesy Kids Can Press

Synopsis:
Scaredy Orville Squirrel (S.O.S.) has more than a few phobias: germs, bees, sharks, aliens. He is so paralyzed by his fear that he never leaves his tree. Everyday is predictable, until a killer bee comes along who is not part of his plan. Scaredy is forced into the unknown. He discovers he has a hidden talent, and that the unexpected can lead to wonderful things which even Scaredy's vivid imagination couldn't have planned.


What I Love:
In the tradition of the best how-to manual farces (think Goofy cartoon: How to Ski), the Scaredy Squirrel books tease us about our fears and nudge us out of our comfort zones. Young readers can relate to reasonable fears as well as phobias, but through Scaredy's adventures may find courage despite their feelings.

That is not to say these books are meant to instruct. Far from it! The Scaredy Squirrel series is just plain funny. The  measures he takes to avoid what might happen, the lengths he goes to keeping himself protected from his exaggerated fears make for hilarious reading  . . . again and again!


Bonus: 
1. There are seven other Scaredy Squirrel books to love!
Pumpkin cupcakes with cinnamon frosting
2. Join the Scaredy Squirrel Fan Club!
3. First Grade Garden has a paper plate craft to make your own Scaredy Squirrel.
4. Melanie Watt has provided coloring pages, activities pages and more on her Scaredy website.
5. JavaCupcake cooked up a delicious recipe with a nutty theme. 
6. Kidzworld has a fun quiz about our fears. Can you correctly identify the listed phobias?
7. Check out these and more Perfect Picture Books at your local library.

Reviewed by Beth

Have you reviewed a Perfect Picture Book along this theme? Please leave the link in the comments below. Thanks!

Check out all the recommended titles for Perfect Picture Book Friday
for May 15, 2015 available on Susanna Leonard Hill's blog.

15 comments:

  1. Joanne, I just read another squirrel book - Ol'Mama Squirrel by David Ezra Stein. S.O.S. would probably be afraid of Ol'Mama Squirrel too.

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    1. Aren't his books amazing? He's got one about ducks coming out next year I think. I'll have to check out ol'Mama Squirrel. Thanks.

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  2. Love that cover! It's perfect for the book. This is such an important book for all children, but especially those who are more fearful! Wished I'd found it.

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    1. You may find some of the other titles fun and useful. Try The second book about making a new friend. It had a great underlying lesson.

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  3. Do love Scaredy Squirrel, his fears are so like some kids' fears!

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  4. This looks like fun! Kids will love this squirrel story and identify with having a fear of sorts. A great book to share, thanks Joanne.

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  5. Fun premise since my backyard squirrels are fearless. Sounds like a book a timid chikd would find comforting.

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    1. I would have appreciated Scaredy's point of view when I was little and would've loved his flawed logic. Thanks!

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  6. Fun premise since my backyard squirrels are fearless. Sounds like a book a timid chikd would find comforting.

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  7. How great to find a review of Scaredy Squirrel! I stumbled across them just last week. Such a wonderful idea! I could have benefited as a scaredy kid...

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    1. Yep. I can't believe I'd never looked into them before. I was so enchanted, I just had to spread the word. Thanks for taking time to comment!

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