Scaredy Squirrel (Scaredy Squirrel)

by Melanie Watt (Author) Melanie Watt (Illustrator)

Reading Level: 2nd − 3rd Grade
Scaredy Squirrel never leaves his nut tree. It's way too dangerous out there. If danger comes along, he's well-prepared. However, his worst nightmare comes true and he finds himself out of his tree. But Scaredy soon discovers something really uplifting. Full color.
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Publishers Weekly

It's an indication of how well Watt ("Leon the Chameleon") knows her helicopter-parented audience that she's able to turn the phrase "antibacterial soap" into a bona fide punchline. Fearing attack by Martians, sharks, poison ivy, killer bees, tarantulas and/or germs, Scaredy Squirrel decides "he'd rather stay in his safe and familiar tree than risk venturing out into the unknown." But just in case something goes awry, this most anxious rodent also has an extensive emergency kit that includes sardines (to distract the sharks), the aforementioned antibacterial soap and a parachute. Then one day, Scaredy's unvarying and admittedly boring routine is thrown for a loop (it's the emergency kit's fault), and he discovers he's a flying squirrel -an epiphany so momentous that it garners the book's only gatefold spread. Will Scaredy's life be changed forever now that new vistas have opened up to him? Well, sort of. Watt largely dispenses with conventional visual storytelling; instead, she tells the hero's story through a series of boldly graphic and endearingly goofy charts and diagrams (one outlines the anxious rodent's "top secret," four-option plan for exiting the tree in case of emergency). Funny in their own right, the pages also spoof all the sincerely inane worksheets that are the staple of elementary school homework. Youngsters will go nuts over this one. Ages 4-8. "(Mar.)" Copyright 2006 Publishers Weekly Used with permission.

Review quotes

Bound to win over its readers, parent and child, at the outset with its wry wit.—The National Post

Scaredy Squirrel

this book is soooo good, funny and To DIE FORRRRRR

Melanie Watt
Author and illustrator Melanie Watt is the bestselling creative genius behind many beloved picture books for children, including the Scaredy Squirrel series, the Chester series, Bug in a Vacuum, You're Finally Here!, Have I Got a Book for You! and Augustine. Melanie's books have received numerous starred reviews from journals including Publishers Weekly and Kirkus Reviews, and have won many state awards, including the Virginia Readers' Choice Award, North Carolina's Children's Book Award and Maryland's Black-Eyed Susan Award. The Scaredy Squirrel animated television series airs on the Cartoon Network in the US and YTV in Canada.
Classification
Fiction
ISBN-13
9781553379591
Lexile Measure
560
Guided Reading Level
L
Publisher
Kids Can Press
Publication date
February 01, 2006
Series
Scaredy Squirrel
BISAC categories
JUV039050 - Juvenile Fiction | Social Themes | Emotions & Feelings
JUV002230 - Juvenile Fiction | Animals | Squirrels
Library of Congress categories
-
North Carolina Children's Book Award
Winner 2008 - 2008
Washington Children's Choice Picture Book Award
Nominee 2008 - 2008
Independent Publisher Book Awards
Bronze Medal Winner 2007 - 2007
Black-Eyed Susan Award
Winner 2008 - 2008
Monarch Award
Winner 2010 - 2010
Cybils
Winner 2006 - 2006

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