Skunk and Badger

July 15, 2020
Badger's definitely not ready for his new roommate, Skunk. The sole resident of his aunt Lula's brownstone, Badger devotes his days to a life befitting for a rock scientist. Naturally, the semirecluse spends his day in his rock room, where he can do all of his Important Rock Work. Then someone's knocking politely at the door one day. It's Badger's new roommate, Skunk, along with his red suitcase. (If Badger had read those letters from Aunt Lula, he would've known....) Skunk swiftly makes himself at home, disrupting Badger's Important Rock Work in the process. Sure, Badger spends some sweet moments with Skunk, including a discussion of Shakespeare's Henry V. Skunk even apologizes for the abrupt changes to the living arrangements. Then the chickens arrive, all hens and no roosters (though Skunk does invite Larry), infuriating Badger. When a stoat-shaped menace appears at the door, Badger reacts with little consideration for Skunk or his flock of guests, and Skunk leaves the brownstone after harsh words from Badger. Badger's left alone and unsure. "It would never work out! But Skunk certainly has his moments," he ponders. A splendid entry in the odd-couple genre, Timberlake's spunky series opener posits that compassion and inner transformation can strengthen the unlikeliest of friendships. It's an approach that gestures toward broader societal conversations (consider the word that prompts Skunk to leave: "vermin") without losing focus on the story's delightful central duo. The use of fragmented sentences, repetition, and onomatopoeia makes for a fun read. Klassen's muted, wistful artwork, meanwhile, invokes sweeping sentiments during key events. Exceptionally sweet. (Fantasy. 8-12)

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Starred review from August 3, 2020
When Skunk barges into Badger’s quiet brownstone, readers sympathize with the scholarly, solitary Badger, who spends his days doing “Important Rock Work.” Skunk toys idly with Badger’s treasured tools, and he seems bent on staying—but why? A letter from Badger’s Aunt Luna, the building’s owner, answers the question: “What would you think of Skunk moving into the brownstone?” Faced with an unwanted housemate, Badger must learn to live with—and learn from—Skunk’s warm, chaotic presence, especially his willingness to extend hospitality to the neighborhood’s chickens. Occasional art by Caldecott Medalist Klassen offers Wind in the Willows wistfulness. Gleeful, onomatopoeic prose by Newbery Honoree Timberlake, meanwhile, keeps readers engaged through laugh-out-loud repetition as she tackles sensitive issues such as elitism, exclusivity, and even science cited for nefarious purposes: “You’re a skunk. I am a badger. We are not family.” Frog and Toad–like in nuance and tenor, this is no old-fashioned story in which Skunk charms Badger and thaws his frozen heart. Badger is in a privileged position, and his refusal to share what he has and to protect Skunk and his guests has a deep and timely significance—one rendered with an expertly light touch. Ages 8–12. Agent (for Timberlake and Klassen): Steven Malk, Writers House.

Starred review from August 1, 2020
Grades 2-4 *Starred Review* Badger lives a solitary, tidy life in his aunt Lula's brownstone, where he pursues Important Rock Work without interruption. This is exactly how he likes things, so it's a shock when Skunk shows up on his doorstep, laden with a red suitcase and the news that he is to be Badger's new housemate. Skunk is a bubbly, considerate creature who takes Badger's dithering in stride without being oblivious to the grouchy rock scientist's qualms. Almost immediately, Skunk finds chinks in Badger's armor and begins winning him over through delicious cooking. Things take a disastrous turn when Skunk, friend to chickens, throws an impromptu poultry party that is crashed by a stoat?decidedly not a friend to chickens. Amid the ensuing chaos, fears surface, tempers flare, and?in the case of Badger?unkind words are spoken, leading Skunk to repack his suitcase. Newbery Honor Book author Timberlake doesn't underestimate her readers, unhesitatingly incorporating advanced vocabulary and probing Badger's inner turmoil as he wrestles with change, takes responsibility for his own poor behavior, and tries to see the world through Skunk's eyes. Klassen contributes a winning mix of vintage-feeling color paintings and black-and-white drawings, which highlight both the story's sweet and laugh-out-loud moments, as well as its understated quirk. It's a treasure of a book that promises future misadventures from your new favorite odd couple.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2020, American Library Association.)

September 1, 2020

Gr 2-5-Badger is a quiet, solitary geologist intent on his important rock work. Skunk is an outgoing, friendly, unwelcome new roommate. They have nothing in common. Aunt Lula must have been crazy to suggest it-this is never going to work out. But, the more time they spend together, the more they learn about each other. Maybe they have more in common than they realized, and maybe being roommates is just what they both needed. And who knew chickens were such conversationalists and story lovers? In a classic odd-couple pairing, Badger and Skunk show how opposites attract and that making friends means opening yourself up to possibilities. Finding the things that we share is much harder than seeing the ways we are different. Badger is a bit testy and grumpy, while Skunk is prone to leap before he looks-but together they are a fun duo who complement each other. Clear themes of tolerance, friendship, and understanding drive the story in a way that children will respond to. The subtle nod to unemployment and potential homelessness that begins the story provides opportunities to expand learning and compassion. VERDICT Overall, a sweet unlikely friendship story that would be a welcome addition to any elementary or public library.-Elizabeth Speer, Weatherford Coll., TX

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