Squirrel's Family Tree

December 1, 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

Copyright 2018 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

November 1, 2018
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)

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December 15, 2018
Preschool-G In the autumn, Squirrel finds acorns, sturdy little oak nut seeds. She eats some and digs holes in the dirt to bury the rest. Winter brings cold, and snow covers the ground, but Squirrel doesn't hibernate. Sheltering in a hole in a tree, she occasionally ventures out to search for her hidden stashes of acorns. In spring, she finds a mate, builds a nest, and gives birth to three little squirrels. The next autumn, the cycle starts again, with squirrels burying acorns that grow into oak trees that drop acorns that feed squirrels that bury acorns. . . . An appended section defines terms such as mutualism and offers factoids related to tree squirrels, which fail to recover approximately 74% of the nuts they bury, but succeed in planting a great many trees. 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.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2018, American Library Association.)