Ol' Mama Squirrel

Starred review from January 14, 2013
As he did in Interrupting Chicken and Pouch!, Stein again shows his skill at finding laughs in commonplace situations. Ol’ Mama Squirrel keeps her squirrel children safe from a variety of intruders (cats, owls, repairmen) with a combination of noise, bluff, and bloody-minded indignation. When a dog threatens, she “clattered in the high branches. chook chook chook! She chattered in the low branches. chook chook chook! She scrabbled right side up and upside down while she scolded that dog.” Stein’s all-too-real vignettes of the angry squirrel’s arched eyebrows and waving fists are funny all by themselves, and when a sneering grizzly bear shows up and the suspense builds, Ol’ Mama Squirrel doesn’t flinch. The book gallops along without pausing for breath, and there’s something deeply gratifying about the story of a mother whose perfect confidence assures that her children will always be safe. Yet Stein makes it possible to sympathize with the victims, too: “They must put crazy powder in the nuts around here!” says the dog she’s chased off. A rousing and rowdy readaloud. Ages 3–5. Agent: Rebecca Sherman, Writers House.

October 1, 2013

PreS-K-Children will certainly enjoy the blend of language and humor in David Ezra Stein's energetic story (Nancy Paulsen Bks., 2013) of a protective and tenacious mother squirrel simply trying to keep dangerous intruders from her babies. Whenever a trespasser (animal, human, or passing airplane) intrudes on the peace of her tree, Mama Squirrel takes charge, prompting the nosy dog to lament, "They must put crazy powder in the nuts around here!" When a very determined and hungry bear comes sniffing around the tree one day, Mama Squirrel is put to the test and her quick thinking saves the day. The repeated line "Chook, chook, chook!" throughout the story gets better and better as Mama Squirrel scolds and rebukes all unwelcome visitors. The animated refrain allows children to join in on the noisy rodent fun. Listeners will delight in Julia Gibson's reading, with her maternal voice, hint of southern charm, and dry wit that adds to the humor. Page-turn signals are optional.-Jennifer Mann, Cromaine District Library, MI

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