Review: Scaredy Squirrel

By: Melanie Watt

Kids Can Press; 2006; 40 pages

Picture Book;

Award Winner: ALA’s Notable Children’s Book; Cybil; Schwartz Children's Book Award for Children’s Picture Book; Amelia Frances Howard-Gibbon Illustrator's Award; Blue Spruce Award

Ages: Preschool to 2nd Grade

ISBN: 978-1-55337-959-1

Scaredy Squirrel is afraid of absolutely everything, including green martians. He develops an emergency kit, an exit plan, and never leaves his tree. When Scaredy Squirrel is forced out into the world, he learns that "new" and "different" do not always mean "bad" and "scary." He finds his courage, and begins to embrace adventure.

My Thoughts:

This book should be dedicated to neurotics everywhere. As someone who has control issues, I was able to identify with the main character in strange and unusual ways. Scaredy Squirrel has an escape plan and an emergency kit which addresses every possible eventuality. (As a kid, I had a plan for what to do if my house was invaded by raptors from the Jurassic Park films.) What is great about this book, is that it doesn't minimize Scaredy Squirrel's fears. It doesn't ever diminish him as a squirrel for having them. Rather it shows how, by facing his fears, he is able to lead a richer and more fulfilling life. That is a concept that is important for kids. They need to know that it is ok to be afraid, but that they can face those fears. At the end of the book, Scaredy Squirrel is still nervous...he isn't "fixed" as one would suppose. The resolution comes from the fact that he is now willing to step away from his tree and try new things.

The text in this book is at a fairly simple level. It is engaging enough to make it a good read aloud book, but easy enough that insecure or early readers can try it on their own. The pictures are also incredibly engaging. They are extremely bold in their lines, and the colors (while limited) make a statement. Many books about fear depict the "scary" things in a dark and menacing way, that can actually CAUSE children to be more afraid. This book, however, shows them in a light and humorous way, that is very non-threatening. Children can empathize with Scaredy Squirrel without joining in his paranoia.

The Thoughts of Others:

Publisher's Weekly had a very positive 2006 review of Watt's book. They noted that she "largely dispenses with conventional visual storytelling," using instead "goofy charts and diagrams" which "spoof all the sincerely inane worksheets that are the staple of elementary school homework." (This was something I had not actively picked up on, but is useful in teaching literacy skills. Children need to learn to interpret diagrams and charts in addition to reading traditional text.)

School Library Journal also picked up on the plethora of diagrams versus standard text. They felt, in their 2006 review, that the main character was endearing, and that the humor would appeal to children.