Squirrel-Ish - by Bambi Edlund (Hardcover)

About the Book

At the park, squirrels get all the free peanuts, and nobody screams when they scamper to and fro. But for Rat, it's all screams and no nuts ... until, he comes up with a plan to solve his problem: Be more squirrel-ish!

Book Synopsis

An enterprising rat discovers the joy of being true to himself

At the park, people give squirrels free peanuts. And nobody screams when a squirrel crosses their path. But for Rat, it's all screams and no nuts ... until he comes up with a plan: be more like a squirrel--squirrel-ish!

When his attempts at adopting a squirrel-ish posture and pinning his ears down don't make a difference, Rat considers his tail. And after a few crafty but failed squirrel-ish tail prototypes made from cotton balls, feathers, and spaghetti, he lands on a winning material: straw from a broom!

Finally, Rat can walk through the park without getting shooed. Free peanut in hand, he daydreams about building a re-tail empire ... until the dogs in the park spot him and give chase. All of a sudden, Rat understands why squirrels do so much scampering! Maybe his rat tail isn't so bad after all ...

Brightly illustrated and packed with hilarious details and hidden gags, this laugh-out-loud ode to self-love reminds readers that the grass isn't always greener on the other side.

Review Quotes

"A delightful and heartwarming title that champions the value of self-acceptance ... A perfect addition to all children's collections."

-- "Canadian Review of Materials"

"A perfectly goofy, inviting testament to the familiar adage about the grass being greener on the other side."

-- "Kirkus Reviews"

"A playful and engaging story that encourages children to appreciate themselves just as they are."

-- "School Library Journal"

"A strong choice for laugh-filled storytime. Amid those laughs, though, is a solid message about the perils of trying to be something you're not, which is a useful takeaway for little ones."

-- "Booklist"

"This is a fun addition to storytimes about identity and will be an oft repeated request for bedtime read alouds."

-- "Children's Literature Comprehensive Database"