Squirrel’s Fun Day

Well-intentioned, overzealous Squirrel embarks on further misadventures with his friends in this follow-up to Squirrel’s World (2007). Squirrel’s hyperkinetic movements and chatter power this early reader’s four chapters: “Got to go. Got to go. Got to go, go, go!” he chimes as he zips off to find fun. When Mouse tells him that she’s too busy sweeping out her tree stump to have fun, he makes a mess trying to help her with his bushy tail (“Sweep, sweep, sweep!”); she then agrees to join his search for fun, only to get stuck in the mud. Squirrel’s stab at building a bridge across a pond with Turtle also has muddy results, and his attempt to help Rabbit leave a trail of pebbles to guide him home backfires. Gorbachev’s earth-toned ink-and-watercolor illustrations amplify the story’s buoyant humor and highlight the animals’ personalities, from Squirrel’s exuberance to Rabbit’s cautiousness. Ample art and Squirrel’s playfully repetitious speech tailor the story to emerging readers. True to life, there are some bumps in the road, but the feel-good ending cements this quartet’s friendship. Ages 5–7. (June)