Book Beauty: Scaredy Squirrel

Mélanie Watt's witty and engaging Scaredy Squirrel (Kids Can Press) first hit the scene in 2006, and has since garnered awards, critical acclaim, and along with international publication, will soon be made into an animated television series. But Scaredy has only just recently won the heart of the Bambina (to be fair, the age range for the books is 4 to 8). I adore Scaredy too. He came at a perfect time, when I had just run out of ideas for making Franklin funny, as in, "Make mistakes when you read, Mommy!" How many times can I pretend that Beaver holding her hands on her hips and frowning means that she has to go to the bathroom? But Scaredy is rife with tongue-in-cheek humour, asides and visual distractions galore, perfect for this child of ours.

Scaredy Squirrel Makes a Friend is even more delightful. Maybe for the adults! I'm thinking too of the wonderful lesson put forth by the author, that you might find a friend in the most unexpected of places. For Scaredy, that germiphobe, it means hanging out with a smelly, drooly dog with at least one tooth, but the bubbliest personality around (more bubbly than a goldfish, for sure!) In a few weeks time, when the Bambina finds herself smack dab in the middle of "the unknown" (kindergarten), I hope she'll remember how Scaredy took that dive and discovered he could actually fly. Her own survival kit will include antibacterial lotion, of course.

P.S. Over at McNally Robinson's today we had a chance to read through Scaredy Squirrel at Night and Scaredy Squirrel at the Beach. I didn't give in right then and there, but don't blame me the first week of September as I succumb to mama guilt.