This graphic novel chapter book is preposterous, hilarious, and full on fun. If you haven't heard of Scaredy Squirrel, the world's most famous atypical squirrel, you must have been hiding under a rock, or maybe a nut.
Scaredy is called Scaredy for a reason. If something exists, this squirrel will find some way to worry about it. Yet at the same time as Scaredy is full of anxiety, the little rodent is also ingenious, creative and an expert risk calculator. If all else fails, there is always the play dead option.
The prologue consists of a covid type security quiz. (Also, the end papers are of rolls of toilet paper.) You must achieve a score of 1 - 5 to proceed. I think it's impossible to fail, but you never know. What dire things might happen if you continue?
Chapter one finds Scaredy in his tree. He worries about aliens, mammoths, lumberjacks, woodpeckers, cats and termites. At the same time, he has stratagems for dealing with each of these eventualities. The only problem with these safeguards is that they collect dust. So every once in a while our little critter has to don his dust fighting outfit, drag out his vacuum cleaner, and clean off the safety equipment. Even if the hose gets clogged, Scaredy has a plan.
Unfortunately, this time, he sets of a series of events that lead to an unforeseen disaster and Scaredy playing dead.
Chapter two finds our friendly rodent hungry. The previous disaster knocked all the nuts off the tree. Terrible dangers await him if he decides to leave his tree and pick some up. Rocks, puddles, cacti and other hazards wait for an unsuspecting squirrel. Scaredy decides to order takeout instead. There are just so many choices.
When his pizza arrives, Scaredy he puts on his ground level get up. Just when he is about to grab a slice, an unexpected event startles him. He scrambles to safety and once again, plays dead.
In the final chapter Scaredy has to figure out if it is worthwhile taking risks to make a new friend.
Will he end up playing dead again?
I liked so much about this book. I adore Watt's illustrations. I like the puns and slapstick humour. At one point Scaredy wonders, "Ivy might be poisonous! (name makes me itchy.)" I like that Scaredy Squirrel playfully models how to cope for kids with similar neuroses. I like that he shows the rest of us what living with these anxieties is like. I like that Ivy, and maybe even Timber, accept him just as he is.
I'll be looking forward to the next in this new series.
Preorder this for your libraries. Make it two or three copies. Young readers are going to love it. So will their big people.
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