Ricky and the squirrel

PreS-K-As a young rabbit takes a leisurely stroll through the woods one autumn afternoon, he uncovers more than just chestnuts. He discovers a "sleeping" squirrel in the leaves, but is taken aback when finds that the creature's body is cold. Ricky's friend, Annie, immediately knows something is wrong. The two friends carry the squirrel to Ricky's house where his mother points out his gray whiskers and explains that the animal is dead. Ricky and his family bury the squirrel in a beautiful box and mark his grave. On their way home, they see a young squirrel playing in the trees, bringing closure to the story and completing the circle of life. Van Genechten does not toy with euphemisms for death, and his explanation of what has happened to the squirrel is straightforward. He does not delve into specific religious matters, but instead focuses on remembering the deceased fondly and knowing he is in a place where there is no longer pain. Painterly illustrations in bold colors and wide strokes along with a cast of animal characters keep the story from feeling too lifelike. This book and its message are not as intense or personal as Judith Viorst's The Tenth Good Thing About Barney (Atheneum, 1987), Robie Harris's Goodbye Mousie (S & S, 2004), or Corine Demas's Saying Goodbye to Lulu (Little, Brown, 2004), but it will serve young listeners well.-Lindsay Persohn, Crystal Lake Elementary, Lakeland, FL (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

This Dutch import introduces the ideas of death and the afterlife in a simple, low-key way. A very young-looking bunny in overalls and with one flop ear in van Genechten's outdoorsy, thickly brushed and comfortably outlined scenes, Ricky comes upon a squirrel on the ground one day and, after consultation with his friend Annie, carries it home to show his mother. She tells him right out that the squirrel is dead, then seeing his incomprehension explains that it happens to very old squirrels, but they go on to Squirrel Paradise"the same place where they were before they were born." With help from his dad, Ricky buries the squirrel with ceremony out in the forest, and then, for a mood-lifting finale, he spots a living squirrel on the way home. Other titles on the topic are not lacking, but this nicely matter-of-fact one offers an open discussion without forcing an obvious therapeutic agenda on its audience. (Picture book. 4-6)]] Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.