Gray Squirrel loses it!

PreS-Gr 3--When a squirrel loses his special nut, all sorts of educational hilarity ensues. Grayson T. Squirrel bounds into the story with all the frenetic energy one would expect of an agitated squirrel. He interrupts a nature tour demanding help, and jumps to conclusions with every attempt at problem-solving. The narrator somewhat patiently guides him through a series of questions that eventually lead to the nut's discovery--but after several months in the ground, things have changed, causing Grayson to begin all over again. The story is full of slapstick humor and facts about forest animals. Science concepts abound, mostly in the artwork rather than the dialogue. A page of helpful information, including a glossary, is included at the end of the book. Illustrations are clear and pleasant, with a strong palette. The use of fingerpaints adds understated texture to the digital images, and fun side jokes are found throughout the pages. Federman makes good use of her space, employing a combination of single illustrations and spreads with inset panels, reminiscent of graphic novels, that highlight important moments. VERDICT An exciting and humorous opportunity to open discussions about the concept of seeds turning into plants, the food chain, and forest life, or just to read for fun.--Virginia Pine

Is therereally a nut pirate loose in the forest? An unseen narrator welcomes readers on a tour of the forest, then calls their attention to various sights, from a cardinal, whose red color comes from the berries he consumes, to a pair of white-tailed deer ("Did you know their antlers fall off every year?"). But Grayson T. Squirrel keeps interrupting. Grayson has lost track of an acorn, buried for safekeeping. Clearly, a nut pirate has stolen it! Grayson accuses the cardinal, the deer, and even a black bear. That last one proves a grave mistake as the bear roars its disapproval. The narrator interjects, and the squirrel remembers that the nut was last seen "near a rock with an X on it." Grayson begins digging by a small seedling--a baby oak tree that's apparently sprouted from the acorn Grayson hid. An argument ensues between Grayson and the cardinal: "My nut!" "My tree!" Still, all eventually ends well for the irascible squirrel. Federman's tale, told in a mix of narration and speech bubbles from Grayson and the other animals, strikes an agreeably madcap, off-the-wall tone. The digitally created illustrations are dynamic and funny, and the book closes with a quick glossary of nature-related terms, information on white-tailed deer and how gray squirrels burying acorns leads to the growth of oak trees, and a bear safety song. Nutty fun.(Picture book. 4-8) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.