Scaredy Squirrel: Module Six

Watt, M. (2006). Scaredy Squirrel. Tonawanda, NY: Kids Can Press Ltd.

Summary: 

Scaredy Squirrel never leaves his home.  There are simply too many scary things in the world like killer bees and green Martians.  He leads a regimented and predictable life with which he is very content.  He even has an emergency kit in case of something dangerous or unexpected.  All is well until the day a killer bee buzzes by Scaredy Squirrel's nut tree.  Chaos ensues and Scaredy Squirrel leaves his tree!  However, during this terrifying foray, he discovers something wonderful about himself and decides that perhaps the unknown is not as bad as he expected.

My Evaluation:

This is one of those lovely picture books that is perfectly appropriate for any age.  It is filled with wonderful adult humor poking good-natured fun at control freaks, but this humor does not exclude children.  Children would giggle throughout the book at Scaredy Squirrel's irrational fears and silly schedules.  The entire book is "in-character" in a sense with the first page containing a warning for readers to wash their hands before reading the book and the back of the book cover containing "killer bees."  It is such a fun read, and it would be very easy to incorporate many of the themes into pertinent lessons.  For example, teachers or parents could use the book to encourage their children to branch out and try new things.  The illustrations are very unique, add to the humor, and complement the text nicely. 

Reviews:

Bird, E. (2009). Top 100 Picture Books Poll Results. School Library Journal. Retrieved from http://blog.schoollibraryjournal.com/afuse8production/2009/04/13/top-100-picture-books-poll-results-50-46/

#46: Scaredy Squirrel by Melanie Watt (2006)

I consider Scaredy Squirrel to be the only true 21st century picture book on this list.  Let me explain.  Certainly we’ve a fair amount of author/illustrators out there that have appeared post-2000 to worm their ways into the hearts and minds of children.  But Scaredy Squirrel is, to my mind, here today because it became an internet phenomenon.
Should I credit The Cybils?  Partly.  But word of electronic mouth may really be the reason.  I’ve seen Scaredy mentioned on blog after blog after blog.  I’ve seen people discuss it via webchats, online reviews, Amazon discussions, and more.  Scaredy Squirrel, you may be afraid of everyone and everything out there, but the one thing you are not afraid of is sure-footed viral marketing.  Well done, sir.  From my review: "Scaredy Squirrel’s world is straightforward and easy to navigate. His tree is safe and comforting whereas everything else on the planet is ‘the unknown’ and therefore worthy of fear. I mean, consider how dangerous everything is. There’s poison ivy and martians and sharks and germs and all kinds of stuff to watch out for. Scaredy Squirrel, therefore, sees no good reason why he should do anything other than eat, sleep, and look at the view from his tree’s verdant branches all day. He even has an emergency kit near at hand. Then… one day… the unthinkable occurs. Out of nowhere a ‘killer’ bee startles our hero and causes him to drop his kit. Down plunges Scaredy (before remembering the whole don’t-leave-the-tree plan) but rather than crash to the ground he finds that he is capable of something entirely new: gliding. Turns out that Scaredy has been a flying squirrel all along and never knew it. Now Scaredy makes exactly one leap into the unknown every day before playing dead for two hours and going home. And for this little squirrel, that’s a mighty big step to take."  And in 2006 it won the Cybil for Best Picture Book.  He even has his own website.  Awww.  How can you not love this little guy?  Considering the vast hoards of over-protected children out there, Scaredy really is a hero for our times.

Peters, J. (2006). Scaredy Squirrel Booklist Review.  Booklist. Retrieved from
http://www.booklistonline.com/Scaredy-Squirrel-Melanie-Watt/pid=1613793

In a tongue-in-cheek tale that may help to prod anxious readers out of their hidebound routines, a squirrel discovers the pleasures of leaping into the unknown. As the world's a scary place, what with the killer bees, green Martians, tarantulas, germs, and sharks that might be lurking about, Scaredy Squirrel keeps to his tree, and to a precise, minute-by-minute daily schedule--until a supposed "killer bee" actually wanders by, causing Squirrel to dislodge his suitcase-size emergency kit. A wild lunge to rescue it turns into a long glide (portrayed in a gatefold), as Squirrel discovers to his astonishment that he is a flying squirrel. Eventually, Squirrel returns in triumph to his tree and from then on adds a daily glide to his accustomed rounds. Despite the simply drawn cartoons and brief text, this is more sophisticated in tone than Martin Waddell's Tiny's Big Adventure (2004), though the message is similar. 


My Suggestions for Use in a Library Setting:
I would read this book to young children in the library on President's Day as a way to discuss their goals and to illustrate the fact that every person starts with small accomplishments before they achieve great things.  Just like Scaredy Squirrel, every president started small by overcoming fears and trying new things as children before they became President of the United States.  We would then discuss what things the children wanted to accomplish and how they could accomplish their goals.