Scaredy Squirrel never leaves his nut tree. It’s way too dangerous out there. He could encounter tarantulas, green Martians or killer bees. But in his tree, every day is the same and if danger comes along, he’s well-prepared. Scaredy Squirrel’s emergency kit includes antibacterial soap, Band-Aids and a parachute. Day after day he watches and waits, and waits and watches, until one day his worst nightmare comes true! Scaredy suddenly finds himself out of his tree, where germs, poison ivy and sharks lurk. But as Scaredy Squirrel leaps into the unknown, he discovers something really uplifting … (A Storytime activity sheet is included in the archive.)
"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, 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." John Peters (American Library Association)
"Watts conveys a difficult theme with an energetic playfulness. Scaredy Squirrel is a masterful balance of charm, comedy, and serious realism." Toronto Star
"With his iconic nervous grin and over-the-top punctiliousness, Scaredy Squirrel is an endearing character." School Library Journal
"Readers of any age will chuckle with recognition at the squirrel's attempts to control his life." Quill & Quire
"Hilarious!" Fruchtzwerg
