Overview

Squirrel and Bird are best friends, but they're very different. Squirrel is LOUD. Bird is quiet. Squirrel is confident. Bird is shy. And that’s all there is to know about them...or is it? This eye-opening book for children ages 3-7 celebrates the wonderful variety of traits that make us who we are. Squirrel and Bird are the best of friends, but they're very different. Squirrel is loud, busy, and the life of the party. Bird is quiet and shy--but is that all there is to them? This eye-opening, thought-provoking story encourages us to embrace the wonderful variety of traits that make us who we are, and challenge the reductive labels others may place upon us.

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9781664300866

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Reviews

In this inspired tale of metafiction, best friends Squirrel and Bird get ready for a concert, with the help—and hindrance—of a meddling narrator. Offering condescending and reductive characterizations of both creatures, the unseen narrator immediately rouses Bird’s ire. Squirrel is “loud! Very LOUD!” Bird, on the other hand, “hardly makes a sound at all.” “Squirrel is busy. Busy, busy, busy!” But Bird “prefers to sit and do nothing.” Bird chafes at these flattening descriptions—all of which contradict what’s actually going on in the illustrations as the two animals cheerfully prepare for their performance. As the event draws closer, the narrator lays it on thick (“Squirrel is confident. Bird is shy”) until finally Bird has had “ENOUGH!” and proclaims that all creatures are far more multifaceted than they might appear. Chastened, the narrator agrees: “Bird is a LOT of things. And Squirrel is, too!” Baker’s minimal text is ably supported by Thomas’ muted artwork. Featuring grays and warm yellows, the images evoke the feeling of a classic storybook—one that’s cleverly subverted as the narrative progresses. Dynamic layouts—the occasional use of panels, the word “ENOUGH!” taking up an entire spread—add panache. Bird’s comments are rendered in a unique, flowing typeface. The message is clear: It’s foolish and limiting to attempt to put anyone in a box; there’s so much more to all of us than meets the eye. Delivers an important lesson with an emotional wallop. (Picture book. 5-7)--Kirkus Reviews Squirrel and Bird is an impressively original, exceptionally imaginative, wonderfully entertaining, magnificently illustrated, and thought-provoking picture book story that encourages children to embrace the wonderful variety of traits that make us who we are, and challenge the reductive labels others may place upon us. With its art gallery quality images by Stacey Thomas in full support of author/storyteller Laura Baker's ""kid friendly"" tale, Squirrel and Bird is a fun and engaging read from cover to cover. ...Highly and unreservedly recommended for family, daycare center, preschool, elementary school, and community library picture book collections for young children ages 3-7.--Midwest Book Review

In this inspired tale of metafiction, best friends Squirrel and Bird get ready for a concert, with the help—and hindrance—of a meddling narrator. Offering condescending and reductive characterizations of both creatures, the unseen narrator immediately rouses Bird’s ire. Squirrel is “loud! Very LOUD!” Bird, on the other hand, “hardly makes a sound at all.” “Squirrel is busy. Busy, busy, busy!” But Bird “prefers to sit and do nothing.” Bird chafes at these flattening descriptions—all of which contradict what’s actually going on in the illustrations as the two animals cheerfully prepare for their performance. As the event draws closer, the narrator lays it on thick (“Squirrel is confident. Bird is shy”) until finally Bird has had “ENOUGH!” and proclaims that all creatures are far more multifaceted than they might appear. Chastened, the narrator agrees: “Bird is a LOT of things. And Squirrel is, too!” Baker’s minimal text is ably supported by Thomas’ muted artwork. Featuring grays and warm yellows, the images evoke the feeling of a classic storybook—one that’s cleverly subverted as the narrative progresses. Dynamic layouts—the occasional use of panels, the word “ENOUGH!” taking up an entire spread—add panache. Bird’s comments are rendered in a unique, flowing typeface. The message is clear: It’s foolish and limiting to attempt to put anyone in a box; there’s so much more to all of us than meets the eye. Delivers an important lesson with an emotional wallop. (Picture book. 5-7)--Kirkus Reviews

Author Information

Laura Baker is the author of more than 50 books for children, including picture books, board books, activity books, nonfiction, and early readers. She has written about feelings, friendship, monsters, unicorns and, of course . . . the magic of books. Laura grew up in Canada but now lives in a lovely town on the south coast of Wales with her husband, two boys, and a big basset hound. Stacey Thomas has been drawing for as long as she can remember. She lives in a small town in the Oxfordshire countryside, where she spends her days illustrating picture books, exploring in the neighboring woods, and attempting to befriend the local wildlife.

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