Common Sense Media Review
By Regan McMahon
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Fierce squirrel mom keeps babies safe, keeps laughs coming.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 3+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Read
What's the Story?
Ol' MAMA SQUIRREL has lots of babies and guards them closely in her tree in the city. She scolds anyone (cats, dogs, owls, tree pruners) or anything (kites, airplanes) that comes near her tree, shaking her fist and shouting out a stern "Chook, chook, chook!" Then a grizzly bear comes and threatens to eat her "whole family tree." "Not on my watch, buster!" she replies. More than a hundred mama squirrels join her to send him packing, yelling "Chook, chook, chook!" and throwing nuts at him till he flees.
Is It Any Good?
Kids will love the action and funny expressions and body language of fist-shaking, scowling, scolding Ol' Mama and her kids and friends, who band together to defeat much larger, stronger opponents. The violence (nut throwing) is cartoonish and playful, accompanied by sounds like "PLONK!"
Bold black outlines and soft watercolors capture every nuance of expression and emotion, from rage to fear to glee to pride in Mama Squirrel's great accomplishment in ridding the city of a grizzly bear.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about how animals protect their young at all costs. Have you hear stories about how campers have to take care to avoid bears looking for food for their cubs?
Why do you think animal stories are so popular with kids? What are some of your favorites?
Have you ever seen an animal defend its young or its home?
Book Details
- Author :
- Illustrator : David Ezra Stein
- Genre : Picture Book
- Topics : STEM , Animals ( Wild Animals )
- Book type : Fiction
- Publisher : Nancy Paulsen Books
- Publication date : March 21, 2013
- Publisher's recommended age(s) : 3 - 5
- Number of pages : 32
- Available on : Nook, Hardback, Kindle
- Last updated : October 1, 2025
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