Scaredy Squirrel Makes a Friend (review)
2007; Johns Hopkins University Press; Volume: 60; Issue: 10 Linguagem: Inglês
10.1353/bcc.2007.0418
ISSN1558-6766
Autores Tópico(s)Animal and Plant Science Education
ResumoReviewed by: Booth's Daughter Elizabeth Bush Wemmlinger, Raymond Booth's Daughter. Calkins Creek/Boyds Mills, 2007210p ISBN 1-932425-86-1$17.95 R Gr. 6-9 The aptly named Scaredy Squirrel would "rather be alone than risk encountering someone dangerous," but he's excited when he notices the backyard water feature is sporting a nice harmless goldfish, just right for friendship with a nervous squirrel. Scaredy carefully plans his friend-making mission to present himself appealingly and avoid all risks en route, but all his painstaking prep founders when he encounters an active dog who wants to eat him—or does he? Watt mines effective comedy from excess (Scaredy is hilariously organized in his compulsive planning and absurd lists) and from droll detail (he's afraid of being bitten by walruses, bunnies, beavers, piranhas, and Godzilla), gently satirizing her protagonist's obvious desperation (his "interesting" ways to pass the time all by himself include reading the phonebook and chatting to a sock puppet). It won't surprise book-savvy audiences that the frightening dog just wants to play with Scaredy, since seeming foes often prove to be friends in literature, but they'll be greatly relieved that poor old Scaredy doesn't have to make do with a wet pet whose main virtue is safety and instead finds a satisfying "83% safe, but LOTS OF FUN!" canine pal. Figures in sprightly acrylics are airily bounded by streams of white space as well as thick charcoal line, with a result suggesting a campy contemporary cartoon; clever formatting (overhead views, sequential panels, tests, and diagrams) add sly amusement. The humor is silly enough that kids with their own scaredy tendencies won't feel preached at, and others will just appreciate the delicious ridiculousness that doesn't keep Scaredy from getting the friend he needs. Copyright © 2007 The Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois
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