The acorn icon of AnnArbor.Com makes me think about one of my favorite things I love about Ann Arbor - the squirrels. I truly enjoy watching squirrels. I leave food for them them in my yard and I even joined the Michigan Squirrels Club, where we feed squirrels on the Michigan Diag on Sundays (the T-shirts are way cool too).

While learning how to inventory and weed a library at my daughters’ school (thanks Kit), I came across the Scaredy Squirrel books by Melanie Watt and instantly fell in love with these stories. Scaredy Squirrel is afraid of everything. This fretful squirrel has a new list of feared items in each of the four books with cleverly illustrated extensive emergency plans to put into action if the need arises.

In each book, Scaredy Squirrel accidentally faces his fears and learns something new about himself. Kids will easily relate to how Scaredy Squirrel is nervous about the unknown. Kids can learn along with Scaredy Squirrel as he learns not be so anxious about all that could possibly go wrong one brave little step at a time.

Publishers Weekly reported:

"(t)he idea for this quirky character had several sources. ‘Scaredy was inspired somewhat by how I grew up—a bit overprotected,’ says Watt. ‘I was also aware of how we are bombarded constantly with warnings, some sillier than others.’ She hit upon the idea of a timid squirrel who unexpectedly discovers his hidden talents (such as an ability to fly). '‘

Publisher’s Weekly added “It’s an indication of how well Melanie Watt knows her helicopter-parented audience that she’s able to turn the phrase ‘antibacterial soap’ into a bona fide punchline.” Worrying and parenting seem to go hand in hand and it is Melanie Watt's clever silliness that helps the reader face fears with a smile (like having a fire extinguisher for fireflies).

Melanie Watt so far has written four titles in the "Scaredy Squirrel" series. The newly released adventure is "Scaredy Squirrel at Night." In this book Scaredy Squirrel decides not to sleep at night to avoid bad dreams about ghosts, dragons and (believe it or not) fairies and unicorns. His plan is to stay awake by doing activities like counting stars and scrapbooking. Scaredy Squirrel learns that lack of sleep is not beneficial to a young growing squirrel after his best-laid plans go awry.

Kids and adults will love Scaredy Squirrel's many lists, including a to-do list, diagrams, and action plans. The brightly colored illustrations include details that are fun to check out even after the story is read. After reading Scaredy Squirrel at Night you will want to go back and read the rest of the books: Scaredy Squirrel, Scaredy Squirrel Makes a Friend and Scaredy Squirrel at the Beach.

So, I have shared a few of my favorite books with you and how these books link to my life in some way. Kids and Parents, I would love to hear about some of your favorite books to read and why they are so special to you and your family. Tell me, what books are special to you?

book photos: amazon.com
squirrel sleeping on deck after a way yummy snack photo: lisa bankey

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