Those Darn Squirrels Fly South (Those Darn Squirrels #3)

It's a sad time for Old Man Fookwire: his beloved birds are flying south for winter. And this year, the pesky squirrels that he loves to hate have decided to follow them, using flying machines that might have been designed by da Vinci (if he'd had access to soda bottles and baseball caps). Fookwire loads up his vintage convertible and joins the birds and squirrels in the tropical village of "Santa Vaca," where even he manages to crack a smile. In the squirrels' third outing, Rubin conveys the complexities of a testy relationship with flair, while Salmieri captures Fookwire's grumpiness and the vacant expressions of the squirrels as they dance on the beach and prepare mangoes with salt and lime. Ages 4-8. Illustrator's agent: Rebecca Sherman, Writers House. (Sept.)

K-Gr 2--Those darn squirrels are at it again, and this time they're headed for warmer weather, aided by their "comprehensive understanding of aerodynamic engineering." In their third appearance, grumpy Old Man Fookwire is still painting pictures of his beloved birds and shaking his fist at squirrel shenanigans. But, instead of the baba, yaba, and floogle birds flying south alone, the squirrels tag along to see what all the fuss is about. When he receives a collect call from the squirrels turned beach bums, Fookwire's loneliness gets the better of him and he dusts off the red 1957 convertible he's kept hiding in a shed. After reuniting with his bird friends, sunburning his giant schnoz, and painting to his grumpy heart's content, he and the squirrels road trip it back together. Salmieri's characteristic sketches stretch every scene to humorous proportion, making the most of Rubin's quirky story line and eccentric vocabulary. As Fookwire would say, "Great googley-moogley," this story doesn't disappoint.--Jenna Boles, Washington-Centerville Public Library, OH

"Visual slapstick and a deadpan text combine with trademark Fookwire expressions to make this third Darn Squirrels outing a winner . . . Hysterical—again."—"Kirkus, " starred review

"Rubin conveys the complexities of a testy relationship with flair."—"Publishers Weekly "