The Squirrels' Busy Year

PreS-Gr 1--Veteran science writer Jenkins introduces the seasons as experienced by a pair of gray squirrels in this follow-up to Bird Builds a Nest. Opening in winter, the simple text sets the scene: "It's cold! The sun is low in the sky, the pond is frozen, and there's snow on the ground." A diurnal owl accompanies readers, observing the squirrels' activities as they relate to the seasons: finding stored food in the winter, eating juicy buds and bulbs in the spring, experiencing a thunderstorm in the summer, and collecting and burying acorns in the fall. The book opens with an author's note that briefly explains the reason for seasons, clouds and precipitation, and thunderstorms. It concludes with "Thinking About Seasons and Weather," a series of follow-up questions intended to prompt discussion and extend the concepts introduced. There's a perfunctory index, too. Jones's stylized mixed-media illustrations are rendered in muted tones and sometimes take small liberties; for instance, gray squirrels are primarily solitary creatures though here they behave as a pair, and the spring maple tree features both "fat juicy buds" and full-grown leaves in a variety of colors including green, orange, and blue. VERDICT An additional purchase for collections with a shortage of STEM books about the seasons for their youngest patrons.--Lynn Van Auken, Oak Bluffs School, MA

Copyright 2018 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

In a companion to Bird Builds a Nest, Jenkins opens with a brief discussion of weather and season-related concepts (the Earth's orbit around the sun, clouds, thunderstorms) before offering a seasonal, image-rich story about two squirrels. They begin tucked away in their winter den; in spring, the two "are out and about, looking for food. The acorns are all gone, but there are fat, juicy buds on the maple trees." Throughout the year, an owl watches over the woodland glen--in one spread, the squirrels narrowly escape his talons. Jones's compositions feature chiseled lines, grassy textures, and artful use of perspective, including a view from deep inside the squirrels' nest. The science-based content is edifying, though Jenkins's subtle message about the value of observing changes in nature may resonate most strongly. Ages 4-6. (July)

Copyright 2018 Publishers Weekly, LLC Used with permission.

Muted, mixed-media illustrations pair nicely with spare, poetic text that depicts the seasons in a forest...A lyrical introduction to STEM for budding scientists, animal lovers, and artists everywhere.
—Kirkus Reviews

Mixed-media illustrations echo the scientific sophistication of the text, using a muted palette that still captures each season's distinct landscapes, trees, and animal behaviors. The stylized, but not anthropomorphized, squirrels are filled with personality, as if stopped for just a moment as they scurry up and down tree branches.
—The Horn Book

Jones' lovely illustrations capture the serenity and drama of nature, and Jenkins' storybook approach makes the information easy to digest.
—Booklist