Those Darn Squirrels!

October 1, 2008
K-Gr 4-This simple tale has a sneaky, edgy humor that erupts into hilarity as well as a warm, stabilizing feeling for humanity in all of its quirky manifestations. "Old Man Fookwire was so old that when he sneezed, dust came out. He was also a grump. He hated pie. He hated puppies. The only thing he liked was birds." This verbal introduction to the main character is enhanced with paintingsreminiscent of some of the best European children's book illustrationsof an exaggeratedly skinny, flannel-shirted caricature with a long neck, long nose, oversized glasses, and protruding Adam's apple. He never smiles, even when he's painting pictures of the birds that visit his yard every summer. In an attempt to keep the birds around when autumn arrives, he builds wonderful birdfeeders. They do indeed attract the birdsbut they also catch the eye of the squirrels. The cheerful, brilliant, and adorable creatures are shown using pulleys, weights, and remarkable cooperative planning to foil Fookwire and raid the feeders. The old man fights back. But the squirrels, still smiling and hopeful, stay up all night for a planning meeting and devise a daring escapade that relies heavily on their deep understanding of physics and their willingness to be launched through the air. What happens to the squirrels, the birds, and to Old Man Fookwire is a symphony of regret, respect, and sweetness. Readers will want to linger over this book and treasure every page."Susan Weitz, formerly at Spencer-Van Etten School District, Spencer, NY"

Copyright 2008 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

January 1, 2009
Grouchy Old Man Fookwire, who dislikes everything but birds, wages a battle of wits with the crafty squirrels that raid his birdfeeders. After the birds fly south, the squirrels attempt to make amends. The angular illustrations, showing contraptions created by Fookwire and the squirrels, are a good match for the tongue-in-cheek narrative.

(Copyright 2009 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)