August 1, 2013
An odd story about a plucky reporter, an entrepreneurial rabbit and, yes, skiing squirrels stumbles a bit but doesn't completely crash and burn. Engaging cover art from Lemaitre highlights the book's humorous, cartoonish flair as its strongest attribute. Pictures evoke movement and comic reactions to outlandish scenarios, positioning Lemaitre as an illustrator to watch. Ray's text, however, falters in its rhyme and rhythm and in its unwieldy plot revelation. Though a story about squirrels, it's impossible to put it in a nutshell, but here goes: Skiing squirrels descend on a town, upsetting the citizens and creating no small amount of chaos. Where are they coming from? Who's given them skis? What to do? The aforementioned plucky reporter, Sally Sue Breeze, sets out to investigate, hoping to save them from the sad fate suggested by the evil Mr. Powers, who would like to obliterate the squirrels with a vacuumlike contraption. She discovers that a rabbit has been selling the squirrels Popsicle-stick skis and toothpick ski poles in exchange for all of their acorns, and Sally convinces him to return some of the food to the starving squirrels. She also manages to set up a ski area at the erstwhile ski and ski pole factory, while convincing the squirrels to ski only there and not through the town. A strange story saved by silly art. (Early reader. 5-8)
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September 1, 2013
K-Gr 2-Squirrels racing on skis invade a quiet snow-laden town, causing havoc among the townsfolk. Each tiny creature, wearing colorful earmuffs and matching knee pads, schusses down the nearby mountain slope and through the city center, jumping off rooftops, rushing down neighborhood streets, rampaging through the cemetery, and even catapulting off a steeple. Finally, the mayor calls the local pest-control guy to get rid of the wild rodents. Stanley recommends his vacuum device until Sally Sue Breeze, "the reporter who could not have been shorter," steps up to say that there's got to be a more humane solution. She discovers a rabbit squatting in the Old Acme Popsicle Stick Factory, illegally selling popsicle sticks and toothpicks to the squirrels in exchange for acorns. Then Sally Sue comes up with a plan to get the squirrels to leave. Formatted in the classic easy-reader style, the text consists of four-line stanzas, and the colorful cartoons are expressive and animated. A perfect read for young humor lovers; think the Oncelers (from The Sneeches) meet Marvin K. Mooney (both Random).-Janet Weber, Tigard Public Library, OR
Copyright 2013 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.
November 1, 2013
A goofy rhyming story about a bunch of skiing squirrels is the newest offering in Random House's Beginner Books series. When her town is overrun by hordes of ski-crazed squirrels, young reporter Sally Sue Breeze must find a solution before the mayor follows through on his threat to vacuum up the disruptive intruders. The hilarious illustrations are filled with action, just the sort of energy that very new readers love, especially new readers who have been raised on funny videos of cats in boxes and yes, waterskiing squirrels. However, the text is likely to trip up the same readers, as the rhythm is occasionally uneven and some of the words are quite challenging. Some words can be broken down syllabically (protested and arrested), but the meaning is likely to be lost on four- to six-year-olds. Other words, like chalet and reaction, will simply frustrate them. The plot is just silly enough to elicit giggles, but the real laughs will come from the art. A chubby military guy, dressed in red, with a huge squirrel vacuum? A giant acorn roast to lure the starving squirrels away from the town? A whole page full of skiing squirrels bedecked in scarves and earmuffs? Squirrels disrupting church and traffic? Though the text and plot might be a bit much for the newest readers, the art will help make the challenge a lot more palatable. robin l. smith
(Copyright 2013 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)
January 1, 2014
In this goofy rhyming story, a town is overrun by hordes of ski-crazed squirrels. The hilarious illustrations are filled with action, just the sort of energy that very new readers love. The text is likely to trip up the same readers, as some of the words are quite challenging, but the art will make the challenge a lot more palatable.
(Copyright 2014 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)