Book review: The Squirrels Who Squabbled
Rachel Bright is one of the most talented – and prolific – children’s authors around. Under-fives (and over-fives too) love everything about her books while adults admire the witty storylines, thought-provoking themes and captivating illustrations.
Bright’s latest title, The Squirrels Who Squabbled, is one of her best yet. Illustrated by Jim Field (her collaborator on The Lion Inside and The Koala Who Could), it’s the tale of two greedy squirrels and their race to nab the very last nut of the season.
The pair have very different personalities – Spontaneous Cyril has partied his way through the year, only to find that his cupboard is bare, while Plan-Ahead Bruce has a stash of food at the ready but wants to stockpile more.
As the nut bounces into the forest and comes tantalisingly close to a waterfall, Cyril and Bruce are determined to grab the bounty for themselves – until a bird swoops in at the last moment and ruins their plans.
With its rhyming text and autumnal colours, The Squirrels Who Squabbled is the perfect book to read aloud at this time of year. Best of all, it’s a tale that celebrates the pointlessness of squabbling and the magic of friendship. It’s a wonderful book.
The Squirrels Who Squabbled by Rachel Bright and Jim Field (Orchard Books, £12.99)