Squirrel-ish

K-Gr 3–Being a rat is tough—much harder than being a squirrel. While squirrels get offered peanuts and roam the park freely, the rat is constantly shooed away. Frustrated by the unfair treatment, the hero of this piece decides that life would be easier if he were more like a squirrel. After crafting various tails to look more “squirrel-ish,” he starts to enjoy some of the perks, including the peanuts. However, he soon realizes that being a squirrel comes with its own challenges, like unwanted attention from dogs. The colorful illustrations bring energy to this seemingly silly story, which carries a deeper message about self-acceptance and embracing oneself. The final page, showing a squirrel with a razor and shaving cream, hints that the squirrel might want to look more like a rat to avoid the dogs—sure to elicit a laugh from young readers.