The Secret Life of Squirrels

PreS-Gr 1—Rose photographs wild squirrels exploring miniature dollhouse-type sets constructed in her backyard. The story is built around the photos of squirrels interacting with tiny, handmade props. Readers first meet Mr. Peanuts as he pursues his hobbies: cooking on a grill, playing a piano, and engaging with several books in a library set. Feeling lonely, Mr. Peanuts pens a letter, inviting Cousin Squirrel to visit. He prepares for his friend's arrival by cleaning his house, baking a cake, and taking a bath. Once Cousin Squirrel arrives, the two animals sit in a wagon together, enjoy a picnic, and camp out. Rather than being plot- or character-driven, the text seems to exist only to showcase and loosely tie the pictures together. The book ends with "Ten Tips for Photographing Wildlife" and a "Q & A with Nancy Rose." Children may enjoy visually examining Mr. Peanuts' miniature world, but the lackluster text makes this an additional purchase.—Laura Hunter, Mount Laurel Library, NJ