Never Trust a Squirrel [Hardcover]

Patrick Cooper (Author), Catherine Walters (Illustrator)

Book Description

Age Level: 3 and up

William the guinea pig is sure that life is more fun outside his hutch. He sees the squirrels running and chattering in the yard and longs to join them. So when a squirrel named Stella drops out of a nut tree, offering adventure, William is happy to leave his little hutch behind. But he soon discovers that guinea pigs aren't so well suited to life in the woods—and that squirrels don't make the most reliable friends. Luckily, restless little William has a very resourceful mother.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

PreSchool-Grade 2-William, a young guinea pig, longs to experience the world outside his secure hut. Stella the squirrel's invitation to explore is more tempting than his mother's stern warnings of danger, so off he goes. He soon finds himself abandoned by Stella and pursued by a hungry fox. Thanks to his mother, the young guinea pig eventually ends up safe at home. It is difficult to determine the purpose of this book. It doesn't work as a story of adventure and danger as the stilted narration does not create a sense of excitement. Likewise, the colorful, blossom-filled paintings, both pretty and precious, depict an idyllic setting rather than an ominous one. William is adorable, Stella is nasty, but the fox looks more mild-mannered than threatening. Children will sympathize with William's need to test the limits. However, the final message, "Never trust a squirrel," is confusing. It may suggest that it is wrong to trust anyone different from you or that it is best to stay with your own kind. It also sends a questionable message about taking responsibility for one's own actions.
Heide Piehler, Shorewood Public Library, WI
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 3 and up
  
• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: Dutton Juvenile (March 1, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0525460098
• ISBN-13: 978-0525460091
• Product Dimensions: 10.5 x 8.4 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,070,761 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars "Never trust a squirrel" by Patrick Cooper, February 7, 2000

By 

Nathalie Buckland (Australia) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Never Trust a Squirrel (Hardcover)

At a time when there is a huge selection for buyers of children's books to choose from, it is surprisingly rare to find a really good story at an appropriate level. This book was a delightful surprise. I bought it for the 4/5 year olds in my preschool class, and it was an instant success. The children found the story absorbing and were not concerned that a squirrel is an alien species here. I recommend this book to parents, teachers and the young children for whom it has been written.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Truth Comes Out., April 13, 2003

By 

tvtv3 "tvtv3" (Sorento, IL United States) - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Never Trust a Squirrel (Hardcover)

Let's face it, even though squirrels seem like cute furry woodland creatures, that's just a disguise. Squirrels are evil mammals bent on world domination and can never be trusted. It's so wonderful to find a children's book that not only discusses this concept, but supports it.

NEVER TRUST A SQUIRREL! is about a young guinea-pig who fails to listen to the advice of his mother and goes wondering in the woods with a squirrel. When a sly fox shows up, the squirrel abandons the guinea-pig and what follows is a story of love and a lesson in parental obedience.

This is a great book and the kids I used to teach in preschool loved it. The illustrations are lively and full of natural color, augmenting each scene they accompany.

4.0 out of 5 stars Old Timey, October 27, 2009

By 

vamommy (Midlothian, VA United States) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Never Trust a Squirrel! Pb (Paperback)

This is a sweet story your child will enjoy if they have a pet guinea pig. It is slow moving, predictable and mildly preachy. However, the subject matter is cute and the artwork is attractive so it is an enjoyable book for my 4 year old.