The Squirrel the Worm and the Nut Trees [Paperback]

Jimmie Powell (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: December 18, 2007

Top Secret Tips Unveiled Within!

A Story about a Family's Plan and Goal

Product Details

• Paperback: 48 pages
• Publisher: Outskirts Press (December 18, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1432713264
• ISBN-13: 978-1432713263
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 8.5 x 0.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (15 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #4,294,155 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars coping 101 for kids, March 24, 2008

By 

Matthew G. Sherwin (last seen screaming at Amazon customer service) - See all my reviews
(TOP 100 REVIEWER)    (HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: The Squirrel the Worm and the Nut Trees (Paperback)

The Squirrel, the Worm, and the Nut Trees is a fine piece of fiction from Jimmie Powell. This children's book is indeed for kids roughly ages 9 through 12; they will enjoy the beautiful illustrations by Bobbi Switzer and the book is rather well written.

The story is essentially about the importance of being thoughtful and creative when faced with a problem--even a serious problem. You see, in this short book the worm and his friends have ruined the nut supply on purpose. That way the worms can laugh when the squirrels can't find enough nuts to store for their winter food supply. At first the squirrels (that's Mr. and Mrs. Squirrel to you) panic and feel confused; but eventually Mr. Squirrel hatches a plan that leads to a happy ending.

This book, of course, can be taken at the very concrete level by children who are still at that level of development; and simultaneously children who can get the somewhat deeper message will learn the importance of using their brains to think up creative, new ways to cope with problems and solve them when they unexpectedly occur. This is excellent preparation for the real world we all must enter in life. While the problem of no food could be very somber, Jimmie Powell writes in such a way that children won't be scared off by the description of the problem. That's great.

Again, the illustrations by Bobbi Switzer are marvelous--they're very well done and Bobbi clearly put a great deal of effort into these drawings. Jimmie Powell writes with a good sensitivity for children at the appropriate age level and I think that's terrific.

Overall, I highly recommend this book for kids aged roughly 9 to 12. I commend Jimmie Powell for writing a fine piece of fiction that teaches a very important lesson about life.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Start saving early so you have enough to get you through., April 23, 2008

By 

Victoria Tarrani "writer, editor, artist, des... (Florida, USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Squirrel the Worm and the Nut Trees (Paperback)

.
This is one of the most delightful books I've read for children. It is so clever in revealing several of the "deadly sins" that when the book is over, the children learn (or at least have an idea) about how to manage their world (no matter how small it is).

The squirrels always began to collect food in the Fall for the Winter, but this year it was different; there were very few nuts. Mr. Squirrel brought his family into the search, and together they found enough to barely get them through the long, cold snowy season. Where there should have been nuts, there were silk worm webs.

Then the squirrel knew what had happened. The worm, greedy and mean, had destroyed the nut crop. Mr. Squirrel went to Mr. Worm to ask why he made the nuts rotten.

Mr. Worm told the squirrel that he could not use them, but loved to make them decay so the squirrels couldn't use them either. "Ha! Seems like you and your family will starve! Ha, ha!"

That year the squirrels just made it until Spring brought its small warmth; then the squirrels executed "The Squirrel's Family Plan and Goals". They spent hours on it during the winter with tummies only half full; the plans helped keep their minds off the lack of food.

In early Spring they began collecting some nuts and a few every day of Spring and through Summer; never really enough to be noticed by the Worm. In the Fall there were more that they added to their store house, but left enough to fool Mr. Worm. He laughed with his friends. He was happy thinking that he would starve out the squirrels this year.

They had so much they knew they would not go hungry; and that was a delicious secret.

This book shows what greed and avarice can do, and it shows that ingenuity and a whole family working hard together can avoid disasters.

The pictures are gorgeous, the colors vivid and bright; even Mr. Worm is cute. This is a charming and fun book for kids as young 2-3 and as old as anyone who likes delightful stories with bright, colorful pictures.

Victoria Tarrani

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Learning Fun!, April 4, 2008

By 

Shirley Priscilla Johnson "Author/Reviewer -... (USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (TOP 500 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: The Squirrel the Worm and the Nut Trees (Paperback)

The moment I saw this book by Jimmie Powell I had to giggle at the cover. I saw an adorable squirrel sitting in a tree with his basket of nuts and a crabby looking worm glaring at me. It made me wonder who the good guy would be in this children's tale. I had a sneaky suspicion.
We are taken into the life of Mr. Squirrel and his happy little family. The Squirrel's are busy gathering nuts for the long winter that is ahead, but there is a problem. Mr. Worm and his group are destroying all the nuts before the squirrels have a chance to gather them. Oh no! Will Mr. Squirrel and his family make it through the winter? What will they do?

In this book author ,Jimmie Powell brings to light quite a serious problem that the squirrels are facing. He has Mr. Squirrel try to solve the problem in one way,and when that does not work he has the squirrels come up with another idea where they must all work together in order to survive.
I think this was great and shows children that when faced with a challenge never give up when one solution does not work.
The illustrations are marvelous bringing each page to life. The expressions on the faces of the animals are perfect in showing the emotions they are feeling. This is a wonderful children's book. One that teaches the importance of problem solving in a great story with top-notch illustrations.
Very well done.