Text-to-self connection immediately came to mind when I saw this title on the book review table at our librarians' meeting:
Yes, I have experienced this minor catastrophe. Unlike the family in the book, however, I was 6,500 miles away while the squirrel resided in our house. It entered through the door I left open as we were loading the car at 345a, preparing for a trip to Tokyo, Japan to visit our daughter, who was studying abroad. I noticed an odd sound in the living room while doing one last look-over before locking the door, but chalked it up to old house/ appliance noises.
The squirrel was discovered by my son's friend, who noticed something looking out our dining room window and investigated, only to find the brown rodent staring back at him. He had the presence of mind to alert our next-door neighbor, who spent the next two days trying to extricate the squirrel. It had five days in our house, binging on fruit and a loaf of bread, running across curtain rods, knocking down plants and using our furniture as a bathroom before our neighbor enticed it through the dining room window.
Of course, I had to pick this book and bring it home! It is a madcap tale from the squirrel's perspective of a day spent in and around a family's home. There is the expected chaos and a wintry rescue of a young family member. At just 72 pages, Squirrel in the House by Vivian Vande Velde, illustrated by Steve Bjorkman, is a great read-aloud to teach sequencing and writing from another point of view.
Have you nominated books for the Cybils awards yet? Think of some good ones and see if they have already been nominated! http://www.cybils.com/2016/10/and-go-cybils-nominations-are-open.html
ReplyDeleteMy friends just had this happen a couple of weeks ago. I will tell her about this book and add it to my TBR pile.
ReplyDeleteI'm not a big fan of squirrels and can't imagine having a squirrel in the house, but it sounds like a book students would find very funny. The fact that it's short is a plus, too, for my readers who are still working on stamina. I'll have to check it out.
ReplyDeleteYears ago, when we lived in an apartment on the 18th floor, we would get cheeky pigeons who would come right in through our balcony door in search of food! I love animals, but prefer them outside, where they belong. ;)
ReplyDeleteWe have issues occasionally with a squirrel getting into the attic space of our house. I think the book sounds great! Thanks for sharing.
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