Better Together!

Two single-parent animal families discover they’re “better together” in this interspecies tale, inspired by celebrity couple Robach and Shue’s experiences as a blended family. When Mr. McMunk and his two chipmunk children are blown from their burrow during a storm, they head to a hollow tree, where they discover that Mrs. Squirrelly and her squirrel young have similarly taken refuge. The youths initially appreciate having extra playmates, but as the storm—and the cramped shared space—persist, too much “grumping” results in the families separating to opposite sides of the hollow. Predictably, once they all arrive home, the families miss the camaraderie and head back to the hollow, where the sixsome become a single family: the McSquirrelies. Wen’s digital art is layered with scanned mixed-media textures, which work well to visualize the book’s crisp autumn forest scenes—and the simple story’s emphasis on getting along. Ages 3–7. (Oct.)