The Squirrels’ Busy Year: A First Science Storybook

In a companion to Bird Builds a Nest, Jenkins opens with a brief discussion of weather and season-related concepts (the Earth’s orbit around the sun, clouds, thunderstorms) before offering a seasonal, image-rich story about two squirrels. They begin tucked away in their winter den; in spring, the two “are out and about, looking for food. The acorns are all gone, but there are fat, juicy buds on the maple trees.” Throughout the year, an owl watches over the woodland glen—in one spread, the squirrels narrowly escape his talons. Jones’s compositions feature chiseled lines, grassy textures, and artful use of perspective, including a view from deep inside the squirrels’ nest. The science-based content is edifying, though Jenkins’s subtle message about the value of observing changes in nature may resonate most strongly. Ages 4–6. [em](July) [/em]