Scamper - Hardcover

PreSchool-- The last of the litter to leave the nest, a young squirrel explores his habitat and searches for a home of his own as he prepares for winter. The story is really a vehicle that Miller uses to show the creature's habits and food preferences, its enemies (a red fox and a red-tailed hawk), and its survival instincts. Nearly half the story is devoted to Scamper's episodes with a bird feeder that is moved from tree to post to line in an attempt to save the seeds for the birds. At last, the little squirrel finds a store of food set out for him near a tree stump. Miller's combination of watercolor illustrations and informative text gives this book the appearance of a naturalist's journal; it is an informational piece rather than an endearing animal tale (as are Mousekin's Golden House 1971 and Pebbles: A Pack Rat , 1976; o.p., both Prentice-Hall). A quiet nature lesson, and nothing more.
- Susan Scheps, Shaker Heights Public Library, OH
Copyright 1991 Reed Business Information, Inc.