Review by School Library Journal Review
PreS-Gr 2--Squirrel tries to keep calm when faced with the disappointment of losing his giant lollipop, but can't hold it together, even after taking some calming breaths and assuming a tree pose. Despite working on his temper, Squirrel gets more and more frustrated and will not listen to his friends who want to point out that the lollipop isn't missing, but stuck to his tail the whole time. Children will delight in being on the inside of the joke from the moment that the drama is revealed: the pink and blue lollipop is as large as Squirrel's tail and is visible in every panel. There isn't any real suspense, but readers will eagerly follow along with Squirrel's wrongheadedness and the gross-out factor of Badger's eventual restoration of the sticky treat. Panczyszyn's digital illustrations are brightly colored; the characters resemble popular plush toys in their vests and graphic T-shirts. The material is funny, but Mo Willems's "Pigeon" books are more successful expressions of the range of feelings that can accompany thwarted desires and misunderstood yearnings. VERDICT An additional purchase for the elementary story-hour shelf.--Jennifer Costa
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Review by Kirkus Book Review
Has Squirrel's lollipop been stolen? Squirrel admits that he has a temper, but he's been working on managing it with yoga and breathing exercises. When his lollipop goes missing, he insists--as calmly as possible--that one of his friends must have taken it. Squirrel's furry pals try to explain that the lollipop is simply stuck to his tail, but Squirrel, full of self-pity and accusations, won't let them get a word in edgewise. In the end, Squirrel's temper does get the better of him, but he redeems himself by saying sorry. His friends accept his apology and help him move on. Readers are in on the joke, watching Squirrel frantically search and point the finger at his friends while the lollipop hangs from his tail. The cutesy woodland creatures all wear little articles of clothing; Squirrel's clad in a puffy orange vest, while Mouse wears a huge pair of pink glasses and a green jacket. Their faces are expressive; Panczyszyn deftly portrays Squirrel's progression from anxiety to panic to an eruption of frustration and anger. The illustrations are largely set against white backdrops, with little detail, though the book has plenty to spark conversations among young readers about emotions, friendships, and self-improvement. A relatable way to help little ones confront big feelings.(Picture book. 3-6) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
