The Secret Life of Squirrels

Photographer Rose's photographs of squirrels interacting with miniature props of her own making earned her a following on the photo website Flickr. Now, she crafts a picture-book narrative around several such photos, introducing Mr. Peanuts, a "rather unusual squirrel" who is seen tending to a miniature gas grill, playing a tiny piano ("His favorite piece is Moonlight Sonata. Most squirrels would find that piece quite difficult to play"), reading, and tidying up before the arrival of Cousin Squirrel. Images of twigs frame several photos, which show Mr. Peanuts and his cousin "playing" chess, dining at a picnic table (with a cocktail umbrella for shade), and enjoying a cake topped with acorns. " will inspect and explore anything if peanuts are involved," Rose says in a q&a at book's end, explaining how she has created a photo studio for her miniature scenes off her house's deck. The storyline is little more than a vehicle to showcase Rose's photos, but those images should pique the interest of casual readers and prospective photographers, who can try the wildlife photography tips she offers. Ages 3-6. Agent: Jackie Kaiser, Westwood Creative Artists. (Oct.)

PreS-Gr 1--Rose photographs wild squirrels exploring miniature dollhouse-type sets constructed in her backyard. The story is built around the photos of squirrels interacting with tiny, handmade props. Readers first meet Mr. Peanuts as he pursues his hobbies: cooking on a grill, playing a piano, and engaging with several books in a library set. Feeling lonely, Mr. Peanuts pens a letter, inviting Cousin Squirrel to visit. He prepares for his friend's arrival by cleaning his house, baking a cake, and taking a bath. Once Cousin Squirrel arrives, the two animals sit in a wagon together, enjoy a picnic, and camp out. Rather than being plot- or character-driven, the text seems to exist only to showcase and loosely tie the pictures together. The book ends with "Ten Tips for Photographing Wildlife" and a "Q & A with Nancy Rose." Children may enjoy visually examining Mr. Peanuts' miniature world, but the lackluster text makes this an additional purchase.--Laura Hunter, Mount Laurel Library, NJ