Scaredy Squirrel Goes Camping
(Scaredy Squirrel)

His experiences may blaze a trail for readers with a similar aversion to venturing outdoors.

The irony of a wilderness-fearing squirrel that lives in the wilderness is especially funny in a camping-avoidance context, and the ending is nothing less than sublime.

Why go camping when you can watch it—The Joy of Camping, that is—on television? That's the plan for Scaredy Squirrel, who recognizes that such dangers as penguins, quicksand, mosquitoes, and zippers make camping excursions way too scary. But finding a power outlet for his television requires leaving his tree house and, therefore, some careful planning. Scaredy charts out the survival supplies required for his journey across the campground (they include a "really long extension cord," popsicles, and a dictionary) and maps the path he will take, with the electrical cord demarcating his trail from "the comfort zone" to the electrical outlet. When on his quest, a fearsome penguin encounter (who'd have guessed Scaredy was right about that one?) sends him reeling off course, but Scaredy eventually discovers that the wilderness is "meant to be enjoyed up close!" As in the previous books, the small format and tidy, humorously labeled cartoons make Scaredy's world feel especially immediate and accessible. The loveably neurotic (yet highly resourceful) rodent should continue to help anxious readers see their own fears in a different light. Ages 4-8. (Apr.)

Copyright 2013 Publishers Weekly, LLC Used with permission.

K-Gr 2—Scaredy Squirrel has some major anxiety issues, this time with camping. There are all kinds of things to obsess about: skunks, mosquitoes, penguins, quicksand, the Three Bears, and of course, the dreaded zippers. He decides that it's better to stay home and watch television shows about camping. However, Scaredy needs to get his extension cord plugged in, and so must set off on a terrifying trip into the woods to find a power source for his TV set. Fully armed against every possible scenario, he still freaks out when he comes across a penguin, but ultimately manages to enjoy the wilderness up close. The intricate cartoon-style illustrations have loads of humorous details, all depicting Scaredy's many phobias. That he eventually learns to embrace his own version of camping says much for this squirrel's ability to meet his fears head on and overcome them in a creative way. Kids with anxieties should find much to relate to in Scaredy's humorous adventures.—B. Allison Gray, Goleta Public Library, CA

Copyright 2013 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.