Scaredy Squirrel

I’m a creature of habit. So is Scaredy Squirrel. We both know the comforts of feeling safe in perfect routines where nothing is left to chance, where nothing can go wrong…right?  

Scaredy writes lists of his emergency procedures, draws grids of his safety equipment, diagrams his secret exit strategies. I feel this poor squirrel’s pain. How many nights have I lain awake before a school visit mulling over my presentations? No plan is fool proof. So when Scaredy accidentally falls from his tree, he does what he must: thinks quickly and improvises. And discovers a secret ability he never… show more.

I love this book because the character doesn’t completely transform themselves, so it’s easier for us to relate to them. Scaredy Squirrel’s crabbiness comes in the form of fear, and he’s afraid of everything: tarantulas, green Martians, killer bees. You name it, Scaredy is pretty sure it’s right around the corner, so he’s always lugging around a kit full of antibacterial soap, band-aids, and, of course, a parachute. While he conquers his fears to get where he needs to go, it’s just enough to get to the next challenge. He doesn’t change his personality or turn into a superhero.… show more.

This book is adorable and hilarious. It takes worries to the nth degree which can help children realize they are not the only ones filled with anxiety. Scaredy Squirrell thinks about the pros and cons of taking risks and eventually figures out a way to get what he wants in spite of his worries. I think this is really helpful to teach coping skills. Anxiety doesn’t always go away but we can learn tools to deal with it. 

Both my daughter and I have issues with anxiety except I didn’t know I had it too until I started trying to… show more.

Scaredy Squirrel is, quite simply, one of the funniest books ever written about fear of the unknown. I especially love the way the pages are formatted, with lots of fun lists, charts, and diagrams. Scaredy Squirrel is scared of green Martians, killer bees, germs, poison ivy, tarantulas, and sharks. Because he is scared of so many things, he decides to stay in his tree doing the exact same things. Every. Single. Day. It’s not until a killer bee shows up—unplanned!—that Scaredy Squirrel is forced to change his routine.

Whenever I get stuck in a rut, I remind myself that if… show more.