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Science Storybooks
Squirrels Busy Year A Science Storybook
Budding scientists will enjoy a gentle introduction to the seasons as squirrels scamper through the winter, spring, summer, and fall.
It's winter. It's cold! The squirrels are digging up acorns to eat. But what will they eat in the spring, when the acorns are gone? As the bushy-tailed creatures weather snowstorms, thunderstorms, and hot summer days, this gentle story uses simple, clear language and beautiful illustrations to introduce very young readers to the seasons and the changing weather they bring. Basic questions at the end help children remember and expand on what they've learned, and back matter includes an index.
It's winter. It's cold! The squirrels are digging up acorns to eat. But what will they eat in the spring, when the acorns are gone? As the bushy-tailed creatures weather snowstorms, thunderstorms, and hot summer days, this gentle story uses simple, clear language and beautiful illustrations to introduce very young readers to the seasons and the changing weather they bring. Basic questions at the end help children remember and expand on what they've learned, and back matter includes an index.
32 pages, Paperback
Published October 4, 2018
82 people want to read
About the author
Martin Jenkins
56Ìýbooks26ÌýfollowersMartin Jenkins, a conservation biologist, has written several nonfiction books for children, including Ape, Grandma Elephant’s in Charge, The Emperor’s Egg, and Chameleons Are Cool. He lives in Cambridge, England.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews
September 15, 2021
This is an entertaining book about a pair of tree squirrels and their activities through different parts of the year. The author cleverly included details about food, winter inactivity and the threat of predators (an owl). It is an entertaining read for young people that teaches about life in different seasons for squirrels and a few other animals that share their habitat.
January 2, 2023
Another interesting mix of story and science
October 11, 2018
The Squirrels� Busy Year: A First Science Storybook by Martin Jenkins, illustrated by Richard Jones. PICTURE BOOK/NON-FICTION. Candlewick Press, 2018. $17 9780763696009
BUYING ADVISORY: Pre-K � OPTIONAL.
AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE
This book is divided up into seasons and follow two squirrels throughout the year. We see the changing weather, plants, and animal patterns. There are teaching aids in the front and back of the story and a small index.
The very small index would be a great introduction to it’s use for a young class. The story, however, feels a bit scattered - you are following the squirrels all seasons but also an owl sometimes and frogs for a couple seasons. I found it hard to follow, but it does have solid information and nice illustrations.
Jen Wecker, HS English Teacher
BUYING ADVISORY: Pre-K � OPTIONAL.
AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE
This book is divided up into seasons and follow two squirrels throughout the year. We see the changing weather, plants, and animal patterns. There are teaching aids in the front and back of the story and a small index.
The very small index would be a great introduction to it’s use for a young class. The story, however, feels a bit scattered - you are following the squirrels all seasons but also an owl sometimes and frogs for a couple seasons. I found it hard to follow, but it does have solid information and nice illustrations.
Jen Wecker, HS English Teacher
March 30, 2020
I appreciate this text as a sort of bridge between story based picture books and informational text. I think it would be very useful in a classroom because it would be easy to alter for children at different learning levels. It can be read simply as a squirrel and it’s activities throughout the year, or the teacher/parent can layer in deeper discussion about the changing seasons, how animals prepare for the seasons, the earth’s orbit, etc. It really provides an open ended source for this, and includes some informative text to help guide a parent into these topics.
I really love the illustrations in this book the most. The color scheme is very nice, and the animals are appealing and friendly looking. It was nice to watch the illustrations change as the seasons changed as well and provided another discussion point.
I really love the illustrations in this book the most. The color scheme is very nice, and the animals are appealing and friendly looking. It was nice to watch the illustrations change as the seasons changed as well and provided another discussion point.
May 3, 2019
Though the art is lovely, the confused nature of the story puts this book in a strange place. This book is really about the seasons and desperately wants to be an informational text, from the discussion notes about seasonal changes in the foreworld to the index at the end.
The purportedly busy squirrels do little more than eat and sleep, only springing into action to gather acorns or grab a snack. The awkward pacing and abrupt ending don't do the story any favors either.
The book would probably be better off if it abandonned the text altogether and was presented as a wordless picturebook.
The purportedly busy squirrels do little more than eat and sleep, only springing into action to gather acorns or grab a snack. The awkward pacing and abrupt ending don't do the story any favors either.
The book would probably be better off if it abandonned the text altogether and was presented as a wordless picturebook.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 23, 2018
I like the simple concept of following two squirrels through the four seasons, but I feel it could have had a bit more depth. There is a secondary story about an owl during the seasons as well. The owl is only shown during the day watching over the happenings near its tree, and looking for food. Even though some owls are awake during the day, it might have been interesting to see the owl (and squirrels) at night as well, since most children associate owls with being nocturnal.
September 10, 2018
I thought this was going to be a book about squirrels...and it is a bit. But it is more about seasons as the book follows the seasons and the squirrels, the owl, and the frogs. Perhaps the focus of the book gets a bit confusing. Illustrations are great in the way the seasons and animals are portrayed.
September 18, 2018
This book’s title is deceptive. The story is actually about the seasons, not the squirrels. Yet the seasons don’t seem to change in these illustrations, which are imbued with autumnal hues through all four cycles of the year. Nor do the squirrels seem particularly busy, just eating and sleeping through the seasons. Because they are the main food source for many predators—owls, hawks, coyotes, foxes, wildcats, weasels, and snakes—squirrels actually stay quite busy avoiding them as they forage for food, raise their young, and engage in other squirrelly behaviors throughout the year. So where’s the rest of their story?
December 7, 2018
Read-alike/suggested companion to . Really interesting stamped/painted illustrations with muted, varied colors. Just a very sweet book. I could see reading this in a toddler storytime, even, but pre-k kids would still enjoy it.
September 3, 2019
The Squirrel’s busy year is a science storybook which includes facts about the seasons and what Squirrels do each season. I like this book because giving children facts through a story will help to keep them engaged. I also liked the illustrations through out the book, it uses natural colours that help to represent each season and emphasis the facts.
October 23, 2018
This four season story helps the reader distinguish between the seasons and how animals respond to the weather changes. I particularly like the index at the back of the book to help find specific references to different forms, such as clouds. Teaches scientific principles without lecturing.
November 1, 2018
This story follows the life of two squirrels' through out the year as the seasons change. It shows what they do during the winter, spring, summer, and fall. The book also explains why and how the seasons change based on the Earth's tilt, and what clouds are made of.
December 26, 2018
This book revisits several animals throughout the year: the frogs, the owl, the squirrels, etc. I like how it paints a picture of the sounds and what each animal is during in each season. The illustrations are really spectacular, too. For budding nature scientist kiddos!
April 28, 2020
There are 4 seasons throughout the year summer, fall, winter, and spring and every season is a different challenge for the squirrels. Every season they have to find ways to get food and adjust how they live other animals fly away and some hide or come out more.
July 19, 2018
Follows squirrels through a busy year in a forest and surroundings.
July 31, 2018
The story follows a family of squirrels through the four seasons.
August 8, 2018
Beautiful illustrations with brief descriptions about the different seasons.
September 25, 2018
There isn't a ton of science in this one, but the illustrations are nice and the story is simple.
October 12, 2018
The illustrations were beautiful as it told the story of the different seasons from a squirrel's perspective. However, I was thrown off by the owl throughout the story, those details weren't needed.
November 1, 2018
Great non-fiction picture book
November 6, 2018
A simple picture book to introduce the seasons.
November 26, 2018
Is it me, or are there a of of squirrel books out there recently?
January 7, 2019
An easy to follow nonfiction book about one life in the year of a squirrel. Preschool and up
January 25, 2019
I loved the colorful, gently retro illustrations and the introduction to the cycle of the seasons and the lives of squirrels. I would definitely recommend this one to share with young children.
February 28, 2019
Story of how squirrels live through the four seasons of the year... mostly eating and sleeping.
November 11, 2019
This was a fun book I read to 2nd graders for science and English. I think it is more of a picture book than a science book, but it contained lovely illustrations and text that is easy to read.
May 28, 2021
Great introduction to food chains and life cycles.
November 7, 2021
For a story that's supposed to be about a squirrel, it mentions the Owl a lot more than expected.
October 3, 2024
Very useful depiction of the four seasons and what squirrels do throughout them.
November 2, 2024
Great early introduction to seasons for younger kids.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews
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