Ol' Mama Squirrel

* “As he did in Interrupting Chicken and Pouch!, Stein again shows his skill at finding laughs in commonplace situations. . . . All-too-real vignettes of the angry squirrel’s arched eyebrows and waving fists are funny all by themselves. . . . The book gallops along without pausing for breath, and there’s something deeply gratifying about the story of a mother whose perfect confidence assures that her children will always be safe. Yet Stein makes it possible to sympathize with the victims, too. . . . A rousing and rowdy readaloud.” — Publishers Weekly, starred review

“Reminiscent of the little fishes’ triumph in Leo Lionni’s Swimmy. . . . Kids will go nuts for this title . . . one can only imagine that Stein’s Little Chicken from his Caldecott Honor–winning Interrupting Chicken would love it, too, given its focus on keeping little ones safe. This effervescent tale brims with humor and vibrant characterization.” — Kirkus Reviews

“Lively, loose, gestural drawings. . . . Human parents will admire [Mama’s] singleness of purpose, and youngsters will chuckle at the way she challenges danger with a familiar wag of a finger, raised eyebrow, and fierce hands-on-hips stance that lets us all know, ‘And that takes care of that!’” — The Horn Book

“Expressive watercolor and ink illustrations. . . . Zany, blocklike animals are drawn with animated gestures, drawing readers into the humorous, but caring subject of a mother’s love. Storytellers will find themselves animating Mama’s frantic gestures and youngsters will enjoy the short, fast-paced passages on each page.” — School Library Journal

“An amusing ode to the strength of maternal love and an affectionate depiction of the small but sassy squirrel, and mamas everywhere will appreciate Ol’ Mama Squirrel’s of motherly protection. Kids will be tickled by Ol’ Mama Squirrel’s equal-opportunity scolding. . . . Young listeners will also enjoy chiming in on repeated phrases. . . . The boxy-shaped squirrels are both adorable and comical. . . . Stein is particularly gifted at creating effective and funny compositions. . . . You’d be off your nut if you squirreled this title away . . . share it aloud for some giggles and grins.” — The Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books