Bird & Squirrel on the Run by James Burks
Bird and Squirrel don’t exactly get along. Bird just wants to have a good time and never worries about a thing. Squirrel is obsessive about gathering nuts for the winter and worries constantly. But when Squirrel’s hoard of nuts is destroyed, the two of them realize they need one another to head south for the winter. Unfortunately, the cat has a different idea and that is having both Squirrel and Bird for lunch! This zany graphic novel is filled with twists and turns that will have even the most reluctant readers eagerly turning the pages.
Burks takes two polar-opposite characters and in a brief story manages to bring them together as friends in a very believable way. Throughout the book, there is silly humor, plenty of puns, and a wonderful sense of camaraderie. The pacing is particularly well done, with small places to catch your breath before the pursuit continues. There are always surprises waiting for the characters and the reader too. It makes the reading all the more fun to get caught up in the unexpected.
In my advanced reader copy, the art was only completed for the first few pages in full color. From those pages, the colors are deep and bright. The feeling is nicely autumnal and the bright colors add to the zing of the book. The art has a classic cartoon feel that will have readers feeling right at home.
Perfect for young reluctant readers looking for graphic novels, this book will find an eager audience. Appropriate for ages 7-9.
Reviewed from ARC received from Scholastic.