It's Springtime, Mr. Squirrel

K-Gr 2—Mr. Squirrel, Hedgehog, and Bear are back in Meschenmoser's latest delightful picture book installment. Here, spring has sprung and Bear shouts to his friends, 'Let's lie in the sun, stroll through the meadows, and fill our tummies with fine food!'" Mr. Squirrel enthusiastically digs in but Hedgehog has lost his appetite. "He had been down at the pond…And there he had seen…a lovely lady hedgehog." His first instinct is to flee, but Mr. Squirrel suggests that the best way to win the heart of a lady hedgehog is to show everyone how brave and strong you are. Next, a series of wordless panels depict Mr. Squirrel's efforts to make Hedgehog look fierce. Readers will laugh out loud as the sweet, befuddled creature only ends up looking sillier and sillier. Then they set off to find "a suitable opponent." The intrepid duo, lead by Mr. Squirrel of course, head off into the woods to stalk and frighten off some mice, birds, and rabbits. Not satisfied, they decide they need a more imposing opponent. Who better than Bear! After Bear falls asleep, a reluctant Hedgehog, holding a simple bouquet of daffodils, is pushed by Mr. Squirrel into approaching the lady hedgehog by the pond—only to discover that she's just an old hairbrush. The illustrations tell much of the story and provide hints into the characters' personalities; the artist expertly depicts the animals' emotions in their expressions and posture. The pacing is spot-on with page turns alternating between text and wordless spreads.