Mr. Squirrel and the King of the Forest

PreS-Gr 2–In the latest installment of this German import series, Mr. Squirrel and his pals intently listen to billy goat’s stories about the elusive “King of the Forest,” whose “head is crowned with leaves, and the morning star shines in his heart.” When Mr. Squirrel spies a dog with tree branches stuck on his head and wearing a shiny gold collar, he mistakenly believes he has found the legendary King. Deeming the pooch’s actions to be “the truth” and “the law” for a better life, the forest animals think they must dig lots of holes, scratch behind their ears, and most importantly, “leave their scent wherever they lived.” Much confusion and chaos ensue over the new rule; the colored-pencil sketches show animals being pelted with a rapid-fire expulsion of rabbit droppings, taking cover from a shower of bird poop, and dodging boulder-sized dung. The forest soon “stank to high heaven” and everyone makes a quick escape until the rain gives a fresh start. The fablelike beginning of the story is accompanied by lush, painterly illustrations, but the tone abruptly shifts into silliness.