Better Together!

by Amy Robach, Andrew Shue, Lenny Wen (Illustrator)

Overview

From Good Morning America anchor Amy Robach and her husband, actor Andrew Shue comes a sweet tale about finding common ground and accepting and appreciating each others' differences.

When a big thunderstorm shakes their woodland home, the Squirrelly family must flee their nest for a hollow in an oak tree. To their surprise, the McMunk family had the exact same idea. This family of squirrels and a family of chipmunks must find ways to live together—which isn't always easy since they come from different backgrounds. But after some important lessons in compromise, the Squirrellys and the McMunks realize that life is better together as the McSquirrelies.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780593205693
Publisher:	Penguin Young Readers Group
Publication date:	10/26/2021
Pages:	40
Product dimensions:	9.40(w) x 10.90(h) x 0.50(d)
Lexile:	AD530L (what's this?)
Age Range:	3 - 7 Years

About the Author

Amy Robach and Andrew Shue have been married since 2010 and have five children from previous marriages; they have been raising a blended family together for more than a decade. Amy is an Emmy Award-winning journalist and currently the co-anchor of ABC News's GMA3: What You Need to Know. She reports for Good Morning America, co-anchors ABC News's 20/20, and reports across ABC News platforms. She is also a New York Times bestselling author for the autobiography Better. Andrew is an Emmy Award-winning actor, well-known for his role as Billy Campbell on Melrose Place. He is also the co-founder of CafeMedia and two philanthropic organizations, Do Something and The People.

Lenny Wen was born and grew up in Jakarta, Indonesia. She now lives in the countryside of Austria, surrounded by nature and a castle. Since she was a kid, Lenny has loved storytelling and drawing. When she is not illustrating, she might be found staring at trees, contemplating story ideas, or hugging her Shiba Inu. Visit her online at lennywen.com.

Editorial Reviews

11/01/2021

Two single-parent animal families discover they’re “better together” in this interspecies tale, inspired by celebrity couple Robach and Shue’s experiences as a blended family. When Mr. McMunk and his two chipmunk children are blown from their burrow during a storm, they head to a hollow tree, where they discover that Mrs. Squirrelly and her squirrel young have similarly taken refuge. The youths initially appreciate having extra playmates, but as the storm—and the cramped shared space—persist, too much “grumping” results in the families separating to opposite sides of the hollow. Predictably, once they all arrive home, the families miss the camaraderie and head back to the hollow, where the sixsome become a single family: the McSquirrelies. Wen’s digital art is layered with scanned mixed-media textures, which work well to visualize the book’s crisp autumn forest scenes—and the simple story’s emphasis on getting along. Ages 3–7. (Oct.)

Publishers Weekly

"Simple and sweet."—Kirkus Reviews

From the Publisher

09/01/2021

PreS-Gr 1—A thunderstorm sends Mrs. Squirrelly and her children, Beck and Fern, and Mr. McMunk and his children, Peanut and Sam, to seek shelter in the same hollow tree. At first, the squirrel and chipmunk children enjoy having more kids to play with and having someone that shares their interest. Soon after, conflict arises and everyone starts getting on one another's nerves. They miss their old homes and wish things were back to the way they were before they came to the hollow tree. Mrs. Squirrelly and Mr. McMunk do their best to mediate the situation to no avail. Once the storm stops, and both families return to their respective homes, the children realize they miss their lives together; they all decide to become one big happy family. The art style of this picture book is unique and appears to be a blend of textures and mediums, acting as a perfect background to a story about a blended family. Families facing similar circumstances will appreciate having this book available to help them talk through the situation with one another. VERDICT A helpful reminder for the picture book audience that there are many definitions of family, this is a beneficial and eye-opening recommended purchase.—Myiesha Speight, formerly at Towson Univ., Baltimore

School Library Journal

2021-06-29
When a thunderstorm throws two families into a tight shared space, they learn that being together can be fun.

The howling wind and shaking trees prompt Mrs. Squirrelly to rush her children, Beck and Fern, from their high branch to an oak tree with a hollow trunk. Meanwhile, Mr. McMunk is leading his two kids, Peanut and Sam, from their earthbound home to what turns out to be the same refuge. The children are shy at first but become friends when they begin to play together. The storm rages on, and everyone begins to experience a bit of cabin fever. The next morning, over breakfast, “the grumping got worse.” Complaints center on excessive chatter and on not sharing; everyone just wants to be back home. But when the families are restored to their respective homes, neither one is as idyllic as either the Squirrellys or the McMunks remember. They pine for the togetherness they experienced in the hollow tree. Each decides to visit the other; luckily, they meet outside the hole in the oak tree where they sheltered during the storm. Their reunion is joyous, and the two families decide to merge. Meet the McSquirrelies! Robach and Shue’s message has value—the broadcast journalist and actor, respectively, had their own blended family—but with no “before” glimpses of the separate families, the premise is somewhat murky and the resolution abrupt, at best. Wen’s cartoon animals, lightly anthropomorphized with accessories such as hats and glasses, are definitely cute. (This book was reviewed digitally.)

Simple and sweet. (Picture book. 4-7)

Kirkus Reviews