Squirrel's New Year's Resolution

by Pat Miller, Kathi Ember (Illustrator)

Overview

2013 Washington Children's Choice Picture Book Award nominee

Squirrel knows that New Year's Day is a great day for making resolutions! But what does it mean to make a resolution, anyway? As she makes visits around the forest she learns about New Year's resolutions and helps her friends get started on theirs. If only she can think of a resolution of her very own.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780807593257
Publisher:	Whitman, Albert & Company
Publication date:	09/01/2010
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	32
Sales rank:	228,500
File size:	10 MB
Age Range:	4 - 8 Years

About the Author

Pat Miller is a writer, teacher, and school librarian. She is the author of more than twenty children's and professional books. She lives in Texas.
Kathi Ember is the illustrator of many books for children. She lives in an old stone farmhouse in Pennsylvania with her husband, three sheep, and four cats.

Editorial Reviews

Miller and Ember (Substitute Groundhog) reunite to tell the story of Squirrel, who is eager to make a New Year's resolution but isn't sure where to start ("Is it like making a snack?"). Her friend Bear explains the concept ("A resolution is a promise you make to yourself to be better or to help others"), but Squirrel is then faced with a new problem--coming up with one. As she visits Skunk, Mole, and Turtle and hears their plans for the New Year, Squirrel's desire to help her friends with their resolutions distracts her from her quest to find one. Ember's thoughtfully detailed acrylic paintings create a friendly woodland setting for this largely conflict-free story. In the end, Squirrel discovers that she had a resolution all along: to help others daily. This story teeters on being overly didactic (a final scene that shows Squirrel holding a sign that reads "I resolve to help someone every day!" is overkill), but it should get kids considering resolutions of their own. Ages 5–8. (Sept.)

Publishers Weekly

"The happy pictures and the (possibly new) knowledge that a resolution is an important, attainable goal carry the day. Perfect for those tired of pumpkins and Santa."—Booklist

"Ember's thoughtfully detailed acrylic paintings create a friendly woodland setting…it should get kids considering resolutions of their own."—Publishers Weekly

"The simple dialogue and predictable plot make this a good read-aloud, and the brightly colored, acrylic cartoons are full of fun details and expression, giving the woodland creatures anthropomorphic characteristics. This introduction to the tradition of resolutions is a strong addition to holiday collections."—School Library Journal

2013 Washington Children's Choice Picture Book Award nominee

"Ember's illustrations allow the cuddly characters to pop against the bright acrylic spreads, and these anthropomorphized woods (a classic diner perches in a tree, for instance) will appeal to the audience."—Kirkus Reviews

From the Publisher

PreS-Gr 2—On January first, Squirrel hears on the radio that it is a great day to make a resolution. Not knowing how to make one, she visits Bear, the librarian, who tells her that "a resolution is a promise you make to yourself to be better or to help others." As Squirrel walks through the woods to think of a resolution, she meets other woodland friends who need help. She cheers up Skunk, who is sick in bed; helps Mole and Turtle find the perfect place to dig a garden; and teaches Porcupine some silly jokes so he can laugh more. At the Hidey Hole Diner, Squirrel is still stumped that she doesn't have a resolution until all of her friends tell how she helped them keep their promises and she learns that her actions speak for themselves. The simple dialogue and predictable plot make this a good read-aloud, and the brightly colored, acrylic cartoons are full of fun details and expression, giving the woodland creatures anthropomorphic characteristics. This introduction to the tradition of resolutions is a strong addition to holiday collections.—Kristine M. Casper, Huntington Public Library, NY

School Library Journal

Squirrel hopes to ring in the New Year with style. As librarian Bear explains, "When we begin a new year, we make a fresh start." From soothing sick Skunk to teaching Porcupine comedy, Squirrel helps her fellow woodland animals master their own resolutions. Unfortunately for the well-meaning rodent, Squirrel struggles to find a resolution to claim as her very own. She might not know what it is, but everyone else does; as Rabbit tells her, "Your actions are better than words. It looks like you resolved to help someone every day." The sugary-sweet conclusion provides little punch and begs the question, doesn't resolve require some active thought? Ember's illustrations allow the cuddly characters to pop against the bright acrylic spreads, and these anthropomorphized woods (a classic diner perches in a tree, for instance) will appeal to the audience. Those searching for a spot of cheer in the gloomy cold months may find a serviceable holiday selection with Squirrel and her forest friends. (Picture book. 4-8)

Kirkus Reviews