Skunk and Badger is a beautifully written and illustrated book about friendship, personal growth, and acceptance. Due out 15th Sept 2020 from Workman on their Algonquin Young Readers imprint, it's 136 pages and will be available in hardcover and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links. I've really become enamored of ebooks with interactive formats lately.

This is a rollicking and fun book with surprisingly deep takeaways. Aimed at young readers circa 8-12 years old, there are solid lessons about friendship, personal growth, kindness, boundaries, and learning to work together.

Although ostensibly written as a read-alone for 8-12 year olds, this would also be a superlative choice for a read-along or library circle/activity read (maybe with a question and answer discussion afterwards). It would also be a great choice for a read-to-me adult/child bedtime story. There is also wide scope for some silly voices and sound effects.

Five stars. Charming, original, well written and beautifully illustrated.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

This is such a sweet read for younger children.
As a teacher I will love reading this to my students, especially grades 1-3. Students learn about how to work with others despite difference, how to appreciate difference and the importance of friendship.
For those that love Winnie the Pooh and stories like that you will love the youthful feeling of this book.
The illustrations are also beautiful and I am sure I could create an art lesson about them somehow for my students.
I feel like stories about animals but with human personality allow young readers to not only immerse themselves in the book but also relate and make connections.
Great read!

I received this book to read through NetGalley and the publisher Algonquin Young Readers in exchange for an honest review.

A quiet, charming story that I couldn't put down.

Badger lives by himself in his Aunt Lulu's home doing Important Rock Work. One day there's a knock on the door that he keeps ignoring, until when he opens it and Skunk comes in and says he's Badger's new roommate. Badger is at a loss why Skunk is there, and then remembers the several unopened letters from Aunt Lulu. Skunk makes delicious breakfasts for them, and Badger is astounded that he is expected to then clean up. Skunk knows all the chickens in their neighborhood; Badger didn't realize chickens live around them at all. Skunk disrupts Badger's quiet space and when Badger lashes out, Badger realizes he has to make things right.

When I told my nearly three year old I was reading this book and described it to him, he said "Oh..." in this quietly happy voice and asked me to bring it home and read it to him. Klassen's illustrations are the perfect compliment to the story, and I loved Timberlake's world building. I can't wait for book 2. I can't wait to own book 1 and read it over and over, and share it with others. A pure delight.

I can't wait to share this book and series with my primary students. Badger feels he has very important work to do and ignores everyone and everything around him until a very unexpected guest shows up. I was smiling throughout as Badger slowly realizes what he has been missing. Not everyone wants a skunk around.

I honestly can't wait to see the finished version of this. Loved the quirky humour in this clever tale of tolerance with a pair of smartly drawn characters. Badger is the rigid rock enthusiast whose world is invaded by Skunk who is a delight. Through his experiences with Skunk, Badger's eyes are opened both to experiences he's missed and to his own behaviour which "revealed things about him that he'd rather not know and now he knew. He should change". I look forward to more in this series and I know this is one my younger reading group members will love.

This new take on the odd couple story was a great read aloud with my 3rd grader! She enjoyed the story for its humorous parts as well as for the morals. She also really liked the chickens, and hopes there are more books to come!

When there's a badger who has a meticulously tidy & organised house, studies rocks & has 'important rock work' that's been published you know this is going to be a story like nothing you've read before. With every new step, we meet new animal characters & learn their interests & habits.

A badger, named Badger, lives in his Aunt Lula's brownstone row house - Aunt Lula is a Pine Marten! This is where he enjoys a peaceful life & loves studying in his quiet, tidy house & likes his routine to be just so.

When a skunk named Skunk arrives, he's moving in, not just visiting Badger. This really turns Badger's life upside-down.

With 100 chickens coming for story-time with Skunk... this really is no ordinary story - & a Delivery Service with a Stoat in uniform adds to the charming list of characters.

Skunk is a great breakfast chef, even making breakfast for Badger on his first morning there, but then things change & some crazy activity brings chaos to Badger's calm, quiet world.

Badger later goes searching for Skunk & the chickens, rediscovering his own little town as he went. A bookstore - where Badger realised he's left his house in his bright pyjamas - a hotel with a vole as the receptionist! He even walked up the hill to the park but it was deserted. Where was everyone?

Will Badger ever find Skunk & the chicken? What really happened to that flying potato in Badger's kitchen? You'll have to read & find out.

Such a great adventure! With an entire character cast of animals, this is a fun, imaginative & truly original storybook. Elements of kindness & tolerance & the simple joy of pure imagination & adventure all rolled together.

Badger has everything just the way he likes it in Aunt Lula's quiet brownstone home. A rock room with all of his rock equipment and rocks artistically placed, a box room full of boxes, a tidy kitchen and a cozy bedroom, everything in its place and perfect. But then Skunk unexpectedly moves in (Badger should have read those letters from Aunt Lula) and takes over his box room, squishing all of his boxes, and turning it into a moon room. Now there are potato rockets flying around the kitchen, dirty dishes in the sink and chickens waiting to eat popcorn and hear stories in Badger's rock room. Though Badger tries to make the best of things, he soon loses his patience with Skunk. Sadly (no one wants a skunk) Skunk packs his suitcase and leaves. Badger has the brownstone to himself again. Just what Badger wants, or is it? Adorable, entertaining and timely. A beautiful and kind story about learning to accept and appreciate each others differences. Would make a great read aloud in K-2.

Wonderful story of friendship and coming to appreciate the gifts of those who are not our carbon copies

Absolutely charming. A whimsical tale of an unlikely friendship between a set-in-his-ways badger and a free-spirited skunk, complete with adorable illustrations by Jon Klassen. The book is deceptively simple—a relatively easy read for ages 8 and up—but contains an abundance of wisdom that can be gleaned by young and older readers alike. The story contains sweet and timely lessons in cooperation, communication, friendship and civility—all shared in such a gentle, droll manner that they never feels diadactic or treacly. Badger’s apology at the end of the book is my new favorite in children’s literature. I will be pre-ordering several copies of the hardcover for myself and for gifting this holiday season. Many thanks to Algonquin Young Readers and Netgalley for the ARC.

What a wonderful book! Skunk and Badger are an unlikely pair who form a unique friendship through sharing, respect, telling stories, cooking, and rocks. Did I mention there are chickens in this book? Oh, you are not prepared for the chickens in this book! Written in a casual, jaunty tone and illustrated by Jon Klassen’s rich, textured images, Skunk and Badger is sure to be a hit with young readers!

I received this ebook in exchange for an honest and fair review. This was an enjoyable book in which Badger learns many lessons. Skunk moving in brought Badger out of his house and away from his rocks to see the world outside his house. Character development was well done and the world building was great. I feel that this book would be a great read along and conversation starter in the classroom.

Skunk and Badger is a delightful story from Amy Timberlake of two unlikely housemates. Professional rock studying Badger is residing in his Aunt Lulus brownstone when a skunk shows up on his door with a twine tied suitcase, waiting to be invited in to share the home.

What ensue are events typical of any odd couple. The misunderstandings, frustrations and irritations are as real as the kindnesses and good will. However, will the good times be enough to temper chickens in the house, the odor of skunk spray and a rotting potato left in the corner?

This book warmed my heart as both Skunk and Badger become better mammals after self-reflection and appreciation for the uniqueness of the other. Something we all can learn.

This book is so much more than a children’s book; it’s written with love and humor and could be used for an adult book club just as easily. There are universal lessons here about tolerance and acceptance that everyone could learn from and I found skunk to be one of the best characters I’ve seen lately. This was just what I needed at this time.

Cute! I really liked the illustrations but I went into reading it thinking there would be more of them and it is set more as a chapter book. I liked Skunk and Badger and how their relationship changed and developed. Can't wait to read more in this series.

A delightful romp.. While reluctant readers may stumble over some of the vocabulary, the big-hearted story takes precedent over any challenges the text could present. Skunk and Badger are a whimsical odd couple for the ages and their zany adventures are sure to win over fans of adorable woodland fauna, I could easily see Wes Anderson adopting this story into a stop-motion animation film, befitting of its twee aesthetic.

Skunk and Badger is a different take on friendship and getting to like those who are different from you. I can't wait to see the final artwork and the next book.

A classic odd couple pairing, Badger is not at all sure about welcoming Skunk into his home and his life. He has "important rock work" to do, and Skunk is loud and disrupts his well-ordered life. And he welcomes chickens into the house! This fun new chapter book series is a great next step for Frog and Toad fans. I certainly want to spend more time with these two new friends!

Review based on an ARC from NetGalley.

Review to come September 2nd on blog/goodreads.

I received this book from Netgalley in exchange of an honest review.

I just couldn't resist requesting this one when I saw it pop up on Netgalley. I had already been happy dancing when I learned about the book on Twitter. I am a big fan of Jon Klassen's work and just look that cover, it is such a delight!

This book tells us the story about two animals, Skunk and Badger. Two very unlikely friends, and Badger is quite grumpy and set in his ways. It is a story I have read before and it is always a tricky one as I have had stories I enjoyed with this set-up, but also hated stories like this one. I can honestly say that this one was a like.

While Badger was a grumpy animal and he should be a bit more open to sharing, I do feel that Skunk should also have respected Badger a bit more. You don't just clean up in a house you just started living in without asking. If someone needs their rest and peace and quiet and tell you clearly that door closed = door closed and no interruptions, then leave them be no matter what.

Each one has something good though and it was fun to see them get closer together. Opening up to each other, telling stories. I loved how they instantly found a rhythm at home. Skunk makes yummy foods (and I am sure that Badger won't be able to get out of the house if he keeps munching those muffins so much :P) and Badger cleans. And that if there is a lot of it they both do it. That was quite amazing that they figured it out so well. I know in real life it doesn't always go that way.

I loved Badger's rock work though, I adore rocks and I know that when I was younger I collected them and had quite a few pretty things. It was fun to read how he polished rocks, how he figured if it was a rock or a mineral. He really did some hard work there and I was impressed. Though I do wonder what kind of organisation, if any, he is working for. He is doing research/work so it must be for something.

Oh, and all the chickens. So many chickens. Though I wasn't that interested in the story that was told and skimmed most of that.

And I could well understand the argument that followed. Yes, I could also see Skunk's view, but come on dude. You just don't spray. Plus, while I get that you want to protect your chicken friends... who has to clean up their shit? Indeed.

As with all books like this we know how it will end. Badger misses someone in his home, someone he befriended despite him trying to deny it. It was a predictable ending but it still made me happy.

The illustrations were fantastic though I would have definitely loved more of them.

Badger is a happy guy who lives in his Aunt's brownstone where he keeps to himself doing important rock work. His world is turned on its side when a small skunk arrives and changes what he thinks he knows in his tried and true (yet seemingly lonely) life. This book is not a beginning chapter book, but rather a shorter standard chapter book with a few lovely illustrations by Jon Klassen sprinkled within. This book is full of witty quips and I even learned a new word/animal from reading. There are STEAM and classical literature nods within and all the things that make a buddy comedy worth reading. I would recommend this to kids who have outgrown Frog & Toad or who want something less British than Wind in the Willows. Very appealing to Wallace and Grommit fans as there is definitely a fun relationship and I can see this as a movie or tv series easily. I will wait with bated breath until news of a follow-up book is announced. Recommended for reading aloud with kids or to kids and for anyone who enjoys animals as protagonists. There were some chuckle-worthy moments.