Member Reviews
I thought that this was a really nice story that was east to follow and understand.
In the story we a grieving Chipmunk who has lost his home and some of his belongings in a natural disaster (a storm where his home was damaged and fell down). He collects what he can from what is left and stores these in his cheeks so that they are safe, and can't be lost again. Bless him, we did feel sorry for him!
The book shows how kind some of the other animals are and so many of his friends offer to help him, but as he has filled his pouches and mouth with his belongings he can't talk and doesn't smile. It takes a little time but everything all works out well in the end.
The book has some lovely illustrations and I can see this book being a great addition to primary school libraries to use as a prompt to talk about loss, and moving on, it is a great way to discuss any fears that a child may have. The story was really well done.
It is 4 stars from me for this one - highly recommended!
I received an electronic ARC from Gnome Road Publishing through NetGalley.
Tenderly written story that shares what happens after a natural disaster. Dexter's home fell down and destroyed most of his stuff. He gathered what he could and stored them in his chipmunk cheeks as he believed that was the only way to keep them safe. So many friends offered help and support but he wouldn't talk (he couldn't) or smile. I appreciate the way Reinert shows him realize he has to let go and take a chance. The illustrations support the text and bring the emotions out. A much needed book for families who have faced disasters of their own.
This is a really great book to help kids that just moved houses and need some support. This book is great for that because the author creates a main character that has realistic emotions and a realistic story. Additionally, this book shows readers that "bad" emotions don't last forever, and it demonstrates the value of friendship in hard times. Our main character leans on friends to find comfort in feeling happy again, which makes for such a heartwarming story. Even further, the illustrations effortlessly convey emotion, which is very important for this book's meaning to land correctly. I have nothing bad to say about this book, truly. Bravo!
ARC copy from NetGalley. Great illustrations. Message comes across to me as being comfortable enough to feel safe after an event that makes you scared. The main character had a support system, but he just didn't recognize it until the end. The main character is a squirrel, and it's implied that he's "tucking away" things and can't let them out. I think there should have been a quick explanation for how/why squirrels "tuck away" in mouth. Other than that, the book was great and got 4⭐️!
This is a beautiful book that covers important themes such as grief, loss and mental health within its story.
I felt this resonated with me so much and I think that lots of readers can get something out of this.
The illustrations are really cute and the story very touching.