Chester Raccoon and the Acorn Full of Memories

January 1, 2010
K-Gr 3-When Chester returns home from school, he tells his mother that the teacher said Skiddil Squirrel had an accident and would not be coming back. Mrs. Raccoon explains that his classmate's "heart quit beating and his body didn't work any more." She comforts her sad child by suggesting that he "make a memory of Skiddil Squirrel." The two start out for the squirrel's favorite place, and other animal friends join them. At the butterfly pond, Chester tells stories about how Skiddil loved butterflies and how he buried acorns for winter, but never found them. When Mrs. Raccoon points to a grove of young oak trees, Chester exclaims, "The forest made a Skiddil Squirrel memory!" Then he picks up an acorn to take home with him. Simple, direct dialogue demonstrates the love between this mother and child. Bright, stylized illustrations on high-gloss pages depict the animals with human emotions, convey warmth, and reinforce the text. Despite the tough subject, this fifth book in the series that began with "The Kissing Hand" (Child Welfare League of America, 1993) has a reassuring tone and provides an opening for a discussion on death and remembering loved ones."Margaret R. Tassia, Millersville University, PA"

Copyright 2010 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

January 1, 2010
Chester the raccoon's mother helps her son cope with the death of his friend, Skiddil Squirrel, by making a memory. At Skiddil's favorite pond, mother and son talk about the squirrel's most treasured things--acorns and butterflies. The purposeful text is unconvincing, and the forest-set illustrations are overly slick. Nevertheless, the book may satisfy a need for young people trying to understand death.

(Copyright 2010 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)