Squirrel, a pudgy gray charmer with pink cheeks, loves to win. She has a trophy collection and lots of them are Golden Acorns from the annual Golden Acorn Hunt. She's ready to win again, when there's a last-minute rule change - the racers must now be part of a team! Squirrel tries some last-minute training of her friends, Beaver, Rabbit, Tortoise, and a baby bluebird, but without success. They are quickly trapped in the trees and Squirrel gets more and more exasperated as she has to go back and rescue them until finally, she leaves them behind.
Squirrel finds the golden acorn, an unusually large one and is at first triumphant, but then remorseful when she realizes she's left all her friends behind. She abandons her prize and goes back to rescue her friends. They don't win the acorn, but they do still have their friendship and, as they realize in the final picture of a happy picnic together, "Squirrel's friends would ALWAYS come first."
Hudson's cheerful pictures show a fun variety of woodland creatures making their way through the trees, with lots of fun details, especially in Squirrel's home. I love that pudgy Squirrel is a super-fast racer (and her hamster wheel for training is hilarious!). This is a cheerful lesson that winning isn't everything and if adults want something more nuanced, that can come in time, while kids will appreciate an example of kindness and friendship that leaves no one behind.
Verdict: A good additional title for your friendship and teamwork sections, this is sure to be popular in classes where teachers are working on teamwork skills.
ISBN: 9781684460366; Published July 2019 by Capstone; Review copy provided by publisher; Donated to the library
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