Genre
Picture books for children
Subject
Forest animals
Friendship
Helpfulness
New Year's resolutions
Squirrels
Character
Anthropomorphic

Squirrel sets out to discover what a resolution is and how to make one in this New Year's picture-book from author Pat Miller and illustrator Kathi Ember. Visiting her friends on New Year's Day, she learns what each of their resolutions are, and does her best to help them achieve their goals. Discouraged that she has not yet found her own resolution however, Squirrel is comforted when she finds out that her actions over the course of the day, in aiding her woodland friends, reveal a resolution that she is already on the way to keeping. Namely, to help someone every day...

Although not entirely convinced by the story premise of Squirrel's New Year's Resolution—I would think that a resolution would have be a conscious goal, rather than an unconscious impulse, but perhaps that's just me—I nevertheless enjoyed the book. The story is sweet, and the artwork cute. Miller and Ember appear to have worked together before, on the 2006 Substitute Groundhog, but this is my first book from either. Unlike the Lunar New Year, I have not encountered very many picture-books about the Solar New Year, so I was glad to have discovered this one, even if it was only moderately enjoyable, rather than outstanding. Recommended to picture-book readers who enjoy animal stories, or are looking for (solar) New Year's stories. ( )

I really enjoyed this book. The characters in this book were relate able even though they were animals and we know that animals cannot talk. I thought that it was interesting how the author made it seem like the animals in the book were humans and had everyday events like we do. For example as humans we try to make a new years resolution every year and in this case squirrel is trying to make a resolution for himself. I really like how the author described what a resolution was because it was very child appropriate and very easily understandable. The only thing that kind of confused me was the plot of the story because to me there was no middle to the story and the setting in the books changed so often it was hard to follow squirrel. I knew that Squirrel was just trying to find out what everyone's new years resolution was but I feel that when children try to read this book they could get confused with all the different resolutions of the different animals. The big idea of this book was to teach students about resolutions and how we can use our new years resolutions to help ourselves and also other people.

Summary: It is January 1st, so Squirrel decides to make a New Year's resolution. However, she does not know how to do that. Squirrel first goes to Bear for help and Bear tells Squirrel that he is going to teach Skunk how to read. Squirrel then goes to Skunk who is sick in bed. Squirrel helps make Skunk feel better by making her laugh. Afterwards, Squirrel meets Mole and helps Mole and Turtle find a good place to plant a garden. Squirrel heads to the diner, where she runs into Porcupine. Porcupine's resolution was to be less grumpy, so Squirrel tells him funny jokes to cheer him up. Squirrel realizes that she still does not have a resolution, but when her friends come in and thank her for helping all of them, she realized her resolution was to help someone everyday.

Review: I thought the main idea of this book was to help students realize that they should help others whenever they are given the chance. The message was made clear as Squirrel helped each of her friends, even when they did not ask for help. She was able to cheer up Skunk and Porcupine, and she even helped Mole and Turtle find a place to plant their garden. Squirrel shows the readers what a true friend does and the importance of helping others when the chance arises. I thought this book was a great read and it also could teach students what a resolution is. It can also teach them how to make a good resolution that is beneficial to everyone. ( )

Teaching children what a resolution is is pretty tough but this book manages to do just that. Cool! ( )