Two squirrels, Hickory and Pecan, were teasing each other when suddenly a nut pops out of the ground. They both claim it, and make such a fuss in their argument that the other animals come out to see about the fuss. Badger tells them there must be a competition, with the winner getting the nut. The antics of the many animals interrupt the race.

[BCCLS Library Catalog]
When a shiny brown nut pops out of the ground, each animal wants it for him or herself, but the extraordinary nut turns out to be the source of a delicious treat for everyone.

The book starts out with a chipmunk and a squirrel making fun of eachother then out of the ground pops an acorn. The acorn disappears as quickly as it appears. The chipmunk and the squirrel end up waking up the badger because of the ruckus they were making about the acorn. More animals join in and they all want the magic acorn. The acorn reappears and they try to decide who should get the acorn. They decide their should be a competition to see who gets it. Badger says they should race so all the animals start racing and hedgehog rolls through all the animals. Badger decides this is not fair and they will have to start over again this time no rolling through the other animals. The animals heard a noise coming from the acorn when it reappeared. They all thought it was a magic nut. The nut was saying help the animals all pulled on the nut and off the nut came from a mole's head. The mole was so happy for the other animals help he shared the other nuts he and been collecting with the animals.
This is a good example of a fiction book because animals can’t talk. It is highly unlikely you would see these animals altogether in the wilderness let alone working together.
Age primary ( )

28 months - O loves this story, I animals are "cute!". ( )

Genre: This book is a fantasy. It is a fantasy because the animals in the story talk and are friends. In the real world this does not happen. There is a bit of truth to the story as well. Often times we fight over the silliest things and don't even realize it. In this particular story it was a nut. Overall this is a good fantasy because there are elements of truth and non-reality in the story.

Age: Intermediate/Primary

Media: Pastel

Use: 1. Have students write about how important it is to think before they act 2. Use as a introduction to a unit on sharing or problem solving ( )