Scaredy Squirrel
By Mélanie Watt
The Story
An anxious squirrel refuses to leave his nut tree, keeping an emergency kit ready for tarantulas, sharks and killer bees — until an accident finally knocks him right out of it.
Why It's Special
For the kid who needs three warnings before trying the slide, this one turns being scared of everything into something funny instead of frustrating.
- Big idea: Sometimes the thing you're most afraid of turns out to be the thing that sets you free.
- Vibes: Deadpan, list-loving, anxious-but-charming, with a wink of self-aware humor.
Perfect For Kids Who
- enjoy funny, anxious characters who overthink everything
- are working on trying new things despite worry
- love lists, charts, and carefully labeled diagrams
- respond well to stories that turn fear into a joke, not a lesson
Ask Your Little Reader
- Story & problem-solving: What does Scaredy Squirrel keep in his emergency kit, and why do you think he packed each thing?
- Feelings & empathy: How do you think Scaredy Squirrel felt every day watching and waiting in his tree?
- Real-life connection: Is there something that seems scary to you but you've never actually tried?
- Imagination: If you made an emergency kit for your own worst fear, what would you put in it?
- Predictions: What do you think Scaredy Squirrel discovers once he's finally out of his tree?
