School Library Journal Starred Review (Wed Aug 01 00:00:00 CDT 2018)

PreS-Gr 1 In this first title in a new easy reader series, Zoom Squirrel has lost his baby tooth and his frenetic squirrel friends (with names like Boom, Zap, and Zowie) are frantic to help him find it, because they literally think the tooth is a baby that must be scared, alone, and hungry! The madcap silliness and humor will please fans of "Elephant & Piggie." The format is similar, too, with spare text in speech bubbles along with varying text size and boldness to convey strong emotions. Clean, simply drawn illustrations are done in muted shades of brown. In addition to the story, there are a couple of other sections (enough to warrant a Table of Contents for the 96-page book) such as "Acorn-y Jokes," and the clever addition of some factual information about teeth, provided by a character named Research Rodent. Savvy readers will find Pigeon hiding on one of the pages, and will enjoy locating the various "emote-acorns" throughout the bookacorns with different expressions. VERDICT Another easy reader hit for Willems. Fans of "Elephant & Piggie" will enjoy the author's trademark humor and format and embrace these new squirrely friends. Ramarie Beaver, Plano Public Library System, TX

Horn Book (Wed Aug 01 00:00:00 CDT 2018)

Willems's lively new early-reader series (a step up in complexity from Elephant & Piggie) features fifteen cartoony squirrels, a yellow bird, and a couple of joke-telling acorns. "The BIG Story!" stars Zoom Squirrel, who has lost a tooth. Six shorter appended sections are packed with bite-size information and jokes about teeth. Willems's familiar cleanly designed spreads set the characters and their color-coded speech-balloon chatter on solid-bordered white backgrounds.

Kirkus Reviews (Wed Aug 01 00:00:00 CDT 2018)

A cast of squirrels investigates a missing tooth in this off-the-wall series opener from Willems.When lisping Zoom Squirrel reveals that they lost their tooth, the other squirrels work themselves into a frenzy. A tooth? All alone? Oh no! The rodent collective asks for clues and declares it their mission to find Zoom Squirrel's tooth. As the others' grand search takes them near and far (albeit in the wrong directions), Zoom Squirrel finds their tooth without help. Or did the tooth find Zoom Squirrel? This reader, a level up in complexity from Elephant & Piggie, offers a similar formula but with a longer page count and a larger cast of cartoony characters. Willems' signature use of color-coded speech bubbles helps readers recognize speakers amid the increased amount of dialogue. Willems also breaks out of his early-reader mold with the inclusion of backmatter (tooth facts, silly jokes, and a quiz) and a table of contents. While the amusing backmatter effectively blends elements of nonfiction, the slim table of contents comes off as extraneous since the bulk of the story is uninterrupted by chapters. Similarly, Willems' use of "emote-acorns" to alert readers "when the Squirrels have BIG feelings" is a unique tool for encouraging social-emotional development but questionably effective. Elephant & Piggie sure are a tough act to follow, but readers will more than likely want to squirrel these new friends away with equal fervor. (Early reader. 5-8)

Publishers Weekly (Fri Oct 06 00:00:00 CDT 2023)

Full of signature Willems hilarity, this beginning reader series opener stars 16 squirrels whose cheerful energy bursts from the pages. When Zoom Squirrel tells the other squirrels about its lost tooth (-Th! Th! Th!- Zoom keeps saying, experimenting with the new hole in its mouth), the revelation is met by over-the-top cries of dismay. -The tooth was loose,- Zoom Squirrel explains reasonably. -You should not let a tooth go loose, Zoom Squirrel,- Zap Squirrel cries. -Teeth have no sense of direction,- Zing Squirrel adds. -WE WILL FIND YOUR TOOTH!- the scurry shouts in chorus, and the story builds even after the tooth is found. The squirrels all sport adorable, bean-shaped noses, and a chart on the endpapers shows which is which. The action unfolds against a clean white backdrop, the better to emphasize the chatter; acorn emojis pepper the pages to convey moments of emotional impact; and tooth facts and back-of-the-cereal-box jokes round out the tale. New readers will giggle as they puzzle out new words and sounds. Ages 6-8. Agent: Marcia Wernick, Wernick & Pratt Agency. (Oct.)