Over the course of a day, hyperactive Squirrel tries, tries, tries to help Mouse, Turtle, and Rabbit, with varying degrees of success. In the last chapter, Squirrel disturbs his friends while attempting to say good, good, good night but does find a way to help Rabbit overcome his fear of the dark. Lively ink and watercolor illustrations underscore the animals' personalities.

<p>Bridging the turf between easy readers and beginning chapter books, this story stars a very squirrelly squirrel fond of declarations in triplicate: "Got to go. Got to go. Got to go, go, go!" Squirrel's well-meaning overcompensation results in a windfall of food for Mouse, a lively (if one-sided) game with sleepy Turtle and plenty of splashy cheerleading for Rabbit's efforts to snag a lily-pad umbrella from the pond. Gorbachev's appealing watercolors provide the right touches for Moser's wry text, depicting Squirrel's manic activity in a plethora of amusing spots. This kinesthetic trip through Squirrel's "good, good, good day," less predictable than most easy-reader fare, will charm and challenge emergent readersa"and the critter's final-page snooze should satisfy on several levels. (Fiction. 5-7)</p>

Gr 1-3-Squirrel's world is a dizzying blur of activity and chatter that is somehow endearing and sure to elicit a giggle or two from young readers. The well-meaning but blundering creature frisks and capers through each of the four chapters, offering "assistance" to his friends. The softly colored illustrations and understated text complement each other well. Gorbachev's lively ink-and-watercolor art captures the sleepy patience of Turtle, the tremulous fear of Mouse, and the frenzied energy of Squirrel to a tee. Readers see an exasperated Mouse try to conceal her annoyance with her friend after he accidentally buries her under a pile of food, for the second time. Repetitive text and well-designed pages support the efforts of young readers who will likely enjoy Squirrel's humorous misadventures and his unique way of talking. Despite his many missteps, Squirrel's good heart shines through as he comforts Rabbit, who is frightened of being alone in the dark. Parents may find that a little Squirrel goes a long way, but young readers who enjoy Dori Chaconas's "Cork and Fuzz" books (Viking) will laugh at his antics.-Neala Arnold, St. Francis Elementary School, MN Copyright 2007 Reed Business Information.