Chippy Chipmunk: Babies in the Garden

by Kathy M. Miller

     Chippy Chipmunk: Babies in the Garden is a delightful glimpse into the real lives of baby chipmunks featuring more than 80 beautiful photographs and an educational, fun narrative. The second book in this multi-award winning series, continues the adventures of Chippy, the author’s resident chipmunk, who we met in Chippy Chipmunk Parties in the Garden. Chippy has found a mate and started a family. This book captures humorous and intimate moments of baby chipmunks interacting in the author's garden and finding their way in the world. Since chipmunks quickly disperse within a few weeks of emerging from the burrow, author/photographer Kathy Miller provides rare moments in a natural habitat most people never see. Interesting facts about chipmunks are included in the back of the book that enhance learning, expand vocabulary and raise a child’s curiosity.

     Miller’s unique approach and style narrow the growing gap between children and nature. This high quality, enlightening book weaves together the best of visual and language arts, science, photography and narrative.

Genres: Picture Books, Animals

40 pages, Hardcover

First published October 21, 2011

About the author

Kathy M. Miller is a teacher, cellist, author and award-winning nature photographer. She graduated Summa Cum Laude from Kutztown University with Bachelor degrees in Education and Music.
In addition to the images found in her multi-award winning children’s books Chippy Chipmunk Parties in the Garden, Chippy Chipmunk: Babies in the Garden and Chippy Chipmunk: Friends in the Garden (© 2009, © 2011, © 2015 Celtic Sunrise) Miller’s photographs have been published in various newspapers and magazines and graced the covers of brochures, Hawk Mountain News, and the 2009 Schuylkill County Visitors Guide. One of Miller’s photos was used for the cover of the Yuengling Brewery Cookbook and she contributed ten images to the book Rescuing Wildlife (©2009, Stackpole). She won 2nd place in the Schuylkill Allied Artists Competition in photography.

Kathy’s multi-media nature program has been presented to numerous libraries and schools across North America. Highly engaging and interactive, it includes aural and visual components about backyard nature. It includes tips on photography, video clips and a hands-on burrow building simulation. She is a speaker at various Reading and Library Association Conferences.
Born and raised in Ottawa, Canada, Miller now lives in New Ringgold, Pennsylvania with her husband and a photogenic feline, Chester.

Reviews

[Monet Nagel · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book. Really gives a great insight into a young chipmunk family. I loved the picture of Chester on the piano and how Chippy was brave defending his family. The back portion of book was great with additional pictures and explanations. Wonderful book.

[Princess Isabelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Similar to Gooseberry Park by Cynthia Rylant but with photographs instead of fictional illustrations

[Wayne Walker · Rating 5 out of 5]

Have you seen Disney cartoons with Chip and Dale? Do you know what kind of animal they are? If you answered chipmunks, you’re right! Author and photographer Kathy M. Miller introduced a real live chipmunk named Chippy who lives in her garden in the first book of this series, Chippy Chipmunk: Parties in the Garden, which won fifteen national awards. In Chippy Chipmunk: Babies in the Garden, Chippy and his mate Lily have four babies: Rosalie, named for conservationist Rosalie Edge; Roosevelt, named for President Theodore Roosevelt; Rachel, named after author Rachel Carson; and Benjamin, named after Benjamin Franklin. As they grow, the babies learn about the flowers, the butterflies, the birds, and the other animals, including predators. So what will Chippy do to protect his family when Chester the cat sees the little chipmunks playing?
Kathy said that when a mother chipmunk brought her babies to the front window, as if to show them off, she knew that a sequel to her first book was in order to continue the educational and humorous adventures of Chippy. With over eighty photographs which reveal interesting details and expressions not normally visible to the naked eye, the book focuses on the four little chipmunks as they discover both the joys and the dangers of the world about them. It also has a couple of pages in the back which share fun facts about chipmunks and other animals mentioned in the book. You may already know that play is a way for animals to practice their survival skills. Did you know that chipmunk babies disperse to live independently when they are eight weeks old? Children always enjoy reading and learning about animals, so they will love this delightful story about Chippy and his little ones.

[Angela · Rating 2 out of 5]

Best for kids ages 4 and up.
Early Literacy Skills: Vocabulary, Narrative Skills

From cover:
A rare glimpse into the real lives of baby chipmunks during their first days out of the burrow, this educational and humorous story features over eighty beautiful nature photographs that will captivate and delight. Following the award-winning Chippy Chipmunk Parties in the Garden, this sequel continues the adventures of Chippy, the author's resident chipmunk, but focuses on his adorable babies as they discover and learn about the world around them. Fun facts about chipmunks are included in the back of the book to enhance learning, expand vocabulary, ad raise a child's curiosity.

[Phair · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not as awesome as the first Chippy book. That one seemed to have a wider variety of photos & activities for Chippy to be involved in. Or maybe I'm not that into children, even super cute chipmunk children.....

Still, a fun book to look at. I likes how the author noted info on the photographic "cast"- such as the owl being a rehab bird, etc. [no chipmunks were endangered in the filming of this book!]

[Peacegal · Rating 3 out of 5]

The photos weren't quite as magical as those in Chippy's first adventure, but they are still very enjoyable to look at. There isn't much of a story here--just lots of cute chipmunks.

[Paula · Rating 2 out of 5]

This story is accompanied by photographs of their lives in the backyard.
Chippy the chipmunk and Lily are joined in the garden by 4 new babies who explore and learn.