Scaredy Squirrel Scared Silly

Scaredy's Nutty Adventures #4

by Mélanie Watt

Young readers love laughing away their worries (and trick-or-treating) with Scaredy Squirrel! This anxious little fella's graphic chapter book series is perfect for fans of Narwhal and Jelly and Pizza and Taco--and is now available in paperback! Being scared is nothing new to Scaredy Squirrel. But Halloween is on a whole other level. Talking to strangers? Haunted houses? CAVITIES?! No thank you. Luckily, with a little help from his friends, Scaredy can still have a good time...and maybe even get a little spooky! Don't miss any of Scaredy's graphic novel adventures!
Scaredy Squirrel In a Nutshell
Scaredy Squirrel Gets a Surprise
Scaredy Squirrel Gets Festive
Scaredy Squirrel Scared Silly

Genres: Graphic Novels, Halloween, Animals, Holiday, Friendship, Childrens, Humor

82 pages, Library Binding

Published July 7, 2026

About the author

It was in a design class taught by Michèle Lemieux at the University of Quebec in Montreal that author and illustrator Mélanie Watt created her first picture book, Leon the Chameleon, which was later published by Kids Can Press. Watt went on to create several more books, including the Learning with Animals collection and Augustine, which was named an ALA Notable Children's Book. Watt has also illustrated Where Does a Tiger-Heron Spend the Night? and Bearcub and Mama, which won the 2006 IRA Teachers' Choices Project.

Mélanie's best known book Scaredy Squirrel, has won many awards including the Ruth and Sylvia Schwartz Children's Book Award for Children's Picture Book and the Amelia Frances Howard-Gibbon Illustrator's Award. The release of Scaredy Squirrel Makes a Friend, was met with enthusiastic reviews and incredible sales, confirming the arrival of kid lit's newest superstar.

Chester,Chester's Back! and Chester's Masterpiece are about a megalomaniac cat who is every bit the antithesis to Scaredy. Chester has already become a bestseller and shows the breadth and creativity of Mélanie Watt.

Scaredy returns to take a few more tentative steps out of his comfort zone in Scaredy Squirrel at the Beach and Scaredy Squirrel at Night. Mélanie has often noted how the Scaredy Squirrel books helped her work out her own insecurities and fears, as the success of these titles has required her to venture out into the unknown, and like Scaredy she has found the experience truly uplifting.

Mélanie currently resides near Montreal, Quebec.

~From http://www.kidscanpress.com/creators/...

Reviews

[Lata · Rating 4 out of 5]

Scaredy Squirrel plans for Halloween on October 31st, keeping in mind that there are many frightening aspects to this night, such as witches, haunted houses, vampires and ghosts!

His friend Ivy has his back, bringing over plenty of garlic, though his other friends Tim and Rash give him an unintentional scare. After he recovers, the friends carve and decorate their pumpkins, then get into costume.

Scaredy has come so far: he's hanging out with friends, and even decides to go trick-or-treating! Wow! What progress for this little guy, who used to be terrified to stick a toe out of his tree.

I've loved Mélanie Watt's Scaredy for years; the books are full of humour and useful facts, and also ways for an anxious child to watch someone terrified of everything gradually overcome their fears.

The illustrations absolutely pop off the page, as Scaredy finds ways to handle his fears about this evening, and he, Ivy, Tim and Rash have a terrific and funny time on Halloween.

Thank you to Netgalley and to Penguin Random House Canada for this ARC in exchange for my review.

[Cass (whatcassreads) · Rating 5 out of 5]

What another fantastic Scaredy Squirrel story! The Scaredy Squirrel picture books are always so funny and engaging and this one is no different. It's the perfect Halloween picture book!

In this fourth installment of the Scaredy' Nutty Adventure series, Scaredy Squirrel invites his friends over to do fun and cute (and not at all spooky!) Halloween activities like pumpkin carving and dressing up. However, when one of his friends suggests to go Trick-or-Treating, Scaredy Squirrel can't help but think of all the scary and spooky things out there.

This picture book was so fun to flip through. It's filled with bright, colourful illustrations and engaging pages and activities that helps engage and excite kiddos about reading. It's perfect for early chapter book readers and any first-time Trick-or-Treaters. 🎃

[Karen Margaret · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you’re already familiar with Scaredy Squirrel or any of Melanie Watt.s other children’s books then you already know there was no question this would be a winner. Scaredy squirrel wants Halloween to be cute not creepy and you must know he is prepared with tools to make it so. This book is three chapters, each with its own Halloween story so is a longer addition to the scaredy squirrel series of books, perfect for a developing reader learning to read on their own but wanting to continue with a favourite cherished character. A must add to any Halloween read aloud or junior reader list and a welcome addition to any children’s book collection.

[Michael · Rating 5 out of 5]

As Tim would say, “It’s adowabble!”

[Sandra · Rating 5 out of 5]

A lovely book for first readers who like to be a “little” scared on Halloween. Thank you to Tundra Books for this copy.

[Olivia]

See my full review here: https://yabookscentral.com/scaredy-sq...

SCAREDY SQUIRREL SCARED SILLY is a cute and entertaining early graphic novel about Halloween. Scaredy is not really looking forward to Halloween, but he has a plan, which includes many garlic cloves to scare off vampires, laser pointers for Frankensteins, and so on. With some help from his friends, Scaredy will celebrate Halloween with a not scary costume (robot) and without too much tooth-decaying sugary treats.

What I loved: This is ultimately a nice story of inclusion and friendship. Scaredy approaches the holiday a little differently, and readers will understand why he is afraid and what he doesn't like, as well as how his friends find ways to help and support him. This will be relatable for some readers who may be more sensitive and/or anxious around holidays and can also help readers to understand a bit of neurodiversity and how some children may feel a little differently.

The Halloween themes are present throughout, and the book does a great job of balancing humor amidst the more serious themes. The graphic novel format works well with plenty of expressive characters and great use of color. The all uppercase font works well to make it easy to read and understand across the panels. Combined with a relatively low number of panels on each page spread and clear delineation of stories into chapters, and this will work well for independent readers.

Final verdict: SCAREDY SQUIRREL SCARED SILLY is an engaging and entertaining early graphic novel of inclusion and friendship, great for a Halloween read!

Please note that I received an ARC. All opinions are my own.

[Barbara · Rating 3 out of 5]

Scaredy Squirrel is all set for Halloween. Because he is scared of many of its aspects, including ghosts, vampires, and monsters, he thoroughly prepares by surrounding himself with garlic, inviting his friends to carve friendly pumpkins--definitely not scary ones--and planning a costume that will shield him from harm three months ago. Could the promise of delicious candy apples convince him to join his friends for trick-or-treating? Fans of this series will want to find out? With zombie pumpkins and a character that keeps insisting that everything "needs more ketchup," how can this one miss? The graphic novel format fits this character and his phobias quite well as the book contains small panels, medium-sized ones, large ones, and ones that fill two pages, allowing the facial expressions of Scaredy and his friends to be on full display. Youngsters will also love the Halloween Quiz for Readers that they need to take before starting to read the book. While Scaredy Squirrel may or may not be "scared silly," readers certainly will be.

[Read Ribbet · Rating 5 out of 5]

Melanie Watt is back with the fourth in the Nutty Adventures series featuring Scaredy Squirrel. The format is a cross between a graphic novel and chapter book for young readers. The story is mainly told through talking bubbles though Watts has sprinkled the book with lots of asides. Scared Silly is focused on Scaredy Squirrel as he prepares for Halloween trying to avoid all the frightening things associated with the holiday. From decorations, to costumes, to pumpkin carving, the book has fun as Scaredy Squirrel and his friends get ready. Young readers will enjoy the graphics that support the story. The book includes a prereading quiz to see if you are ready to read the book and a FAQ afterwards.

[Shauna Morrison · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another great addition to the Scaredy Squirrel series. I love the emergency fanny pack, that is very "on brand" for Scaredy Squirrel and Tim with his "hints of pepperoni", classic Tim.

I love that Scaredy Squirrel shows young readers that it is okay to be afraid or worried and that things aren't always as scary as they may seem. Looking forward to reading the next book in the series; if the answer to FAQ #1 is true I am hoping for hungry pigeons, I can't wait to find out why Scaredy would be afraid of pigeons.

[Ellon · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 stars (I liked it)

I feel like the graphic novels just don't have the same spark that picture books had. But I do like the inclusion of scaredy squirrel's friends and how they are so kind to him despite his worries. I also like how at the end of this book, scaredy squirrel realizes the things he was afraid of were just decorations and people he knew dressed up. I think it could help a kid who might be afraid on Halloween.

[Justine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you so much to Penguin Random House Canada for sending us a copy of Themis book to read and review.
We haven’t read any Scaredy Squirrel books before but this won’t be our last. We had a blast reading it and I really liked that over coming your fears storyline. My daughter needs more confidence so this series will be a good one for her to not be as shy and scared.
We would recommend this to everyone.

[SeasonsOfKidLit · Rating 5 out of 5]

This silly, brightly illustrated graphic novel for young readers is frightfully fun! Whether readers are longtime fans of Scaredy Squirrel or discovering the series for the first time, they'll love the slapstick humor, quirky antics, and delightfully spooky Halloween theme. Definitely recommend this!

[Thomas Bell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Definitely fun. I like how the friends react to Scaredy Squirrel in the various situations. And I like how they still enjoyed their evening despite the difficulties they had. And of course I like how the fanny pack kept saving Scaredy Squirrel.

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another fun Scaredy Squirrel volume. My kid is 16 and still gets a kick out of them and chuckles as he reads them.

Perfect for Halloween gifting and don't need to read these in order to get something out of them.

[Ann Haefele · Rating 3 out of 5]

As usual Scaredy squirrel is nervous and this time it’s about Halloween. I had not read the graphic style short chapter books of this beloved character and was glad to experience it with my almost 8 year old granddaughter. Solid choice when looking for Halloween stories.

[Melody · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute!!

[Naomi · Rating 3 out of 5]

My kids didn’t like this one quite as much as the others we have read. Some they are laughing hysterically the whole time and this one they just thought was cute.

[kim · Rating 3 out of 5]

cute

[Delano Brown · Rating 4 out of 5]

Didn't know it was a graphic novel (comic) but it works. Very good read-a-loud and has an appeal to the younger crowd. I would recommend for sure.

[Jesse · Rating 5 out of 5]

Adorable and funny! I love the smooth layout of the story & the interactive bits. Scaredy Squirrel and friends are super sweet.

[Molly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute book for students around Halloween time

[Collene · Rating 2 out of 5]

rating from a 7 year old. he really just did not enjoy this book unfortunately