Boy Meets Squirrels

The Dead Sea Squirrels #2

by Mike Nawrocki, Luke Séguin-Magee (Illustrator)

The Dead Sea Squirrels are alive! In book 2 of Mike Nawrocki's hilarious new series, the two petrified squirrels Michael brought home from Israel are awake and ready to dive into the 21st century. Turns out, the squirrels lived during the time of Jesus and love sharing the lessons they learned from his teaching in their own quirky way. Missteps and misadventures abound as Merle and Pearl help Michael and his friends confront a bully, using lessons from the Sermon on the Mount.

Genres: Childrens, Christian, Christian Fiction, Fiction, Humor, Chapter Books, Middle Grade

128 pages, Paperback

Published May 7, 2019

About the author

As co-creator of Veggie Tales, co-founder of Big Idea Entertainment, and the voice of the beloved Larry the Cucumber, Mike Nawrocki has been dedicated to helping parents pass on wholesome values to their kids through storytelling for over two decades. Mike currently serves as the artist in residence at Lipscomb University, where he is also pursuing an MFA in writing and directing for film. The Dead Sea Squirrels is Mike's first children's book series, which he has been delighted to write from the home he shares with his wife, Lisa, and their two children in Franklin, Tennessee.

Reviews

[Darla · Rating 5 out of 5]

What have we learned today?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7DcBl...

Just like those classic VeggieTales episodes, this chapter book comes with a verse theme. The Golden Rule (Matthew 7:12) is the lesson caught while reading about the struggle Michael and friend Justin have with the class bully Edgar. Helping share these truths are Merle and Pearl the Dead Sea Squirrels that were discovered in Book 1. They add humor to the tale while at the same time anchoring the truth from Matthew 7:12 in a specific place and time. They were there for the Sermon on the Mount. I loved the chance to see Merle and Pearl get to know modern life. Chicken nuggets are a definite hit. The character profiles at the end of the book give hints about future stories.

[Cathryn · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a good lesson from the Squirrels on kindness and bullying. Children will enjoy the funny drawings of Michael's antics. I am really surprised just how good this series is...worth the hype by parents and kids.

[Caleb · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really liked it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!(it was 1 of the best books!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!).

[Gretchen Hand · Rating 5 out of 5]

These are great books! Humorous, but also with a great message.

[Nick · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was cute. Not nearly as funny as the first one, and not a whole lot seems to happen. Justin and Sadie are hard to tell apart as far as purpose and character goes. It definitely needs more Merle and Pearl. This one focused on the Golden Rule, but I'm not sure Michael really understood what it meant or the actual meaning was ever accomplished. Obviously the prank didn't happen, but that is hardly Michael dying to himself for the benefit of someone else.

A very milquetoast Golden Rule that only goes about halfway to Christ's meaning; something palatable to anyone and not nearly as earth shattering as Christianity truly is.

[Jamie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another cute book, with some humor and a message. “Do unto others as you want done to yourself.” Main character Michael struggles morally as he knows inside that getting back at his bully isn’t necessarily the best way to go about things, and learns the message physically in the end, when his plans go wrong and he ends up in a slimy situation. The book ends abruptly just like the first one, so again you can’t really skip around in the series. Either way, my 6 year old is enjoying the books, and I enjoy reading them with/to her.

[Jessica Silhavy · Rating 5 out of 5]

My son loves this series, he's 5 and we have read it as his bedtime read aloud. He was very sad when we had to wait for the next one from the library.

They are wonderful books for reading aloud to the younger children, and great for 2nd-ish grade reading level to read on their own.

The squirrels are charming and entertaining while teaching children great values from the Bible to live by. I highly recommend you read this series if you have not already done so, or read it again if you have.

The books do follow a plot as a whole, so you do need to read them in order.

[Lisa Lewis Lewis · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Dead Sea Squirrels are a series of children's books that are just a fun read. In each volume, the squirrels and Michael (the boy who discovered them and brought them home from the Dead Sea) get themselves in some sort of predicament, and along the way, they learn some valuable lessons. I don't feel they're preachy; there's one verse at the beginning of the book, which gives you an idea of the lesson that will be learned. My 9- and 10-year-old grandsons think they're hilarious!.

[Ruthe Turner · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pretty silly with very little to do about the Dead Sea Scrolls except a page in the back and except for two fictional talking squirrels from the caves. The book redeems itself with the plot about two boys and a bully. Should the boys prank the bully out of revenge, or should they practice the Golden Rule?

[Lindsey Burnett · Rating 5 out of 5]

For what this is, a silly story for young readers, this is perfect! It’s not quite at a level for my 7 year old to read independently, but we did a tandem read where we took turns reading out loud and that worked really well.

It’s fun and funny and I think taught a lesson without being too “preachy”

[Alexis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wonderful book for children! Entertaining and teaches the golden rule. I wish the kid was not lying to his parents though. I know he thinks he will get in trouble but that is not a lesson I want my kids learning.

[Sara · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rounded to 3.5. We like these books and I like that’s it a gentle introduction of applying Gods word to everyday life for kids. Michael is naughty but I suppose that is a way to learn lessons.

Eliana’s review: “I like when he got slimed!”

[Amy Schmelzer · Rating 2 out of 5]

The thing that bothers me the most isn’t that squirrels from nearly 2000 years ago were brought back from the dead. It’s not that they can talk. It’s that they speak perfect English. I can’t suspend my disbelief long enough to overlook that.

[Pat · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute for the elementary age readers, with a focus of bringing scripture into the mix. These books would be best read together with a discussion about bullying and how we treat our enemies. It is definitely for kids and wacky enough to keep their attention.

[Kristina · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the second book of the series and I must say better than the first book. The book had a good message and my 3 kids enjoyed me reading this book to them. I would recommend this book to others.

[Wintermote · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not quite as funny as the first in the series, but did a nice job integrating the gospel lesson in the present-day, real experience of elementary bullying.

[Mary T · Rating 3 out of 5]

I've been reading this series with my 7-year-old. This one was better than the first. There's not a ton of Christian fiction out there. We'll probably keep reading the series, but it's just okay.

[Melmo2610 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute story and good message.

[Ashton · Rating 5 out of 5]

My daughter loves these books. this series is our read together books and we have truly enjoyed the first 2 books

[Laura McCarty-Daniels · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked that the squirrels came to life.

I didn't like that he had garbage spilled on him.

[Barry McCarty-Daniels · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked that he listened.

I don't like that the squirrels were out of food.

[Mahyla · Rating 5 out of 5]

Okay, favorite series I've read to my kids. And this one has my 5-year-old listening! So cool to see the Bible casually slippped in to the story.

[Cris · Rating 4 out of 5]

Boy Meets Squirrels

This is the second book in the series. The kids find out the squirrels are alive! Talk about a wake up call!

[Maria Pop · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good read-aloud

[blueygurl2016 · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a nice Christian perspective of dealing with bullies.

[Bookworm · Rating 5 out of 5]

Silly goofy middle grade fun!
Gently Christian, very cute!

[Henry Oliver · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was a cool book.

[Josephine · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great family friendly Christian book!!

[Samuel · Rating 5 out of 5]

I like it! It is funny! Better than book 1 but book 1 is still great!