Squirreled Away

The Dead Sea Squirrels #1

by Mike Nawrocki, Luke Séguin-Magee (Illustrator)

Mike Nawrocki, co-creator of VeggieTales, is back! In the first installment of this hilarious new chapter-book series, ten-year-old Michael and his friend Justin sneak into the Dead Sea caves near the archaeological dig where Michael’s dad is working. Michael finds two 2,000-year-old squirrels petrified in sea salt. Hijinks ensue as Michael tries to bring them back to the U. S., hidden in his backpack. What Michael thinks are just cool souvenirs may turn out to be something much more! The Dead Sea Squirrels series is humorous, fun, and filled with character-building lessons.

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

113 pages, Kindle Edition

First published May 1, 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

[Chris · Rating 4 out of 5]

I picked this up because of the pun in the series title and was not disappointed. Lots of funny, irreverent silliness. Short, quick reading, and highly appealing. A good choice for new readers looking for a bit of fun.

Warning no. 1: This is a series beginner and ends on a cliff-hanger, so don't go in expecting a resolution.

Warning no. 2: I didn't realize until I started reading--as others might not--that this is a Christian title. It's not a message book and doesn't get didactic, but does include mention of prayer, the bible, and a few earnest moments about respecting parents and the like.

[Lorelei Angelino · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars

I loved reading this aloud to my brothers! There are a lot of funny moments and good illustrations! Ended sooner than I expected, but I can't wait to keep reading this series (AND WATCH THE EPISODES!)! Don't judge. There's a child in each of us.

I have said it before and will say it again, Mike Nawrocki is a legend. *drops mic*

[Brittany · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 Stars ✨

This was a fun audiobook to listen to with my kids. It has humor, a lesson and a bit of history all in one. Look forward to trying more of this series.

[Darla · Rating 4 out of 5]

This looks like a promising graphic novel series. Michael and Justin explore a cave near the Dead Sea, but have to return early for dinner. When Michael returns later after everyone is asleep he discovers two mummified squirrels. Since cave squirrels are not a thing, we also learn about the adventure the squirrels had back in 70 AD, but only part of it . . . There are more exciting events to be seen in the rest of the series. One star deducted as much of the artwork was yet unfinished. Will appeal to families looking for clean graphic novels with biblical truths.

A big thank you to Tyndale House and NetGalley for providing an digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Melanie Dulaney · Rating 3 out of 5]

From one of the creators of the immensely popular Veggie Tales comes a middle grades book series with enormous potential. Book 1 introduces readers to Justin and Michael, two fifth grade boys who have been friends forever but could not be more different. Justin is an always on time rule-follower and Michael is much more adventuresome and in his attempts to find the greatest amount of excitement, is inclined to break those rules. On a trip to an archaeology site in Israel with Michael’s father, the boys discover and return home with two dried out and mummified squirrels that are more than they appear to be. After a few broken rules and goofy mishaps, Michael’s disobedience is met with parental consequences, he is genuinely remorseful and seems to view the instruction given to him with respect. The twist at the end launches us directly into a book 2 and I am fairly sure, based on the cliff-hanger, that the shenanigans will amp up in that follow-up. Readers of Big Nate in grades 2-5 are likely to enjoy this light-hearted romp and the frequent full drawn sketches throughout. Adults providing books for that target group will appreciate the family-friendly fun and absence of controversial material. For full disclosure, references to God and His guidance and help are present and both Michael and Justin are encouraged to behave in ways that will honor Him. Thanks for the dARC, NetGalley.

[Melody Schwarting · Rating 3 out of 5]

Vacationers to the Dead Sea, preserved in salt for millennia...that happen to be squirrels. Definitely has a message, but didn't seem to preachy to me.

The end of the book has a list of character profiles that are pretty spoiler-y for the first book (especially considering the squirrels haven't awakened yet). A historical note offers a bit of context. Nawrocki was a VeggieTales creator (voice of Larry the Cucumber), and the type of humor feels similar if not identical. It was refreshing to see a book about going-on-fifth-grade boys that didn't rely on toilet humor.

Light fun for the chapter-book set, and may especially appeal to reluctant readers. Lots of illustrations keep things fun, and relatively few words on the page make it less intimidating.

[Theresa Grissom · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks to Edelweiss for an ARC of this book.

This was an adorable short chapter book. I think 2nd/3rd grade students especially will enjoy this. Unique with cute illustrations.

[Lana Colby hurd · Rating 5 out of 5]

David Read this book out loud. Nice clean, interesting story. Easy read for 7 yr old.

[Jim · Rating 3 out of 5]

there is an extra star for the title, love it. the books are okay. not great writing and the art is what you expect from someone dumbing down their talent to what they think kids like (i hope it is dumbing down). the first book the dead sea critters are dead until the last page, so should have been titled "the last couple days of a couple kids on a dig by the dead sea." not as interesting, but honest. there are short character studies of each living being in the series in the back of the book so it isn't too complicated for the second grade audience.

[Katya · Rating 4 out of 5]

I saw that it was written by the creator of VeggieTales and wanted to check it out... the premise is really clever and cute but the book ends on such a cruel cliffhanger I can't believe he did that to kids (and adults lol)

[Cathryn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Adorable! Such a cute story about a soon-to-be 5th grader and his best friend who join his Dad at the Dead Sea for a summer excavation. There are good lessons about obeying your parents and being a good friend. Oh, and some funny mishaps bringing the squirrels back home. Quite the cliffhanger! I loved the art and especially how the pages were grey while they were in the cave. Clever! Engaging for a young reader. Highly recommend.

[Cris · Rating 3 out of 5]

It’s a slow start to a series about a kid who brings back squirrels from the Dead Sea.

[Becky · Rating 4 out of 5]

The boys enjoyed it, other than the book ending on a cliffhanger. A light and easy read with lots of pictures.

[L-J Johnson · Rating 2 out of 5]

Granted, I'm not the target audience here, but I was disappointed. This is the first in a planned series by Nawrocki, the co-creator of Veggie Tales. As expected, there is character and morality stuff slipped into this kid-friendly story, along with some Bible verses and up-front Christian life - the children pray, give thanks to God, the parents talk about God's Commandments, etc. That's all good. My disappointment stems from a story that barely gets going and then the book ends with a cliff-hanger. I have no problem with authors setting things up for the next installment in their series, but give me a real book each time, not just a foreward. However, none of this might bother a 2nd - 5th grade reader, who will probably laugh at the silliness and enjoy the adventures of Michael and Justin.

[Victoria Martin · Rating 5 out of 5]

"If you're wondering where the Middle East is, look *east* on a map and go to the middle."
Word of Advice: If you're someone who does not like spoilers, do NOT read the character profiles at the back of the book. I made the grave mistake of reading them and learned spoilers for things that probably won't come for several books yet. I get that the profiles are supposed to help children keep track of the characters, but I don't think children of this age group really need it too much since they are mentally developed enough to be able to start tracking things like this. Besides, as I said, major spoilers. So, if you really like your book surprises, avoid the character profiles at all cost.
As far as my thoughts on the Dead Sea Squirrels go, I absolutely LOVE this concept. I remember the days of Veggie Tales when I was a kid and how much I enjoyed watching every episode, so when I heard that Larry the Cucumber wrote these books, I was excited to dig into them. I was hoping these books would have the same heart as Veggie Tales, and boy did Mike deliver! This book has that same light-hearted innocence of Veggie Tales but this time in book form!
One of my favorite aspects was the illustrations and how they played in with the text. I loved how sometimes there were speech bubbles in the illustrations that were used for the main body text. Even though this book isn't quite a graphic novel, it was reminiscent of that. That actually works well because it has the text of a children's novel, which allows children to be challenged in their reading, but it has enriching graphics that makes the story even more fun and engaging for children. Not to mention, the story itself is, as I said, fun and light-hearted, which I think children could really use more of. Plus, I love how the aspect of faith was worked in. You can tell that the characters in the book have a Christians faith foundation, but it's not like God is being mentioned on every page. A character will get into trouble and say a quick prayer to God for help (which totally sounds like what a lot of us probably do, dive into trouble and then remember that saying prayers first is actually a really good idea). I think this type of faith encouragement is great for children and something they could really use now-a-days.
The only slight criticize I have to say for this book is that the jokes weren't quite punching for me. I was definitely amused as I read every line that I knew was supposed to be the punchline, but it just didn't really make me laugh. Still, I really enjoyed how the humor aspect was there and appreciated how that built up that lighter tone for the book. I also think the humor would hit just right for a child. Since I'm now an adult, I think these types of jokes just don't land the same for me as they used to, but it doesn't mean I've grown any less fond of them. I do have to say, though, the quote I opened with really did crack me up. That one got me for sure.
Besides not feeling as connected to the humor as I used to, I still found this book enjoyable despite now being an adult. Think how much more a child would enjoy this book! And, despite my "adultness," I still found this book relatable. Like, when Michael was digging pebbles out his nose: "Michael, whose right pinky was reaching for the very last pebble lodged deep in his right nostril, ran right into Justin, hitting his elbow against Justin's back and forcing the pebble even deeper up his nose. 'UGH!' he grunted with the impact, which forced him to swallow the pebble." This is going to sound gross, but, no joke, the exact opposite thing happened to me the very morning I read this part of the book. I had gotten a piece of adult vitamin gummy (yes, I will always still be 10 at heart and enjoy my gummies) lodged in my throat. Since drinking water didn't help it go down, I thought maybe sucking my breath in through my nose would provide enough air-force to push it down. It instead caused my nose to burn like chlorine, and when I blew my nose, I the gummy slid out my right nostril and buried into the tissue. As I said, gross. But, see, even as an adult, these books are still relatable, just probably not in the way I ever anticipated, lol.
Anyhow, I'm excited to read out and find out what antics Michael, Justin, Saddie, Merle, and Pearl get into. This was only the beginning and the intro of these characters, but I'm excited to learn more. I also hear a mini TV series is being made for these books. Supposedly, every book corresponds to an episode (which definitely makes sense and feels like it fits the structure of these books). So, I'm really excited to see this series find a streaming home so I can watch the episodes too. I bet they'll be just as fun as the books! :)

[Becky B · Rating 3 out of 5]

On the next to last day at his father’s archeological dig in Israel, Michael and his pal Justin stumble upon a mysterious ledge in a cave. Michael’s dad tells them it is dangerous to go in there without an expert guide and grounds them for the night. However, Michael thinks he’ll probably die of curiosity not knowing what was on that ledge. So he sneaks out and goes back. And nothing can ever go wrong when you’re a 10 year old sneaking into a mostly strange cave in the middle of the night by yourself, right?

I kept reminding myself that this was an uncorrected proof I was reading. The art was definitely not finished, and I’m guessing they had another round of editing in store for the writing. There were a few places where the flow needed some work. The premise of the story is quite intriguing - what happens when you a 10 year old’s curiosity gets the better of him…and for the future, what happens when you re-hydrate 2 ancient salt-preserved squirrels? There’s a good lesson on listening to your parents and why you should do that (with biblical sources to back this lesson up). The characters are going into 5th grade, but the story feels more aimed at lower grade readers. It is goofy and lighthearted, and fairly simple in sentence structure and plot. You better prepare readers for a major cliffhanger or wait to put this in their hands until book 2 is out; the book is likely to create major frustration otherwise. We’ll definitely be ordering this and the rest of the series for our Elementary library. Recommended for adventure fans, Christian lower grade readers, and imaginative story fans.

I received an ARC of this title from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

[Faith · Rating 3 out of 5]

Michael and Justin are spending their summer before 5th grade by the dead sea with Michael's father, Michael disobeys his father and goes out by himself, picking up a pair of petrified squirrels.

The first in a new chapter book series aimed at new readers gaining confidence with their skills, about 1st to 3rd grade reading level with a comfortable font size. It was a quick read for me, taking about 15 mins for me to read. The vocabulary was also well suited for young readers. I liked the accompanying illustrations that add to the silly whimsy of the story.

The first in a series, it introduces the readers to the main characters and how Merle and Pearl Squirrel meet Michael, Justin and the Gomez family. There is a character file in the back that also assists with introducing the characters. I found the plot to be rather simple and whimsical, and this book is more of the origin story if you will, so I was disappointed to not be able to see the premise in action with dialog between the squirrels and the boys.

The message of obeying your parents felt kind of clunky, though it will be interesting to see how that changes as the boys and squirrels interact. I'll be interested to see if it flows more naturally in future installments. Michael prays a couple of times, and references to Paul and God are made, along with brief Scripture references that felt kind of thrown in.

In the end I have mixed feelings as this felt more like a prequel than the first book in a series, I will be interested to see how it is when all the pieces are at play.

I received a complimentary copy of this book in hopes that I would review it. All opinions are my own.

[Heather.loves.books · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kids in the car?

Here's a fun series that's available on audio!

Dead Sea Squirrels by Mike Nawrocki

📖A boy finds 2 petrified squirrels in a cave by the Dead Sea. After he smuggles them home, they wake up with memories of when Jesus walked the earth.

❤️Why I love it❤️
-Narrated by the voice of Veggie Tales
-Sound effects! My kids love when they actually hear the crashes or creaks
-45 minutes ! A complete story by the time I'm finished bringing groceries home
-8 of the 11 books are on audio
-The print books are full of illustrations
-The 5th grade boys are navigating school and the squirrels are exploring life in the 21st century
-The books tend to end on a cliffhanger
-The squirrels, Merle and Pearl, remember similar situations in the Bible and relate them back to present day
-MY BOYS 7 & 12 beg for these in the car

🎉These are available on Scribd, Audible and Amazon has a bundle deal as well for the paperbacks

I'm always looking for audio that will be engaging and help instill moral values. We've had some fantastic conversations after listening to these.

🎥🎬 They are currently creating a cartoon series as well 😁

#deadseasquirrels #veggietales #mikenawrocki
#kidsaudiobooks

[Megan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I downloaded a kindle sample of this books, just to see if it's something my 7-year-old would enjoy and, as soon as I started reading about Justin, Michael, and their Dead Sea adventures, I was hooked!

I loved the mixture of the one friend wanting to follow the rules and the other friend craving adventure and not always thinking things through - it really balances everything out. At the same time, you're immersed in the Middle East, exploration, and even Christianity in a way that is entertaining and relatable to kids.

Squirreled Away is packed with adventure, gross (read "cool") really old squirrels, and I enjoyed every minute of reading it.

I didn't know until I got to the character profiles and author bio at the back of this book that it's from one of the creators of VeggieTales - a favorite in our family. After reading Squirreled Away on my kindle, I purchased paperbacks of this and the second book in the series for my son to read. I can't wait to share them - and the entire series - with him!

A must-read for Christian parents looking for a way to bring God into their children's reading. Also, for any early readers who love adventure books - Christian or not!

[Brenten Gilbert · Rating 4 out of 5]

RATING: 3.51 STARS

This is a new series from Larry the Cucumber... er, Mike Nawrocki. Having gone through the golden age of Veggietales as my two boys grew up, I have a healthy admiration for both Nawrocki and Phil Vischer. As such, any projects that either of the two release will by default pique my curiosity.

One would definitely have to go beyond this first entry in the series to give a fair assessment of the concept, but I only have book one, which does little more than set the stage for future adventures. However, I can attest that the characters introduced here are adequately three-dimensional and the "origin story" is suitable for the world Nawrocki is creating. Moreover (yes, I know, we aren't supposed to use that word), this introduction provides enough reason and intrigue to stoke the reader's curiosity and cause them to read on for more episodes.

I'd say the target audience is probably 7-12 year old boys, but I expect its appeal will expand beyond that confinement as well.

[Valerie McEnroe · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great book for kids who don't like to read or who are reading below grade level. The boys in the story are 5th graders. Some kids just can't read anything serious or long or lacking pictures. This will fit the bill for them. Plus there's a moral from scripture. The moral in book one is to honor your parents.

Michael and Justin are with Michael's dad on a trip to Israel. He's an archeology professor. The boys are having a great time. Even being lost in a cave has its merits. On their last night, Michael decides to sneak back to the cave in the middle of the night to see if anything historically significant is on a ledge they saw. What he finds is quite peculiar. Two mummified squirrels. He grabs them and sneaks them back to Tennessee. It all ends with a cliffhanger that will pick up in book 2.

It's a silly book, yes, but kids will like it. They'll even learn a little Biblical history at the end.

[Dawn Livingston · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not the target audience but I see lots of kid's books that are interesting and this was one of them. Since there are more than two books in the series I'm guessing it's interesting enough to kids. I'm not sure the age range it's meant for but I'm guessing maybe 8 or 9 years old.

Not sure it's fair to give this book a rating as I didn't read the whole thing, just skimmed it. All I can say is it made me want to read the second book in the series. Not sure how many there are in the series, just heard of this series in the last month, but it seems fun and creative as most children's books seem to be.

So, I think it's still fair to rate this book after all, because it's a strong positive rating. Even though I only skimmed it reading bits and pieces I would say that it's says something good about the book if it makes you want to read the next in the series which I also requested from my local library.

[Haven · Rating 5 out of 5]

My mom bought this book for my nine year old brother who is getting into reading. Sawyer wanted me to read it to him while he was going to sleep. So I did. Any may I remind you all that there are a lot of pictures, the chapters are very short, and the words aren’t necessarily small. About at the end of the 6th chapter he was out. But, I was enjoying it and I didn’t want to wake him up. So, I kept reading it out loud!!!!!!! 😂 ❤️ I really enjoyed the Dead Sea Squirrels book 1. (Or whatever it’s called.) Because the chapters were short, I had to keep reading! We have the app Minno. And the Dead Sea Squirrel’s series is on there. I’m not a fan of the series, neither is Sawyer. But my little sister, Miller, who is six loves it! 😘 The show is created by the makers of Veggie Tales, and the book is written by the co-director! I highly recommend this book! 📖 💗 🌊 🐿️

[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. We would read 2-3 chapters a night.

They are wonderful books for reading aloud to the younger children, and great for 2nd-ish grade reading level to read on their own. Depending on who is reading, and how fast, you will want to make sure you have the next one ready. These are binge worthy books.

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.

[Jaymie · Rating 3 out of 5]

[I received an electronic review copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.]

3.5 stars. Cute kick off to this series. The main character is pretty typical - curious, sincere, impulsive. Those characteristics will likely lead him on the adventures planned for this series. I can see why the publisher released the first two books simultaneously - the squirrels are still *mostly* petrified at the end of this one, but changes are in store. I would recommend buying/checking out both if you can because readers will be frustrated at the end of this one if they can't see what happens next.

Biblical principle explored: Obeying your parents.

[Ellen Scheid · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was so excited to read this book simply because I grew up watching Veggie Tales and adored Larry the Cucumber, which Mike Nawrockie voiced while co-producing the show. I knew this was going to be peppered with Christianity throughout, and that was fine with me. What I didn't know who how LONG it was going to take to see some action from the dried up squirrels! I read this for the squirrels, and I am disappointed with the cliffhanger. I didn't want to have to read the next book, and I still probably won't. You read more funny squirrel information in the afterward character summaries than you saw in this first book.

[Zaquira · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was quick and short pretty easy to read. I’m glad I got this free at bookcon and that the author signed it. It’s a pretty wacky tale with a important theme in a sense. I personally don’t agree with everything being said here. Like just cause someone has more ‘experience ‘in life ( cause their older ). It doesn’t mean that they know what’s happening in your life. But other than that it was pretty interesting and the illustrations really brought it together. I don’t know if I’ll continue but I’m glad that I tried it.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

A boy spending the summer near the Dead Sea with his professor father wanders into a cave and discovers squirrels preserved in dead sea salt. He sneaks them home unaware that they will come back to life.

The first in a series, each book focuses on a lesson from the Bible. Since he disobeys his father and gets lost in the cave, the lesson and verse are about honoring your father and mother.

This is a really cute Christian book series. Kids will be attracted to the humor, adventure, and illustrations while learning timeless truths from the Bible.

[Kristen · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such a fun book! We choose this as our read-aloud for our homeschool curriculum. I read it aloud during lunch time for several days and we quickly finished it. The children wanted to know what happened next so we read the next chapter.

The story was very easy to read aloud even though there was a lot of dialogue. It was also easy for our 7 and 9 nine years to read on their own after we finished the read aloud of it.

I am looking forward to adding more books in the collection to our bookshelves.


(I had started it back in December 2021 but then misplaced the book.)

[Diane Busch · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story is engaging and fun while also teaching some history and a few Bible facts. It is full of adventure, humor and surprises, while purporting right behavior. It also introduces children to different personality traits in the characters.
The short pages and short chapters help keep young readers interested and not overwhelmed. Illustrations are humorous and delightful.
We recommend this book for children ages 7-11, especially boys.