Squeakers

Serendipity

by Stephen Cosgrove, Robin James (Illustrator)

Squeakers, a young squirrel, feels bad after letting Mr. Mole take a lock of fur from his tail in return for some hazelnuts, and Squeaker's parents tell him it is his right to say no, even to an adult.

Genres: Childrens, Picture Books, Fiction, Animals, Art, Animal Fiction

32 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1985

Reviews

[Jamie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book to be sure your child understands when it is okay to say no. That their body is their own. It explains the balance of listening to adults and respecting yourself. Can be a heavy discussion topic so best to avoid as a bedtime read the first time through.

[Lindsey · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is perhaps one of the most important Serendipity books while also being one of the hardest subjects to talk about. Squeakers is a squirrel who is intimidated into letting Mr. Mole take some of his tail fur for some nuts. Squeakers, of course, feels ashamed of this but eventually tells his parents, who teach him to speak up for himself.

It's a very simplified story about abuse, bullying, peer pressure, and intimidation but contains a critical lesson about a person's right to privacy and their own body. Like several other Serendipity books, this is one to read before your kids so you're prepared to discuss. It's even a good reminder to adults of how important it is to a)teach your kids to defend themselves and b)always listen when your child wants to talk to you.

[Isabel Angeles · Rating 4 out of 5]

While this book does an excellent job of introducing the topic of dangerous strangers, it should not be read to children without a discussion of it's real life application. I read this book about 14 years ago when I was in elementary school and I still remember the sick feeling it gave me after reading it. I didn't understand it's application to my world at the time and I asked my mom to throw it away! But when coupled with a thorough, age-appropriate explanation of what the story is warning against, Squeakers can be an effective communicator of stranger danger to children.

[寿理 宮本 · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have a fourth edition copy that does NOT have the Burger King logo on it, and I'm just assuming it's the same or mostly similar to the one listed other than that bit.

The other Serendipity books I've read have been more or less heartwarming, with only light teasing or apprehension. This one goes a step further and actually has another character (Mr. Mole) actively HARM the main character (Squeakers). This is about learning to tell when to say "No" (if not "NO!"), so I shouldn't be surprised, but it startled me a little. I guess it just feels like the books are too cute for that kind of message, even if it's a very important message.

Mostly I took a star off because the print quality and binding isn't that great. The first interior drawing is ruined by a slight mistake with the offset, so it has this double-exposure look. I don't know if that's a consistency with each of the books, but it's unsightly in mine. Otherwise, the page quality is nice, for being a print from 1986!

[Allison Greg · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book Squeakers is basically about adult predators preying on little children. Squeakers is a silver squirrel living in an enchanted woods. He goes to school and is a happy squirrel until one day on his way home from school Mr. Mole trades him hazel nuts for a piece of his silver tail. Mr. Mole explains that this is a secret and no one should know. Mr. Mole begins to trade Squeakers secret treats for more tail fur, eventually Mr. Mole just starts taking the fur without offering treats. Squeakers begins to withdraw from his family and his parents worry he is sick. Finally, Squeakers tells his parents what has been happening.

"Your fur belongs to you. When anyone, anyone at all, wants to take or touch something that is part of you and you don't want them to, you tell them 'NO!' Then tell us about it right away."

I read this book to my 4 year old and it was a really great way to approach the topic of sexual predators.

[Ashton · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book doesn't really good job breaching a really hard topic and does it in a way that kids can understand. It's horrible to me that books like this are necessary to show kids that there's evil in the world, and that they have to be aware of it no matter how young they are. This does it in a way that's not a scary to think about. The only thing that feels untrue to me about the story is that once the evil mole is banished from the forest, the squirrel he tormented is suddenly all better and happy and everything goes back to normal. Unfortunately that's not the way life works. Your scarred for life when someone takes a part of you without asking. I think it's a really good start to a really hard message. A good way to start talking about a hard topic with your kids in the loving and sweet way.

[Arwen · Rating 5 out of 5]

We read this book right at the same time as I was reading about the "Tricky People" concept for keeping kids safe. The two go pretty much hand in hand. (See http://safelyeverafter.com/tenrules.html for more info.)

This story about an innocent young squirrel who get trick by his neighbor the mole into trading his tail fur for some nuts is a great starting point for talking to kids about tricky people who might want to hurt them and personal safety. And of course its accompanied by the beautiful illustration of Robin James.

[DARK ROMANCE · Rating 5 out of 5]

I remember reading this series when I was little. The art always captivated me, it's so gorgeous! I'm glad some of the old titles are being released again. I have a very vague memory of this story and being so young the real meaning flew over my head. Reading it now as an adult, it's very clear. An important message for kids (anyone really!) Your body belongs to YOU. And you ALWAYS have the right to say NO.

[Krystle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pretty sure adults need to read this one again.
I think we all forget the simple lessons from time to time. I loved this book when I was little, the art is beautiful and there is this feeling of encouragement and support from the squirrel parents.

I read this to my little girl and she loved the pictures, she’s far to young to understand the story but I’m happy to have found this series once more.

[Alison · Rating 2 out of 5]

Squeakers A heavy subject wrapped up in a way that kids can understand.

[Ayla · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book to teach children how to say no and to talk to their parents when someone threatens them.
Beautiful illustrated.

[Anna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good message for younger kids, important to learn that your body is yours, doesn't matter if someone is just asking to shake your hand or much more, your body is yours and NO is a full sentence

[Jordan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m glad Squeakers told his parents about Mr Mole and the lesson was really great! 🐿️

[jacky · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have always remembered this children's book. I had to email my old library and ask them the name of it though because I couldn't remember and it was driving me crazy! I was amazed that the librarians even knew what I was talking about, but they did. She thought it was crazy that I remembered where in the library the books were kept and all. I think this book is great because through a story it teaches the lesson that kids should let others make them feel uncomfortable. In the story, a squirrel is persuaded by another animal to let him touch and take some of his pretty tail fur. He bribes him with nuts and berries. It makes him feel really uncomfortable and he eventually decides to stand up to him and not let him do it anymore. This book offers a message about child abuse in a safe way.

I finally bought a copy of this book. I had students writing children's books as writing options and I told them how even serious issues can be handled in children's books. When I told a few boys about this book, they kept using it as a running joke, so I had to get a copy for them to read. Buying it allowed me to read this book again for the first time in at least 15 years, if not longer. I shared it with Mike and it added to a running joke we have about moles!

[Kat · Rating 5 out of 5]

Basic plot: Squeakers learns it is ok to set boundaries, even with an adult.

I think I got my first Serendipity book through a Scholastic book order or book fair. I quickly became obsessed and collected a ton and a half of them as a child. I would spend hours just looking at the pictures because the art is simply gorgeous. The stories were whimsical and fun, and always ended with some sort of life lesson for kids. I kept reading these books long after other picture books had been set aside.

[K · Rating 2 out of 5]

I know this is an important lesson to teach kids (don't talk to strangers; tell a trusted adult if someone is making you feel uncomfortable), but this book was so weirdly traumatizing to have and read as a kid. Reading it always made me feel uncomfortable, and I was glad to finally take it off my shelves. Even thinking about it still makes me feel shivery! I don't really want to SEE physical violation happening on the page in indulgently illustrated detail.

[Amelia · Rating 3 out of 5]

I caught some weird undertones on this one. The whole thing with the mole pulling out the fur on the tail and then the parents admonishments to their son reminded me of some warnings against potential sexual abuse . I would never have picked this up as a child, but as an adult I saw it. That's certainly a good thing to warn children about and I guess this is as good of a way as any. I just didn't expect it when I read it.

[Kate · Rating 3 out of 5]

I remembered this book when I found the book Crickle-Crack - this is about a squirrel who really loves her beautiful silver tail, but is convinced to give up hunks of her fur for a few acorns. These books look beautiful and cute, but some of the themes are really dark - as the description says, it's about saying "No"...

[Catherine Grodensky · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think this is an important and useful book, but it freaked my son out a bit. I wish I'd read it carefully myself before reading it to him---I remembered it from my own childhood but forgot that it's pretty upsetting. Probably not good for kids under... 8?

[Ilana · Rating 5 out of 5]

This series of books is the most wonderfully illustrated, sweetest series available for children. Each book is beautiful, the animals are so sweetly drawn and each book teaches a wonderful lesson. I still have all of my original copies from my childhood (the 90s).

[Thea · Rating 5 out of 5]

He gets bad touched...