Stop, Thief!

by Robert Kalan, Yossi Abolafia (Illustrator)

A squirrel digs up a nut that had originally fallen from another squirrel's tree, but a crow steals the nut, only to have a turtle snatch it once again, in a rollicking tale that lets the reader decide which animal is the nut's owner.

Library Binding

First published August 1, 1993

Reviews

[Melki · Rating 4 out of 5]

A nut is suddenly in high demand as it passes from owner to owner. The illustrations by Yossi Abolafia really add to this fun book.

[Elin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun for beginning readers. Got my son reading all the way through as he wanted to know what happened next. That’s a win!

[Anna · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute illustrations make this circle tale fun. A squirrel finds a nut on the ground, only to be told that a squirrel up in the tree dropped it. It becomes "finders, keepers" until the squirrel loses the nut to a crow, who drops it into a pond, where it is claimed by a turtle until an otter grabs it. Once the otter gets it onshore, a fox takes it but a dog steals it from him and delivers it to his owner, a young boy. They play fetch with it until the original squirrel recovers it and then meets up with the red squirrel from the tree . . .

We listened to this book at Story Hour at the library and my grandsons enjoyed it.

[Paul · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is a fast-moving hoot that is simple enough for young readers to enjoy. Perhaps most clever, beyond the gradual working the acorn up the ladder of neighborhood pets and animals, is the situation that start the whole thing all over again.

[Dkaahanley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Intense, can't put the book down. Told from third person narrator, death.
The main character is a German girl (poor) living during Nazi Germany. Very interesting, new perspective.

[Beverly · Rating 3 out of 5]

A nut, found by a squirrel, keeps being stolen by animal after animal, until it returns to the squirrel again. The illustrations showcase the comedic situation.