Miss Suzy

Miss Suzy #1

by Miriam Young, Arnold Lobel (Illustrator)

Miss Suzy, a little grey squirrel, is chased away from her oak-tree home by a band of mean red squirrels, but she soon makes friends with a group of toy soldiers, and they help each other out.

Genres: Picture Books, Childrens, Fiction, Animals, Christmas, Classics, Kids

44 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1964

Reviews

[Sheri · Rating 5 out of 5]

So very sweet and charming! Miss Suzy exhibits grace and kindness as she lives her pleasant, peaceful, and contented life. Her tree house home sounds so darling with its natural elements. Even when she finds herself in a new environment, she makes the best of her situation and sets about making her new house into a home. Her newfound friends benefit from her kindness, and in turn, they repay her kindness in the best possible way. A sweet ending that touches Miss Suzy’s and this reader’s heart! 💖

[Tra-Kay · Rating 5 out of 5]

There is no name for the emotion this book inspired in me as a child. It's something like what I felt when Beatrix Potter's Mrs. Tittlemouse shooed a bee out her dusty, rarely-visited tunnels; like fear or a sense of mystery, yet not. Something like viewing intangible antiques by peering into the dark. ...yes, that's just it. How quiet and included I felt when Miss Suzy discovered the abandoned dollhouse with the gentlemanly toy soldiers. Oh, this book is amazing.

[Sharon Barrow Wilfong · Rating 5 out of 5]

I made my mother read this to me until she wanted to throw up. I will never, ever tire of the sweet Miss Suzy and her indomitable spirit and her brave friends, the toy soldiers.

This small book has everything: cozy illustrations, I loved Miss Suzy's well-kept home in the trees, and then her new home, the doll house in the attic when she is displaced by a band of roguish red squirrels. The friendship she develops with a box of toy soldiers, and finally their heroism as the soldiers route the red squirrels, giving Miss Suzy back her home.

It took me a long time to find a copy of this out of print book, but it was worth it.

[Luisa Knight · Rating 5 out of 5]

Every time I see the cover of this book, my heart melts a little and I let out a happy sigh. It was such a cherished read, for both my sister and I.

The illustrations are entirely adorable. But of course they would be. Arnold Lobel did them. As to the story ... it's perfect. Miss Suzy is the sweetest little thing, with the most charming tree house. I so envied that tree house. And then when she's chased away by mean squirrels, she runs into this home and finds a little doll house to live in. Of course the doll house was absolutely cute too and I wished I could live in one of those as well. The story progresses with more cuteness, of course, and toy soldiers that save the day for Miss Suzy.

I don't know that it will be one of your family favorites but I know you'll enjoy it for sure!

Ages: 4 - 8

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[Christy Hall · Rating 5 out of 5]

My mom used to read Miss Suzy to me when I was little. The illustrations are so adorable. I love Miss Suzy and her cute little home. Her friends, the toy soldiers, are loyal and true. I really love the scene where Miss Suzy finds an old dollhouse to live in. I will always have the fondest memories of this book.

[Sandra · Rating 4 out of 5]

Miss Suzy's pleasant life in her house at the top of a oak tree is disrupted by six mean red squirrels who chase her away. She finds shelter in an old doll house, where she meets a group of tin soldiers, and this is the story of their friendship. Miss Suzy takes care of the soldiers during the winter, and they help her recover her house. This is beloved fifty years old classic, illustrated by the talented Arnold Lobel, is a very enjoyable reading.

I received this copy from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Find more children's book reviews in Reviews in Chalk

[Lori · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this book as a kid. Of course it helped that my mother read it to me all the time, AND my uncle would make squirrel noises while reading it.

My 4 stars are for sentimentality. But my analytical side wants to rush out and tell everyone Suzy's a big 1950s feminine stereotype. Which she is. In my revisionist Suzy, SHE kicks the red squirrel's butt with her army of toy soldiers.

[Heather · Rating 5 out of 5]

I picked this one up for a quarter at a bookstore purging sale. It was an old library edition with yellowed pages. It is one of the best books I've ever bought for my children. Best read near an open window on an early summer evening when the cicadas have begun their song.

[Elizabeth Kysa Sedivy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Miss Suzy is a little squirrel who lives by herself in an oak tree. One day a bunch of red squirrels come by and take over her pretty little home forcing Miss Suzy to move out, she finds herself in an old attic where there is a little toy house that she settles into. There she meets some toy soldiers who become her friends and she stays with them for a little while, but decides to go back home and with the help of her new friends finds the courage to take her old place back again. This is a great story to show how standing up for yourself and kindness can do wonders. Each page is beautifully illustrated and brings the story to life with a graceful touch. It can be used in a classroom very easily, showing kindness and how it over comes meanness, that it is one of the best things a person can be; kind.

Young, M. (2000). Miss Suzy. Cynthiana, Ky: Purple House Press.

[Vickie · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very original story about a lone squirrel named Miss Suzy, some toy soldiers, and a band of some bad guys (around 6 squirrels).

What happens when some bad guy squirrels create havoc for our heroine Miss Suzy, by trashing her home and taking it over? She flees for safety and then starts over in a doll house in a family's nearby attic. While cleaning and tidying, she unexpectedly encounters some toy soldiers and reaches out to them. They are homeless and in need of some good food and company (strictly platonic), so she offers to share her doll house "home", cook for them, and generally makes them feel at cared about like a mother would do.
When they hear Miss Suzy's story, they decide to take action. They storm the tree where Miss Suzy house is in and root out the bad guys. Miss Suzy squirrel then takes over her house again, clearing and cleaning it, making it a welcoming space again. The soldiers are freed to walk out into the forest, but have a standing invite for a weekly dinner in the tree house. Win-win.

When life throws you lemons, start over, think of others and not just yourself. Helping others = helping oneself.

Cute story, fun read, positive ideas.

Review written in while I am in a humorous mood. In case you didn't pick up on my dry humor. But I did love the story. And don't shy away from using And and But at the beginning of sentences even if it is a grammatical no-no.

[Ivan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really wonderful story. I loved Miss Suzy's house. I adore stories with toy soldiers - and these come to her rescue. The illustrations by Arnold Lobel are outstanding. A story with a message and a moral.

[Rod Brown · Rating 3 out of 5]

Miss Suzy is driven from her comfy little home in a tree by an invasion of bully squirrels. She takes refuge in a dollhouse in the attic of a nearby abandoned home and tries to make the best of things even while she years to return home. She's even welcoming to some kind visitors who appreciate her hospitality, unlike those greedy ruffians from earlier.

It's a simple and sort of odd fantasy, but it has a pleasing if obvious ending. Though I worry it could be read as a MAGA bedtime story.

[Stephanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

A sweet story of an industrious squirrel that becomes the victim of a bunch of rowdy , bullying squirrels. She finds an new home and to solider friends that go to battle with the squirrels. I appreciate the element of chivalry that would probably be labeled as “masculine toxicity “ today. I am thankful for the older picture books and their availability.

[Ginny · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was my favorite picture book when I was a young child. I memorized it and would "read" it to anyone who would listen. From Miss Suzy's firefly lamps and moss carpet to her acorn cups, it satisfied my little girl imaginings.

[Naomi]

I JUST REMEMBERED THIS BOOK PLS TELL ME SOMEONE ELSE READ IT TOO

I wanted to live in her house so bad (I still do)

[Adele · Rating 1 out of 5]

I know this book was in our basement (see below), but I don't feel like it was a part of my childhood in the same way as many of the others. Upon rereading I found one clue as to why on the very first page, "[Miss Suzy] liked to cook, she liked to clean, and she liked to sing while she worked." NOT a character description to draw me into a book at any point in my life. I did read the whole story and to adult me it seems to have colonialist and perhaps racist overtones and, unfortunately, carries very little nostalgia for me to compensate.

Part of: * When I was very young I believe my parents got a subscription to Parents Press Magazine books. They also got books from other sources. A key memory of childhood for me is the many children's picture books kept on the built-in shelves in our basement. Recently I put together a list of the ones I could find online and remember: Adele's Childhood Basement Picture Books My amazing husband found many of the physical books as a Christmas gift for me, so I am now seeing and re-reading the physical books for the first time in over twenty years. Be aware that most if not all of them will get an extra star from me for the incredible nostalgia.

[Shawn Thrasher · Rating 3 out of 5]

If you think too deeply about , you may end up in the same place I did: Miss Suzy was a little gray squirrel who lived all by herself in the tip, tip top of a tall oak tree who needs to learn how to fight her own battles, because tomorrow always comes. Ignore the swiss cheesy story and concentrate instead on Arnold Lobel's warm and wonderful illustrations. All world weary smugness aside - who wouldn't want to live in Lobel's cozy little squirrel house at the top of an autumn oak, cooking and cleaning and singing the day away? The red squirrel gang look like they came straight out of an early 1960s production of West Side Story - in the most delightful way. My favorite illustration, the one that leaves me with this intense feeling of nostalgia, is the old house in the autumn rain - how wonderfully lonely and sad is that picture? If only the story had stopped there, or become something else entirely. Poor Miss Suzy. Almost set free by her illustrator, but trapped instead by so-so story.

[Sincerae Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved it so much when my mother would read Miss Suzy to me when I was a little girl. I could really relate to this little squirrel. She was so girly with her little acorn tea corns in her simple small house in a tree. I felt so sad for her and angry when a gang of ruthless squirrels terrorized Miss Suzy and forced her to flee her home. This story of a little squirrel living quietly and peaceful on her own has adventure, pathos, and teaches children the meaning of friendship, determination, and courage.

[Jay Bushara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Toy soldiers to the rescue! Good thing, because those brutish red squirrels weren't about to redeem themselves. "Will you go peaceably, or must we fight?" asks the captain, drawing his sword, before Miss Suzy is finally restored to her life of domestic tranquility at the top of that swaying oak. Old-fashioned, yes (this book was originally published in 1964), but there's nothing dated about the satisfaction of bullies asking for trouble, and getting it.

[Tori · Rating 5 out of 5]

My grandmother used to read this book to my mother, who read it to me, and now I will read it to my children someday, as well. This book invoked such a profound sense of comfort and home in me before I even knew what those things were. An amazing and memorable story for a child to experience in their youth that will hold a special place in their heart into adulthood.

[Lana · Rating 5 out of 5]

Miss Suzy is a book I've long loved.

Rereading it as an adult always gives me a brief moment of peace and happiness, and while the Kindle book is definitely not the same as having the actual book in my hands, now I have a Miss Suzy I can keep forever.

[Noran Miss Pumkin · Rating 5 out of 5]

my mother always told me, growing up-beware the red squirrels-they are mean ones! :) She really did!

[Martha · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love this book. Such a sweet story. My middle son still says those red squirrels terrified him. Great stories live in on our memories.

[Ybgenny · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is still one of my favorite books.
The little story is heart breaking then warming, and the artwork is simply amazing. <3
Its short, but delightful and you need this book in your life. xD

[Teresa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Adorably old fashioned. Are we even allowed to write things like "Miss Suzy was overjoyed" anymore?

[Allison Greg · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book because it was on a list of cozy children's books to read to your kids. It was a delightfully cozy read.

Miss Suzy is a tidy little squirrel who loves her little cozy home. She has a cleaning and baking routine she follows every day. One day her daily routine is messed up by a gang of rowdy red squirrels who throw her out of her home and destroy her nice house. She journeys through the woods and discovers a cute doll but dirty doll house in an abandoned home in the woods. She cleans the dollhouse and makes it a home and even invites a group of toy soldiers in the attic to live with her. She eventually misses her cozy home too much and the soldiers find it and throw the gang of rowdy red squirrels out.

The illustrations in this book are just so cute. Now I want to read the other books in this series. My kids enjoyed the story as well. I highly recommend this book!

[Robbie Ansley · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is like actually the greatest book ever. Miss Suzy is such a strong, kindhearted soul who never lets anything get her down. The true friendship she builds with the soldiers who fight for her to get her house back is quite possibly one of the best relationships in all of literature as we know it. Not to mention how Arnold Lobel outdid himself with the illustrations for this book. Miss Suzy’s house, as well as the dollhouse, look so cozy, and I’d give anything to live there myself.
All around the best book I’ve ever read and will ever read.

[kyan oliver]

All I want is to be a little woodland creature who lives in a treehouse and sweeps the front stoop every day.

[Princess Isabelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

A nostalgic rebellion against summer towards early Christmas joy for me because December weather creates emotional and physical numbness while July is too hot and allergy producing.

[Barbara McVeigh · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my faves as a child. It was returned to me recently.

My husband had been asking me questions about squirrels, so I answered him by reading this book out loud.