The Squirrels Who Squabbled
by Rachel Bright
Greedy squirrels Cyril and Bruce both have their sights on a very special prize: the last pinecone of the season. Uh-oh! The race is on!
Reading Tips for Story Explorers
Find a comfortable space to read together
Slow down and enjoy the illustrations
Ask and answer questions together
Make reading part of your routine - bedtime is a great time for reading
Use these prompts to encourage deeper thinking with your children:
"Tell me more, why do you think that?"
"How do you know that?"
"Interesting, did you notice anything else?"
Phonemic Awareness
When introducing the book, share the title and notice these phonemic elements:
The word “Squirrels” in the title contains the letter Qq. This letter says /q/, like quick and queen. Point to the letter and say the sound together: /q/, /q/, /q/. Brainstorm other words that begin with the sound /q/ with your child (quest, quilt, quill).
Ask the children to say the word after you. Show them the cover of the book and have them read the word out loud with you as you point under each word.
Vocabulary
Towering: Rising high above others
Spontaneous: Happening in a free way, not forced
Swooping: To sweep down suddenly from above
Dismay: To trouble or upset the hopes of
Drifted: To be carried along by an outside force
Squandered: To spend or expend wastefully
Bedraggled: In a messy or shabby state
Greedy: A great desire for more wealth or possessions that one needs
Questions to Discuss
What do you think the word squabble means? Who is someone who you squabble with?
Are you more like Spontaneous Cyril or Plan-Ahead Bruce? Why?
Why does Cyril not have any nuts? Why does Bruce have so many nuts?
Where are some places the last nut traveled as the squirrels chased it?
As the nut goes over the waterfall, the author writes, "They were paying the price for wanting it all." What does this mean?
What lesson do Cyril and Bruce learn in the story?
Tell about a time when you have squabbled with a friend. Were you able to resolve your conflict? Why or why not?
Let's Play
This activity will help your child make connections to the text, which helps children improve comprehension.
Think about the following scenarios. Talk with your child about the best way to resolve the following “squabbles” your child might face. Encourage your child to speak up for themselves and express their feelings. Try acting out the different scenarios!
- You are building a tower out of blocks and your little brother knocks it over. What do you do?
- You are running a race against your neighbor and she wins and brags about it. What do you do?
- There is only one more piece of halloween candy left and you and your cousin both want it. What do you do?
- You and your sister are arguing about what TV show to watch. What do you do?
